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Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn lines up a shot at goal during their Super Rugby Unlocked match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on October 16, 2020.
Images of Frikkie Kapp / Gallo
the Sharks finally stopped the Bulls juggernaut with a 32-29 Currie Cup victory at Kings Park on Saturday, after Yaw Penxe scored the winning try in the final five minutes.
The winner was set up by a perfectly executed cross kick from Curwin Bosch, Elton Jantjies-style, but Morne Steyn could have leveled the game after the horn had he not rejected the penalty attempt.
Those from Durban were better prepared for this competition than the previous one at Super Rugby Unlocked, when they lost 41-14 at Loftus.
They neutralized the Bulls’ deadly maul, even forcing them to try Rassie Eramus’s now-famous midfield maul tactic. Still, the Sharks held their ground and stole some advances from the Bulls lineout for good measure.
The home team was also helped by the Springbok returns of tighthead Thomas du Toit, Sikhumbuzo Notshe and captain Lukhanyo Am, who have missed part of their playing time through injury since returning to the game.
Du Toit, however, fell wounded, this time holding his rib as he limped forward at seven minutes into the second half.
Once again, it turned out to be a pivotal moment, as it marked the moment when the Bulls went into another gear and took over the game from the brave hosts.
HOW IT HAPPENED | Sharks vs bulls
Initially there was a goal kick competition between the midfields of the two teams, Steyn and Bosch, which finally broke down within half an hour into the match.
An excellently disguised inside pass from fullback Manie Libbok at a half-break to Am allowed the No. 13 to walk cleanly to the try line.
There was time for a bit of drama after the first half played.
The Sharks were denied what would have been a crucial score before halftime when hooker Daniel Jooste passed over the try line from a pile, but were judged to have played the ball from the ruck a meter from the Bulls try line.
It was a pivotal moment as the Bulls scored their first try nine minutes after the restart via flank Marco van Staden, who pounced on similar pressure on the try line.
The try galvanized the Bulls and their intensity went up a thousand notches as they took the lead through Steyn’s boot at 19-17, who then extended it to 22-17 shortly thereafter.
Cornal Hendricks scored the Bulls’ second try in the 62ndNorth Dakota minute while the visitors threatened to walk away.
But substitute hooker Kerron van Vuuren scored from the back of a lineout series five minutes later to leave the game hanging out of a pocket in the dying moments.
Then came Bosch’s magic moment, a cross shot to left wing Yaw Penxe, who picked up the chip and landed with five minutes to go on the clock.
Scorers:
Sharks – 32 (14)
Attempts: Lukhanyo Am, Kerron van Vuren, Yaw Penxe
Conversion: Curwin Bosch
Penalties: Curwin Bosch (5)
Bulls – 29 (9)
Attempts: Marco van Staden, Cornal Hendricks
Conversions: Morne Steyn (2)
Penalties: Morne Steyn (5)
Teams
Sharks
15 Manie Libbok, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Ox Nche.
Substitutes: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Phepsi Buthelezi, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Jeremy Ward
Bulls
15 David Kriel, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje , 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Stravino Jacobs
