With just 4 hours to go until kick-off in the 2009 Currie Cup final between the Blue Bulls and the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld, I’m getting slightly nervous, although still quietly confident of a Bulls victory!

The Blue Bulls are a champion side, full of stars and experience, and the current Super 14 champions. Whilst they haven’t dominated the Currie Cup this year, they go into the final as overwhelming favourites, at fortress Loftus.

Like most finals, I’m prediciting a conservaative game, with goal-kicking to be vitally important. In Morne Steyn, the Blue Bulls have the trump card. For the Cheetahs, Jacques-Louis Potgieter can be the equal, but he is inconsistent. If he has an off day, the Cheetahs will suffer, if he is on song, the Cheetahs are a chance.

The Bulls have the experience, game breakers, and tactical exponents to beat the Cheetahs comofrtably. They’ll look to replicate what has worked all year for them.

Sound tactical kicking, a good kick-chase, the lineouts and the brilliance of men like Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana and Francois Hougaard.

For the Cheetahs to have any chance, they are reliant on the three things that have gotten them to the final. Heinrich Brussow at the breakdown, a dominant scrum and taking the ball wide at pace to give their pacy back three try-scoring chances.

If they can match the Bulls in the tight five exchanges early on, they will rely on creating opportunities out wide. They’ll rely on their scrum to provide them with valuable momentum, and look to use Ashley Johnson at number eight to get them over the advantage line.

The Bulls need big games from Deon Stegmaan and Dewald Potgieter to match Brussow at the breakdown, and allow Morne Steyn time and space to get the Blue Bulls moving forward. He may have to utilise drop goals to keep the scoreboard ticking over, as the Cheetahs don’t concede many penalties.

If the Bulls exert the pressure they normally do, the Cheetahs will be forced into giving away penalties and the Blue Bulls will be able to get on top. The Bulls will look to start well, get the crowd behind them, and pressure the Cheetahs into mistakes.

I’m predicting a frenetic start, with the experienced Bulls players to dominate from the very beginning. A strong opening quarter effort should allow a healthy lead before the Bulls march to an unprecedented Super 14-Currie Cup double!

Blue Bulls by 15-20.