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.”
@bdb – as hy dit regkry om net EEN ou terug te tackle maak ek hom MOTM. Deal? hehe
En dan se Stefan Terblance die obvious.
“The Cheetahs are going to have one heck of a go at us; we know the frame of mind they will be in and we have to meet and overcome that challenge,” said Terblanche, who has had yet another brilliant year with the Sharks.
@Pietman – as ‘n leeu hard brul skeur die ander diere se oordromme….en hulle senuwees.
@bdb – selfde daai kant boet
altwee games gaan hell hard wees
ek glo darem ons twee se spanne gaan te feel skietgoed he
@superBul – lol what else can one say . i mean the cheetahs saying if it rains they wil play more conservative , they will never play conservative LOL
33@K9-MonsterLeeu – hy brul so hard, want sy k…..s word deur Bul-se-kind vasgetrap.
35@sharky_forever – kat kan nie swem nie, so as dit reen is dit julle voordeel.
Kans op reen in Durban is 60%
@bdb – 36
Lank terug op TV gesien hoe iemand met n saag musiek maak, amper soos n viool. Nou so ook met daai Leeu hoe dieper jy hom intrap hoe harder brul hy, as jy getrein is kan jy n mooi deuntjie maak.
i think rain or not we should still win
@bdb – 37
Interesant – ‘n Cheetah is nie deel van die kat familie nie. Het blykbaar iets te doen met die toonnaels wat hy nie kan intrek nie.
In a big boost for the Sharks, the 34-year-old this week confirmed that he will play one last year for the Sharks in 2010.
The Sharks are hardly short of superb leadership for the match – fullback Terblanche has not lost in 12 matches this year as captain and up front in the forwards he has John Smit and Johann Muller to assist him
Stadium manager Aslam Yusuf said food stalls and bars were stocked up and there would be music and festivities to keep people busy before and after the match.
“We are ready to roll. We will provide music on the outer fields before the game and people should come along and have a braai before watching us hopefully win against the Cheetahs,” he said.
Durban-based singer and comedian Graham Boyle and local band Spoonfeedas will also be entertaining the crowds. There will be turnstile giveaways for the first 1 000 children and signing sessions at the Shark Cage from 12pm to 1pm.
Yusuf said the second semifinal between the Bulls and Western Province would be shown on a big screen on the outer field.
He urged fans to get to the stadium early to avoid congestion, and take into account that there are road works in the area.
But while the day and evening’s activities are certain to get fans into celebratory moods, Metro Police have warned that they are better off staying inside the confines of the stadium until they sober up, “because we are waiting for them outside” should they attempt to drive drunk.
49@superBul – LOL ! met al daardie maanSnhare en ander Snhare om te speel, kan dit ‘n pragtige simfonie afgee.
Sien julle manne later, ek en Pa gaan kroeg toe….iets vir die senuwees vat, ons twee gaan maar vroeg begin drink vandag, net vir die wis en die onwis en die onverwagte….
en om vir ma en vrou vroegtydig de moer in te maak!!!
Tjeers manne.
25 @bdb – Geen reen in die Kaap, son skyn en ‘n windjie wat waai maar verder lekker dag 🙂
40 @sharky_forever – nou wonder ek wie van die Sharks of Cheetahs gaan sing:
I’m singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin’
I’m happy again
I’m laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun’s in my heart
And I’m ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I’ve a smile on my face
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin’,
Singin’ in the rain
ciao piet mooi loop
glo my super in die tenk vandag say daar atmosphere wees soos geen ander and die partytjie sal anhou wen of verloor deur die nag
@bdb – @superBul – ek is bevrees menere die leeus is so bietjie bo die bul in die voedselketting. As ‘n trop beeste ‘n leeu hoor brul vertrap hulle mekaar in daai kraal van angs……..al brul die leeu net van lekkerte omdat hy besig is om te saag soos Super sê.
@K9-MonsterLeeu – Jy brul nie hardgenoeg nie – kan jou nie in die Kaap hoor nie 🙂
@bdb – lol bdb
sharks en bulls vandag , hoor my lied lol excuse the pun
46@Karen – pla die windjie ?
@Karen – more karen ,
Hallo BDB – nee die wind pla nie – pla die reen jou as dit sou reen??? Shit die bulle bang vir water of was?
Hallo Sharky_forver – good luck met julle game
@Karen – Sy stembande is nog vasgeknyp in daai krammetjies, daar kom net so pieperige sqweek uit
@Karen – baei dankie Karen selfde daai kant
LMGA Superbul – hoop jy kan die games darem kyk vandag – geniet die braai 🙂
@sharky_forever – Thanks Sharky_forver. What’s the weather like for the Durbs game?
Cheers guys – ek gaan nou Nuweland toe. Geniet die rugby 🙂 GO PROVINCE :-)))
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