By Lucky Vince Pienaar
Both semi-final matches for the Currie Cup trophy went down to the wire, but there were different styles at play – and the Lions certainly looked the more convincing.
In two matches that delivered no fewer than 21 tries, the clash between the Blue Bulls and the Sharks produced all the drama, while the match between the Lions and the Cheetahs, no less exciting, featured better rugby.
As expected, the match at Emirates Ellis Park in Johannesburg was close, but also as expected, the Lions won. Both teams scored six tries, with the conversions making the difference.
The dramatic match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria went into extra time after scores were tied. The Bulls were leading with two minutes to go when Trevor Nyakane scored the final try. The scores were even again, and in the last minute, Boeta Chamberlain had the chance to win it for the Bulls with a penalty – but he missed the kick, opening the door to the final for the Sharks, who had scored the most tries.
South African rugby is at a crossroads. At the height of South Africa’s rugby success, Rassie Erasmus announced that the Springboks would move away from the bomb squad style and adopt a free-flowing game with more options.
It was a radical departure from a system that had resulted in back-to-back World Cup victories. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” was the popular sentiment.
But the “new” Springboks have triumphed over the Wallabies and the All Blacks and are being hailed by some, including many in New Zealand, as the best Bok outfit ever.
While the Lions and the Cheetahs have clearly embraced a flowing game and are both proving successful in the Currie Cup arena, the Bulls under Jake White have seemed a little slow in joining the party.
The Sharks, who have spent two seasons navigating stormy waters, haven’t seemed to develop at all, still playing grinding rugby and wearing down their opponents. Nyakane’s try was no accident – the opposition simply couldn’t resist the battering ram anymore, and the huge gap appeared.
This coming weekend is set to be a classic contest. Will the graceful beauty be able to run away long enough until the hairy beast tires and gives up the chase?
Rassie Erasmus has proved that the new style is the most effective. Cash van Rooyen at the Lions has been implementing it all season. It’s hard to imagine the Sharks will be able to keep up.
Lions (6 tries) 43-34 (6 tries) Cheetahs
Blue Bulls (4 tries) 40-40 (5 tries) Sharks.
Pictured above: The Lions.
Source: Lions/X
