Cape Town – Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup final between the Golden Lions and Sharks will be played in front of a packed Coca-Cola Park stadium, something of a rarity in recent years.
A rarity so much so, that hardly any of the Lions squad have had the privilege of playing in front of a full house of local support. The biggest reason for this, could be that the Lions have not managed to win the tournament since 1999 and last hosted the final in 2002.
One player who was at the stadium that day is Lions stalwart, Doppies la Grange.
La Grange has been the mainstay in the Lions backline for the better part of eight years and it will have the chance to be a part of history in this season’s Currie Cup final, after the Lions narrowly missed out on the title in 2007, losing 20-18against the Cheetahs.
“I actually played that day (in 2002), but as a member of the Lions under-21 team. We were also in the final.
“Extra-time was needed in our match, that is why we also experienced a bit of the (the atmosphere) big crowd,” La Grange told Thursday’s Die Burger.
“I am looking forward to it. If I think about when we play in front of 35 000 people, then we will probably need earphones to call the instructions on the field on Saturday (where 59 000 people are expected).”
La Grange attributes this seasons amazing form in the Currie Cup to the work they did in last year’s tournament, which strangely enough did not translate into any sort of Super Rugby form as they finished second from bottom.
“There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears. But I think that we are all looking forward to it. We want to do it for all the supporters who have stuck with us through all the years and we want to give something back to them."
A rarity so much so, that hardly any of the Lions squad have had the privilege of playing in front of a full house of local support. The biggest reason for this, could be that the Lions have not managed to win the tournament since 1999 and last hosted the final in 2002.
One player who was at the stadium that day is Lions stalwart, Doppies la Grange.
La Grange has been the mainstay in the Lions backline for the better part of eight years and it will have the chance to be a part of history in this season’s Currie Cup final, after the Lions narrowly missed out on the title in 2007, losing 20-18against the Cheetahs.
“I actually played that day (in 2002), but as a member of the Lions under-21 team. We were also in the final.
“Extra-time was needed in our match, that is why we also experienced a bit of the (the atmosphere) big crowd,” La Grange told Thursday’s Die Burger.
“I am looking forward to it. If I think about when we play in front of 35 000 people, then we will probably need earphones to call the instructions on the field on Saturday (where 59 000 people are expected).”
La Grange attributes this seasons amazing form in the Currie Cup to the work they did in last year’s tournament, which strangely enough did not translate into any sort of Super Rugby form as they finished second from bottom.
“There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears. But I think that we are all looking forward to it. We want to do it for all the supporters who have stuck with us through all the years and we want to give something back to them."