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.”
@sharky_forever – Enjoy Boet!
147@sharky_forever – Enjoy the game and take a lot of tissues!!! Cheetahs gonna klap you!
@Loosehead – 139
Enjoy the game Loosehead. May the best team win today. Hoping that its my sharkies…..hehe.
Good luck to the WP supporters here too and the Bull supporters but…………GO BULLS….hehe.
@Boerboel – We will be parking at Kelvin, drinks, lunch, game on TV, Boooooooooolands, drinks dinner and designated driver to take us home.
Okay, klaar gesgreeu, my pa is terug hier langs my, sal maar fluister voortaan (noord transvaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallll !)
PROVINCE!!!!!
@Puma – Enjoy it! Lets hope for a good game [with a Cheetahs win of course]
Where is my bloody lift?
@Loosehead – 150
No choking at the tank today. It has been forbidden. LOL. We don’t understand the word anymore……thrown out the window…….hehehe
PROVINCE!!!!
Damn WP supporters have all the time in the world, where the hell are they? I have the tickets so there is noooooooooooooooooooooo way that they would not fetch me.
More Pics.
@Puma – Ah well we will just put the win down to a superior team then. 😆 Farkin smilies, are as reliable as the WP supporting lift.
@grootblousmile – Waar?
@Loosehead – @Loosehead – 160
hahaha. Now imagine if they do..haha. They wont be very happy without them tickets…..haha
Ja, hoping for a good game and may the best teams win today in each semi and move on to the final. Good luck to all the teams.
Where are these arseholes? We will miss our luch table.
@Loosehead – 162
Tell you what I am a bit nervous for our game today. Cheetahs have nothing to lose and will come at us for sure. Our bogey team have had our number many times.
PROVINCE!!!
Ah! Here they are at fukken last.
Ladies and Gents, I wish you a brilliant afternoon. Take it easy, enjoy the games! May the best team meet the Cheetahs in the final!
Puma, good luck man!
Noooord Transvaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll!!!
Shit GBS, why does the font size thingy not work???? Help man, pse.
GBS that is BRILLIANT. NOW you never get that over you know where. Should have asked someone who was going to the Sharks game to send photos too.
It looks great there at Newlands with the mountain back drop.
Enjoy it Boerboel and Loosehead.
Can you guys see the pics in my previous comments??
@Loosehead – Loosehead
Enjoy mate. Good luck to both our teams.
@grootblousmile – 161
Only from your post 161 I see pics. Great stuff GBS. Hope we get some more. Wish we knew someone here that was going to the game to send us pics.
I have mates there but there phones will be off for sure now. Probably in the car park having beers alredy..hehe
@Puma – 174
Meant going to the Sharks game to send us some pics too.
172@grootblousmile – Yes, but we want girls that flash!!!
@Puma – menat their phones. Not there..lol
@Boerboel – 176
LOL.
Lukas se laaste game in SA……hieehaaaaaa!!!!
Laat jy gaan ou seun, ek hoor al jou woorde na die wedstryd, in n hees stem, tatoo armpie wat swaai in die lug : ‘Thx Newlands, thx WP, thx Cape Town, you guys are awesome… but they were the better team on the day….’.
And he will then just ride off into the sunset, like Wyatt Earp…..
@grootblousmile – 131
Yes see that pic now on post 131
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