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.”
@Irish Devil – 258
Where you going today Irish? You going to blog with us during the CC games?
When do Munster play again?
@Pietman – Dia duit Pietman
KingPaul on the left in the picture
@Pietman – Die manne het ‘n eie “verversings” kamer waar daar blykbaar voor die tyd gekuier word.
Ek verstaan dus nou hoekom JJ Harmse so baie tjol kan praat. Hiehie
@Boerboel – Wat????
Ek het nog nie eers begin nie!
@Irish Devil – 268
Change it to black now Irish. Game going to start in about a hour…LOL.
Wish I went to the game. Damn my daughter just phoned and she and 4 of her friends are going
I have mates coming over about 2pm. We just going to braai and watch from my place. Will still blog during the game though.
270@isigidi – Is Morne Mier en sy broer al daar?
@Puma – Lost to Saints and Treviso today.
@grootblousmile –
@273
Kan sien ek is nie daar nie, daar is fokkol wors innie pan…..Paul gaan honger gaan vandag.
273 KingPaul looking smart there in WP colours and a beer in hand too with the wors on the braai in front. Now thats a pic hey!! hehehehe.
@Irish Devil – 278
Sorry about that Irish. Our team not doing well up there.
Hope Sharks make up for that today. If they lose well then it will be a very sad day….LOL.
279@Pietman – Flok, daai wors wat jy daai dag, 16 Feb 2008, daar gehad het was befokkkkkkkk lekker !
@isigidi –
@274
O, ok dan.
Hou jy net jou pose, en moenie R-T se naam wegsuip nie, los daai vir Paul en JJ!!!
@Puma – Got the times wrong buddy. Changing. After Treviso it’s Edingurgh and then Ulster. Not doing well at all mate. Lost horribly to Leinster – 30 – 0
@grootblousmile –
@282
Tony op Swellendam het dit gemaak, volgens my resep, net steak, met bietjie varkvet by, Bonzai het die helfte opgevreet en ek die res!!!!
@Puma – Sharks will take it mate.
@grootblousmile – Nee nog nie. Die manne tree egter links van my aan.
PUMA and GBS, I’ve just mailed a pic of the Durbs Stadium
Tsunami 1, you have registered and been APPROVED.
Kindly complete your Profile by adding real NAME & SURNAME and start blogging.
@Irish Devil – 284
Saw our team lost to Leinster quite bad there. Hope it gets better for them.
Hope Sharks take it Irish. With the players in that team they should. Then always remember the huge loss to Cheetahs in the S14. Think it was 36 / 6 something like that. So a bit nervous. Especially for Brussow. Deysel and Botes better keep him in check. Brussow can steal a ball so damn quick…hehe.
OK, I am out see you guys.
P R O O O O O V I N C E
@Irish Devil – @286
To translate, we are talking to Isi, in the Newlands press box at the game.
He is R-T’s first rep there, we are all a bit nervous, his first assignment, and he has been known for exceeding the dram a bit, but good man himself, old Isi…
@Boerboel – 288
Thats GREAT. Thanks Boerboel. GBS put it up so Irish can see boeta.
i have a shit load of pics from kings park
and with players etc
will meet with gbs one day and give it on cd and he can chhose what he wants
to much to just upload hehehe
@Boerboel – 291
Enjoy Boerboel. It looks like a great day there.
293@Puma – Best I got now, but have much better views showing see, etc. Enjoy the game.
Go Cheetahs
@Pietman – I try and translate things using google translation, but doens’t have the same effect. Thanks. So Isi is on a mission and a nice one at that. Wouldn’t mind being in CT now mate.
@sharky_forever – 294
Sharky that would be great. Now this is something we never see on Voldy pics of the supporters at the stadium on match day. Great stuff. Loving these pics.
Free State u/19 leading WP 14 to 13 with 2 minutes to go.
@Puma – Cheetahs are a good team and anything can happen in a playoff buddy. You know you can only support your team and hope they win. If not – the sun still rises the next day mate.
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