Leopards flay Valke
18 Oct 2008
The Leopards scored a surprise 29-24 win over the Valke in Brakpan.
The win sees the First Division side heading into the second play-off with a slight advantage, but the performance at Bosman Stadium suggests the minnows could enter the top flight next season. They led 10-6 at half-time and continued to improve as the game progressed.
The Valke stayed in touch in the second period, but Leopards fullback Jan van Zyl put the final nail in the coffin when he finished off a counter attack. The next game will be played on Friday in Potchefstroom where the Leopards will enjoy home advantage.
Valke – Tries – Hanno Coetzee, Poerie van Rooyen, Dewald Coetzee. Conversions: Jeffrey Perkins, Van Rooyen (2). Penalties: Perkins.
Leopards: Tries – Jaco Bouwer, Jan van Zyl. Conversions: Clinton Durand (2). Penalty: Durand (5).
439 Comments
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19 Oct 2008, 15:35 pm
#400 superBul: No pills for me, not even a beer until the final whistle. Want to savour this one.
Man the best (home team) win lol.
19 Oct 2008, 15:37 pm
#398 superBul: no disrespect SB. Honest. My sentiments come from many decades of frustration (and its not the missus) commencing with Mr Botha himself and laterly Mr Meyer’s boys. At forward, the Bulls have few peers. They have exciting backs. No question. But are they used as effectively as their potential demands. The style requires conservative, attritional rugby. Wear down the opponent and then strike for the kill. The Sharks and WP play a higher risk, expansionist game, which some of us prefer. In summary, how many times has Habs scored this CC? I don’t know the answer but I could suggest that it’s not a pretty sight.
19 Oct 2008, 15:37 pm
#393 goyougoodthing2: Yeah weather has not been great. Then again I enjoy this weather sometimes. Just hope its dry for the game on Saturday.
#398 superBul: Going to be great to see Kanko against Spies. For me Kanko is the guy inform here but both really are SA’s two best number 8 Hope that PdV selects both of these guys especially Kanko he deserves to get a call from PdV he has been playing fantastic in the cc.
19 Oct 2008, 15:41 pm
Cheers goyougoodthing2, TASSIES, sperBul. Chat later.
19 Oct 2008, 15:43 pm
#404 Puma: Jeez another typing mistake!! lol. superBul sorry mate typed your nick wrong.
19 Oct 2008, 15:43 pm
#402 TASSIES: i hear what you say but the Bulls backs for the last 2 to 3 years scored more tries than the Sharks. The Sharks on the other hand score a lot of tries by the back 3.
19 Oct 2008, 15:46 pm
Naas used to arrive with his boys(I think Thys Lourens was the capt then) down here at Newlands and torment the **** out of us with his line kicking and pots at goal(drops and penalties) and accumulate points like a bloody machine and leave us for dead. The guys on either side of him were spectators just like us because they hardly saw the ball. What’s more, he’d sometimes do this in the pouring rain, which was supposed to be to our advantage. Because I was young and impressionable then, I was impressed with the man’s skill but not impressed with the dour boring rugby on display and they have been struck off my list of favourite teams to watch, ever since. Call it a mindset. Help me break it. Lets talk after saturday.
19 Oct 2008, 15:51 pm
#406 superBul: I believe you. I suspect WO has nailed a fair percentage of those. A lot have been scored on the blindside, close to the line, behind that powerful pack of yours. Pedrie also scores a hell of a lot of tries for a No 8. Habs has been very quiet recently. Those long passes out to him are unreal to watch but they’ve been a tad scarce recently. He missed on just the other week. Out of practise I suppose
19 Oct 2008, 15:53 pm
#406 superBul: SB. I’m outta here for a white. Wife is claiming I’m a social outcast in the home these day. You guys are to blame. Cheers. Later.
19 Oct 2008, 15:53 pm
These stats show that somehow the ball does get to the Bulls backs.
Top try scorers 2008
Keegan Daniel The Sharks 9
Jacques Botes The Sharks 8
MJ Mentz Wildeklawer Griquas 8
John Mametsa Vodacom Blue Bulls 7
Jongi Nokwe Vodacom FS Cheetahs 7
Doppies la Grange Xerox Lions 7
JP Pietersen The Sharks 6
Tiger Mangweni Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
Wynand Olivier Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
Andries Bekker Vodacom WP 6
Bjorn Basson Wildeklawer Griquas 6
Michael Killian Xerox Lions 6
2007
John Mametsa Vodacom Blue Bulls 14
Eddie Fredericks Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 11
Rayno Benjamin Golden Lions 9
Richardt Strauss Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 9
Jannie Boshoff Golden Lions 8
Heinrich Brussow Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 8
Jaco Pretorius Golden Lions 7
Stefan Terblanche The Sharks 7
Odwa Ndungane The Sharks 6
Derick Kuun Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
JP Nel Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
Philip Burger Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 6
Gavin Passens Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 6
Sireli Naqelevuki Vodacom Western Province 6
Breyton Paulse Vodacom Western Province 6
2006
Philip Burger Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 15
Jaco Pretorius Lions 11
Ryno van der Merwe Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 9
Luke Watson Vodacom Western Province 8
Marius Delport Vodacom Blue Bulls 7
Derick Kuun Vodacom Blue Bulls 7
Dries Scholtz Vodacom Blue Bulls 7
Kabamba Floors Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 7
Gavin Passens Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 7
Sireli Naqelevuki Vodacom Western Province 7
Vuyani Dlomo Wildeklawer Griquas 7
Bismarck du Plessis The Sharks 6
Stefan Basson Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
Morne Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
Egon Seconds Vodacom Western Province 6
Corne Uys Vodacom Western Province 6
19 Oct 2008, 16:44 pm
All Blacks Training Squad Named
Sun 19 Oct
Openside flankers Tanerau Latimer and Scott Waldrom have been named in a New Zealand wider training group that will assemble in Auckland on Monday.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named a 25-strong group that does not include any players from Wellington or Canterbury, the teams who will contest the final of the Air New Zealand Cup on Saturday.
Latimer (Bay of Plenty) and Waldrom (Taranaki) are both in contention for the number seven back-up spot behind captain Richie McCaw for the upcoming tour to Hong Kong, Britain and Ireland.
Waldrom’s Taranaki team-mate, lock Jason Eaton, who has not played for the All Blacks since November 2006, has also been named in the squad as have loose forward Liam Messam, props Ben Franks and Jamie Mackintosh plus wing Joe Rokocoko who is looking to regain his spot on the wing after injury.
The group, which also includes all incumbent All Blacks not playing in the cup final, will have a training game against a New Zealand Barbarians side, coached by Pat Lam, on Wednesday.
The camp ends on Thursday and Henry will announce his 35-man squad for the tour on Sunday.
New Zealand wider training group: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Jason Eaton, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Richard Kahui, Jerome Kaino, Tanerau Latimer, Sione Lauaki, Jamie Mackintosh, Keven Mealamu, Liam Messam, Mils Muliaina, Josevata Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Adam Thomson, Brad Thorn, Isaia Toeava, Anthony Tuitavake, Scott Waldrom, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock and Rudi Wulf.
19 Oct 2008, 16:46 pm
tony woody wood woodc*ck spoiling the thread again
try again fred
All Blacks Training Squad Named
Sun 19 Oct, 08:09 AM
Openside flankers Tanerau Latimer and Scott Waldrom have been named in a New Zealand wider training group that will assemble in Auckland on Monday.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named a 25-strong group that does not include any players from Wellington or Canterbury, the teams who will contest the final of the Air New Zealand Cup on Saturday.
Latimer (Bay of Plenty) and Waldrom (Taranaki) are both in contention for the number seven back-up spot behind captain Richie McCaw for the upcoming tour to Hong Kong, Britain and Ireland.
Waldrom’s Taranaki team-mate, lock Jason Eaton, who has not played for the All Blacks since November 2006, has also been named in the squad as have loose forward Liam Messam, props Ben Franks and Jamie Mackintosh plus wing Joe Rokocoko who is looking to regain his spot on the wing after injury.
The group, which also includes all incumbent All Blacks not playing in the cup final, will have a training game against a New Zealand Barbarians side, coached by Pat Lam, on Wednesday.
The camp ends on Thursday and Henry will announce his 35-man squad for the tour on Sunday.
New Zealand wider training group: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Jason Eaton, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Richard Kahui, Jerome Kaino, Tanerau Latimer, Sione Lauaki, Jamie Mackintosh, Keven Mealamu, Liam Messam, Mils Muliaina, Josevata Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Adam Thomson, Brad Thorn, Isaia Toeava, Anthony Tuitavake, Scott Waldrom, Ali Williams, Tony Woodc*ck and Rudi Wulf.
19 Oct 2008, 16:46 pm
#410 superBul: disagree SB. The Bulls are regularly in the CC final. All three I think. They should be up there at the top. 3 Backline players somewhere in the top 10 is not indicative of exciting backline play by the Bulls. What it does indicate though, is how bad my team(Province) has been these past three seasons. Pathetic really.
19 Oct 2008, 17:00 pm
#412 TASSIES: i know one can interpret it the way you like it , but it is quite funny if you look at this years stats , look who scores the Sharks tries.
I can chose between one of 2 reasons, there might be more and someone else might see it another way.
They either play more like the Bulls , meaning keeping it with the forwards
or
the back3 and reserves play wide or amongst the centers.
Keegan Daniel The Sharks 9
Jacques Botes The Sharks 8
if this is the case there is hope for the Bulls, if they play away from the pack and the Bulls come with a forward orientated game plan it will realy help the Bulls cause.
19 Oct 2008, 17:12 pm
#413 superBul: yeah maybe. But the Sharkie pack are no marshmellows. They’ll be up for a scrap. It’s the Ruan’s, FS’s, Michelak’s, JP’s and Terblanche’s I’d be concerned about if I were the Bulletjies. These guys score from anywhere, in a flash. Habs can also do this, when he’s given the ball. Which moves me to ask : do you want to tell me how many times his name appeared on your list?
19 Oct 2008, 17:22 pm
#414 TASSIES: Bulls are going down…
19 Oct 2008, 17:26 pm
#413 superBul: There will be no dishonor in losing the game as long as they lose with honor.
Bulls have given us much joy this year.
19 Oct 2008, 17:33 pm
#99 goyougoodthing2:
not sure how to read between the lines here. pse tell me direct what u are saying…
19 Oct 2008, 17:45 pm
#417 Gerhardt: Nah I just meant I thought it was a weird thing to include the fact that the dude was wearing a Bok jersey… no relevance really other than a bit odd to go wearing a Bok jersey randomly (at least where I come from).
Just thought, in light of the current fuss around the jersey, it was ironic to say that a mad mad was wearing a Bok jersey…
Was that the undertone of the article?
19 Oct 2008, 17:50 pm
#414 TASSIES: Habana had a bad year for the Bulls and Boks, he is trying too much on his own but that is whats worrying me there is quite a lot of Bulls not at their best but hopefully they will click at the right time. PS , Habs , WvH , Kirshner and even Morne must be at their best or else it can turn out ugly.
blhoo i agree but dont try and tell me losing is the same as winning, the only guy i know who feels like that is PdV.
The Sharkies you mentioned can be matched by the Bulls
19 Oct 2008, 17:56 pm
#419 superBul: LOL ‘losing is not like winning’.
Nice one. I can’t lie and say I don’t care who wins, nor can I say ‘as long as it’s a great game’ either. Last years’ S14 final was a fantastic game, both teams played in the spirit of great rugby. I hope they do it again.
I just hope the Sharks whip your a$$ this year… only to make it even… and to keep me away from the anti-depressants lol.
Strong teams both ways, Sharks could have the edge, key players need to keep their heads… obviously.
19 Oct 2008, 17:56 pm
#419 superBul: There must be a winner and a loser.
19 Oct 2008, 17:59 pm
This was on SS website
Joel vs Naas
Joel Stransky:
The Sharks. That’s my pick and I’ll say it straight up.
This is obviously shaping up as one of the most enticing Finals in many a year, a hard one to call because the sides are so evenly matched, but SuperSport asked me to make a prediction and my feeling is that it will be the Sharks.
What decided it for me is the fact that the Sharks have not won the Currie Cup since 1996; that they are still smarting over that cruel loss to the Bulls in the 2007 Super 14 Final; and that, quite simply, they will be desperate to win this one.
It’s time. The Sharks are due, it’s time to stand up and be counted and I believe that element of desperation is going to give the Sharks a vital edge in what is likely to be a closely-fought game. That, and the fact that the Sharks a pretty formidable unit with a tremendous amount in their favour.
The Sharks have such strong leadership. Johann Muller has done an excellent job of being the front man and you can’t underestimate the influence of John Smit. Smitty is one of the great captains in world rugby and the experience he and many of the Sharks players who were part of it gained on their way to winning the World Cup last year will be of inestimable value as the tension mounts. They will have learnt from their mistakes and be able to apply what works.
Another big advantage the Sharks will have is the presence of a key play-maker; an individual who dictates what they do. This is often a vital factor in this kind of one-off game, someone who takes charge and that’s exactly the role performed by Ruan Pienaar. He’s at the core of everything the Sharks do, the catalyst in almost every move, and I see him having a big game.
Fred Michalak, typically French, can be brilliant but in the Sharks set-up he has been more of a link between Ruan and a backline brimming with players capable of pulling off a crucial play – Francois Steyn, Adi Jacobs, JP Pietersen and Odwa Ndungane.
And then, of course, there’s the steadying influence of Stefan Terblanche at the back. Just like Monty in the Springboks he is the wise old head who settles things down and provides stability. What a marvelous season he has had.
Now I can sense what you’re thinking as you read this. ‘Typical flyhalf, has forgotten the key rule about Finals!’ Not at all. Of course forwards win Finals but the Sharks are extremely well served in the grunt department – in fact if the game were to become tight and attritional (which is more than likely!) the Sharks might even be at an advantage with the bigger set of forwards against the Bulls who give away a bit by playing Derick Kuün and Deon Stegmann.
‘The Beast’, Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis (whether he starts or not) provide so much extra with their strength, the tackles they put in and the way they smash into rucks and mauls and the loose trio is nicely balanced – Jacques Botes the unsung hero who attaches himself to the ball; a big strong carrier in Jean Deysel and Ryan Kankowski who fits any superlative you wish to choose.
The Sharks have good winning momentum, there are no problems in the goal-kicking department plus they have players on the bench – Keegan Daniel, Deon Carstens, Rory Kockott, Smitty or Bismarck, Bradley Barritt, Waylon Murray – who come on and add real impetus.
So for me it’s the Sharks. All teams going into Finals are hungry, but the Sharks will be desperate.
Naas Botha:
The Bulls. That’s my unsurprising choice to win the Final!
I know you’ll be thinking that there’s only one team for me – after all I played 11 Finals for Northern Transvaal – but weighing up the two teams in what will be an extremely closely contested match I see the Bulls having a slight edge.
The Bulls can match the Sharks in all of the individual contests and will have a trump card in the lineouts but to me there is another aspect that points to there being blue ribbons tied the Cup coming Saturday evening – experience.
The Bulls have such a tradition of being successful in Finals. It is part of the Loftus culture to reach and win Finals and if you look at the record book they’ve seldom played poorly or been badly outdone in crucial games.
Finals are quite unlike league matches. You don’t have to score four tries, you don’t have to worry about bonus points, you just have to win and to me the Bulls are better equipped to play that kind of game.
The Bulls might not have reached last year’s Final but they were there in the previous five years. It’s a unique kind of pressure that accompanies a Final and I cannot emphasize the value of experience enough. And the team with that experience is the Bulls.
And not just the Currie Cup Final. I believe the Bulls winning the Super 14 Final in 2007 will stand them in good stead. They know they can go down to Durban and win. That’s a great mindset to have.
Home-ground advantage is often crucial but in this game it is going to put even more pressure on the Sharks. They haven’t won the Currie Cup since ’96; they were smashed the last time the played the Bulls in a Final (40-19 at Loftus in 2003); and they had the Super 14 snatched away from them. Their fans are expecting them to win, I see the punters are saying it will be the Sharks… and it could work against them. In my day I never wanted my team to be the favourites. In 1990 when we lost to the Sharks at Loftus we were the favourites and it messes with your mind.
The Bulls might have lost their league match 34-25 to the Sharks in Durban, but I have a feeling they’ll be able to analyse that match and draw a lot from it – especially when you think the missed six kicks at goal and conceded a try to Keegan Daniel right at the end that you don’t often see at this level.
I just believe the Bulls know what it takes to win a Final and to me the key individuals will be Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn and Zane Kirchner.
Matfield should ensure that the Bulls dominate the lineouts and his leadership will play a key role in ensuring discipline. His communication with the referee will be important but I believe he learnt some good lessons about that in the recent test matches.
Fourie du Preez, just like Ruan Pienaar, will play the key tactical role, especially with his kicking, while I’m looking to Pierre Spies to lift his performance and to Zane Kirchner to shine on the big stage. I believe Kirchner has the ability to play for South Africa for many years and there is no better time to show that than in a Currie Cup Final.
And then there’s Morne Steyn. He’s the flyhalf and he’s the man with the most questions to answer. If he comes through there may well be a Springbok cap waiting for him later in the evening so what more motivation could there be for him? It’s a case of cometh the hour cometh the man – the kind of situation I used to love.
Another factor that may work in the Bulls’ favour is the fact they they came through the tougher semi-final. The Cheetahs really pushed them so they know their defensive structures are sound – and you know defence often wins Finals.
It’s often not about how many points you score but about not giving points away. The one thing the Bulls won’t do is give the Sharks the soft tries that have proved so important in their run to the Final. The Sharks will have to work for every point and they’ll have do it for 80 minutes.
I must say I’m really looking forward to the Final because there’s just so little to chose between the two sides. There are so many things that can influence the outcome but I honestly believe that when the Bulls apply themselves they are a Cup Final team who will make the Sharks pay for the sloppiness that sometimes creeps into their play.
What will it take? Application, discipline, determination, the bounce of the ball? – but the one thing I do know about finals is that it doesn’t matter what you did before, it’s what you do on the day.
And I believe the team who will get it right will be the Bulls. My only regret is that I’m not playing anymore because what a game, what an occasion, it promises to be and I would have loved to be part of it.
19 Oct 2008, 18:03 pm
#423 superBul: SB I had to laugh, sorry… I read on the SS site one of the Bulls’ supporters saying God is on your side – NOT AGAIN
. When is it our turn? LOL.
Madness.
19 Oct 2008, 18:12 pm
#424 goyougoodthing2: i can only laugh too, i heard a joke one day , something to do with a battle between the Boers and the Pommies and the boer general prayed before the battle and said at the end , i know God that they also pray to you , so rather stay out of this fight we will sommer donner them up ourself.
19 Oct 2008, 18:14 pm
#425 superBul: HA HA HA
Good One!
19 Oct 2008, 18:27 pm
#424 goyougoodthing2: lol. I remember last year Waco Jaco climbing our posts!! Please if those Bulls win don’t let any of them climb our posts.
#425 superBul: lol. That was so funny superBul
19 Oct 2008, 18:31 pm
Just looked at the weather for next Saturday and its forecast for RAIN!!!! they whole day. I hope the weather man has got it wrong. Want a nice dry day.
19 Oct 2008, 18:31 pm
You guys must give credit where credit is due, Jaco surprised you all with his skills, although that belongs more to the ****** clan.
19 Oct 2008, 18:40 pm
#429 superBul: I thought at the time if he fell off of our posts he could have fallen on his head!!! lol. Please if your team no one to climb our posts, just hope that our posts have oil on them this time. lol.
19 Oct 2008, 18:42 pm
#427 Puma: lol
#429 superBul: no ******* please! there are enough running the country!
19 Oct 2008, 18:48 pm
#431 goyougoodthing2: Don’t think anyone will climb our posts this Saturday its going to be raining. Will probably slip down if anyone of them try that in the rain. Damn I hope the weather forecast changes for Saturday. Think Sharks will out run the Bulls but if its rain then I think Bulls will have a chance in the wet conditions.
19 Oct 2008, 19:02 pm
this final is a great matchup between players mostly in the top 3 in SA in almost all positions
15 ST (2) Kirshy (3/4)
14 JPP (1) Akona (3/4) or Mametsa(5/6)
13 Adi(1) MD (5)
12 FS (2) WO (3)
11 ? BH (1)
10 FM (?) MS (3)
9 RP (2) FDP (1)
8 RK (2) PS (1)
almost everyone in the Packs are SAs best or 2nd best
19 Oct 2008, 19:07 pm
Posted this earlier , see how confident the Sunday Times writer are
Bulky Bulls likely to fade when Sharks up the tempo in the Durban heat.
Who’s playing?
The Sharks are hosting the Bulls in an Absa Currie Cup final for just the second time. The last occasion was in 1956, when Northern Transvaal won 9-8. The Bulls have won the trophy 22 times, the Sharks (formerly Natal) just four times.
Why it matters:
The Currie Cup has been bashed, criticised, postponed, scorned and panel-beaten, but you still can’t beat it for vibrancy, excitement and all- out violence. The Currie Cup has survived everything that has been thrown at it, which is why it remains the greatest competition of its kind in the world. Indeed, anything that can reduce Os du Randt to tears, as it did when the Cheetahs won the title in 2005, has to be special.
What’s at stake?
Bragging rights and lots of cash. Traditions die hard in rugby, so the Currie Cup title still carries weight in rugby strongholds such as Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban. The Sharks are also desperate to shake a reputation for being champion chokers. Anything less than a win and they’ll hold that title in perpetuity.
Gasp:
The Sharks have lost 14 semifinals and finals since 1996. The Bulls have drawn four finals, all of them on the road.
Key questions:
Can the Sharks survive a wrestling contest, the Bulls’ raison d’etrê?
Will pretty boy Frederic Michalak finally deliver in a game that matters?
Will Francois Steyn’s flamboyance count more than Morne Steyn’s dependability?
Can the Bulls shackle Ryan Kankowski?
Will Bryan Habana break the Sharks’ hearts with another wonder try?
Will the telly ref determine the outcome?
Form guide:
The Sharks are running hot and last tasted defeat three months ago today (to Free State). Coincidentally, the Bulls’ last defeat was against the Sharks in Durban six weeks ago.
Star players:
Sharks — Beast Mtawarira, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen and Stefan Terblanche. If this lot fire, they could cut the Bulls to pieces.
Bulls — Wynand Olivier is in dangerous form and he’s helped by the Bulls having the meanest tight five in the competition. Bryan Habana is always a touch away from doing something incredible, but not even he can conjure up a miracle without the ball.
Prediction:
The Bulls will snort and stampede for as long as their energy persists, but the Sharks’ greater tempo and the Durban heat will draw the game away from their bigger, slower pack. Players such as Kankowski, super-sub Keegan Daniel and John Smit will finally get to unlock the trophy cabinet. Sharks to win by five to eight points.
19 Oct 2008, 19:40 pm
By Jacques van der Westhuyzen
One moment of magic will tilt it
That is the beauty of a final. And indications are Saturday’s showdown between the sides in Durban will be every bit as exciting as that great match just over a year ago, at the same venue. The Durbanites are really being treated to history-making stuff.
A look at the statistics of the two sides this season suggests only a die-hard fan will wager a big bet on the outcome. Just look at the following and then you deicide who should be installed as the favourites.
In the league stages, the Sharks won 12 of their 14 matches. The Bulls won 11. The Sharks scored a total of 450 points, the Bulls scored 482. The Sharks conceded 243, the Bulls 235. The Sharks ran in 57 tries, the Bulls 61. The Sharks let in 29, the Bulls 27. Both outfits picked up nine bonus points, with the Sharks’ one more win giving them a four-point edge on the Bulls on the final points table; 57 to 53.
While the coaches, John Plumtree (Sharks) and Frans Ludeke (Bulls), will only announce their final match day-22s later this week, there are unlikely to be too many changes to the sides that featured last Saturday in the semifinals. And that means, there could be up to 25 internationals taking to the field. It thus all adds up to one of the most difficult finals in years to predict – there is simply no favourite.
There are no discernible weaknesses in either side; just power in the packs and skill and pace at the back.
Both sides can boast about monster scrummaging units, a slick line-out, classic scavengers, big-hitters, world-class playmakers and sound kickers. There’s also class aplenty on the benches.
There will be exciting, personal battles in just about every area of the game, making the match even more watchable than it already would be. In the scrum, Jannie du Plessis will come up against Gurthro Steenkamp with the latter’s performance to be compared to that of Beast Mtawarira as they go head-to-head for the Bok No 1 jumper. In the line-out, Johann Muller and Steven Sykes will come up against Victor Matfield and Danie Rossouw, and in the loose Ryan Kankowski, Jacques Botes and Jean Deysel will square off with Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden and Deon Stegman.
At the back, there’s Ruan Pienaar against Fourie du Preez, Frans Steyn against Wynand Olivier and JP Pietersen set to face Bryan Habana.
But more than wanting to get the better of your opponent this weekend, a number of players will also be keen to show they deserve a spot in the Springbok team for the year end tour to the UK.
After a week of taking things relatively easy, the pressure and focus will start to build from tomorrow.
They are two teams on top of their game, with plenty to play for. The Bulls will want to prove last year’s Super 14 final victory was no fluke while the Sharks are perhaps even more desperate. They’ve been one of the most outstanding teams for the last 15 years, but have precious little to show for their efforts. They last won the title in 1996.
It’s going to be a terrific final, with my prediction a monster penalty late in the game by Frans Steyn to decide it. Enjoy.
19 Oct 2008, 21:00 pm
the rain will be awful….although from a bok perspective a perfect preparation for eoyt? See the press today seem to believe a full bok team to go over…no resting??
19 Oct 2008, 21:03 pm
#436 grant10: Will someone please tell me what eoyt is or stands for?
Have you had a good party BTW?
19 Oct 2008, 21:06 pm
#437 carol meredith: end of year tour
20 Oct 2008, 08:55 am
GO LEOPARDS!
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