Six moments that mattered
27 Oct 2012
GARETH DUNCAN looks back to six monumental moments of the Currie Cup final.
HABANA’S SACRIFICE
Many were looking forward to the individual battle between in-form wings Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen. And it took seven minutes for these two players to be part of a crucial moment of the game. In the seventh minute, Paul Jordaan’s break out wide put Pietersen in the clear. However, he was stopped by a courageous cover tackle from Habana. If it wasn’t for the WP wing’s efforts, Pietersen would’ve enjoyed a clear run to the whitewash. Unfortunately, Habana picked up a knee injury and was forced leave the field moments later.
CATRAKILIS CALMS
While many will rave about WP flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis’ performance, he didn’t have a great start to the match. He had a few poor moments during, which included poor tactical kicks and loose passes. One skip pass aimed to Gio Aplon was intercepted by JP Pietersen, who launched a promising counter-attack. While Province lucky not to concede a try, it did lead to one of Pat Lambie’s four penalties during the opening 30 minutes. Luckily for WP, Catrakilis settled in nicely thereafter.
DE JONGH’S BRILLIANCE
Juan de Jongh’s break was reminiscent of his brilliant try scored in the 2010 Super Rugby semi-final victory over the Waratahs at Newlands. But this try was even better. The outside centre ran the perfect angle as he latched on to Catrakilis’s pop pass. He handed off Keegan Daniel and beat Marcell Coetzee and Lwazi Mvovo on route to the chalk. It changed the tone of the game, and WP went on to hold a 16-12 lead at half-time.
SHARKS’ SOLID DEFENCE
WP showed a great defensive effort to deny the Sharks a try during the early stages of the first and second halves, but the Sharks’ guard midway during the opening 40 stood firm at a vital stage of the match. The hosts were leading 18-16, but Province built strong momentum on attack on the hour mark. They camped inside the Sharks’ red zone, but were kept out time after time. WP could only leave with a penalty from Demetri Catrakilis. Although they conceded three points, their defensive efforts saw them only trail by two points at that stage of the match. Game on.
THE GREEK’S DROP GOALS
While Province struggled to cross the tryline, Catrakilis starred with the boot in the final quarter slotting two drop goals. The first one was well struck with the right foot, while he hacked the second with his left boot and the goal attempt just sneaked over. It gave Province a 25-18 lead, and forced the Sharks to search for a converted try to level matters.
SHARKS’ BLUNDERS
The Sharks had two moments to clinch a try at the death. First, Louis Ludik broke down the blindside with Charl McLeod in support. He only had one defender in his way – Joe Pietersen who was back as a sweeper. Ludik thought he drew his man before offloading to McLeod, however, Pietersen made a fantastic dive tackle to stop the scrumhalf. Pat Lambie picked up the pop pass from McLeod, but lost the ball in contact. The Sharks then had possession at the sound of the final hooter. They worked themselves near the tryline, but lost the ball in contact again, this time 10m from the whitewash. WP held on for a famous victory.
29 Comments
27 Oct 2012, 21:07 pm
The Sharks’ best player was Lambie.
Pity his pack let him down today.
And that Cobus Reinach is a serious talent for the future.
27 Oct 2012, 21:49 pm
I’m assuming Jaco Peyper’s calls come in at no. 6?
27 Oct 2012, 22:05 pm
@silent_shadow-2: Seeing as WP won, his atrocious refereeing luckily didn’t influence the final outcome, despite his best efforts.
27 Oct 2012, 22:07 pm
No mention of Etzebeth? He dominated the Sharks lineouts.
27 Oct 2012, 22:13 pm
WP’s best forward was Burden..
27 Oct 2012, 22:17 pm
@RainbowBanana-4: This piece just focuses on key moments of the Currie Cup final. Eben was colossal – I’ve mentioned that in my match report and Allister Coetzee points to his efforts in the quote piece.
27 Oct 2012, 23:04 pm
@GarethDuncan-6: The Sharks defense was a key moment? It led to the penalty which put WP back into the lead, a lead they never relinquished. A key moment would have been WP leaving without ANY points!!!! It was a key moment for WP, not the Sharks! Come on, you’re better than this.
27 Oct 2012, 23:11 pm
@mikeybrass-7: At that stage of the match it was. If you looked at the desperate tackles made near the tryline, you’d realise how well the Sharks did to keep WP out. If Province scored a try, would’ve been an easier finish for them. Yes, Catrakilis kicked a penalty, but Sharks were happy to only concede three points, again, at that stage of the match.
27 Oct 2012, 23:15 pm
Jaco Peyper had a shocker of note,luckily we won!!Adjudging Joe Petersen knocked on took the cake,JP Petersen knock on not called,skew lineouts,Beast hand on the deck ect.
28 Oct 2012, 03:12 am
Tac’s can of whoopas looks decidedly ordinary next to Heavens Game (BOOM!) and (BOO!M)[tm] and SL’s juvenile delinquent hurling of abuse.
Some Sharks supporters were gracious in defeat, and not ******** beforehand. That’s what its supposed to be about.
HG & SL – go watch cricket. They’re the windgat klonte type. You’d feel right at home.
28 Oct 2012, 03:14 am
Oh, and I’m a Bull supporter.
North South rivalry is as strong as always, you “we serve the throne” fuckers best keep out of this.
28 Oct 2012, 03:36 am
Maak ‘n Peyper!
28 Oct 2012, 06:56 am
Gareth,I agree but JdJ actually scored a similar try in this year’s SRugby comp against the Blues I think (can’t remember).
28 Oct 2012, 07:42 am
@GarethDuncan-8: How about an article on how terrible Jaco “Bryce Lawrence” Payper was?
28 Oct 2012, 07:53 am
@stormersboy-14: Hi there S.boy!! What a feeling !!!!!! Finally a CC again. Peyper had a shocker of note. He seemed to try and do his best to give the Cup to the Sharks.
The boys played sooooo well!! Where are all those loud mouths ? Especially the “newcomer” (“wp.winning never was so easy”) – he was full of insults the last couple of days. I suppose we’ll only see him in S15 time next year !!
28 Oct 2012, 08:00 am
@CharlesM-15: Ja man this is soooo sweet!
Our youngsters showed the Bok laden sharks what commitment is all about!
How good was Eben, Deon, Kitshoff and Groom? Fantastic game by these guys, Scarra too.
I recall your comments during the week regarding this very possibility!
Jaco had me out of my seat on occasion, Beasts scrum infringement, Gio’s release on the tackle, Joe’s non knock on, JP’s knock on…..it just went on and on……
If we hadn’t won there would have been serious WP hate for Jaco,
28 Oct 2012, 08:12 am
@stormersboy-16: And the one lineout where Scarra knocked the ball at the back of the lineout. The throw-in was not straight – Scarra koncked the ball about one and a half metre on the Sharks’ side. It should have been our scrum feed but it was given to the Sharks. They got a penalty at the scrum and Lambie nailed it – this plus the ones you mentioned above pis@ed me off big time. How could he not ask one of his assistants when Joe “knocked” the ball. He never missed our infringements though. De KOck Steenkamp was blown for coming from the side at one ruck but Sykes did the same and the Sharks got a penalty from which they scored as well.
Fortunately we can speak as winners about these incidents !!
The guys played very well but some of the Sharks felt the pressure, e.g Burden at lineout time. Etzebeth will be a feature in his nightmares!!
28 Oct 2012, 08:26 am
@CharlesM-17: Yes i forgot about that one! The Sharks got a few points off Jaco’s bad reffing. Freaked me out as you say, at least it’s not from a point of “sour grapes” as you say.
28 Oct 2012, 09:01 am
The one moment that mattered was Kyle Cooper’s knock-on after the hooter had sounded.
A final whistle has never sounded so wonderful.
28 Oct 2012, 09:01 am
Why is we refer to one of our own as a Greek?
I thought we had moved on from this but it appears we are no further advanced than we like to project.
28 Oct 2012, 09:08 am
@I am a stormer-19: I thought it was game over when we got the scrum feed after the hooter……..but not to be. That was close……when he knocked the ball all the Province players started celebrating: must have been one hell of feeling to be in the stands (and being a Province supporter of course !!)
28 Oct 2012, 09:21 am
@CharlesM-21:
And even before that, Schroeder made a meal of clearing the ball from the line-out with 15 seconds to go. That mistake led to WP being under pressure for another minute or 2.
28 Oct 2012, 09:27 am
@I am a stormer-22: Thank Heavens we pulled it through !!
I’m out to enjoy the sunshine and carry on celebrating our victory !!!!
PROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVIIIIIIIIIIINCE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you think we’ll some of those arrogant Sharks’ supporters today or tomorrow on this site ? I’m not speaking about the objective ones like Sharkie and Charo and a couple of others
WP JOU LEKKA DING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
28 Oct 2012, 09:27 am
@CharlesM-23:It should be: Do you think we’ll see…..
28 Oct 2012, 09:41 am
@silent_shadow-2: As a neutral watching the game I think the cry’s against Peyper’s refereeing are non-sensical.
He actually gifted the Sharks too many penalties and on a few occasions gave very harsh calls in the favour, prop not rolling away, knock on from Pietersen which wasn’t etc.
So can every1 STFU abt the ref?
28 Oct 2012, 09:45 am
@Diplomatic oeK-13: He really is such a potent attacking threat.
Mallet spoke after the game about how Fleck called him during the S15 about how the attacking practice is not translating onto the field. Mallet explained that AC was leaning too much on Nienaber’s philosophy and in the Currie Cup they decided to alter their approach to a more balanced game.
When WP plays with balance,players like JdJ thrive and its such a beauty to watch tries being scored like that!
28 Oct 2012, 09:53 am
@CharlesM-23:
They’ll make an appearance in due course, I reckon. I think some are just spending time in the chill room. And others are just speechless.
I’m waiting for his Humble Graciousness to make an entrance.
28 Oct 2012, 10:19 am
I am just glad we won and now we won’t be labeled as sour grapes ‘re peyper. He was pathetic at best. That said the composure of the players and captain in particular was great. Hate to say this but Schalk would have blown up. Lastly Schreader is way too tall for a scrummie, thwarted final clearence is a great example of why he will continue to struggle. I hope he getaway some game time at flyhalf.
28 Oct 2012, 11:35 am
Good morning all the Wp winners!! Just acouple of things from my side:
1. GD the score was 16 -12 at halftime! How can you as a jounranlist get this wrong? Sharks did not score any tries and had only Jaco Peypers penalties to count on.. so could only be 12… Get it right please!
2. No more 11 year jokes or when last did Wp win anything jokes.. Someone elkse pointed out that Non Wp supporters in future will tell us how important a Conference Cup is once they win it…
3. Chokers are teams that play in 3 finals and win nothing… Hereby Gladly accept this award Sharkies!!!
4. I will be as gracious as HG was this week on our victory.. How is that for a deal? He had a lot to say with some other Sharks Supporters on here… It is sad that between him and some other they made me chance from the Sharks being my second team to almost hating them more than the bulls..
WP….. djou lekke deng!!!
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