The Sharks’ destiny
Remember the SMS last year? It said: “Congratulations to the Bulls for winning the Super 14. Congratulations to the Sharks for winning the World Cup.”
Remember the SMS last year? It said: “Congratulations to the Bulls for winning the Super 14. Congratulations to the Sharks for winning the World Cup.”
The Blue Bulls will meet the Sharks in Durban in two weeks’ time to determine the 2008 Currie Cup champion.
The Sharks were just too good for the Lions as they cruised to a 29-14 victory in the first Currie Cup semifinal at Absa Stadium on Saturday.
”In some competitions you get a prize for that,” said a rueful John Plumtree. The Sharks had just finished at the top of top of the Currie Cup log.
Pick the players who have shown good Currie Cup form. That’s Eugene Eloff’s message to the national rugby selectors.
Western Province were consigned to the 2008 Currie Cup scrapheap despite beating the Lions 14-6 at Newlands on Saturday evening.
The Blue Bulls scraped through 22-20 against the Valke on Friday and deserved to win, despite being unable to score for the last 28 minutes.
Unlike the Stormers’ failed Super 14 venture, Western Province’s Currie Cup play-off fate will not rest on the outcome of other games.
The absence of Jean de Villiers may have cost Western Province a place in the Currie Cup semifinals.
The Sharks beat the Lions 34-20 in a vital Currie Cup match in Johannesburg on Saturday thanks to two huge blunders by Earl Rose.
The Blue Bulls romped to a 58-22 victory over spirited Griquas in an Absa Currie Cup fixture played at Absa Park, Kimberley, on Friday afternoon.
The Free State Cheetahs put together an impressive display of exhilarating but controlled running rugby in beating the Valke 78-7 on Friday night.
In Bloemfontein last week the Cheetahs lost 23-5 to the Bulls in the Currie Cup and the likelihood is that they will not make the semifinals.
The Lions stayed in the hunt for a semifinal play-off with a hard-fought win against the Boland Kavaliers in a wet Wellington.
The Currie Cup champions’s chances of defending their title were dealt a heavy blow when the Free State Cheetahs were beaten 23-5 by the Blue Bulls.
The Currie Cup is heading towards the sharp end, with three weekends of fixtures remaining before the semis and at least one key game in each round.
The Sharks ended their ten-match Currie Cup losing streak against the Cheetahs when they defeated the Bloemfontein-based team 22-10 on Saturday.
The Free State Cheetahs and the Sharks meet in Durban in a Currie Cup clash that is vital to both sides’ aspirations.
The Sharks beat the Blue Bulls 34-25 on Saturday in a Currie Cup match. Also victorious were the Eagles, Western Province and Griquas.
The Lions thrash the Valke 83-14 in their Currie Cup match in Brakpan, while the Border Bulldogs beat the Pumas in East London.
The Blue Bulls went to the top of the Currie Cup log with a hard-fought and drawn-out 41-12 victory over Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
The Sharks defeated Griquas 44-15 in a fast-paced Currie Cup match on Saturday. Also, the Cheetahs secured a rather lucky victory.
The Lions on Saturday ran out deserved 27-13 winners against Western Province. Also victorious were the SWD Eagles and the Platinum Leopards.
The Blue Bulls were good value for their 50-7 win over a game Valke side on Friday night. Also, the Border Bulldogs beat the Mighty Elephants.
The Sharks held on for a hard-fought 16-11 win over the Lions in a crucial Absa Currie Cup match at the Absa Stadium on Saturday.
The return of nine Springboks and two shock successive defeats of Western Province make this weekend’s Currie Cup rugby fare especially interesting.
The Blue Bulls secured their third win of the season on Saturday, beating the Cheetahs 31-23. Also, Griquas edged Western Province 21-20.
The Sharks had to rely on their mauling abilities and the finishing of flank Jacques Botes to overcome a valiant Boland Kavaliers 38-13.
Boland captain Conrad Burke scored a last-minute intercept try to secure a 48-42 Currie Cup victory over the Valke in Brakpan on Friday night.
Rory Kockott emerged as the hero as he slotted four late penalties to hand the Sharks a thrilling 28-25 victory over Western Province.