Western Province win Currie Cup
Oct 27,2012
Western Province claimed their first Currie Cup title since 2001 with a 25-18 win over the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Province centre Juan de Jongh scored the only try in a thrilling high-paced rematch of the 2010 final while fly-half Demetri Catrakilis contributed 17 points with the boot, including two drops goals.
De Jongh's try four minutes before the interval gave Western Province a 16-12 advantage at the halfway stage.
Sharks fly-half Patrick Lambie kicked all of his team's points and his first four penalties gave the hosts a nine-point lead before the visitors fought back.
Indeed, in the early stages it looked like the visitors from Cape Town would once again fall foul of Lambie's boot but - unlike the final two years ago when the home side dominated - WP took control in the second period, especially in the line-outs where Eben Etzebeth reigned supreme.
Catrakilis opened the scoring in the third minute with a penalty but the Sharks replied with a three-pointer of their own from Lambie 10 minutes later.
The Sharks pivot added three further penalties before Joe Pietersen - who came on as a replacement for the injured Bryan Habana in the 15th minute - landed a monster place kick, from just inside his half, to narrow the gap to six points in the 33rd minute.
Shortly afterwards De Jongh's try changed the flow of the game.
The Springbok midfielder's try was a superb solo effort which silenced the partisan home crowd.
De Jongh ran onto an inside pass from Catrakilis, midway between the Sharks' 22 and the halfway line, shrugged off the challenges of two Sharks defenders and beat Lwazi Mvovo with a deft side-step before scoring under the posts.
Catrakilis added the extras and on the stroke of half-time he slotted another penalty which gave the visitors a 16-12 lead at the break.
John Plumtree's charges were dominant in the scrums throughout and shortly after the break Lambie narrowed the gap to a point after WP's front-row infringed at a set piece.
Lambie added another penalty, after Frans Malherbe was penalised for not rolling away at ruck, midway through the half which put his side back in front.
Province then upped the ante and were camped close to the Sharks' try-line for long periods but could not breach the home side's defence.
Catrakilis added another penalty after the Sharks strayed offside at a ruck and he sealed the victory with two well-taken drop goals inside the final 15 minutes.
Man of the match: WP skipper Deon Fourie was given the official award while Demetri Catrakilis and Eben Etzebeth both deserve a mention, but we'll go for Juan de Jongh, who scored scintillating try and was a thorn in the Sharks' side from start to finish.
Moment of the match: The Sharks had a stranglehold on the match until De Jongh's moment of brilliance seemed to breathe life into the rest of his team-mates. Up to that point, WP's players - especially the forwards - seemed to be making up the numbers but they soon increased their intensity and gradually took control of proceedings.
Villain of the match: Nothing to report here. Both sides played hard but fair.
The scorers:
For the Sharks:
Pens: Lambie 6
For Western Province:
Try: de Jongh
Con: Catrakilis
Pens: Catrakilis 3
Drops: Catrakilis 2
The 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.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Odwa Ndungane.
Western Province: 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.
Replacements: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Marcel Brache, 22 Joe Pietersen.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Comments (7)
Oct 27, 2012 at 20:27:27
I HATE TO say it but well done W.P...... well deserved....!!!!!!
Oct 28, 2012 at 10:09:16
De Jongh is our finest Centre by far but we always have to choose the glory boyz first. Thats what makes the Boks look a little stupid these days. Dont let colour choose the players let their skill select the jersey. There is no question about it Habana, JP, De Jongh, Beast are first team. There is no doubt about it. Zane is playing his heart out so its not just like some glory boy can just give a statement saying they wanna play fullback then they have it. Zane just needs to sharpen up his game and at present he is the best. F Steyne needs to fight for that position so do many other players. Jerseys are up for grabs in a few other key areas LIKE Flyhalf so dont get comfortable boys you never know when you going to get dropped like Morney. This is no walk in the park. Show your value. I think HM has some serious rethinking to do about how he managers the players and loose that player coach frienship relationship that he has proven to handicap us. Time to put on your professional Caps Boys like the Springbok Greats have before you. Get ready for some brutal NHEM rugby it is snowing over here and they are going to be coming at for your scalp. The Castle Nations was an Embarrassment please try not to repeat that again. It all boils down to selection and Strategy. Get the Ball rolling. Well done to DE Jongh for standing up this is a player that will score tries with a great partnership with JP and Habana. They all think fast on their feet while running at top speed LOL you dont get better than that.
Oct 28, 2012 at 13:19:18
Congrates to WP and Sharks, you did your supporter great, Well done !!! Sorry Jaco Peyper your had a nightmare, bad reffing !!! the WP were all over and derserved to win, luckely your whissle didn't had a effect onthe result. "WP jou lekke ding"
Oct 28, 2012 at 13:55:35
Finally WP win something. Been hitting and missing one way. Sharks are starting to look like big chokers. Eish
Oct 29, 2012 at 08:24:44
Finally WP win something? Get real!!!! The SA Conference title in rugby terms means a heck of a lot more than the Currie Cup which only has some hsitory and related emotion behind it.. I am a WP supporter for those who may not know.
De Jongh shows these flashes of brillainace every blue moon. That he has not played more for the Boks is his own fault. He needs to get more active. However one has to accept the fact there is even less space in International rugby. The fact is he has done zip most of the year and I would like to see him doing much more if he i sto be a Bok center.
On tour he will have a chance. Squander the chance Juan and you will be history as there are a number of young centers coming up.
See you on the Ruckers forum!!!!
Oct 27, 2012 at 19:09:47
Congrats to WP, been a long time since i've seen guts like that! It actually made me start to cheer out loud for them in the final minutes!! My goodness we have some great youngsters in this country!