Currie Cup preview (Final)

Currie Cup preview (Final)

26 Oct 2012

GARETH DUNCAN analyses Saturday’s Currie Cup final between the Sharks and Western Province.

WHY THE SHARKS WILL WIN

Most of the odds lie in the Sharks’ favour: home ground advantage, they have the better team on paper, they have settled combinations and the stronger pack. Let’s not beat around the bush, the Sharks are overwhelming favourites to claim the title.

The Sharks have not lost against any South African team at home during Super Rugby and the Currie Cup. Kings Park has been a fortress against their local rivals, and they will carry that confidence into the title-decider. WP will also go into this match knowing they only won once in the last five against the men from Durban in all competitions. The bashing they received in the Super Rugby semi-final at Newlands must still haunt them.

A key advantage for the hosts will be their expected ascendancy among the heavies. While the Golden Lions boasted the strongest pack for most parts of the domestic competition, the Sharks forwards won that reputation during the latter league rounds and in the semi-final win over the Blue Bulls as their Springboks returned.

The Sharks boast brute strength up front, which has been central on attack and defence, their scrumming performances and setting a quality platform for in-form flyhalf Pat Lambie and his dangerous backline. There’s a 60% chance of rain in Durban on Saturday, highlighting the importance of dominance among the forwards.

Kudos must be given to head coach John Plumtree, who mastered the management of his Test players after they came back from Rugby Championship duty. The Kiwi learned his lesson the hard way last season when he rushed all seven of his internationals into the starting line-up when they jetted back from the World Cup in New Zealand. They struggled to make an impact in the 2011 Currie Cup final at Ellis Park, which saw the Lions ease to a 42-16 win. Plumtree will get the best out of his Boks on Saturday.

Lambie’s most outstanding individual performance came in the 2010 Currie Cup final. He’s yet to eclipse that memory over the last two years, but the signs he’s shown over the last fortnight in the No 10 jersey indicate he’ll be an important player on the pitch on Saturday. Even though he struggled to get game time with the Springboks this season, he’s looked confident at flyhalf and will play a vital role with the boot and in marshalling his team-mates on his outside. A strong run this weekend will force Bok coach Heyneke Meyer’s hand in picking him at pivot (and not fullback) during the end-of-year tour.

If the Sharks gain ascendancy, their backline will thrive. Young scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has been Plumtree’s find of the season, the young centre combination of Paul Jordaan and Tim Whitehead has gelled really well (to think Frans Steyn will still jump into the midfield equation next season), and wing JP Pietersen and fullback Louis Ludik are enjoying a purple patch of form.

This is the Sharks’ final to lose.

WHY WP HAVE A CHANCE

It doesn’t look good for the visitors.

They shocked the Lions by scoring a late try for a 21-16 comeback win in Johannesburg last weekend. But the final against the Sharks should be a step too far.

However, head coach Allister Coetzee and optimistic Province fans will say: ‘never rule out the underdogs’.

The main targets the Cape side will aim for are the lineouts, the breakdown battle and the tactical kicking game. If WP can achieve any ascendancy in these facets of play, they’ll have hope.

The Sharks have been poor at the lineouts in recent weeks, while Province have excelled at the set piece throughout the domestic campaign. Province will miss their injured lineout kingpin Andries Bekker, but if they can continue their impressive showings, they have a platform to attack from. Their driving maul has beaten most defences from close range.

The individual performances of No 8 Duane Vermeulen and flank Deon Fourie will be very influential. Both players have been consistent throughout the year, and their team will need big contributions from them. They’ll be key in the breakdown assault and as ball carriers. Fourie will also need to keep a cool head and not concede needless penalties.

The halfback combination of Nic Groom and Demetri Catrakilis will need to fire. The two players know each other well as they’ve played alongside each other ever since the 2011 Varsity Cup with UCT.

Groom provides quick service and will keep the defenders around the fringes on their toes, which takes some pressure off Catrakilis. The Kings-bound pivot has impressed with the boot when his forwards hold their own up front, but he’s known to falter when defences give him no space or time with the ball. The Province pack need to play their part, as Catrakilis will be a vital part of their tactical kicking game.

If WP can achieve this, they will have the chance to win favourable field positions. If they can milk kickable penalties off the Sharks, the visitors have a sharpshooter to rely on. But I stress, this will be a tough task.

It will be interesting to see how Coetzee’s gamble of starting rookie Damian de Allende at inside centre pays off. Marcel Brache has been inconsistent and many feel JP du Plessis (who’s with the U21s) should’ve been given a go, but Coetzee seems confident De Allende can provide a physical presence. Province can’t afford him to falter.

WP don’t have much running for them, but if they can put the Sharks under pressure in the aforementioned areas, they could find themselves in the position to pull off one of the most unlikeliest upsets of the year.

FORM
Sharks WWLWLWLWWWW
WP LWLWWLWLLWW

Sharks – 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Odwa Ndungane.

WP – 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Don Armand, 6 Deon Fourie (c), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Marcel Brache, 22 Joe Pietersen.

Gareth’s prediction: Sharks by 15


567 Comments

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  • 251.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:35 am

    @wp. winning nothing never looked so easy-245: Silly boy. You missed the lesson I gave in the meaning of my username didn’t you? Those that understood realised rather quickly, that the HUGE insult they were reading, isn’t such a huge insult at all :)

    Funny how people will see snakes in front of them; when there are in fact kittens sitting there; just because they WANT to see snakes…….

  • 252.CharlesM: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:36 am

    @wp. winning nothing never looked so easy-245: The Lions were the favourites for the semis but they did not beat us, did they ? I predicted a close match (last week) and I know the Sharks are the huge favourites this week. It doesn’t mean that I have to bash everybody simply because I support my team.
    I’m sure some of you guys are nervous about tomorrow: me, I’m not, because the Sharks will be the champions……..or not …….. who knows

  • 253.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:36 am

    @Stawm-248: Shutup you skinny little runt… I am a Banana Boy supporter thru and thru…

    And true Sharks supporters never, ever hide….

    Get that into your pillow biting little skull once and for all…

  • 254.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:36 am

    @Finfan-249: :)

  • 255.Stawm: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:37 am

    @Skeppie-220:

    Yup I reckon thats what HG looks like.

  • 256.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:38 am

    In other news,it seems that WP will be moving to CT stadium in 2014.

  • 257.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:39 am

    @Nikita-250: No, honey buns… I will leave the spitting all up to you…

    Pollutions rocks, ne?

    Now repeat after me:

    “I, Nikita, Love the Polluting Sharks… and all their Supporters”…

    The go “aaaaaaahhhhh”…

    And you shall receive appropriate forgiveness, yeah?

  • 258.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:40 am

    @wp. winning nothing never looked so easy-227: Don’t ever lump me with a charlatanfuckingmormonwankathonschampion like HG – ever.
    Thank you.

  • 259.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:42 am

    @stormersboy-246: Yesterday they had about 15 threads up and no comments on about 10 of them.Not a very busy place it seems.

  • 260.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:42 am

    @Heavens Game-257: Your mates should be asking forgiveness from men the world over. They didn’t win Best Actress Oscars for their masculinity.

    Boofuckinghoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Pampers, Huggies? So many to choooooooooooooooooooooose.

  • 261.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:42 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-258: Yes, tell them, Doggy…

    You far too frigid to be grouped with me…

    But give it time and come to Daddy all dressed in Black and White and we see what we can do to reawaken those fires of passion so long lost in the Proud Fairest Cape where Women are Dy.kes and Men are Women too…

    Okay?

  • 262.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:43 am

    @wnbb-259: Lots of youtube links to ‘Lady Gaga’ and the ‘Rocky Horror Picture show’…..

  • 263.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:45 am

    @Heavens Game-261: I doubt the 5 oxygen tanks you are attached to have the capacity to handle me. If Bresler tosses your hormones into a manic state, imagine what I would do.
    Death rattle BOOM.

  • 264.Nikita: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:47 am

    @Heavens Game-257:

    Yawn

  • 265.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:47 am

    Gonna be farken funny seeing Keegan the “midget” giving Duane the Beeg Bok “hero” the rogering he deserves tomorrow….

    And Jannie, the Ginga Ninja…

    Met eish.

    BOOM!!!

  • 266.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:48 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-262: :D . Sharkslover had a good article up.I did not realised that he possessed such journalistic abilities…unlike the rants and raves he normally exhibited on here. :D

  • 267.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:48 am

    @Finfan-249: :lol:

  • 268.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:49 am

    @Nikita-264: Dont forget the hand covering mouth….

    Spreads germs otherwise…

    Black and White Polluters notwithstanding…

  • 269.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:49 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-263: “Death rattle BOOM”….funny as all hell!

  • 270.Finfan: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:50 am

    @Heavens Game-265: On a more serious note now, do you reckon us Sharkies are in with a chance tomorrow?

  • 271.Nikita: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:50 am

    @Heavens Game-268:

    I’m in Durban. How about a girls night out tonight?

  • 272.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:51 am

    @Heavens Game-265: I’m looking forward to seeing Duane give Keegan the ‘piggy back’ he deserves.

  • 273.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:51 am

    @Heavens Game-265: Promise us that you won’t dissappear after the match if your Sharks lose. Promise. :lol:

  • 274.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:52 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-263: You wanna bet… Like a farken rodeo…

    I will thaw you in short time honey… Give you belief again…

    Just come see me in Black and White and then we wave all that ‘bulimious’ self-doubt and negativity away forever…

  • 275.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:55 am

    @Nikita-271: I am in Jozi at the moment dahlink… Will be catching the banoyi tomorrow hopefully… Maybe after the game when all the Shark rogering of WePee done and all WePee vaseline used up….?

    Then its the supporters turn… Round 2…

  • 276.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:56 am

    Just would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the Sharks on winning the 2012 Currie Cup.

    I must be lovely to be a Sharks fan.

    All things considered, probably a fitting end to a tough season.

    Well done to the team, management and fans!

  • 277.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:58 am

    @rossoneri-273: Will never happen, sweetpea…

    NEVER!

    Despite Peyper…

    Despite the Traditional Power Cabal…

    NEVER!

    Durbs gonna be painted Currie Cup Black and White tomorrow…

    BOOM!

  • 278.Nikita: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:59 am

    @Heavens Game-275:

    What is that saying again? When the going gets tough the tough go running. Something like that.

  • 279.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 11:59 am

    @Sheriff-276:

    The Number of the Beast….
    6th time this season…

    Thanks Bru… Victory tastes sweet… as always…

  • 280.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:01 pm

    Don’t forget to congratulate Lambie for growing to the 2 metre mark during the game,lawman.

  • 281.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:02 pm

    @Heavens Game-279:

    Pleasure.

    Too much depth, experience and class …

    It’s gonna be a one sides affair I’m afraid…

  • 282.Skeppie: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:04 pm

    @Nikita-278: Are you busting out some Billy Ocean?

  • 283.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:04 pm

    @Nikita-278: This tough will go running…right to you… If you just say those schweet words I suggested in a post above to you….

    Will have to sneak away from Banshee and all the Quins Sharkies first though… I reckon Fernly already spread the word that this humble janitor might be back in town….

    Then I cure you forever… Quickly… Before sneaking back…

    Okay?

  • 284.Nikita: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:11 pm

    @Heavens Game-283:

    I’ll bring Suzie along. I was expecting this huge uproar in Durban. I’ve been welcomed with open arms – even meeting one or two of your boys heroes later. You need me to ask for a few signatures?

  • 285.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:19 pm

    @Nikita-284: Good girly… Thanks for thinking about little old me but naah… Dont need the sigs… Will probably be seeing some of the bu.ggers afterwards… Introduce Banshee to them… poor sods… ‘Friends of Friends’ and all that… :lol:

  • 286.gunther: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:20 pm

    @Nikita-284:

    Jocksniffer

    :lol:

  • 287.Finfan: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:22 pm

    @Nikita-284: I hope you’ll enjoy your stay in Durbs. You’ll have to be careful of the horrific pollution though ;)

  • 288.Nikita: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:27 pm

    @Finfan-287:

    It has been great Fin. It follows me for sure. I was always told to leave a legacy. I guess I’ve done so.

    @gunther-286:

    :mrgreen:

  • 289.Nikita: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:29 pm

    For those who care. Province boys psyched up and have a look seldom seen.

    Good luck to both teams as well as to the juniors who don’t look too bad either. A bit young though. ;)

  • 290.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:30 pm

    Sharks supporters are counting chickens…..:lol:

  • 291.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:30 pm

    @Nikita-289: Nevertheless bring Soozie and you along… The green astro in the home changeroom is a good spot for a bit of rolling in the hay… Nice little corner near the benchpress with handlebars available for holding on and cheering Sharks forever while the world rumbles, yeah?

  • 292.CharlesM: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:31 pm

    @Nikita-289: I think the U/19s have a realistic chance but the Bulls should take the U/21s

  • 293.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:32 pm

    @Nikita-289: It is good to know. The rugby public want to watch a good tough match.

  • 294.Finfan: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:40 pm

    @Nikita-289: “For those who care. Province boys psyched up and have a look seldom seen.”

    The dejected look after the match will be all too familiar though…

  • 295.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:42 pm

    @rossoneri-293: Go Saaaaaarks

  • 296.Nikita: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:43 pm

    @Finfan-294:

    Beware of the injured ego.

    See you at the game.

    Appointments.

  • 297.Horings: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:44 pm

    @CharlesM-292: Pity Jan Serfontein and Dries Swanepoel is not fit to play U19s.

    In the same way it is a pity your senior teams have a U21 tight five and some of your U21 players are U19 (ex Swiel). With Venter playing U21 I think Serfontein would have played U19.

  • 298.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 12:49 pm

    Godd luck to you all for the game. Sharks will tilt this one by 8 but weather permitting I reckon we could be in for a fun game.
    Kayalami tomorrow morning/early afternoon and then rushing home for the ruggas……..I might be sh itfaced by then byt hey, its all good.

  • 299.cane: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 13:00 pm

    If Sharkies do not win,
    A Dark Age will descend upon Keo.co.medy.

    A Brokeback Age of Tyranny.

    Where only those tainted with blue and white strips will survive.

    The Weepees and their lackeys will drive all others away.

    The first of the Martyrs have already paid the price………………………………….Puma, Sharkgirl and Shark Shagger.

  • 300.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    26 Oct 2012, 13:01 pm

    Hope this final turns out like the Free State vs Bulls at Loftus final with the ball deceiving F. Du Preez with Bosman gathering it and running in the winning try, can still see the look on the Bulls’ faces.

    HAAK WP HAAAAAAAK!!!

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