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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21 Oct 2012, 12:39 pm
@Heavens Game-639: HG luckily i was not one of those
But dont be harsh with M aka Sharksgirl, shes a fantastic lady, she got caught up in that stupidy with a guy named KSA on Sharksworld, trust me Sharksgirl is a huge huge huge Sharks fan.
BY the way did i tell you Butch is returning to the Sharks??
21 Oct 2012, 12:40 pm
WP in the FINAL, WP in the under 21 Final, WP in the under 19 final! Just saying…
21 Oct 2012, 12:40 pm
@Sandytoes-637: Nice fantasy you got there… No chance in reality…
Sharks are going to farken embarrass all of the WP legion of current incumbent Boks…
And yes, I am crowing… I am confident… Because I am absolutely certain that this Sharks team, and the way they play, will farken beat the current Bok side and the way they play, at least 4 out of every 5 times…
And that is excluding 3 of the very best Sharkies too – Bismarck, Frankie and Kanko…
21 Oct 2012, 12:45 pm
@nama1-642: Run on Boks was the qualifier… Do I have to spell it for you…
Ag, nevermind, you like a gift that keeps on giving – truly proving my thesis of “Traditional Power” supporters dumbfuckery in every post
Pity it was such a long post to prove just that
21 Oct 2012, 12:49 pm
@wnbb-643: 32 titles, and the last one won more than a decade ago…
Truly proving that you “Traditional Power” dumfucks are truly living in the waygone past…
And your teams playing outdated rugby from the waygone past too… Like the dumfcuk closed minded verkramptes you truly prove yourselves to be…
Over and over… and over again…
Sharkies win… and the WP laden Boks lose…
Keep thinking of yesteryear….
21 Oct 2012, 12:53 pm
@sharks_lover-644: Not directed at Sharksgirl at all… She acknowledged her error and is now a fully fledged Plum supporter…
Its more directed at those Sharksworld idiots should they dare read proper Sharks insight elsewhere…
The same Sharksworld who reckon Transie Megatron is an “expert” apparently
21 Oct 2012, 12:56 pm
Seems very quiet here….
21 Oct 2012, 12:59 pm
@Heavens Game-647:
Still a bold face lie.
Sharks: 7 run on Boks yesterday.
WP: 5
For the final, Plumbtree will probably start Beast and Alberts bringing the run on Boks in the Shark team to 9.
Lies…lies…lies. I guess it is a Shark thing.
21 Oct 2012, 12:59 pm
Now that I have some relief after doing a couple of BIG bhoshas on a “traditional power” thread… I will retire satisfied in Sharks superiority for now…
Only to return later to have a few more smelly dumps on this now stinking thread
21 Oct 2012, 13:01 pm
@Heavens Game-649:
HG, by the way it was only a few from Sharksworld, RobDylan the sites owner for example amd many others were not of the opinion that Plum should go.
There was also a few on Rugby 365 that were anti PLum, AND NOW THEY ARE NOW SINGING A NEW TUNE
21 Oct 2012, 13:02 pm
somewhere in pretoria a coach quietly laughs
21 Oct 2012, 13:03 pm
@nama1-651: I reckon you obviously either dont understand the term “run-on”, or you actually cant count…
Or Both…
I reckon its the latter… Why?
You a dumfuck “traditonal power” supporter of yesteryear of course… Thats why
Lunch calls… Over and out for now…
21 Oct 2012, 13:04 pm
@mamma_lou-654:
Why?
Is he crazy?
21 Oct 2012, 13:05 pm
@nama1-651: I aam just watching the WP match, man your little worship boy Fourie again got away with murder, he is a dirty player of note, But soon someone is going to give the twat the hiding of his life,
21 Oct 2012, 13:10 pm
@Heavens Game-655:
Sharks run on Boks:
JPP
Mvovo
Lambie
Keegan
Deysel
Coetzee
Jannie
WP run on Boks:
Aplon
Habana
de Jongh
Vermeulen
Etzebeth
Exposed for the liar you are.
Enjoy your lunch.
@sharks_lover-657:
Yeah, that was totally unnecessary by Fourie.
21 Oct 2012, 13:12 pm
@Heavens Game “Farken” how old are you dude? beat the boks? Sure the Sharks have some stars, but so does the Lions, Bulls, WP, Cheatahs.. Combine these guys and you have the best in the country, the best team in the country! Don’t disrespect the Boks with your little Nemo talk! This is the Currie cup not the World cup!
21 Oct 2012, 13:14 pm
@nama1-658: Nama mate thats what keeps me from rating him as a player, seen it so many times from him,
21 Oct 2012, 13:15 pm
@Sandytoes-659: Relax, dude ur obviously not a regular in Keo,
21 Oct 2012, 13:17 pm
@sharks_lover-657: Actually he got away with it there. Thought Fourie was going to be given a yellow card.
See you say Butch is coming back to Sharks. Answered this on the Sharks thread, but will say it again here. Really pleased to read that. Butch is good for another year and if he plays like he done last week we have cover for Lambie at fh. Though I do think Bosman has come on a long way this CC at fh. So we will have enough cover now for fh and centre.
21 Oct 2012, 13:17 pm
@nama1-656:
someone posted here last week(don’t remember who) that everybody wrote the bulls off prematurely and they would beat the sharks, morne would outplay patrick and “somewhere in pretoria a coach quietly laughs”
21 Oct 2012, 13:19 pm
@nama1-658: There is not much difference Nama. 5 or 7 don’t really measure it that way. Also when last has Deysel played for the Boks? Think he only played one game against Italy on eoyt 2010 if I remember. Could have been the year before that, it has been that long ago I have forgot. Though Deysel is playing some outstanding rugby again. Very pleased to see him back to his best.
21 Oct 2012, 13:19 pm
@mamma_lou-663:
probably feeling pretty silly now
21 Oct 2012, 13:19 pm
@Puma-662: Hiyas Pooms,
Yeah it was told about it last night, the Also mentioned CJ VD Linde is off the France
21 Oct 2012, 13:21 pm
@sharks_lover-660:
You do rate Bissie though.
He is guilty of the same kind of behavior, you know.
I think there is another reason why you don’t rate him.
21 Oct 2012, 13:21 pm
@mamma_lou-663: That would prolly be Bakkies, or senor El crapo or the Phil72 caracter
21 Oct 2012, 13:23 pm
@nama1-667: Nope he used to, glad he seemes to have stopped that stupidity, a lot of us Sharks supporters used to get angry at that as well as Jannie used to love doing that.
This is why we used to prefer Smit and spoke about Bismark being a walking yellow.
21 Oct 2012, 13:23 pm
@Sandytoes-659: Don’t worry,mate.Hg is the regular entertainment on here…together with his fellow guppy supporters.Not all of them are like that though.
21 Oct 2012, 13:25 pm
Reading the paper today and see Meyer will be taking a big squad over for eoyt. 32 players will be selected next Sunday.
Now I do hope to see Ludik and Bresler’s name in that squad. Both have performed brilliant this year and Bresler has been performing on a high standard since the start of Super Rugby and still is. Ludik got it together late in Super Rugby, but heck has he played some awesome rugby at fullback. Has to be our best fullback in South Africa right now. Most definitely was better than Zane yesterday, though Zane did have a good game, just that Ludik again was outstanding. Cobus Reinach I have no doubt he will be in that squad. Brilliant talent and also outplayed Vermaak and Hougie. Meyer has to have his eyes wide open now before he selects. There now has to be a full front row on the bench so we will be seeing a 8 on the bench in this eoyt.
21 Oct 2012, 13:27 pm
@sharks_lover-666: Good news to read that Butchie will be back in the black and white. CJ not too worried about him going to France.
21 Oct 2012, 13:28 pm
I see on on other rugby websites,Sharks supporters punting for Bresler to be selected ahead of Etzebeth!Seriously??
21 Oct 2012, 13:28 pm
@mamma_lou-663: @mamma_lou-665:
Oh. I did not see that.
He must be feeling really silly, I agree.
Don’t think it will stop Meyer from selecting Morne as his no. 1 FH for the EOYT.
@Puma-664:
That was not one of HG’s “qualifiers” Puma. How long ago someone played for the Boks.
He said WP have more run on Boks than the Sharks and I proved that he was a liar.
21 Oct 2012, 13:28 pm
@sharks_lover-669: You think Jannie will be okay for next weeks game? Really hope so.
21 Oct 2012, 13:29 pm
@wnbb-670: whaes like us?
dam n few and they’re DEID!
21 Oct 2012, 13:29 pm
Oh,I see Puma has started it on here as well.
21 Oct 2012, 13:29 pm
@sharks_lover-668:
i dont know how to do the ‘embarresed red face smiley’
you have to admit the reffing ruined it though.
21 Oct 2012, 13:30 pm
@Puma-671: Oh hell Pooms i got mixed emotions about that, I would rather our players rested for next year, also our players in good form and seem to lose it under HM.
and I mean why would you want our useless players in the Bok team?? sure it should be all Bulls and WP players, sprinkled with aa few Cheetah and Lions players
they would be untouchable
21 Oct 2012, 13:31 pm
@wnbb-673:
See Puma’s post 671.
21 Oct 2012, 13:32 pm
@wnbb-677:
21 Oct 2012, 13:34 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-678:
colon oops colon (no spaces)
21 Oct 2012, 13:34 pm
@nama1-674: Not really talking about what you both spoke about. That is both your business. What I was saying to you from me, that 5 or 7 Boks don’t make that much difference….
21 Oct 2012, 13:34 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-678:
Bakkies,
at first i wowuld have agreed with you, but i watched the match again and the is 1 or 2 calls the ref got wrong, you must also remember there was 1 or 2 calls that cost the Sharks like a certain trry and for no reason he didnt play advantage, HIs it was a very serious incident does not sit well i am afraid as one clearly sees Lambie being just fine.
Nope boet, i was there and saw your players being detroyed in tackles etc,
If not for the poor conditions the score could have been far worse.
In saying that bad luck , your coach however needs to move with the times, thaT is not a bad Bulls team, just seem very poorly coached.
21 Oct 2012, 13:36 pm
@sharks_lover-679: I know and I feel the same for now, but I know the players hearts really would love to be part of the Boks eoyt squad. Thinking of them. Though they do come back a bit messed up from playing with the Boks. Except the ones that sit on the bench…. LOL ..
Those that sat on the bench came back even better! Says something hey?
21 Oct 2012, 13:38 pm
@nama1-680: I give up Nama!!They might as well change the black and white jersey to green ones and dispatched them to the muddy isles. Apart from the 22 that will be selected for Saterday,I’m sure they will find a further 10 to complete Puma’s squad of 32.
21 Oct 2012, 13:38 pm
@sharks_lover-684: Very good post. Well said agree.
21 Oct 2012, 13:38 pm
@nama1-682:
that would be me
21 Oct 2012, 13:39 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-688:
Bakkies good on you for being big enough to admit when ur wrong
21 Oct 2012, 13:41 pm
@nama1-680:
And that was said without my black and white glasses on….. 
21 Oct 2012, 13:42 pm
@wnbb-686:
21 Oct 2012, 13:44 pm
@wnbb-686:
Hahahaha…
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-688:
There you go.
21 Oct 2012, 13:44 pm
Honestly if Ludik and Bresler’s name is not on eoyt squad, then I have NO idea what it takes to get selected as a Bok. As those two have been playing sublime rugby this year.
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