It’s been more than 30 years since THAT tackle at Loftus, but the names Morne du Plessis and Naas Botha still perfectly sum up why Western Province-Blue Bulls clashes are so special. Saturday’s Currie Cup semifinal at Newlands will be no different.
In 1977, Du Plessis felled the darling of Loftus with a great tackle, perfectly within the laws, but marginally late. The crowd exploded, and the gangly Du Plessis, hated up north at the best of times, had to be escorted off the field by police after the final whistle.
Botha was stretchered off and Pierre Edwards nailed the winning penalty for Northern Transvaal.
‘this rivalry is the one that stirs the blood the most’
It remains one of the most talked-about incidents in the history of South African rugby.
Fast forward to 2009. Du Plessis and Botha are legends of the South African game, but they are still polarised by provincialism.
Du Plessis this week equated WP-Bulls games with Tests between the Springboks and the All Blacks.
“You know, without any disrespect to the other provinces, I just think that, as far as I can remember, it seems to be that this rivalry is the one that stirs the blood the most. It’s almost akin to the Springboks playing the All Blacks.
“There is just something in it that, through the ages, has grown,” said Du Plessis.
Botha couldn’t hold back when he got an opportunity to get a jibe in at the former WP and Springbok captain – but all in a good spirit of course. “That tackle was part of the play, but it cost Western Province a Currie Cup. It didn’t win it for them, it cost them.
“Pierre (Edwards) kicked over the penalty. When they lost there, they were out of the Currie Cup. It was us and Free State in the final.”
Yes it does get better, its called facing the sharks in durban 2009 LOL.
since 1990 the sharks have been probably the most consistant side in SA along with the bulls,
me thinks the winds have changed your memories into wishful thinking LOL, but dreams are free my friend
in teasin all that VERY NICE ARTICLE , AND YOU NAME SOME VERY GREAT OLD PLAYER OF YESTERYEAR
pierre edwards went on to become headmaster at affies , this man never dropped a ball , didnt have a scared bone as skinny as he was in his body
the du plessis michael and carel at their best
tommy duplessis,moaner van heerden , willie katz , louis moolman my persoonlike friend, burger geldenhuis , peter whip , ray mordt ,
LOL ek is nie eers n ondersteuner van die 2 spanne nie maar ek onthou soos dit gister was nog al die manne
@sharky_forever – Fair or unfair, but the memories of the North vs South clashes are the ones most talked about. Whenever we reach finals times these memories become the most talked about.
In Freestate they might talk about that memorable slip up the Bulls made in 2005. But not many others talk about it the same way as that Morne vs Naas indecent.
Surely not me. LOL
Botha wasn’t stretcherd off, he took the penalty, after Morne’s tackle on him.
I was there, at Loftus.
Also in 1990, when Tony ran around Theo van Rensburg……my brand new Opel Monza was stolen that day, in front of the New Union Hotel in SnorCity….while I was at Loftus…..still pissed off about that and still happy that Natal won the CC that day, hehehehehe!
@superBul – lol boet true but teasin is good hehehehee
but remember thats just because of our age
new kids on the block dont see what we see or remember
@Pietman – lol hiyas piet my maat van yster en plaat
did you 2 read that article i posted about pitfalls??
@superBul –
Natal won that game in 1990 because of Robert du Preez’s stupidity, diving onto Tomy with intent behind the try line, gave Natal a ten pointer, right there, Stransky took the penalty after the try….and the Bulls were gone…..10-0 within two minutes.
Wahl Bartman had a stormer of a game that day, btw.
….diving onto Tony (Watson)…., I mean
@Pietman – yes i remember like that is today lol
natal rugby stood up that day and turn into the best brand in rugby in the mordern era
if you look at brands in the world , the sharks fly the highest
amazing what that victory meant and did for as province
hey 3 guests lol dont just read join and chat man
@sharky_forever – 6
Yes i did but my concentration level was very low , after this semi finals i would read it more careful, real interesting stuff for me , but i will comment there later, more serious business now. LOL
@sharky_forever –
Get Chroucy over here, today….that’s your mission.
Don’t worry what the others say, fukkem, just get him and Wooden Spoon over here.
I have already pulled in OCO.
Go onto Voldy and get the good okes out of the pits over there, go get them Sharky, don’t hold back!!!!!
It’s a rescue mission, and you are the commander….so, let’s rock’n roll!
@sharky_forever – 9
This decade belongs to the Cheetahs (CC wise), they have a great run at the moment. For some reason they fare good against SA sides, even in the S14 .
@superBul –
Is jy by die huis vandag?
Braai jy, of baai jy innie swembad, of wat se ‘aai’ jy?
@Pietman LOL boet , hey i dont care what those fuckers say ,ill keep recruiting,
– @superBul – lol
More BB en ander mense.
Slaap julle nie ? 😉
more bdb
More al julle closet leeu supporters.
@Pietman – 14 Ek is op call out so ek hoop maar hulle roep nie my uit nie. Maar dit sal tuis wees , gaan so tussen die 2 games vuur maak, na die 2de semi braai en in swembad duik en tussen in drink, seker vanaf die begin van die eerste semi. Jy sal wel sien waneer my tong(vingers) loskom.
@K9-MonsterLeeu – 18
More K9 jy darem nou al slaap ingekry? daai stapples gekry? en daai 3×25 huis toe gevat?
@superBul –
Nou toe dan, vat jy die Chev, ek hou die Ford, lol!
AmaBulle AmaBulle !!!!!!
18@K9-MonsterBul – more K9, wie dink jy gaan MOM wees in WP vs BB wedstryd, Spies ?
@K9-MonsterLeeu – good moanin old chap ,
goooooooooooooooooooooooo sharksssssssssssssssssss eet cheetahs vir BREKVIS excuse the pun LOL
@K9-MonsterLeeu –
Moenie brul nie, netnou skeur jou pens weer!
21@Pietman – my telling, as dit nie reen nie:
AmaBulle 35
WaPana 23
17@sharky_forever – more sharky, sterkte vir jou span. As hul soos in die S14 wag vir die ander span om foute te maak, gaan dit ‘n lang dag wees.
@bdb –
Spies ja!
Sy pa kyk hom, ek het oorlede ou Pierre gesien op Nuweland, hy het n drie reg voor my gedruk, bo oor Dawie Snyman gehol….daai dag.
Telling was 19-19. Naas het geskepskop en geskepskop en geskepskop….ek en my pa praat net vanoggend oor daai dag, die toppie onthou dit steeds, hy was de moer in vir Naas!
Interesant om soms die spelers self se menings te hoor.
Aplon verwag ’n “skaakspel” teen die Bulle. “Baie spanne, soos die Blues en Chiefs, het al probeer om teen ’n vinnige tempo teen die Bulle te speel, en groot slae gekry. Jy moet vuur met vuur beveg en kyk hoe dit van daar gaan. Dit gaan ’n skaakspel wees waar een pion vir ’n ander verruil word.”
@superBul – Ek het baaaie slaap om in te haal….maar sal dit los vir my oudag. Op die oomblik te besig vir slaap 🙂
@bdb –
Ek het dit ook omtrent so, AmaBulla met 11 punte.
Nee, geen reen innie Kaap vandag….lekker dag daar.
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