Pumas upset Sharks to set up Currie Cup Final with Cheetahs
CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Pumas will face the Cheetahs in next weekend's Currie Cup Final in Bloemfontein.
The defending champions from Nelspruit edged the Sharks 26-20 in a tense semifinal clash at Kings Park on Saturday.
Jimmy Stonehouse's side outscored their opponents by four tries to two in the match and they also produced a strong defensive display to keep the Durban side out in the final minutes of the game.
The Sharks also played the last 15 minutes of the game with 14 men after centre Alwayno Visagie was sent off.
It was an incredible start for the Pumas as they opened the scoring in the first minute when prop Corne Fourie powered over from close range after several phases. Tinus de Beer added the extra two points with the conversion.
The away side then found themselves further in front in the 14th minute when Simon Raw found his way to the tryline with the help of a powerful driving maul. De Beer was unsuccessful with the conversion.
The Sharks finally got onto the board in the 19th minute with a Lionel Cronje penalty.
The home side started to build more pressure inside the Pumas' half and they were rewarded in the 28th minute when lock Corne Rahl crashed over for his first Currie Cup try. Cronje reduced the Pumas' lead to two points with his conversion.
However, the Pumas hit back a few minutes later when Andrew Kota intercepted a pass from Murray Koster before racing away for his team's third try. De Beer made it a nine-point lead with his conversion.
The Sharks seemed intent on getting the final say in the first half and they did when Fezokuhle Mbatha was driven over the tryline by a driving maul. Cronje added the extras with the conversion.
At half-time, it was 19-17 to the Pumas.
The Sharks were given a boost in the 47th minute when Pumas wing Etienne Taljaard was given a yellow card for a high tackle.
That penalty allowed Cronje to put his team in front.
However, the Sharks were reduced to 14 men in the 52nd minute when Henco Venter saw yellow for a high tackle as well.
The Pumas then found themselves in front again when Pieter Jacobs scored his team's fourth try after another powerful driving maul.
De Beer made it a six-point lead with the conversion.
The home side then suffered a massive setback in the 65th minute when Visagie received a red card for taking out a player in the air.
Despite being a man down, the Sharks were threatening with ball in hand, but the Pumas held on for the win.
Man of the match: Wing Andrew Kota looked dangerous with ball in hand and he scored an intercept try in the first half. Loose forward Francois Kleinhans was a colossus in the physical exchanges. He was aggressive on defence and just his presence up front just helped his team. However, the award goes to Pumas captain Shane Kirkwood. His work rate around the park was incredible, especially on defence.
The scorers:
For Sharks:
Tries: Rahl, Mbatha
Cons: Cronje 2
Pens: Cronje 2
For Pumas:
Tries: Fourie, Raw, Kota, Jacobs
Cons: De Beer 3
Red card: Alwayno Visagie (Sharks, 65' - foul play, taking out a player in the air.)
Yellow cards: Etienne Taljaard (Pumas, 47' - foul play, high tackle); Henco Venter (Sharks, 52' - foul play, high tackle)
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Murray Koster, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Marco de Witt, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Tiaan Fourie, 23 Curwin Bosch.
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Andrew Kota, 13 Diego Appolis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Francois Kleinhans, 6 Andre Fouche, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Simon Raw, 2 Pieter Jacobs, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Deward Martitz, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Gene Willemse, 23 Wian van Niekerk
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby, Paul Mente
TMO: Quinton Immelman