That was in 1994 when a dominant Lions (then Transvaal) recorded a 56-33 win over the Cheetahs at the Springbok Park Cricket Ground. At the time Vodacom Park was being built in anticipation of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

The 56 points scored by the Lions remains a record for a final and the match aggregate of 89 points is also a finals record.

The two teams have seldom been outside of the top four in the competition. Since 1997, the Cheetahs have won the title twice, being runners up twice, lost at the semi-final stage three times and only failed to make the knock out stages twice. The Lions have also missed the playoffs just twice since 1997 whilst winning once, finishing runners-up once and bowing out five times at the semi-stage.

The Cheetahs have dominated recent clashes between the two teams and have won seven of the last 12 Absa Currie Cup encounters since 2001. Significantly, the Lions have won three times in Bloemfontein since 2002.

Their two league fixtures in 2007 were close affairs, with the Cheetahs winning 27-11 in Johannesburg and securing a “double” with a narrow 24-19 win in Bloemfontein.

Last 12 meetings in the Absa Currie Cup since 2001

Cheetahs have won: 7
Lions have won: 5

2007 Cheetahs 24 Lions 19 in Bloemfontein
Cheetahs 27 Lions 11 in Jhb

2006 Lions 39 Cheetahs 28 in Jhb
 Cheetahs 59 Lions 5 in Bloemfontein
 
2005 Lions 31 Cheetahs 20 in Bloemfontein

2004  Cheetahs 40 Lions 27 in Jhb
 Cheetahs 38 Lions 19 in Bloemfontein

2003 Cheetahs 34 Lions 30 in Jhb
 Lions 40 Cheetahs 22 in Bloemfontein

2002 Lions 43 Cheetahs 29 in Bloemfontein (semi-final)
 Cheetahs 29 Lions 22 in Bloemfontein

2001 Lions 23 Cheetahs 19 in Johannesburg

Previous meeting in Absa Currie Cup Final

1994 Lions 56 Cheetahs 33 in Bloemfontein

Previous Absa Currie Cup titles

Lions  9 (shared once) – first title in 1922, last in 1999
Cheetahs  3 (shared once) – first title in 1976, last in 2006