The Lions can still sneak into the Currie Cup semi-finals, however will want a giant bonus level win over the Griffons of their ultimate pool match this coming weekend, whereas additionally hoping for quite a lot of different outcomes to go their option to stand any likelihood.
A loss in opposition to the Sharks this previous weekend successfully ended their marketing campaign forward of the ultimate weekend of pool matches, however in truth solely the desk topping Durbanites and the Cheetahs have secured their place within the knockout rounds.
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The Pumas in third, adopted by the Bulls, Griquas, Western Province and Lions in seventh, are all still within the operating for the ultimate two semi-final berths, though for the Lions and Province they are going to want an unbelievable variety of outcomes going their option to make it in.
Both the Pumas and Bulls are on 36 factors, with the Griquas on 35, Province on 32 and Lions on 31, and may any groups end the pool stage on the identical variety of factors, the primary metric for splitting them will probably be factors distinction.
Quarterfinal conflict
The Pumas face the Griquas in Kimberley this weekend in what is actually a quarterfinal, with a win for both facet sufficient to safe their place within the knockouts.
The fourth positioned Bulls host the Cheetahs at Loftus and so they want a win to ensure of their place within the playoffs, whereas a loss will open the door for different groups to sneak forward of them.
Province welcome the in-form Sharks to Cape Town and know that their solely actual likelihood of creating the knockouts is a full home of factors, whereas then counting on the Cheetahs and Pumas to assist them out.
For the Lions they want many issues to go their option to make it via, first being a giant win over the Griffons in Welkom, which might put them degree on factors with the Bulls and Pumas on the log.
Big win
A sufficiently big win would transfer them forward of the Bulls on factors distinction, however the Pumas are means too far forward on that metric for the Lions to catch them.
So they’d then want the Bulls to lose to the Cheetahs with out choosing up a degree, the Pumas to beat the Griquas with out permitting them a degree, and for the Sharks to beat Western Province, which might see the Lions qualify for the knockouts.
Despite having a slim likelihood of creating the playoffs, Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi admitted after the Sharks sport that he believed their marketing campaign was coming to an finish.
“As we near the end of our campaign I am grateful to the guys who put their bodies on the line over the past 14 weeks. I am gutted that we didn’t make the playoffs, because for a franchise like us making the playoffs is a prerequisite,” stated Nkosi.
“So we are helluva disappointed with the end result of the campaign, but I am grateful for the guys who have put up their hands and given it their all over the season.”
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