Currie Cup win would be fitting Loftus swan song

Springbok wing Bryan Habana will play his last game for the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this weekend after being declared fit to meet the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup final.

Habana’s increasingly fragile hamstrings threatened to keep him out of the match. He was substituted early in the second half of the Bulls‘ 21-19 semifinal win over his new team, Western Province.

But, after a week of rest, the flyer returned to training yesterday untroubled by his injury.

The news is a relief for the team and for Habana himself. He hasn’t won the Currie Cup in an illustrious career, and if he were to assist the Bulls in winning their 23rd title it would be a fitting swan song for one of Pretoria’s favourite sons.

Habana’s impressive CV includes winning the World Cup, two Super 14s and the Tri-Nations title, but the oldest trophy has eluded him. He missed the Bulls’ 2006 draw with Free State because of injury and was on the losing side in last year’s final against the Sharks.

Later this year, following the Springboks’ tour to France, Italy, Britain and Ireland, he will again turn out for the world-famous Barbarians, to add another accolade to his bulging credentials.

But for now his focus remains on setting one elusive record right.

“There are a couple of big things coming up in the next month and a half which I would really like to achieve, starting with a Currie Cup final at Loftus,” Habana told Rugby365.

The Bulls were further boosted by the news that Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle should be fit for the final. Bulls doctor Org Strauss declared the entire squad fit and ready for the game.

The Cheetahs also received a clean bill of health for those who played in the 23-21 semifinal victory over the Sharks.

However, they will be without Springbok flank Juan Smith, who hasn’t played in the Currie Cup this season after sustaining a knee injury in the Tri-Nations.
Sourced via timeslive.co.za

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