Monday, November 02, 2009
Blue Bulls win the Currie Cup final 2009
Loftus Versfeld was awash with blue as a capacity crowd witnessed one of the most action packed, intense finals we've seen in recent times. Morne Steyn continued his fine run of form, scoring 21 points in total, but it was Fourie Du Preez who once again showed why he's considered the best number nine in the world.
The Cheetahs game out firing but it was the Bulls who soaked up the pressure in the first few minutes before getting into a position for Du Preez to take a quick tap penalty, then crosskick for the waiting Francois Hougaard.
A turnover after more Cheetahs pressure allowed the Bulls to move it wide with Zane Kirchner, Fourie Du Preez, and Bryan Habana combining beautifully to score a great counter attacking try.
Du Preez and Habana combined again a few minutes later, as a perfectly placed kick allowed the flying Habana to chase and gather for his second try in his last match for the Bulls.
At 24-0 to the home side, it looked as though we had a repeat of the Super 14 final on our hands, but the Cheetahs come back through a try by Frans Viljoen, and later Corne Uys and Nico Breedt.
Jaques Louis Potgieter kept them in the game with a dropgoal, but Morne Steyn punished whenever possible, slotting 8 out of his 9 kicks on the day.
A yellow card to Richardt Strauss signalled the end of the Cheetahs comeback as the Bulls went on to celebrate in front of the 55 000 strong Loftus faithful.
The Springbok touring squad was named after the final. There were a few surprises, but the side contains the core of the Tri Nations players, along with nine new caps, all listed below.
Time: 07:43
Forum: You can discuss the Currie Cup final and the Bok squad at further length here .
Springbok Squad to tour Britain, Ireland, and Europe
Forwards: John Smit, Victor Matfield, Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Heinrich Brssow, Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Alistair Hargreaves, Ashley Johnson, Ryan Kankowski, Bandise Maku , Tendai Mtawarira, Dewald Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Davon Raubenheimer, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies, Gurthr Steenkamp, Heinke van der Merwe.
Backs: Heini Adams, Meyer Bosman, Juan de Jongh, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Adi Jacobs, Zane Kirchner, Odwa Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar , JP Pietersen, Earl Rose, Morn Steyn, Riaan Viljoen.
Posted at 11:12 am | 57 comments
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Viewing 57 comments
Phil November 02, 2009 11:35 am

But congratulations to the Bulls!
JD November 02, 2009 12:03 pm

rodofle November 02, 2009 12:25 pm

Can't wait for the match against the Bokkes in Toulouse, but i'm not very confident for Les Bleus...
Oli November 02, 2009 12:51 pm

Edbok November 02, 2009 12:56 pm

Andy November 02, 2009 1:42 pm

Why is it Habanas last match for the Bulls?
Ted November 02, 2009 1:45 pm

Having said that - a forward pass to Habana for one of his tries surely?
Sean November 02, 2009 2:00 pm

Anonymous November 02, 2009 2:02 pm

some weird selections their on this bok team, still they gonna win every single match this november (convincingly)
HabanIsAStormer November 02, 2009 2:16 pm

And to the people asking about Habana.
He's coming to PROOOOOOOOOOVINCE/Stormers!!!!!!! :):):) :P:P:P can't wait to watch him at newlands!
And no he isn't following money nor is Fourie, Cape Town is the best city in SA and they just simple want to live here.
Can I please hear some debate on the Bok squad eg Heinie Adams and Bandise Maku!!!!????
Shaft November 02, 2009 2:17 pm

Du Preez - unbelievable.
Robert November 02, 2009 2:35 pm

Peej November 02, 2009 2:36 pm

HabanaIsAStormer November 02, 2009 2:51 pm

And ya Lionel Mapoe deserved a spot no doubt. Odwa Ndungane is beyond average in my opinion, Jongi has way more potential.
I really think Sarel Pretorious should have been picked over Adams. It must take a blind man to not have noticed this stand out player.
Just a Fan November 02, 2009 3:03 pm

Would have choosen Mapoe over Nokwe - Nokwe too scared of tacking a tackle.
Anonymous November 02, 2009 3:19 pm

flapjack November 02, 2009 3:39 pm

To be honest, the Bulls clearly deserved it. I thought the Cheetahs might've made a come-back, and the Bulls look out of gas, but they stuck in there...impressive stuff. As a neutral, it was a really exciting match; however, I also noticed the Bulls won countless turn-overs by players playing the ball while on the ground. They were really good at doing so while on the far side, away from the referee - cheeky stuff, really.
Dave November 02, 2009 3:53 pm

Unless you were meaning JP Joubert.. but even then, he's not toooo bad. Quick service anyway.
Mapoe is a bit of a one hit wonder isn't he? I've seen him score about 3 top tries, and now everyone's going on about him, purely because he ran over joe petersen, who is the size of a 13 year old boy? Or am I missing something.. someone inform me please.
cheyanqui November 02, 2009 5:13 pm

What just boggles my mind is how Derrick Kuun is the starting hooker and sometimes captain of the Blue Bulls. Yet somehow his two understudies (Ralepelle and Maku) get selected.
Folks can claim window dressing all they want. However, if the SARFU is committed to picking players of color, then they should also be committed to ensuring these players are playing full time first class rugby.
The SARFU should either force the window dressing down at the CC/Super 14 level (so that these players get match time), or do away with it entirely.
To take this half-assed approach -- picking these players without giving them a base of play, they are setting the players up for defeat and the Boks as well.
Adi Jacobs may suck at the Springbok level, but at least her starts week to week.
cheyanqui November 02, 2009 5:27 pm

BTW -- What's with Olivier's hair? The feathered look went out with Mel Gibson in the first "Lethal Weapon"
Anonymous November 02, 2009 6:10 pm

Chris November 02, 2009 6:15 pm

Anonymous November 02, 2009 6:21 pm

Also Derick Kuun is a class player but at number 6. He played his whole career at 6 until they had to put him somewhere else to make space for him. He is too small and inexperienced at hooker to play for the boks. This is why Chiliboy is chosen over him at international level (and Quota). Trust me Chiliboy is a good player and I feel he gets given to much crap because he is black. No one has seen him play because he is always injured or on the bench but watch him when he comes on, he is solid player and a great leader. Bandise Maku on the other hand must GTFO!!! And heinie Adams! Sies!!!
And to the guy who said Scrumhalves are useless, clearly your from the nothern hemisphere where only 2 decent scrumhalves reside.
Hooker_ November 02, 2009 9:03 pm

think about it: good at tackling, good at kicking, amazing runner, good catcher and good passer. unless he isnt south african, i see no reason :P
Jaco Pret November 02, 2009 9:20 pm

Fourie du Preez = Best player in the world.
Brussow had some storming runs, too.
Intensity of a test match.
Voorblad November 02, 2009 9:22 pm

so what if they are overseas, ill pick them anyway
The Inside Shoulder November 02, 2009 10:03 pm

Havent seen a standard of rugby like that since the Lions.
There doing something right down there in Africa.
flapjack November 02, 2009 10:57 pm

Most of the time, it doesn't matter. But this was a final, and I think a little more commitment by Joubert would've been warranted.
But shoulda, coulda, woulda it doesn't matter now.
Thinking back on the match, was Bakkies Botha sort of anonymous all match? Mostly, he just seemed to get pinged for penalties...but maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention - I was pretty caught up in the possibility of a Cheetahs comeback (from 24-0!!).
cheyanqui November 03, 2009 12:21 am

One of the problems with the color quota system is that the rules come from up high, with little or no buy in or respect from the S14 or CC franchises.
This is big a reason as why quota selections fail.
Remember Wayne van Heerden getting picked for the Boks, and yet being unable to sign with an S14 franchise?
It's one thing to give a player of color a chance. However, if you have no mandate to ensure their development (i.e. the ability to impose them into an S14 team's starting lineup), they are even more likely to fail.
I think the issue is that there is a disconnect from the SARFU to the franchises. The franchises don't respect the politicos of the SARFU, or PDV.
If there was true respect for these men, then their borderline selections would be respected (if not agreed with).
Anonymous November 03, 2009 12:26 am

Anonymous November 03, 2009 12:47 am

Anonymous November 03, 2009 12:51 am

HM November 03, 2009 3:20 am

If anyone can find a ruck in that video where the majority of players are on their feet I'll be seriously surprised.
So much for the IRB directive about being stricter on going off your feet (last year I think it was). As far as I can see the refs are pretty much ignoring this in the SH.
Yes, it might make for faster, more attacking rugby in theory, but by making it easier to secure your own ball and reducing the competitive element, it reduces the number of turnovers, giving a less exciting game.
Sort it out refs...!
Anonymous November 03, 2009 6:50 am

And to Flapjack Like I said you must be watching some pretty kak scrumhalves if thats your opinion...
Wessel November 03, 2009 10:39 am

Also, the Cheetahs have humiliated both the Shark and Bulls front row, who are packed with Boks.
When is South Africa going to pick its best props?
Dave November 03, 2009 11:20 am

Regarding someones comment about Joost & Du Preez - Du Preez wins it hands down. Joost was an amazing attacking #9, but Du Preez has the all round game to blow Joost out of the picture. In my opinon anyway..
Both Bulls though interestingly.
Wessel November 03, 2009 3:17 pm

Anonymous November 03, 2009 6:33 pm

FDP is very good, but not the attacking threat of joost and certainly not a better defender. FDP may be a better kicker, thinker and general tactician...but I would go with Joost.
I am english ;)
Anonymous November 03, 2009 11:23 pm

Anonymous November 03, 2009 11:28 pm

Anonymous November 03, 2009 11:38 pm

Anonymous November 03, 2009 11:45 pm

Joost 38
this just proves that the guys above are correct in saying he is the best attacking 9 for the boks!
Anonymous November 04, 2009 12:02 am

Anonymous November 04, 2009 12:16 am

Anonymous November 04, 2009 12:36 am

Anonymous November 04, 2009 12:49 am

Canadian Content November 04, 2009 1:27 am

Pretorius was unlucky but Adams was an incredible stand out before Du Preez returned.
Great to see Ashely Johnson on the team, really solid, honest player.
Was the Cheetah 7 in the side, that guy makes ground everytime he touches the ball?
Only Ireland will challenge the Boks, though I doubt they are up to it.
In my opinion the end of apartheid was the best thing that happened to SA rugby. From the multitude of hues observed in the Currie Cup it certainly appears that SA rugby has benefitted from having the best athletes from all segments of society pushing each other.
PS the replacement hooker for the Cheetahs was a fool. Hope he learns that intensity is best saved for before the whistle, otherwise it is wasted and selfish
Anonymous November 04, 2009 2:16 pm

Spookie November 04, 2009 3:20 pm

On Joost vs FDP: Joost no doubt. I'm an All black supporter and I hated/envied how good he was. Game changer.
Anonymous November 04, 2009 5:26 pm

Well done Bulls, till next year!
Wessel November 05, 2009 3:01 pm

He was without a doubt the best attacking scrum half ever. And he was an incredible defender.
But he did not do the stuff what scrumhalfs are primarily there for, nearly as good as Du Preez. I really don't care if Matfield is the highest try scoring lock SA has ever had. What matters is that he is the king of the air.
Joost often choose the wrong options and poor Stransky and Honiball often received the ball in no place to to attack, kick or hit the gap.
Joost's tenure as Bok number 9 was also the period that the Boks reverted to a very dumb type of direct rugby, and the results - besides the WC 95 were generally poor. And I believe that he was such a strong character that it was mainly due to him that the Boks played in this manner.
I saw Joost play his first game for the University of Pretoria first team in 1990 (against Wits), and he scored two scintillating tries. I knew then that I will hear more about him.
But he was disappointing in the end in the one departments that matters a lot in a number 9, thinking, passing, kicking.
Anonymous November 05, 2009 5:50 pm

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