Eloff: 'Cheetahs favourites for title'
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CATFIGHT: FS v Lions. Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix. CATFIGHT: FS v Lions. Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix.
The Cheetahs will start as clear favourites, but the Lions have one significant factor on their side ahead of Saturday’s Currie Cup final in Bloemfontein: the fact they haven’t peaked this season.
That’s according to former Lions coach Eugene Eloff, who was in charge of the Joburg side when these teams last met in a Currie Cup final, in Bloemfontein in 2007.
On that occasion the Cheetahs scored two late tries to shock the Lions 20-18.
Eloff says: “Both teams have scored some nice tries and played some good rugby.
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“The Cheetahs, for various reasons, like the fact their coach Franco Smith is leaving to Italy soon, will be the favourites.
“They’re also at home and they’ve got a number of players in their ranks with Pro 14 experience behind them.
“But, a big factor for me is the fact the Lions haven’t really played well this season, yet they’re in the final.
“They’ve had to fight their way to where they are, and that shows there is a lot of character in the players. Nothing has come easy for them this season.”