Currie Cup hots up

Currie Cup hots up

20 Jul 2006

Two rugby legends – one ex-Blue Bulls and the other ex-Sharks – speak to keo.co.za ahead of the crunch Absa Currie Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow.

The two men, Naas Botha and Mark Andrews, firmly believe their own team will win what promises to be a titanic battle, but as was the case when the two clashed in the Vodacom Super 14, one of them will be proved wrong.

Who will it be?

Naas Botha (Blue Bulls): “I always maintain that home ground advantage should always be too much of a factor for whatever visiting team. It’s going to be tough on the Sharks and they got a shock last week so the pressure is on and the Bulls played their best game last week. The Bulls should take it, but the Sharks are good so whatever it will be a close game.

“The Sharks lost valuable points last week and it could really count in the long run. That said Dick (Muir) is promoting the talent in his ranks and that should work in the future, but this is the Currie Cup and you play to win no matter what. And I just don’t see the Bulls slipping another home game. They will protect that with fierce rugby for sure.”

Mark Andrews (Sharks): “To be honest, I’m more sad about missing the Bulls versus Sharks game than I am happy about watching the Boks in Wellington live. I think it will be a fantastic game at Loftus. I think if the Sharks can regroup and can fire for the full 80 minutes they will take it. Resting the players may cause them to lose their rhythm, but at the same time they will be fresher.

“I have been impressed with four teams this year – the Sharks, Bulls, Cheetahs and Western Province – so any clash between those four gets the juices flowing. And without the Boks, the rest of the guys are showing they can still produce quality rugby. I have been very impressed. Tomorrow night there will be plenty of emotion as these two teams have quite a history.”

By Andrew Hollely


38 Comments

  • 1.Ig: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:27 pm

    Dragons

  • 2.Skim: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:27 pm

    Isn’t it ‘heat’s’ up?

  • 3.keepin_it_real: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:29 pm

    sharks will take it by 15pts

  • 4.Cape Shark: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:29 pm

    Cummon Ig, i wouldn’t have expected that from you of all people.

  • 5.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:32 pm

    Ig has finally lost it – I don’t blame you though, with the Boks, and then people like Skim – it was bound to happen!

  • 6.Ig: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:32 pm

    Cape – sorry its part of effort to stop people posting first !

  • 7.Ig: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:32 pm

    PA – i am still here but you are right the edge is getting closer by the day !

    You think the Spears are gonna win ?

  • 8.Shred: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:33 pm

    I am just worried about Bason at 15. He will cause a ***** load of problems for the Sharks.

  • 9.Cape Shark: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:36 pm

    Na shred we’ve got Odwa!!

  • 10.Shred: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:37 pm

    CapeShark, I hope he does well.

    Im gonna be there tomorrow. Cant wait for the game.

  • 11.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:38 pm

    I think they are going to get the go-ahead Ig.

    It might be two-part though, CC immediately but the judge might reserve judgement on the S14.

    Saru has received 2 crucial blows in the last week or so, firstly the court denying the Spears pay financial security and secondly the judge dismissing the Saru fact-finding mission as a farce – big blows that!

  • 12.Cape Shark: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:41 pm

    Enjoy Shred, just don’t start singing along to Liefling though!! Remember our song is “we are black we are white …”

  • 13.Kudu: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:41 pm

    This is gonna be a cracker of a game. Funny how one always backs your team, so what Naas and Mark has to say, is of no value to anyone.

  • 14.Shred: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:45 pm

    Cape Shark, not a *****. I stomach turns when I hear, “Die Blou Bull eet nie van die vloor af nie…” or what ever it is.

  • 15.Shred: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:46 pm

    Do you guys notice these okes that advertise their music on TV when the Bulls are playing. Haha! They are terrible! A good laugh though.

  • 16.Spearsfan: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:48 pm

    Ig,lol, all you have to do is ban skim.

  • 17.katman: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:49 pm

    Thank god…. When I started reading about “two legends” I feared for the worst: an interview with Fleck.

  • 18.Shred: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:50 pm

    lol katman!

  • 19.Bluecap: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:53 pm

    Cape Shark, One or two more threads and IG will start posting smilies.

  • 20.Bluecap: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:54 pm

    PA, I see you had a seriously good w\e on superbru eh.

  • 21.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:56 pm

    Hell BC,

    I had a great two weeks – picked two underdog teams to win and they came through!!!

    Plus I was close on the points too!!!

    All luck though!

  • 22.katman: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:57 pm

    Shred, are you talking about manne like Thys, die Bosveldklong?

    Do you think when he has to state his profession, he puts down “musician”?

  • 23.keepin_it_real: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 15:58 pm

    aussies werent underdogs

  • 24.Andre_WP: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:01 pm

    So it’s Sharks Vs Bulls , one of the big ones in the CC this year. Things are hoting up that’s for sure. Cheetha’s was lucky with the 50 + wins. Don’t think they will get that again. But they build up some nice bonus points. Bonus points are important for every team. When you make the semis than you play to win.

    Sharks
    Bulls
    WP
    Cheetha’s

    These teams will play it out in the semi’s

  • 25.katman: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:02 pm

    (23.) No, the underdog is the bottom one – the ***** that’s getting f*cked by the top dog. I think we were the *****.

  • 26.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:13 pm

    Ig you legendary dragon you!

  • 27.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:16 pm

    None of the teams that impressed Andrews is gonna win the blerrie thing. Hey Grr…

  • 28.katman: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:33 pm

    Ha! Andrews made the mistake of turning his back on a hungry lion.

    A hungry lion will leap into the paddock and take down a bull.

    A hungry lion will wade into the breakers and kill a shark.

    A hungry lion will even slaughter a cheetah.

    A hungry lion really couldn’t be bothered with wp.

  • 29.Bluecap: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:47 pm

    Pa, Lol, I think you were the only one picking Griquas, I still laughed and ” this is where I catch up” Wrong.

  • 30.Bluecap: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:49 pm

    Sorry, laughed and said

  • 31.BobZimmerman: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:53 pm

    A hungry lion will even destroy a less hungry lion

  • 32.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:55 pm

    Post 1:

    You go Ig……..!!!

  • 33.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 16:56 pm

    Ag, it will be a boring game as usual….

  • 34.WPLove: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 17:14 pm

    Sharks to walk over the Bulls… Bulls only capable of beating the small unions…

    Sharks by 15 – 20 points.

  • 35.van_mangs: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 17:22 pm

    Daar is net een Scholtz En dis n Dries Scholtz!!!! Koman Bulle

  • 36.superBul: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 19:54 pm

    Hierdie een gaan intresant wees , Bulle speel deesdae sleg in die nag games. Sharks weer waar hul was in s14 selde punte op log as Bulle maar onder hulle weens punte verskil.
    Nog vroeg in die seisoen maar so soort van n revenge game tussen die Bulls en Sharks. Wen die Sharks gaan ons dit ontgeld op hierdie site.
    anyway ek gaan my vrydagaand geniet hoop ons speel goeie rugby , want om darem die naweek in te gaan met n swak game en dan naels te kou oor die Bokke teen NZ , maak my wonder of dit die moeite werd is

  • 37.Original Pierre: Reply to this comment
    20 Jul 2006, 21:32 pm

    Sharks without Butch but with Bobo?! Bulls will walk it. Betting tip: Go low on Bulls’ bonus point try at 25 minutes.

  • 38.sarky: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2006, 07:47 am

    Ig, however much I’d like EC to rebuild its rugby, a Spears win would be a disaster for SA Rugby. With 9.2 million people in the area, rugby has a far greater future in Gauteng than EC.
    Bulls to win on home ground, but a niggly game methinks.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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