The styles of play and the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors might have been predictable, but the weekend’s Currie Cup matches again produced excitement and highlights with Griquas retaining their log lead despite losing to the Blue Bulls.
Predictable? Yes, as always, the Sharks used turnovers to score their tries; the Blue Bulls eventually smothered front-runners Griquas’ good pack into conceding yellow cards under pressure; Western Province ran well but handled poorly; the Free State Cheetahs are suddenly on one of their ups after another slump; and the Lions simply can’t finish.
And, of course, the Leopards and the Boland Cavaliers succumbed in a league they don’t quite have the firepower for on a weekend where the two top-billed Currie Cup matches in particular didn’t disappoint.
A flustered Blue Bulls side took the spoils by the narrowest of margins (25-24) when they broke Griquas’ unbeaten five-match run two minutes before the final whistle with Pedrie Wannenburg’s try under the posts.
While the home side will rue their missed kicks just as the Blue Bulls will theirs, the match was won in the last quarter when the Bulls forwards drove and mauled as they probably should do more often, and the yellow cards were simply the result of the pressure on the Griquas who were rolled back in this period.
The impact of Blue Bulls’ No 8 Dewald Potgieter’s return with the fire that he brought to the pack should not be underestimated — and while this is a plus, there must also be question marks about how long Werner Kruger and Derick Kuün can keep on producing with the sustained strain in the front row following a tough Super 14 campaign.
Not enough clinical finishing when it mattered on Griquas’ line, some fierce tackling by the home side — and perhaps not enough of the same by the Bulls — and a Griquas pack that simply wouldn’t give up until they could no more at the end were features of this tough encounter.
A lesson to the Lions
The Lions did everything right but win at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg. Perhaps it isn’t fair to say they played poorly, but ultimately 70% of the territory and more than your fair share of the ball count for zero if you don’t use the opportunities and turn over the ball to the best exploiters thereof.
The Sharks won this encounter 30-19 and were 23-0 up after 70 minutes, by which time the Lions had not even kicked at posts.
In the end, the Lions scored three tries in the last 10 minutes when the Sharks had seven replacements spread all over. The home side will be buoyed by this which put them square in the try stakes, but the reality of the 30-19 scoreline is that they don’t have what it takes.
And the one try, a long-range intercept effort from Pieter Engelbrecht, came as the Sharks threw caution to the wind to get the fourth bonus point try.
More commitment to the ball, a flyhalf who wants to and can get an exciting set of backs running, better handling and decision-making that coaches can hardly be expected to instill at this level are needed if the Lions want to be there for the play-offs.
And the Sharks? They were outdone up front, but used their opportunities well in a lesson to the Lions. They also had a lively Craig Burden and Man of the Match Ryan Kankowski, who both did some sublime work on attack and with ball in hand.
The criticism that their tries are scored from far out is perhaps the only one that should be leveled at them, for a little more territorial play would to them the world of good.
Full marks to the Sharks, however, for their defence and discipline under pressure. That upset the Lions, won the Sharks turnover ball, and ultimately clinched the match.
Western Province made to work
Western Province were made to work for their 38-7 win. The second half produced 30 points for the winners, who ran well after the break against a Boland side that gave them a fair battle up front, but didn’t have much more to offer than guts.
WP will be disappointed that they had to wait until the 77th minute for their bonus point try. This was brought about by too many handling errors, but there were at least signs that the old WP running flair was on its way back.
Boland youngster Juan de Jongh, now in the blue and white WP hoops, is fast building on a reputation that will have him a marked man in the second half of the season, and Springbok Peter
Grant got his line away well and reaffirmed that flyhalf is his position and that he is the man if WP want to run it.
Generally WP will be happy that they’re back on track after the Griquas loss last weekend, although WP coach Allister Coetzee also realises there remains a lot of work to be done.
Cheetahs on form
The Free State Cheetahs were impressive and ominous. So often their own enemy in the past two seasons, they looked sharp and confident in their 71-17 win over the Leopards in Potchefstroom on Friday night, and on this form will do more than merely scare the front-runners.
But then, can they keep playing at this level and finish as they did against a side that has been disappointing after promising so much before being promoted? Jacques-Louis Potgieter did more running than usual at flyhalf and attacked his own channel well, and the result was four tries by speedy wings, the Sevens Springboks Danwel Demas and Jongi Nokwe. The latter of course also played a Test against the British and Irish Lions this year.
In the first Division, the Pumas just rolled on and this time it was the Border Bulldogs that had to bear the brunt of their forceful play. Pumas won 47-12 in East London to make a statement that they are the team to beat for honours this season.
The Pumas proved that size really does matter in rugby as they just physically overwhelmed a gutsy, adventurous Border side, scoring five tries to two to keep their unbeaten record intact.
But the Eagles, in an impressive first half, showed that they will be there at play-off time when they beat the Valke 47-15 after leading 40-0 following a superb first half. The Eagles scored six tries in all. — Sapa