The Sharks will host DHL Western Province in this year’s Absa Currie Cup final after wildly contrasting victories over the Vodacom Blue Bulls and defending champions the MTN Golden Lions respectively in Saturday’s semi-finals.
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The final – a repeat of the 2010 showpiece won 30-10 by the men from Durban – will take place on Saturday at Mr Price Kings Park, with kick-off scheduled for 17h00.
It is the Sharks’ fourth final in five years – their third at home during this time – and they will be gunning for a third title to go with those won in 2008 (14-9 over the Blue Bulls, in Durban) and two years ago.
In the first semi-final, flyhalf Pat Lambie, who was an instrumental part of the Sharks’ dominant victory in the 2010 final, turned in a second man-of-the-match performance in as many weeks to help his side to a 20-3 win in Durban in a match played on a rain-drenched pitch.
And at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg, Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies kicked what seemed like a match-winning penalty with 90 seconds remaining – only for WP to maul flanker Deon Fourie over the line on the hooter to seal a famous come-from-behind win and so end the defending champions’ reign.
Sharks (9) 20 Vodacom Blue Bulls (0) 3
Another impressive performance by Pat Lambie inspired the Sharks to a comprehensive win over the Vodacom Blue Bulls to power their way into the Absa Currie Cup final.
If ever there was a time that Lambie could send Bok coach Heyneke Meyer a clear message of his intentions to play flyhalf for the national team, the wet and muddy Durban game was the perfect moment.
With conditions not ideal for running rugby, the Sharks kept their composure more and capitalised on the Blue Bulls’ indiscipline and mistakes, and simply built an innings around Lambie’s boot as the visitors disintegrated in their own frustration.
The Sharks controlled the game from start to finish as their pack gained ascendency; they bettered the Blue Bulls in the scrums and made far less mistakes with ball in hand.
This resulted in almost no ball to attack from in the first half, and the Sharks reveled in their dominance up front. With so much ball and so many attacking opportunities, the pressure had to tell. And with it the Blue Bulls started giving away penalties.
Lambie may have missed his first one, but then slotted a perfect second and simply didn’t look back. But his all-round control of the game was a sign of maturity, and it was costly for the Blue Bulls as he saw space behind the defence on the half hour, and chipped only to be stopped by a trip by prop Morné Mellett.
Mellett was lucky to get only a yellow card but the indiscretion was still costly, as Lambie slotted two more penalties in Mellett’s absence to let the home side lead 9-0 at the break.
In the second half the Blue Bulls’ discipline disintegrated even more, and Lambie kept on slotting the penalties. By the time the reserves started appearing the Sharks were 15-0 up and even when Morné Steyn finally got a shot at goal, the game was virtually over.
Lwazi Mvovo slid in at the corner to put the game beyond doubt, and the Sharks were already looking forward to a home final by then.
Scorers:
Sharks – Try: Lwazi Mvovo. Penalties: Pat Lambie (5).
Blue Bulls – Penalty: Morné Steyn.
MTN Golden Lions (3) 16 DHL Western Province (6) 21
The MTN Golden Lions’ reign as Absa Currie Cup champions came to a dramatic end at Coca-Cola Park as a driving-maul try on the hooter clinched DHL Western Province a famous semifinal win.
The Lions will feel they did everything but win as they were the better team for much of the way and put WP under sustained pressure, but they failed to capitalise on their many opportunities and were left to rue the mistakes late in the game that could be said to have grabbed them defeat from the jaws of victory.
Certainly it looked as if the Lions were on their way to their second consecutive final when flyhalf Elton Jantjies made up for some horrendous early misses by kicking an angled pressure penalty 90 seconds from time that put his side two points ahead.
But then came a mistake when they failed to clear their line from the restart, and WP pulled out the most tried and trusted try-scoring method by mauling their way 17 metres for the match-clinching score off the final move of the game.
There was plenty to enthuse about from the WP attacking play in the second half, with the introduction of Joe Pietersen at fullback and Louis Schreuder as the flyhalf in the last quarter making a dramatic difference to a game that they were losing at that point, but in the end it was that lineout maul that lost the Lions the game.
Jaco Taute, destined to play for the DHL Stormers in Vodacom Super Rugby next year, will kick himself for his role in his team’s demise. He kicked directly into touch in trying to clear the Lions’ red zone and was adjudged by referee Marius Jonker to have done so after the ball was carried back into his 22.
So instead of the Lions getting away from the 22-metre area, they ended up having to defend as Scarra Ntubeni fed the lineout and WP drove inexorably to the line, where flanker Deon Fourie eventually touched down.
It was a sad way for the Lions to end competitive rugby for the season as they head into the no-man’s land that they will find themselves in next season when they watch the Super Rugby tournament played without them.
Scorers:
Lions – Try: Michael Rhodes. Conversion: Elton Jantjies. Penalties: Jantjies (2), Ruan Combrinck.
WP – Tries: Joe Pietersen, Deon Fourie. Conversion: Joe Pietersen. Penalties: Demetri Catrakilis (2), Pietersen.
59 @ grootblousmile:
I have read only once or twice the comments on Sports24. Those guys are even worse than the keo bloggers. Would never blog on Sports24. Only read the threads there as they get the news it seems first.
Rugby365 not bad at all. Some trouble makers but a lot of good bloggers there it seems. I read their articles every day there, not so much the bloggers but do read some of the bloggers comments there.
I also go to Roar each day and read there. It is a Aussie site, but really top class.
@ Puma:
hehehe 😆
@ Puma:
Back to rugby, here is the team i think will be selected
Pooms, Here is the team as i think they will play!!!
15 Ludick
14 JPP
13 Jordaan
12 Whitehead
11 Mvovo
10 Lambie
09 Reinach
08 Daniel
07 Alberts/Deysel
06 Coetzee
05 Bresler
04 Jandre
03 Jannie
02 Burden/Cooper
01 Beast
16 Cooper/Burden
17 Herbst
18 Sykes/PSDT (not sure why but i know Plum called PSDT into the squad)
19 Deysel/Alberts
20 Mcleod
21 Bosman
22 Odwa/PSDT
Not sure if he will but if Plum does go with a 5-2 split? you might find and extra flank on the bench as PSDT covers 7 and 5,4
62 @ Sharks_forever:
Tell Sharksgirl to blog here sometime boet. See she also left keo. Tell her to log on here and chat with us this week. Very nice person she is.
@ Puma:
Agreed will tell her, i have her phone no, we have spoken lots, shes a very decent gal, hubby a nice guy too.
64 @ Sharks_forever:
Good team and yes, in this game we have to start with Beast. I think he will have Psdt on the bench for sure as he said our lineouts were not working well on Saturday. So I think we can expect a 5/2 split.
Well, at least the Blue Bulls Under 19 and Under 21 sides are in the final!
Must say I’m specifically impressed with the Under 21’s
@ Puma:
I also think Alberts could be starting, Not sure why as Deysel has been very good, just a feeling i have.
@ Sharks_forever:
66
Just read a post from her that side. Can’t answer as I am not going to blog there again. Tell her I agree with what she said there and to come say howzit to me here. Thanks bro.
Would you start with Deysel or Alberts? Both were very good on Saturday. Deysel will halt Deon at the breakdowns.
@ grootblousmile:
Your Under21’s have been excellent and i and sure they will win their Final,
Lemme rephrase that, I hope they win both under 21’s and Under19’s
Fark, this has been bothering me half of today already… what is the name of that black Bulls flank who was destined for higher honours, got a neck injury and is now coaching at the Bulls…. name just eluding me here.
Think he is heavily involved in the Under 21’s coaching there….
Ag my jinne…..
Ook nie ons Bulle ondersteuners se skuld dat die mense nie hier wil gesels nie, dis alles die refs se skuld wat die Bulle so uit die finals uitblaas deesdae, nou is daar nie meer daardie opwinding vir die CB finaal: Bulle vs die res van SA nie ! 😉
73 @ bdb:
Kommaan, help my met die Bulls flank… swart ou…. was moer goed…. paar jaar terug
71 @ Sharks_forever:
When is the finals of the u21’s being played. Jeez what a question I suppose, just have not watched a lot of the u21’s this year. Did watch our semi against Province on Saturday and a pity we never got our last kick over otherwise would have won that one.
@ Puma:
She definately joining us
i just gave her the web site addie
Just phoned her, was quicker 😆
74: Denzel Washington ?
68 @ grootblousmile:
Sorry for being dop boeta, but when is the u21’s and u19’s final being played? This Saturday?
@ Puma:Yeah we threw that away Pooms, but to be honest the BUlls juniors will win the trophies, They have been really good this year, We have done well butnot consitent
78 @ Puma:
dop = dof
78 @ Puma:
Saturday in Durban as the games before the big Final.
Blue Bulls vs WP (both Under 19 and Under 21)
78: Eish, oom Puma, maar jy raak nou regtig oud, elkeen wat bietjie van SA rugby weet, sal weet al die finals word op dieselfde dag gespeel op die veld waar die CB finaal is vir die senior spanne. Dink dit is so die afgelope 20 jaar al.
76 @ Sharks_forever:
Thanks bro, she is a nice person.
@ Sharks_forever:
@ Puma:
Howzit Sharksters!
You boys ready?
I am on a ‘pilgrimage’ this week, it is that time of the year over here in the ‘sands’…..so I will be blogging during the week for a change, sipping ‘homebrew’ whilst awaiting the Deben showdown…..
GO SHARKS, BYT HULLE!!!!!!
Howzit Sharksters!
You boys ready?
I am on a ‘pilgrimage’ this week, it is that time of the year over here in the ‘sands’…..so I will be blogging during the week for a change, sipping ‘homebrew’ whilst awaiting the Deben showdown…..
GO SHARKS, BYT HULLE!!!!!!
@ grootblousmile:
Tim Dlulane (broke his collarbone/neck against Earl Rose’s hip, of all people!)
81 @ grootblousmile:
Brilliant then Sharks score big time hosting all the finals. Great will watch then.
Sou Lawrence (not ‘of Arabia’, maar ‘of Durban’) geblaas het Saterdag, sou my geld op die Sharks gewees het om so 20-3 te wen …. maar nou is Jaco Peyper die ref, so ek dink hul behoort nou so met 8 punte te wen.
Bud on de udder hand, Derm, dink ek daar kom dalk ‘n verrassing, en kan Habana weer ‘n klomp harte breek Saterdag.
Nie dat dit my as ‘n Bul veel pla nie, want soos die een ou daar op Supersport gesê het, om te kies tussen die Sharks en die WP, is om te moet kies tussen die ‘lesser of two evils’ en dit is nie maklik nie !
So ek sal maar skree dat rugby op die dag wen !
84 @ Pietman:
Kom jou wandelende Rugby Ensiklopedie… help my met die Swart Bulls flank van so paar jaar gelede wat beseer was en moes ophou rugby speel.
Het Super Rugby vir die Bulls gespeel….
Donner, dit pla my nou!
@ Pietman:
HEhehe Pieta dagse broer, Geniet dit my maat, gonna be tough but i think we can beat the WEEPEE.
I was more worried about the BUlls game, those bugger know how to win playoff matches 😉
85 @ Pietman:
Daaaarsy!
Tim Dlulane!
Think the sooner he gets to coach at higher levels, the better….. those Under 21’s are on fire!
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