Preview: CC Final - Lions v Sharks
It's October, the loveliest month of the year, according to the poet Louis Leipoldt: 'Dit is die maand Oktober, die mooiste, mooiste maand.' It's the time of the year when the grass turns green and the jacarandas bloom. And it is that time - the Currie Cup Final is upon us at a sold-out stadium in Johannesburg - 62,000 to watch the Golden Lions and the Sharks battle for South African rugby's greatest prize.
History is not on the side of the Golden Lions, not even in their Johannesburg lair. They have played at home in only six out of 50 finals and won only once in those.
You have to be old to remember that once because the only time they have won the Currie Cup Final at home was the first one of the six - 61 years ago!
Then they beat Western Province. Since then they have lost to the Blue Bulls three times in Johannesburg and to the Sharks twice at that venue.
But history is there to be made, records to be broken. It is, after all, a final, 80 minutes of intense rugby when small things can have big consequences.
It is a final and winning rugby in such matches is so much about defence - tackling again and again. The Wallabies did it to the Springboks and then, in that tense second half, the All Blacks did it to the French - tackled again and again.
For some years tackling has not been a forte of the Golden Lions but in recent times that has changed. Last week they played against five backs who were current Springboks and beat them. Do it against Jean de Villiers and Co. and you can do it against Stefan Terblanché and Co.
Then there is the battle up front where the Sharks' strength lies. Here the Golden Lions will have to be brave and strong - to stand up to Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira, Willem Alberts and Jean Deysel. That is a lot of raw power and then there is Keegan Daniel to change the momentum of a match.
So much will depend on the resilience of the Golden Lions pack who face far greater odds than they did in subduing the Western Province pack.
Joshua Strauss will stand up but who will stand with him like Horatio of old? Tough and much improving Michael Rhodes will stand with him and so will - well, all of that eager pack of forwards. Will and determination will not be lacking but will there be strength to back it?
Players to Watch: Of course, you will watch those enfants terribles, Jaco Taute and Patrick Lambie. They will take up positions at opposite ends of the field but both of them will be coming forward and will have an great impact on play, both brave and skilful players and both players with vision. You will watch and be aware of Bismarck du Plessis, who may just be the best player in the world in his position - so strong and fearless. You will see lively, energetic Franco van der Merwe with his many ball skills.
Head to Head: Strong veteran Doppies la Grange who was schooled in Durban, against super-vet Stefan Terblanché at outside centre and then young Alwyn Hollenbach against veteran Marius Joubert, two non-Springboks against two Springboks but the non-Boks have the advantage of being 11 years younger. The Golden Lions duo could well win this in telling fashion. Youth and age clash at flyhalf as well - 21-year-old Elton Jantjies with no international experience and Frédéric Michalak, just recently 29 years old, a Test player at 19 and now with the experience of 54 caps. Jantjies could just be too rugged for the older man. There is an interesting contrast between the two eighthmen - bearded Joshua Strauss taking the direct and hard route, and taller, faster, much more evasive Ryan Kankowski. Then there is the battle of the two front rows - Jannie, Bismarck and the Beast, three current Springboks, against Patric Cilliers, Bandise Maku and CJ van der Linde. It's hard to see the Golden Lions coming close on that one. In fact it could just be a profitable phase for the Sharks. Then which Shark is going to fight for the tackle ball? Kankowski and Willem Alberts are ball-carriers. That leaves speedy Keegan Daniel to battle sturdy Derick Minnie. That could be a harsh conflict. Perhaps the best fetcher the Sharks have is Bismarck du Plessis. Goal-kicking? Michalak not great, Lambie not long, which perhaps gives Jantjies the upperhand. But nerves could count for so much, and here Lambie may well have the upperhand.
Recent Results:
2011: Sharks won 53-9, Durban
2011: Golden Lions won 28-19, Johannesburg
2010: Sharks won 48-19, Durban
2010: Golden Lions won 22-20, Johannesburg
2009: Sharks won 30-19, Johannesburg
2009: Sharks won 19-17, Durban
2008: Sharks won 16-11, Durban
2008: Sharks won 34-20, Johannesburg
2008: Sharks won 29-14, Durban
2007: Sharks won 21-3, Durban
2007: Golden Lions won 14-7, Johannesburg
2007: Golden Lions won 19-12, Durban
Previous Currie Cup Final results:
(Between these two teams)
1992: Sharks won 14-13, Johannesburg
1993: Lions won 21-15, Durban
1996: Sharks won 33-15, Johannesburg
1999: Lions won 32-9, Durban
Prediction: All of the above notwithstanding we believe that the Golden Lions will win by three points in an exciting match. They will win because they will score more tries.
The teams:
Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse/JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Warren Whiteley, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Butch James, 21 Dylan Des Fountain, 22 James Kamana.
Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanché, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
Date: Saturday, October 29
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Not the greatest - a chance of thunderstorms with a 60 percent chance of rain, a high of 22°C, dropping to 15°C.
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Stefan Breytenbach, Marius Jonker
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
By Paul Dobson