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.
sarugby
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.
147 @ Just For Kicks:
Oh boy hope you have a big place in Cumbria, houses are generally smaller here, unless you got a nice rural spot. Still a pity you not making it north of the Border, this is truly the place to be
150: met Cilliers, Rhodes, Jantjes en Taute wat na die Stormers gaan, gaan hul ‘n baie sterk groep hê volgende jaar. Burger en Koalisie behoort ook terug te wees na hul beserings.
150 @ Bullscot:
There is a fine line between performing and getting into trophy postions versus being patient and rebuilding.
If you build too long, then you risk losing or leaking players to where they perceive success is already evident.
Also, rebuilding has to happen under a master man-manager, who can motivate and keep a core together…. Bulls have lost both Ian Schwartz and Heyneke Meyer, who to my mind formed that critical core of identification and man-management.
We need new star-coaches to rise to the top…. charismatic creatures of the highest order – maybe guys like Victor Matfield, maybe Tim Dlulane, Nollis Marias, so that Frans Ludeke can move into the role Heyneke Meyer vacated as Director of Rugby. Pine Pienaar is NOT that coach we are looking for, he will never be, even though he is a very honest and likable chap.
153 @ grootblousmile:
Yes I guess so Gbs, but the point am trying to make is against fans who have unrealistic expectations and then get very negative, and if you read what some of our so called fans post on the official site, downright nasty. I was seeing a bit of what was going on behind the scenes and it looks like the manager is a very good people’s person, but I guess thats more an organizing admin type role rather than coaching but its still nice to have someone like him around. Also the Blue Bulls are engaging very well I think with the fans. You know better than I which coaches are good or not but remember the stick Ludeke took when he was at Lions, so maybe unfair to say never for Pine. Still think we missed a trick when Andy Farrell was in the country at the time England was touring we should have put feelers out just to see, you know if you don’t ask you don’t get, we would have got a good backline and defence coach in one and a great hard working tough man.
153 @ grootblousmile:
The point you make about losing players is something that must make life very difficult for the modern day sports coach, very difficult to have a long term vision and be taking steps to implement it only then to lose key players in the set up, and maybe end up in a continuing rebuilding cycle sitting with a big group of talented but too inexperienced players then when they are ready to take the next step up some of them disappear, BUT I guess that just comes with the territory of professional sport, its just like in other jobs – people come and go, so hang around for a while but others prefer to climb to the top by jumping around to different companies in order to get promotion if they feel that its taking to long where they are, even if it isn’t really. Plus in SA you have the difficulty of emigration, so the likes of UK, France, Aus and NZ are gaining on the rugby front whereas the immigration into SA its not necessarily giving an equal benefit to rugby.
Looks like I missed a good chat and on a Monday night nogal!
Puma, yes I hope the weather hold, but really broer, you guys must invest in a proper drainage system.
Piet, dankie virrie kompliment. Se vi jou vrou ek is baie happy om te hoor sy laaikie tunes.
Nag julle…
Hello Sharksgirl,
See you up there. Welcome to the friendly site.
You looking forward to the big game on Saturday?
Gbs,
We should do predictions of games on this site. Should do one for this game. Then from next year let us add that to our threads for Super Rugby each week. Actually start with this game and for eoyt games as well.
Okay no-one on line again.
Will leave you lot with another Lambie article….. 🙂
Go read Gavin Rich’s Article on Super Sport speaking to AC the Province coach. WP Coach agogo over classy Lambie.
AC said if he was Springbok coach he would have had Lambie as the Bok flyhalf. Thinks he is the best 10 in SA and has been since 2010. Okay last post about our classy flyhalf from Sharks. Just hope that Meyer can see this.
Back later.
@ Puma:
😆 Pooms you sure are pushing the point 😆
Sharks Must not take this WP team lightly at all, All previous matches against them must not be taken into account at all
Good Morning M, welcome to RT, hope you can see where we chatting.
160 @ Sharks_forever:
I know but want the best to start for the Boks.
Did you read that article by Gavin Rich on Super Sport? Also McLooks article. Both make plenty sense. AC Said he would have made him Bok 10 if he was Bok coach. He knows backline play better than Meyer. Jeez bro, I just want the best to start.
Wait until next year when Fransie plays. He is my favourite player. Also come out with boxing gloves on to defend him………..hahaha…
Even Rudi is still asleep,
@ Puma:
😆 bro yeah i did, I see Goosen is being hyped again in Keo, 😆 dont worry just passed through, wont blog, they so way beyond arrogant it’s scary
161 @ Sharks_forever:
I think Plum will have the players minds ready for that. Doubt we will take Province lightly. We will be ready.
Damn the weather forecast has changed again from full sun to damn rain again for Saturday. When will our Sharks play in good weather at the Tank??????
Did you answer my question yesterday, not sure so will ask again. Would you start with Alberts or Deysel?
@ Puma:
😆 I am the same, i used to have huge fights on sharksworld in defense of Fransie
165 @ Sharks_forever:
Every day there is a different thread there on who to start at fh. Someone shoud steer them to the Gavin Rich Article on SuperSport. AC knows backline play better than the journos. He said straight up if he was coach he would have had Lambie start at 10. Thinks he is world class. Enough said AC has said it all there. Good article that. Mclooks article was good too, but that one on Super Sport is the best and it is mostly AC thought on our star flyhalf.
Anyhow about the game on Saturday. I have a sneaky feeling that Plum may start PSDT at 4 lock instead of Jandre. Not sure if that is the right thing, but PSDT is great in the lineouts. Actually he too is a star player. Heck there I go again, our Sharks are all stars……………… 🙂 🙂
167 @ Sharks_forever:
Good for you then. As Fransie is world class and has been since 2006. Will be even better next year with Lambie playing next to him. Mclook think we will see the best out of Fransie next year at Sharks because of that. Then we have both said that too. Also young Cobus is showing super class too. Not the finished product but after a few games in Super Rugby he will be right up there. Think he will make the Bok squad eoyt.
@ Puma:
😆 hehehe bro
Look All the articles are telling us is what we already know lol.
I dont think he will start with PSDT, but i am pretty sure PSDT will be on the bench to cover flank and lock.
I have a feeling as per the side i put up last night that we could very well see a 5-2 split on the bench.
168 @ Puma:
meant – Steer
SHARKSGIRL! THIS IS ME SHARKS_LOVER
170 @ Sharks_forever:
If rain is forecast without a doubt it will be a 5/2 split.
PSDT another really classy player. Will be on the bench, but with our lineout woes again last week, I won’t be surprised to see him start. He was excellent in the u21’s game. I did watch that one. Hardly do watch the u21’s, but from now on will do so. Some good talent there, not only in our team, Province and Bulls.
Still trying to get those above to join us and chat LOL
174 @ Sharks_forever:
I think SG must be busy. Sometimes I log on there then need to take a call and forget I am logged on here….hahaha.
@ Puma:
If the lineouts are a problem Pooms i reckon my team will change slightly with Jandre dropping to the bench and Sykes starting
@ Puma:
😆
174 @ Sharks_forever:
I went yesterday to get tickets and the queue was ridiculous, went down the road. So left, but neighbour said he might be able to get me box tickets. So will know by Friday. Will let you know.
176 @ Sharks_forever:
Yes that could happen too.
177 @ Sharks_forever:
Okay bro, I have some work to do for the next two hours or so. Will catch up then.
Back later.
Users Online
Total 5 users including 0 member, 5 guests, 0 bot online
Most users ever online were 3735, on 31 August 2022 @ 6:23 pm
No Counter as from 31 October 2009: 40,677,642 Page Impressions
_