Let’s have a look at the results, Logs and games played this past weekend in the Currie Cup. We will look at both the Premier Division as well as the First Division.
Premier Division: Review Round 4
What an unpredictable competition this is turning out to be!
The Sharks broke away from the chasing pack on a dramatic weekend of Currie Cup Premier Division action, while there were also memorable wins for Western Province and Griquas in Round 4 of the six-team competition.
The Sharks came from behind to beat the Free State Cheetahs 34-32 in Durban after trailing 21-6 at half-time – a remarkable rearguard action which takes coach John Plumtree’s troops three points clear at the top of the table.
WP moved into second in the weekend’s final match when they hammered the Blue Bulls 42-6 in Cape Town in a match in which the home side scored five tries without reply.
And Griquas kicked off the weekend’s action in style on Friday night when they came from behind to beat defending champions the Golden Lions 42-32 in Johannesburg.
Currie Cup Premier Division Log – After Round 4:
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | BPts | Pts |
| 1 | The Sharks | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 111 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 14 |
| 2 | DHL Western Province | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 113 | 77 | 36 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 11 |
| 3 | Toyota Free State Cheetahs | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 113 | 111 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 10 |
| 4 | MTN Golden Lions | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 115 | 115 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 10 |
| 5 | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 101 | 125 | -24 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 8 |
| 6 | GWK Griquas | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 98 | 121 | -23 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 6 |
Top 10 point-scorers – After Round 4:
PLAYER – T C P D PTS
Louis Fouche – 0 6 17 1 66
Meyer Bosman – 1 9 6 0 41
Demetri Catrakilis – 0 8 8 0 40
Francois Brummer – 0 7 7 1 38
Elton Jantjies – 0 1 9 0 29
Riaan Smit – 0 4 7 0 29
Butch James – 0 6 5 0 27
Nico Scheepers – 1 2 4 0 21
Odwa Ndungane – 4 0 0 0 20
Raymond Rhule – 4 0 0 0 20
Golden Lions vs Griquas
A late try from Jean Stemmet sealed an entertaining first victory in this year’s competition for GWK Griquas, as they downed defending champions the Golden Lions, 42-32 at Coca-Cola Park on Friday night.
Stemmet crossed the line in the 77th minute to seal a famous victory for Pote Human’s side and finally give themselves points for a win in this year’s competition.
It isn’t surprising that Griquas started with so much passion – Human had warned that this was a watershed moment in their campaign and only if they won would they consider themselves able to compete in this level of competition.
And what a passionate performance it was. Buoyed by their own plethora of ball, and given some poor defence by the Lions at times, Griquas took their chances when it mattered to take the lead in the first half and never looked back.
In the end they outscored the Lions five tries to four, stopped a late comeback and ensured a full-house of points from an away fixture where away victories are very valuable indeed.
Final Score Golden Lions (18) 32 GWK Griquas (28) 42
Scorers
Lions
Tries: Ross Cronje, Jaco Kriel, Anthony Volmink (2).
Conversions: Elton Jantjies, Andries Coetzee, Butch James
Penalties: Jantjies (2).
Griquas
Tries: Willie le Roux, Ryno Barnes, Rocco Jansen, Jean Stemmet, Jannie Boshoff
Conversions: Francois Brummer (4)
Penalties: Brummer (3).
Sharks vs Free State Cheetahs
Centre Meyer Bosman completed an impressive Sharks comeback by scoring the try and conversion that secured his team a narrow but ultimately deserved win over the Cheetahs at Mr Price Kings Park on Saturday evening.
The Sharks had trailed for most of the game and looked well out of it at half-time after conceding two soft tries in quick succession late in the half. But although they gave away more soft points in the second, they protected their possession far better and scored the four tries that enabled them to take full points from the game.
It was in the balance in the last 10 minutes, and when the Cheetahs were on the attack between the 70th and 75th minutes and they led 32-27, it looked as though the Bloemfontein team might score an upset win.
While the Sharks had spent most of the second half on attack, they still gave away soft points, and Cheetahs flyhalf Sias Ebersohn might well have been the man of the match had his team won for his two well taken drop goals and the brilliantly directed kick that put wing Nico Scheepers in for a try that kept the Cheetahs ahead just when the Sharks looked well back in it.
But the Sharks have impressive resolve these days, and they don’t give up easily. A brace of tries from Odwa Ndungane to follow an early second-half try in the corner from Riaan Viljoen cut what at one stage had been a 16 point deficit to just five. And when centre Paul Jordaan scythed through the middle with five minutes to go it created just the opportunity the Sharks needed.
The Kings Park faithful would have had their hearts in their mouths as in a few instances it looked as though the Sharks might butcher their big advantage in numbers as they built up, but eventually Bosman was put over for the try that drew the scores level.
The former Cheetah then capped a fine all-round performance – his goalkicking was also spot on all game – by kicking the conversion that clinched it with just over four minutes left on the clock.
Final Score Sharks (6) 34 Free State Cheetahs (21) 32
Scorers
Sharks
Tries: Riaan Viljoen, Odwa Ndungane (2), Meyer Bosman
Conversions: Bosman (4)
Penalties: Bosman (2).
Cheetahs
Tries: Sarel Pretorius, Raymond Rhule, Nico Scheepers
Conversion: Scheepers
Penalties: Scheepers (3)
Drop goals: Sias Ebersohn (2).
Western Province vs Blue Bulls
Western Province produced a passionate display of running rugby to demolish the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.
In a game which was incredibly one-sided and hardly the showdown that many were waiting to see, Province capitalised on several unforced errors and produced some scintillating play with a plethora of ball to score five tries to none and simply beat their opposition into submission.
On a night where it was supposed to be a massive battle, there was simply only one team on the park.
After Louis Fouche missed an opening penalty for the visitors, the home side swooped into a 10-point lead thanks to a penalty by Demitri Catrikilis and Nic Groom’s outstretched hand from close distance.
Fouche managed to bring the Bulls six points through penalties, but it was the last the visitors were to see the scoreboard ticking over on their side as Province stamped their authority on the game and simply took control.
For the Bulls, they made several unforced errors, kicked away some good ball and simply didn’t have the penetration thanks to some superb Province defence. On top of that, their forwards were butchered by the Province pack, as the Bulls simply had no answer to the onslaught they faced.
The scoreline moved further away when the Province pack went for the corner, and drove the ball over, with captain Deon Fourie claiming the score after pushing their way through the Bulls’ brittle defence.
WP drove home their advantage after the break with further tries to Marcel Brache, Damian de Allende and JP du Plessis.
Final Score Western Province (17) 42 Blue Bulls (6) 6
Scorers
WP
Tries: Nic Groom, Marcel Brache, JP du Plessis, Deon Fourie, Damian de Allende
Conversions: Demetri Catrakilis (4)
Penalties: Catrakilis (3).
Blue Bulls
Penalties: Louis Fouche (2)
First Division: Review Round 10
The unbeaten Eastern Province Kings kept their closest challengers the Pumas at arm’s length at the top of the Currie Cup First Division standings after a 45-24 victory over the Valke in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
With four rounds remaining of the expanded eight-team competition, the Kings have 45 points – eight more than the second-placed Pumas, who did all they could to keep the pressure on the title favourites with a 70-27 hammering of the SWD Eagles in Nelspruit on Saturday.
The Griffons remain third thanks to a 53-33 victory in East London over the Border Bulldogs, who remain winless and rooted to the bottom of the log after 10 matches.
And in the final match of the weekend, the Leopards came from behind to beat the defending champion Boland Kavaliers 39-34 in Potchefstroom to remain to fourth. The Kavaliers, meanwhile, stay in sixth place following their seventh defeat of what has been a disappointing season so far.
Currie Cup First Division Log – After Round 10:
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | BPts | Pts |
| 1 | Eastern Province Kings | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 371 | 162 | 209 | 45 | 19 | 7 | 45 |
| 2 | Ford Pumas | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 400 | 268 | 132 | 49 | 33 | 7 | 37 |
| 3 | Griffons | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 314 | 316 | -2 | 42 | 44 | 9 | 33 |
| 4 | Leopards | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 357 | 300 | 57 | 46 | 34 | 8 | 32 |
| 5 | SWD Eagles | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 273 | 312 | -39 | 33 | 39 | 4 | 26 |
| 6 | Regent Boland Kavaliers | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 296 | 315 | -19 | 38 | 42 | 9 | 19 |
| 7 | Valke | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 286 | 415 | -129 | 41 | 55 | 7 | 19 |
| 8 | Border Bulldogs | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 222 | 431 | -209 | 30 | 58 | 8 | 8 |
Top 10 point-scorers – After Round 10:
PLAYER – T C P D Pts
JC Roos – 0 28 18 0 110
Andre Pretorius – O 27 14 2 102
George Whitehead – 3 19 14 0 95
Karlo Aspeling – 3 19 8 2 83
Wesley Dunlop – 2 20 7 0 71
Elgar Watts – 4 13 7 0 67
Elric van Vuuren – 5 10 7 0 66
Hansie Graaff – 4 14 6 0 66
Reinhardt Erwee – 4 7 8 0 58
Jacquin Jansen – 4 5 8 0 54
2 of the Sharks tries were from forward passes, but when you surrender a 20 lead, you don’t really deserve to win.
@ Loosehead,
Agree with that statement, but given the dominace in terms of both territory and possession, the Cheetahs did wll to gain ascendancy on the scoreboard. That said, I am tired of getting shafted by inept officials. The same dude cost us a try against the Lions, because he refused to refer Sarel’s try.
At the end of the day, these decisions can cost matches, and the players could lose match bonuses, whilst the pygmy, just moes on to the next match.
1 @ Loosehead:
2 @ JanCheetahSpringbokBallas4eva:
Face it you 2…. the Sharks deserved their win, they were the better team all night, just did not finish well in the 1st half.
… and the less I say about the Blue Bulls, the better… so don’t ask!
I think Rasta was the best ref on display this weekend with Van Der Merwe next, and the less sais about Joubert, the better.
Rasta 8/10
Van der Merwe 6/10
Joubert 3/10
So pleased with my team, they really played well.
This was against my expectations I must add, WP without Siya and Duanne, and with the midfield of Brache (who Ive never rated) and Du Plessis against Serfontein and Sadie, and with Scarra at hooker (who is a fantastic player in the loose, in the DFourie mold, but I’ve never seen him throw a ball in straight) and a very mediocre lock pairing, and our first choice front row on the bench. Oh yes and with Joe out too. In fact I even bet on the Bulls in the Superbru picks.
OK. That was a little embarrassing.
Brache played really well. Created lots of opportunities for guys running off him. Scarra threw (mostly) in straight. The locks found their line out balls and drove extremely well in the rolling malls. Scarra and Deon played like they were possessed with ball in hand.
Our wings ran really well, and their work rate was impressive.
Karl Kikilus played like the player that GBS insists he is (although I’m not yet convinced). He kicked really well and keep the scoreboard ticking over. A couple of misses in the 2nd half but by then it didn’t matter.
So humble (yet proud at the same time) pie for me this morning.
2nd on the log, and leading in the bonus point tally. Who would have thunk it.
Well played manne!
All I’ll say about Ref’s is this, any team should have the quality of their play at such a level that inept, poor or biased refereeing should not be able to influence the end result of the game.
That Joubert was poor, and the TMO was probably watching the wheelchair basketball is true, but let’s face facts, the Lions DID NOT DESERVE TO WIN ON FRIDAY. If he (Joubert) is the best ref’ in the world, then Rugby Union is basically up the creek without a paddle. He seems to have more poor games than good of late.
Their attitude seemed at best to be poor, and their minds elsewhere.
The shenanigans going with their employer can’t help matters, but my goodness they were poor.
In all honesty, I casn see the Lions keeping the majority of their players. Who would pay good money for the majority of those on display on Friday.
Why oh why Ross Cronje started is beyond me. Maar nou ja. The water is obviously very shallow. IE. NO DEPTH. Be careful when diving in!
6 @ Scrumdown:
The Lions players attitudes of course.
@ Scrumdown:
The scary thing is that Volminck’s 2 try blitz made it look so easy. Had the Lions played like that for larger portions of the game, the result may have been very different.
A decent side should be able to read the ref and play accordingly, but it must be very difficult when the ref clearly is using 2 different rule books. The TMO should be drawn and quartered for his display.
All I can say is that morale must be low at the GLRU at the moment, and the powers that be in Doornfontein are not making it easier by being so quiet on the PR front. I can only think that there must be huge negotiations going between agents and the GLRU at the moment.
@ LionJan4ever:
I had that discussion (re the PR and the media) with Walter from Lionsworld who has been “re-invited” back after >2years in the wilderness. (He was “banned” by Manie Reyneke for critisising the management in 2010)
I don’t know if the GLRU / Lions will ever move into the professional era in relation to the handling of the media. They certainly make it difficult to give them positive press.
@ Scrumdown:
It may be a bit difficult now, but they should appoint a PR company. At the very least there should be a press release at least once a week, telling us what is going on etc. But the silence is deafening at the moment.
@ LionJan4ever:
That was suggested in 2006 (PR company) and was rejected out of hand by Reyneke and Ferreira.
I believe that budgets were slashed just before the SR season started and there were a LOT of retrenchments.
Having said that, they do have a PR / media liason who I feel is not utilised as she could be, but it may be that she is hamstrung by her bosses.
Had the GLRU appointed a PR company then, maybe a lot of the negative perceptions would have been avoided. I know things are not all peaches and cream in the GLRU at the moment, but I don’t believe its all rotten either.
11 @ Scrumdown:
Krystle at the Lions is one of the better PR people… friendly, dedicated.
But maybe better PR overall, by means of a PR Company is not such a bad idea.
After first Jannie and then Manie & Co farked the Lions over for years and years since Luyt, they really need PR and some kind of workable business plan going.
13 @ grootblouBokJan:
No budget!
Its quite simple really. Start by winning on the field, retain a core of experienced players, tighten up on admin, let the public know whats’s going.
If the Lions can start by winning at least 50% of their SR games (should we regain entry into the comp) and maintain an 80% + win rate in the CC, that will bring fans back to the Park. Also make the trip to Park worthwhile, a multi entertainment event. I was quite surprised at the turnout on Friday. I expected a lot less, considering the pitfalls of Joburg traffic and negativity about the location of the stadium. Then let us the fan know exactly what is going to happen next year. Then make sure all admin is sorted and all debts are paid on time and all contracts, whether with partnres, players, coaches and all staff comply with labour laws and other agreements. Don’t fire support coaches by e-mail. Retaining a base of core players will enhance depth, and ensure a good blend of youth and experience. It was crazy to let players of Hattingh’s and Willemse’s caliber to go.
There is the basis of a good business plan.
3@ GBS,
It matters not if the Sharks were the better team, they had all the possession, all the territory, yet butchered tries aplenty, so in what way does that make them the better team on the day? Cheetahs took alltheir chances, and then created some more. The fwd pass from Daniels resulted in 7 points, that shouldn’t have been there, especially, now with the TMO able to rule. So no matter how you paint it, the Sharks benefited! Wether you think they were the better team or not. They were the dominant team in terms of stats, but they didn’t execute accurately!
6 @ Scrumdown,
It is true, that teams must adapt to a ref on the day, but how does a team adapt to a fwd pass not being called? Still points against you that shouldn’t have been.
15 @ LionJan4ever:
You think that sort of thing hasn’t been pointed out to those in charge ad-nauseum for years?
Perhaps the best thing that can happen to the Lions is that they slip quietly into liquidation, someone who actually gives a sh1t buys them for a bargain price, and they start again.
Then they can get rid of the hangers on and start from scratch.
When I saw the “4 wise men” (KdK and 3 of his Exco’ who I won’t name here) standing just inside the gate from the tunnel laughing and joking as if all was warm and fuzzy at the Union, I actually wanted to spit.
Sure, the crowd wasn’t too bad for a Friday night (6 311), but I don’t think it was enough to break even on the night.
The Lions are sinking slowly but surely, just as the Titanic did. A behemoth of an organisation that everyone involved with thought it couldn’t happen to them.
RIP TVL RUGBY!
@ Scrumdown:
I am sure you, like me and thousands of Lions supporters want to see the Lions rise up once again. What can we as die hard supporters do to change the mindset of the administration?
@ JanCheetahSpringbokBallas4eva:
I know how you feel. 2 knock ons, 1 offside, all resulting in points for the opposition makes it difficult to play to the ref’s interpretations.
18 @ LionJan4ever:
After 6 years of trying to change it (and failing to do so) from within, I’m of the opinion that they don’t particularly want to change.
Are there people within the structures that are capable of running the Union? I know we have the scourge of politics, but surely we must have some capable people who can steer the ship?
21 @ LionJan4ever:
My opinion, too many people with their own agendas and reasons for being there.
When someone tells you how much they’ve done for Rugby, ask them what they haven’t done but could.
Sad. I still hope that KDK has what it takes to turn this union around.
16 @ JanCheetahSpringbokBallas4eva:
You just said it… the Sharks had the territory, they had the possession… hell they played better rugby than the Cheetahs all game…. they just did not finish all their chances in the first half.
That makes them the better team on the day for me, they deserved to win, they played the better rugby. The scoreboard also reflects they were better, despite many squandered chances.
What part don’t you understand?
Let me put it bluntly… the Cheetahs were lucky to go down by only 2 points.
Do yourself a favour and go read the comments of everybody DURING the actual game on the Live Game Article for the game and you’ll see what people like Kickers and Pietman and the other fellas thought… during the game.
The Sharks controlled most of the game, that in my book makes them the best side of the 2 on the day, in that game…. simple really.
@ grootblouBokJan:
Let me stir things up bit. When a team has majority of possesion and territory, but is behind on the scoreboard when the whistle blows, are they the better team?
With the possession and territory that Sharks had, they should have won by miles. As much as I hate to admit it, WP thoroughly deserved their win over the Bulls. The Sharks should have won by a similar margin. But they didn’t, and up till the time the Sharks took the lead, the Cheetahs looked like they were making better use of their chances.
@ grootblouBokJan:
Ja nee jy dominate so jy moe forward pases gooi net om te score….
3 @ grootblouBokJan:
Bliksen Donner. You Bulls supporters are sensitive after being man shammed by the Stormers.
Read what I said…………….the VRYSTAAAAAAAT didn’t deserve to win.
25 @,
Exachary! You can’t fault GBS logic though. Bulls have been winning matches off ref errors for years. It clouds their perception. It’s simple GBS, if you dominate possession, and territory, but butcher tries, probably, caused by pressure, it doesn’t make you the best team. If you then win the match, because a ref screws up, it makes you lucky to escape with a win, not the best team on the day.
Furthermore it could be argued that the Cheetahs were best, because despite lesser opportunities, they scored more “legitimate” points.
Ha ha, well said Loskoppie, Bulls fans are a tad grumpy today, after the spanking they received.
So Cheetahs were lucky to lose by only two, and the Sharks were lucky towin by two. I guess we are all lucky together!
Reading on SuperSport. See Strauss is the Boks only injury concern and that Hougaard could be moved to the wing permanently.
So if Strauss is injured who will be vice captain? Also will Hougaard start ahead of Mvovo then if he is shifted to wing. Or will he come off the bench?
28 @ JanCheetahSpringbokBallas4eva:
Ag no man, you all got it wrong. Sharks were the (come back kids) AGAIN! Remember never to count my Sharks out in a game until it is over and especially never count them out until a season is over….. hehehehehe.
I never thought there were two forward passes. One that Stranksy made a huge fuss about was marginal. The other one doubt it was forward at all. Sharks were the better team. Go look at the stats… 😉 Gbs is right.
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