RUGBY WRAP: Currie Cup and Super Rugby semis set; Toulouse and La Rochelle to face off in Top 14 title decider

Currie Cup R14: Sharks concede top spot after WP thumping

The Sharks’ 5-44 humiliation at the hands of Western Province in the Cape and the Free State Cheetahs’ 31-27 win at Loftus over the Blue Bulls means it is Hawies Fourie’s side who finish the Currie Cup regular season on top, with an opportunity to host the final in a fortnight. 

Meanwhile, the Pumas’ 27-17 win in Kimberley over the Griquas and the Golden Lions’ 39-22 result over the Griffons in Welkom means Jimmy Stonehouse’s charges will take on the Sharks in Durban while the Bulls tackle the Cheetahs in Bloem in the semi-finals.

SR Pacific QFs: Top four all qualify for SFs

The Crusaders will face the Blues at the Orangetheory while the Brumbies travel to Hamilton to take on the Chiefs at the FMG in this season’s Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals.

This was confirmed on a quarterfinal weekend that saw the Blues blow away the Waratahs in Auckland (41-12), the Chiefs hold off the Reds in Hamilton (29-20), the Crusaders dismantle Fijian Drua in Christchurch (49-8) and the Brumbies earn a 37-33 win over the Hurricanes in Canberra.

With the top four having all earned progression to the semis, questions again must  be asked of the efficacy of the competition’s current 12-team format which sees the top eight qualify for the knockouts.

Top 14 SFs: Dream Toulouse/ La Rochelle final in store

Toulouse smashed Racing 92 41-14 at the Reale Arena in the weekend’s first Top 14 semi-final on Friday, while back-to-back European champions La Rochelle saw off Bordeaux-Begles 24-13 at the same ground in Sunday’s second.

The results set up a rematch of Le Stade‘s successful 2021 final against Les Maritimes, to be played at the Stade de France this week. 

Can Ronan O’Gara lead his men to a coveted European and domestic double this season?