WP edge Ellis Park epic
20 Oct 2012
RYAN VREDE reports on a 21-16 victory for Western Province who shifted gears in the final quarter to down the Golden Lions in their Currie Cup semi-final.
WP lost twice to the Lions in the league phase, and appeared to be on their way out of the competition before they showed the mettle that has so often eluded them in knock-out matches. This will be an important step in their youngsters’ education, although a far greater test awaits against the Sharks in Durban next week.
The defending champions will lament poor goal kicking, but outside of a try from broken field, they never posed a serious attacking threat.
Defence dominated the first half, with the visitors faring better in the regard. The Lions didn’t test their now famously efficient system (even when Gerhard van den Heever was yellow carded in the seventh minute), refusing to earn the right to play the expansive game they wanted to.
A little more pragmatism in their play would have benefited them, but with their strike runners in the pack seeing too little of the ball and flyhalf Elton Jantjies tucked too deep in the pocket, they were always going to struggle to break down the WP wall. They compounded their problems with poor goal kicking, Jantjies missing three penalties in the first 40, while Ruan Combrink’s 55m effort came up short.
WP looked the more organsied side, playing well through the phases with their forwards. But they showed too little appreciation for the territory game and little inventiveness in the back division initially, Don Armand coming up with their best chance but being held up over the line in his attempt to score.
Demetri Catrakilis kicked both of his penalty goals, giving his side a 6-3 lead at half-time, but Jantjies levelled with a three pointer just after the restart. Then the Lions grabbed the initiative with a try that was birthed from a turnover in their 22m, Michael Rhodes running a good angle to cut through the line. Jantjies converted and the Lions looked galvanised.
The Joburg union upped the ante at the gainline and in their breakdown contesting, which in turn compromised WP’s ability to control the flow and tempo of their attacking play. There were a couple of flashes of brilliance from the Cape side’s backs, but their potency patently lay in their tight play, particularly their mauling. One such surge drove them into the Lions’ red zone, only to see yet another opportunity slip away through a combination of poor ball protection and a rabid Lions ruck assault.
WP gambled by sending on scrumhalf Louis Schreuder to replace ace goal kicker Catrakilis, no doubt hoping the youngster would inject something special into their attacking play. But the Lions were brutal in their defence and reduced their opponents to rudderless messes. With each minute that ticked by, the inexperienced WP side seemed to become more desperate and consequently more loose. This played into the Lions’ hands, as they were able to pick off their targets with relative ease.
The composure they showed under pressure, aided by the experience they were able to introduce off the bench, was impressive. But they finally succumbed, WP fullback Joe Pietersen rounding off a move in which his forwards depleted the Lions’ defensive line superbly. Crucially he missed the conversion attempt, leaving his side down by two, but he made no mistake from a penalty shortly thereafter.
One point game. Four minutes to play.
Jantjies held his nerve with a 78th-minute penalty, leaving the Lions with a desperate closing period, one they couldn’t negotiate successfully, with WP setting up a rolling maul 20m out from goal and rumbling to glory.
908 Comments
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20 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm
anti-climax
20 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm
May the best team win and it better be WP.
20 Oct 2012, 18:47 pm
@Robzim-2: Just imagine if they DO manage to win a knockout game for a change? No expectations mate – we have all read the book, many times
GO THE WP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (surprise your loyal foot soldiers….)
20 Oct 2012, 18:47 pm
I hope Brok’s mom wasn’t watching that warm-up. His oefenhempie did not flatter his abdominal mass in any way.
20 Oct 2012, 18:49 pm
@Robzim-2: Mate, you’re hoping for the sun to rise in the west.
20 Oct 2012, 18:50 pm
@katman-4: He’s actually not as ‘large’ as what he appears to be. No lies.
20 Oct 2012, 18:50 pm
@Robzim-2: JdV, the bad luck talisman for knockouts, is not playing. Take it as a good omen
20 Oct 2012, 18:51 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-3:
We got to get it right sometime…. whether it will be today? …. no expectations here either.
Good news is that Deon Fourie has decided not to go to France next year and is negotiating a new contract with the Stormers/WP.
20 Oct 2012, 18:54 pm
Johan Ackerman thanking the Lord for being in the Semi-final…
Just chundered in my mouth slightly.
20 Oct 2012, 18:54 pm
@Robzim-2: were you the muppit who defended the drug cheat Armstrong?
20 Oct 2012, 18:54 pm
@katman-5:
Where there is life there is hope.
Johann Ackerman just thanking the lord – seems he wants divine intervention
@mikeybrass-7:
Good point, i have not thought of it, suddenly I have more hope
20 Oct 2012, 18:54 pm
Mapoe is starting at 14.
20 Oct 2012, 18:55 pm
Granitic defence win matches!
20 Oct 2012, 18:56 pm
@Robzim-8: I heard a little bird tweeting that this morning, wasn’t sure how much truth there was in it. If that’s confirmed – hallelujah!!!!!
Look, we’re in a win win tonight actually
We lose this game, and all our U/21′s get to take on the might Bulls U/21′s next week. A full strength U/21 team for us, would be something to behold I reckon.
20 Oct 2012, 18:56 pm
Go Lions! Smash the WeePee scum!
20 Oct 2012, 18:57 pm
@Mighty Horua-13: if you can attack too.
20 Oct 2012, 18:57 pm
@RL-10:
I have not defended him for taking drugs…. I said he is the best TdF cyclist of his generation whether he took drugs or not- most people with any knowledge of cycling should agree with that.
20 Oct 2012, 18:58 pm
Ellis Park bloody empty.
20 Oct 2012, 18:58 pm
Poor attendance from both the Sharkies and Lions!
20 Oct 2012, 18:59 pm
@LieweloslaploodpilLuiperd-15: Scum is as scum does
20 Oct 2012, 19:00 pm
@Robzim-8: They better sign him pronto, he’s the best 6 playing at the moment and we have no one else as an option.
Great news
20 Oct 2012, 19:01 pm
@Mighty Horua-19: Disgraceful. Once would think all of these Lion’s cheerleaders defending their right to play Super rugby would be filling the Coke shack?
Where are they? If they don’t give a sh y te about the Lions, why should anyone else?
20 Oct 2012, 19:01 pm
Province!
20 Oct 2012, 19:02 pm
@mabu-12: huge mistake that…Mapoe has been good at 13, I also think he has lost a wee bit of pace therefore playing against Habana will be a challenge…
Lions centre pairing is big but both suspect when it comes to ball handling skills…
20 Oct 2012, 19:02 pm
mapoe vs de jongh…
20 Oct 2012, 19:03 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-14:
I wonder whether they will allow Eben Etsebeth tio play at under 21 level. He might kill some of those “midgets” if he is not very careful
20 Oct 2012, 19:03 pm
May the best team win here.
20 Oct 2012, 19:03 pm
@Robzim-26: Hey Rob, What you say about Morne’s kicking in the wet now? Lambie out played him totally bud.
20 Oct 2012, 19:04 pm
ABWP
Anyone But Western Province
20 Oct 2012, 19:04 pm
@mabu-12: what the hell ackerman?
he’s been the BEST 13 in this currie cup!!
#brainfart of note
20 Oct 2012, 19:04 pm
@Transformation-25: How kak is JJ Engelbregt at 13?
Phenomenally bad hands and defense.
20 Oct 2012, 19:05 pm
@stormersboy-21:
As long as he is not required to throw the ball into the lineouts he is magic. Mind you, Scarra was also not so solid in that regard last time around, lets hope he can do it today.
20 Oct 2012, 19:06 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-22:
Yes Pathetic! Not even 15K?
Shouldve played at Newlands – Lotsa Lions supporters!
20 Oct 2012, 19:06 pm
@Transformation-30: Clearly to accommodate all three of Coetzee, Mapoe and Taute in the starting 15.
To be honest I can understand his thinking. All three need to start and Mapoe has been a fantastic wing in his time.
20 Oct 2012, 19:06 pm
@Puma-28:
Well done to your team. Lambie was brilliant.
20 Oct 2012, 19:06 pm
@Mighty Horua-19: Hey Mighty, Shark Tank was quite full if you think of the conditions the supporters had to sit in there buddy.
They will be partying like crazy now on the back fields.
20 Oct 2012, 19:08 pm
How many times do the dof Saffa commentators use the words
“scragged”
and
“wry smile”
?
20 Oct 2012, 19:08 pm
@Robzim-17: do you realise what you just said
anyway yoiu were the one.
Good luck to your brokebacks.
20 Oct 2012, 19:08 pm
@Bagel-31: he is no 13 that is for sure… don’t know what will be the excuse for him to be picked for the boks ahead of other 13s this time.
20 Oct 2012, 19:08 pm
Lambie is the Bok 10.
20 Oct 2012, 19:08 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-22: Big storm brewing over Joburg.
20 Oct 2012, 19:09 pm
@Puma-28: Congrats Puma.
Hopefully now the other bloggers will share your and my assertion that Lambie is a 10.
20 Oct 2012, 19:09 pm
fark man…taute is nowhere better than mapoe @ 13!
this smells very much like heyneke meyer!
taute was exposed as pretender by the all blacks @ 13
20 Oct 2012, 19:09 pm
@Robzim-32: True. Both good players in field but terrible at the line out. I think deon should play 6 from now on though, he really has shown he has what it takes in this position.
20 Oct 2012, 19:10 pm
@Transformation-43: Very overrated player.
20 Oct 2012, 19:10 pm
Joel nd hugh
I’m slitting my wrists
20 Oct 2012, 19:10 pm
@bagel-34:
Then move Coezee to the wing, Taute at fb, that’s how they lined-up in SR, isn’t it?
20 Oct 2012, 19:10 pm
Empty stadiums.What a bad advert for SA rugby.
20 Oct 2012, 19:11 pm
@Robzim-35: Thanks Rob. Yeah Lambie again showing Meyer the class player he is. Why he was kept on the bench was crazy by Meyer, especially in Mendoza was crazy, we could have won there had he played Lambie. Anyhow that is all gone and dusted.
20 Oct 2012, 19:11 pm
Let’s hope my favourite CC player, Andries Coetzee, plays himself into Bok contention.
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