A Bulls year to remember
by Paki's Corner | 22 October 2009 (06:21)
The South African Currie Cup competition did not disappoint this past weekend with both semi finals producing absolute thrillers!
The Shark Tank in Durban and Newlands Stadium in Cape Town looked jam packed with rugby mad fans loving every minute of it – except of course the final two minutes of both encounters…
The first semi final seemed like the Sharks were set to storm home after two sensational tries via captain Stefan Terblanche and Ruan Pienaar. Argentinean flyhalf Juan Hernandez then kicked an excellent drop kick to give his team an 18-3 lead. But it was a moment of genius from Cheetahs flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter, who scored a superb intercept try from 40m out, that changed everything. Then with only seconds remaining on the clock that man Potgieter stole the match with an unbelievable drop kick to sink the Sharks 23-21!
I was watching the Currie Cup rugby with several friends at the Springbok breakfast club, and thankfully none of the Sharks fans could joke around about my WP team because at that stage we were still in the running…
The next semi final was meant to be a one sided affair with plenty of returning Springboks wearing Bulls colours.
Western Province did have home ground advantage, but it didn’t serve them that well as Morne Steyn kicked 4 penalties in the first quarter. WP then surprised the heck out of me by playing expansive rugby, almost scoring a few tries in the process. Center Juan de Jongh was awesome, and fellow schoolmate Anton van Zyl has become a central figure in this WP team that uncharacteristically didn’t field any Springboks (in the starting 15).
In fact the only try of the game came from the home side with Bok 7s player Gio Aplon burning past Wynand Olivier to touch down. It was almost an historic win for WP with infamous captain Luke Watson enjoying a fine season. It was, however, a cruel finish with replacement winger Sireli Naqelevuki taking the field with minutes remaining and instantly gifting the match-winning penalty to Steyn. The Bulls held on for a scintillating 21-19 win.
Highlight of the whole morning must have been WP replacement Schalk Burger absolutely smoking Fourie du Preez! It was a classic Burger of old hit- with the Springbok icon winking to his Bok teammate afterwards. No off the ball handbags this time, just hard rugby, played by professionals.
The Currie Cup final could be another Blue Bull riot at the Loftus stadium. What a year it’s been for the Bulls players – storming the Super 14 final by 60 points; some of their Springboks then beating the Lions 2-1, winning the Tri Nations, and now on the verge of a Currie Cup title. Numbers 4 (Botha), 5 (Matfield), 8 (Spies), 9 (du Preez), 10 (Steyn) & 11 (Habana) have been outstanding all season.
I do expect the Cheetahs to come out firing yet again, led by one of the IRB players of the year, Heinrich Brussow. He was instrumental in the win over the Sharks and will be in for a battle and a half against his Springboks teammates at the Bulls.
The match is still 10 days away, but the atmosphere is building. That Loftus stadium will surely have Steve Hofmeyr dressed in full Bulls gear – and don’t forget the tennis shoes – as he sings ‘Make all the Bulls Springboks’ in Afrikaans!
Cheers
Dallen
Dallen Stanford played 54 matches for the USA 7s team throughout his career spanning from 2006 to 2009, including 13 IRB 7s tournament appearances. To read other articles by the South African visit
http://ur7s.com/members/dallenstanford and
http://www.pakiscorner.com
