The round-robin stages of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division this weekend reached an exciting conclusion, as DHL Western Province maintained their unbeaten run to retain the No1 spot on the log, while the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and MTN Golden Lions secured their semifinal berths.
DHL Western Province will host the MTN Golden Lions in the first semifinal in Cape Town next Saturday, while The Sharks will meet the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Durban in the other pay-off match.
The Lions and Cheetahs finished the league stages level on 26 log points thanks to the four-try bonus point bagged by the Johannesburg team in their clash against GWK Griquas.
sarugby
But the regulations stipulate that in such instances log positions will be determined by the best points difference in the matches contested between the respective teams, which resulted in the Cheetahs finishing in third place and the Lions fourth.
This despite the fact that the Lions boasted a better points difference overall than the Cheetahs.
In Saturday’s matches DHL Western Province edged The Sharks 17-13 at Growthpoint Kings Park, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls 22-7 at the Free State Stadium and the MTN Golden Lions beat GWK Griquas 35-28 at Ellis Park.
The Sharks (6) 13 / 17 (14) DHL Western Province:
In Durban, DHL Western Province flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis’ pin-point goal kicking placed his team on the front foot against the Sharks in soaking conditions.
With the rain pelting down for a large part of the match both teams resorted to a tactical kicking game, and as expected goal-kicking proved to be crucial.
Catrakilis opened up the scoring with his first penalty in the sixth minute and backed this up with a drop goal five minutes later, while Sharks’ flyhalf Fred Zeilinga kicked two penalties to level the scores.
Western Province captain Deon Fourie scored the only try of the half in the 25th minute after the Sharks fumbled the ball, which the visitors capitalised on by spreading the ball out wide to Fourie for an 11-6 lead. Catrakilis added another penalty to hand his team an eight-point lead at the break.
The second half was equally tightly-fought, although Sharks’ replacement looseforward Keegan Daniel managed to cross the tryline seven minutes in, to close the gap to 14-13.
Catrakilis, however, did enough to seal the victory in the 60th minute with his third penalty of the day for a 17-13 win.
Scorers:
The Sharks 13 (6): Try: Keegan Daniel. Conversion: Pat Lambie. Penalties: Fred Zeilinga (2).
DHL Western Province 17 (14): Try: Deon Fourie. Penalties: Demetri Catrakilis (3). Drop Goal: Catrakilis.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs (10) 22 / 7 (7) Vodacom Blue Bulls:
In Bloemfontein the Vodacom Blue Bulls opted to hunt tries throughout the match against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs to achieve the tough task of defeating the hosts with a bonus point and by eight points or more, while denying the Cheetahs a bonus point to keep alive their hopes of a semifinal berth.
Such was their determination to achieve this they turned down several shots at goal and attacked instead, but the tenacious Cheetahs’ defence combined with a bunch of handling errors and turnovers by the visitors dashed their hopes of a victory.
Cheetahs flyhalf Elgar Watts was particularly impressive as he created the first try by Robert Ebersohn and then kicked a penalty to hand his team a 10-0 lead.
The Blue Bulls, however, fought their way back into the match with a try by prop Marcel van der Merwe shortly before half time.
Unfortunately for the visitors they were unable to build on this in the second half as the pressure got to the players, resulting in a comedy of errors, which left the team scoreless after the break.
The Cheetahs, meanwhile, made the most of their attacking chances, with Watts scoring a stunning try after gathering an attempted chip by the Blue Bulls, while Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss sprinted to the tryline to touch down for his team’s third try.
This despite the Cheetahs’ being reduced to 14 men in the 73rd minute after replacement prop Schalk van der Merwe received a red card for a dangerous tackle on opposition fullback Jurgen Visser.
,Scorers:
Toyota Free State Cheetahs 22 (10) – Tries: Adriaan Strauss, Elgar Watts, Robert Ebersohn. Conversions: Watts (2). Penalty: Watts.
Vodacom Blue Bulls 7 (7) – Try: Marcel van der Merwe. Conversion: Handre Pollard.
MTN Golden Lions (15) 35 / 28 (19) GWK Griquas:
The clash in Johannesburg was gripping as GWK Griquas surprised the MTN Golden Lions with their strong start, which earned them a 16-3 lead by the 20th minute.
This was partly due to the home team’s ill-discipline, which earned Griquas fullback Gouws Prinsloo seven penalties in the match.
Three early penalties by Prinsloo and a fantastic try by Griquas wing Rocco Jansen from a chip-and-chase netted the team an encouraging 16-3 lead.
But the Lions bounced back thanks to tries by Jacques van Rooyen and Anthony Volmink before the break. Prinsloo, however, had the last say as he slotted over another penalty shortly before half time for a 19-15 lead.
Tries by Lions hooker Willie Wepener and replacement looseforward Willie Britz to add to two penalties by flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff, however, handed the hosts an edge, as Griquas only points in the second half were compliments of three more penalties by Gouws.
The match marked the end of Griquas’ campaign, however, the team will face the Steval Pumas in home and away promotion-relegation games in the next two weeks to determine which of the sides will feature in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division next season.
Scorers:
MTN Golden Lions 35 (15) – Tries: Anthony Volmink, Jacques van Rooyen, Willie Britz, Willie Wepener. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (3). Penalties: Boshoff (3).
GWK Griquas 28 (19) – Try: Rocco Jansen. Conversion: Gouws Prinsloo. Penalties: Prinsloo (7).
Dankie tog, my CC toernooi van pyn is verby. Die game teen die cheetahs het die Bulls se hele seisoen opgesom. Net ‘n paar van idees oor die Bulle.
A. Die spelers se skill levels is baie laag. Hulle ball skill is die ‘n klub se 3de span. Kan vang nie, kan nie pass nie. Die is ‘n afrigtings probleem. Hulle kort ‘n skills coach.
B. Die spelers se kreatieweteit op aanval is 0. Hulle aanval is so voorspelbaar. Die cheetahs het geweet wat die Bulle gaan doen voordat hulle dit self geweet het. Weer ‘n afrigtings probleem.
C. Hoe kan die Bulle soveel senior spelers verloor? Ek kan nie dink dat net een persoon verantwoordelik is vir die kontrakte nie. Ek weet nie hoe werk die Bulle se management, maar dink dat die DOR, CFO en HR betrokke is by die kontraktering van spelers.
D. Gaan die Bulle ooit ‘n DOR aanstel in HM se plek. Of spaar hulle maar eerder die geld.
E. Die bulle se fiksheid en krag is swak. Dit kom weer van die afrigters af.
Lyk ook nie juis of die Bulle iets aan hulle probleme wil doen nie. Hulle sien nog positiewe goed orals in hul spel.
@ leon:
Ja nee ek is ook bly die seisoen is verby. Kyk ons kan dit op die ken vat maar waar ons in vorige jare aan die einde van die tonnel lig kon sien lyk dinge die jaar baie donker.
Op die Bulle se eie web blad is daar n geweldige uitroep na lang messe en dit is meestal oor Pine Pienaar se kop wat die swaard hang.
Ek is natuurlik glad nie beindruk met Slapchips nie, hy kan ook maar gaan.
Op Bulls site is ook gevra waarom het Frans Ludeke nie bietjie ingetree nie, Ja ek wonder ook. Al het hy net bietjie met die motivering gehelp.
Soos ek se dinge lyk nie lekker nie, selfs daar in die S15 semi finaal was dit asof die Coach en sy Kaptein nie op dieselfde golf lengte was nie. Daar sal skoongemaak moet word en dalk diep gesny moet word.
Een ou het daar op die Bulls site vir my die situasie lekker opgesom.
“BB23 het self gesê die BBRU is `n besigheid, wel ……… dan moet hulle `n behoorlike diens lewer en bereid wees om met ander besighede in die vermaaklikheidsbedryf mee te ding. Jy kan nie meer net op lojale ondersteuners, (wat sekerlik ook as kliënte gesien kan word), staatmaak nie”
# BB23 is Barend van Graan
Seems the strongest two teams will contest the final again.
I really had hope for the Bulls before this last game but as Leon stated, this was just a fair reflection of the whole season
@ Gena_ZA:
Agree 100%. It would be a travesty of justice if either of the Lions or FS got into the final.
That said, anything can happen.
I really don’t understand why SARU have a rule regarding points difference deciding log position which is different to EVERY SPORTING COMPETITION IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.
Could someone PLEASE explain to me what makes SA Rugby so unique as to warrant such a strange thing?
Every sporting competition in the world that I’m aware of decides the log position of sides with equal log points by (TOTAL) points / goal difference. Why not in the Currie Cup?
Seems strange to me, but then we live in a strange country, play a game with a strange shaped ball, and have VERY strange people running Rugby here in SA.
Lions for an upset in Cape Town, and with another rain filled and cold weekend forecast in Durbs, anything could happen.
Scrumdown wrote:
somehow i have this urge to bet a few bucks on that one.
Reason.
WP/Stormers like to falter at the end.
That final hurdle is always just that little bit too high. (O last year they broke that bogey, or did they?)
Free State like to upset the “poachers” and even there it might just be a big upset.
Final in Bloem? Mouth watering……
The Solid defense of the WP might just be too much for the Lions. Is Jantjies playing? Get Carlos Spenser to give him a call and then lets see.
@ superBul:
Jantjies beseer en uit vir die res van die jaar.
Weer voorspelling vir Duran is vir reen van Woensdag tot Sondag so enigeiets kan daar gebeur.
Ek vlieg Durban toe Donderdag vir n gholf toer, ao het rarig gehoop die Leeus en Guppies was saam in n halfeindstryd, maar nou ja.
Sal seker k@k gholf speel in die sop nat weer, en dan eers laat aanmeld om die tweede helfte van die WP-Lions game kyk.
Tussen die 25 van ons wat afvlieg is omtrent 50% van ons Leeus ondersteuners so die Sharks ondersteuners in Ballito kan maar k@k verwag as die Leeus vir die WP pak gee.
Ons kan maar droom ne?
@ Scrumdown:
Ja , n mens kan droom. Ek dink nie daar is genoeg slim ouens met truuks in die Leeu span om daardie WP verdedigings patroon te ontsyfer nie. WP kan nou maar een maal n game dood wurg met hul vedediging.
Scrumdown wrote:
Aai ek moet nou hierdie rug en heup uitsort sodat ek weer bietjie golf toere kan reel en speel. Skoon jaloers op julle , geniet die golftoer.
8 @ superBul:
Dankie sal probeer, maar die weervoorspelling lyk rarig sleg.
Maar, ‘n k@k dag op die gholfbaan bly beter as ‘n gooie dag op kantoor!
Ons speek Umhlali Donderdag, Mount Edgecomb Vrydag en Zimbali Saurdag, so 3 moeilike bane.
Hoop die ligaam kom gou reg. Alyd moelik om so ‘n besluit te neem ,of te sny of nie.
1st Test SA vs Pakistan, not a great start
South Africa 53/3 (18.5 ov)
Pakistan
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat
Day 1 – Session 1
@ Scrumdown:
9
Besluit nie baie moeilik nie, ek het geen keuse nie. Rugmurg is in erntige gedrang , as ek nie die rug regmaak nie kan my rugmurg seerkry wat dood of verlamming kan veroorsaak. So die keuse is maklik.
Dit is toe darem nie 5 werwels wat geheg moet word nie , net 2.
Looks like WP are already in the final in their minds, according to Deon Fourie in the post match interview.
Anything can still happen in semi’s.
Hope the Lions and Cheetahs push the top 2 teams really hard on Saturday – if they are worthy title contenders, they should win
The 4 best sides are ultimately through to the Currie Cup semis, but I also think that the Golden Lions and Free State Cheetahs are a few steps behind WP and The Sharks.
If logic prevails on the weekend, the 2 stronger home-semi sides should win and deserve to win, to contest the final the next weekend.
It brings me back to my favourite side, the Blue Bulls…
Looking back over the year, I am happy with what the Bulls achieved in Super Rugby, after I gave them no chance at the beginning of the season and after I thought they would be mid-table contenders. Well, they finished 2nd on the overall Log… and threw away their semi against the Brumbies.
It was frightening to think that the Blue Bulls played almost the whole Currie Cup without 18 Springboks who did duty for them in Super Rugby 2013!
Of course I was apprehensive about the Currie Cup, even before the competition started, but at times the young side showed some big balls, whilst at other times they were run over by the bus.
Logic tells me that the Bulls will get some, but not enough stars back for Super Rugby in 2014.
1. Hookers: They are good but a tad light and the throw-in’s into the lineouts need serious work ahead of the new season.
2. Props: They worry me no end, with Morné Melett good at loosehead, but injury prone… and the rest of the looseheads very mediocre (Dean Greyling & Marcel van der Merwe). At tighthead prop, Frik Kirsten is solid, but Werner Kruger has regressed heavily in 2 seasons.
3. Locks: They should be OK, with Flip van der Merwe, Paul Willemse, David Bullbring and Grant Hattingh – they can be machined into great locks who will continue the rich Bulls locking traditions.
4. Looseforwards – At the moment the looseforwards are unbalanced and rather toothless, but with the return of Deon Stegmann, Arno Botha & Pierre Spies… with added value supplied by Vleis Engelbrecht, Jacques du Plessis and Wiaan Liebenberg, the Bulls should be more than competative and happy in Super Rugby.
5. Scrumhalves: How happy I would be to see Francois Hougaard back from injury and with Piet van Zyl joining the Bulls from the Staat… it would put the Bulls back at strenght again at scrummie, something which was vitally flawed and severely lacking in this Currie Cup. There was no direction and proper purpose amongst the scrummies, as highlited when Jurgen Visser actually made a vast improvement when he had to stand in for Yellow-carded Rudy Paige on Saturday. A lot of the Blue Bulls problems started at scrumhalf in the Currie Cup!
6. Flyhalves: I’m most worried about the Bulls flyhalf stocks, with Louis Fouché returning from injury before Super Rugby starts, a misfiring Handré Pollard and Tony Jantjies who should actually never get close to a super Rugby game, if sanity prevails. Louis Fouché is somewhat of a mule… kicks monster punts to touch and to posts, but that’s all he offers, no more. Pollard needs to work on many aspects of his play, goal kicking is paramount but I also think he needs to have a serious mental shift if he wants to go places, he has not had a good season after promising so much in 2012.
7. Left wing: Bjorn Basson does his thing and backup is there or thereabouts.
8. Centres: The Bulls starters will be the 2 Springboks, Jan Serfontein and JJ Engelbrecht, which means the starters are good… they are backed-up by talented William Small-Smith and Ulrich Beyers, who is adequate.
9. Right wing: It is still a big work in progress, with Akona Ndungane past his prime and Sampie Mastriet showing promise but not quite there yet.
10. Fullback: Jurgen Visser at fullback worries me, he does some good stuff, but is also prone to some of the weirdest brain lapses out there. Clayton Blommetjies could cover wing and fullback but he is frightfully unstable at times too.
Bulls will do well if they reach mid-table in Super Rugby 2014.
Having effectively lost 10 Springboks since Super Rugby 2013, then gaining one brief Springbok (Piet van Zyl), the Bulls will still have 13 Springboks in their Super Rugby squad for 2014, effectively only 4 of which would make a Springbok match day 23.
Future Bulls contracting worries me, the coaching structures around Frans Ludeke also does!
@ grootblousmile:
All you said sounds good, there is just one thing these guys must do. Play like A TEAM, get coached by a COACH. At least we will see something happening then. We will grow, unlike this CC team and coaches effort.
South Africa 123/4 (45.1 ov)
GBS – What happened to Saun Adendorff?
Also think Marcel vd Merwe will become on of your better props in the years to come
17 @ Gena_ZA:
Shaun Adendorff is playing for the Blue Bulls junior sides, was on the bench for the U21’s this weekend… he will come through some time.
Marcel van der Merwe has been surprisingly weak and lousy at loosehead in the scrummaging department, I expected much more from him this Currie Cup.
So, the Ama-Blomme ended Day 1 against Pakistan on 245 / 8.
Amla is still standing on 118, batting very well. With him is Dale Steyn on 13.
@ grootblousmile:
19
I just get this sick feeling about our Cricket, we dont play enough long games. Far to many 1 day and 20/20s. SA is the Top Test country but we only play 3 test series. The Indians and the Ashes are 5 test series, they are in far better form. We were out of shape today, fast asleep, caught with our pants on our knees.
20 @ superBul:
Yip, strange how they reason.
Dit is teleurstellend. Die bulle se CC maar meer nog die hopelose klompie ondersteuners wat net wil wen sodat hulle hul bors kan uitstoot. Nou is al die afrigters swak. Iemand wil selfs vir John Mitchel he nadat hy die Lions uit die Super 15 uit afgerig het. Die WP verloor enkele spelers en kom nerens in die Super 15 nie. Selfde met Natal nadat hulle enkeles verloor het. Waar was hulle bestuur en afrigters gewees. BULLE VERLOOR 18 van Super 15 groep en dan nog enkele Springbokke ook. Dit is dalk tyd om die ondersteuners skoon te maak.
Posted by Blouwes on 14 October 2013 18:45202
Blouwes cry me a river.
Dit is die feite , ja ons almal kan lees en verstaan dat 18 Springbokke weg is
Ons vra hoekom, waarom. Wats fout, is Zander n “Bloody agent” want sommer in die middel van die seisoen laat hy n Skrumskakel vry om oorsee te gaan terwyl ons sukkel met skrumskakels. Dit lyk asof hy Niks(ek het amper n F woord gebruik) vir die onmiddelike Unie se ondersteuners voel nie. Kan jy glo hoe maklik word spelers vrygestel.
Selfs in die crunch tyd van die Super 14 is n speler soos Juandre gerelease. Is hy mal?
Posted by superBul on 14 October 2013 18:57
201
Good morning all, not looking too good in Abu Dhabi, SA bowled out for 249 and in reply Pakistan are 40/0 in the 9th over. Dale Steyn has gone for 29 off 4 and a half overs, much tidier by Vernon Philander who has only conceded 11 off his 4 overs so far.
Pakistan 42/0 after 9 overs. Amla was out for 118 and Steyn 15 this morning with Morne Morkel not out on 2. Could be a long day in the field for the bowlers today, bit hazy but already 31 in Abu Dhabi and temperature probably rise to the mid thirties, we need to pcik up a few wickets quickly.
@ Bullscot:
Ons het n helse fight op ons hande, Pakistan is heeltemal oor ons op die oomblik. Ons gaan moet hoop ons kan die game red.
Hopelik kan Donald hulle goeie advies gee, en dalk bietjie voller bowl.
25 @ MacroBull:
Hello MacroBull ja dit lyk of Pakistan domineer so ver, slegs 167 lopies agter ons totaal en het nog nie ‘n paaltjie verloor – 82/0 – maar krieket kan ‘n snaase game wees en baie vinning verander. Om te dink Pakistan het vir ‘n tyd in hul onlangse reeks teen Zimbabwe gesukkel. Ons tweede beurt sal baie beter gaan moet net hoop dat daar nie te veel van ‘n agterstand is wanneer ons weer gaan kolf. Ek sien die laaste 10 boul beurte het ons bowlers die lopie tempo verminder so hopelik kan ons die druk so op bou en die kolwers frustreer om los houe te speel en hul paaltjies kry.
@ Bullscot:
Hey scot, ons sal ons tweede beurt moet laat tel as ons die volgende toets nie wil jaag sonder amla nie.
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