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The Currie Cup title race was reignited after the Sharks took a thrilling 32-29 victory over the Vodacom Bulls in Durban on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.
The result reduced the Bulls’ lead at the top of the Currie Cup standings to just four points, after the Pretoria men entered the weekend comfortably with eight points between them and the now second Sharks.
It was also the Bulls’ first loss since they were defeated by the Cheetahs at Bloemfontein in the second round of Super Rugby Unlocked and ended their six-game undefeated streak.
However, the game was not without controversy, as the SuperSport panel suggested that Marius Louw was lucky to escape a red card for a head butt after colliding with Morne Steyn while chasing a kick. Referee Marius van der Westhuizen decided that the infraction was only worth a yellow card, which is debatable considering that Jacques van Rooyen was sent off a couple of weeks ago for a minor infraction.
Speaking of Van Rooyen, he made headlines again when Van der Westhuizen decided to send him away for a dangerous tackle on Henco Venter. Again, the decision was moot, especially considering Van Rooyen had started the tackle very low and Venter dived into contact. In reaction, Bulls captain Duane Vermeulen asked if players should start playing touch rugby, demonstrating how frustrated players are with the inconsistency of the application of the World Rugby high tackle framework.
Away from the controversial talking points, which will undoubtedly dominate the headlines, the clash in Durban was truly entertaining, as you would expect from the top two teams in South Africa at the moment.
The Sharks were able to take a 14-9 lead at halftime thanks to three penalties from Curwin Bosch and a spectacular try from returning captain Lukhanyo Am, who latched on to a volley from Manie Libbok and ran clear to score. It could have been 19-9, but the TMO saw that Dan Jooste had committed a foul when he hit the ball over the line after the halftime horn.
The scrum battle between the two teams was fiercely close and the Sharks did very well to continue fighting despite losing Springbok tighthead Thomas du Toit to injury in the early stages of the second half.
Bosch scored his fourth penalty to extend the Sharks’ lead to eight points, but the Bulls returned to the competition when Marco van Staden came up close to make it a one-point game. The Bulls then took the lead when Morne Steyn kicked his fourth penalty (19-17).
The momentum of the game shifted in the Bulls ‘favor from there when the Sharks began to fight under pressure from the visitors’ media kicks. Steyn made it 22-17 with his fifth penalty of the game, but Bosch responded with a penalty of his own to keep the Sharks in touch.
The Bulls then delivered a forceful blow as they recovered the ball near the 22 Sharks and spread it wide, exploiting an overlap for Cornal Hendricks to score and make it a nine-point game in the final 20 minutes. The Sharks made a great decision when they rejected a kickable penalty at the Bulls 22, opting for a maul that paid off when substitute hooker Kerron van Vuuren scored, but Bosch hit the posts with his conversion, making it a four-point differential.
Bosch then took the big play out of the bag, when he landed a pinpoint cross kick, which was caught by Yaw Penxe, who grabbed the ball and scored. Half of the sharks kept their composure to convert despite the wind.
In a dramatic conclusion, the Bulls earned a scrum penalty after the horn, giving Steyn a chance to score a draw, but the veteran unusually softened his lines, leaving the Sharks celebrating.
Sharks – Attempts: Lukhanyo Am, Kerron van Vuuren, Yaw Penxe. Conversion: Curwin Bosch. Penalties: Bosch (5).
Bulls – Attempts: Marco van Staden, Cornal Hendricks. Conversions: Morne Steyn (2). Penalties: Steyn (5).
Sharks – 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 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.
Subs: 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 (c), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje , 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Marco Jansen van Vuren.
Photo: @ TheSharksZA / Twitter
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