Siya Masuku of the Cell C Sharks is challenged by Jacques van Rooyen of the Vodacom Bulls during the 2024 Currie Cup game between the Natal Sharks and Blue Bulls at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on 08 September 2024. Picture: Gerhard Duraan, BackpagePix
THE SHARKS beat the Bulls 24-18 in a Currie Cup clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Sunday to strike a psychological blow ahead of this week’s semi-final between the two teams in Pretoria.
In the other semi-final, the Lions will host the Cheetahs at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.
In Durban on Sunday, both sides fielded most of their United Rugby Championship squad players who had been rested for a mandatory eight-week period and it was a cracking match.
The game was played in the first spring rains on the east coast and the Sharks will feel they have made a statement by taking the best the Bulls could deliver in the first half before coming back strongly in the second half to secure the spoils.
FULL-TIME. #CarlingCurrieCup #SHAvBUL pic.twitter.com/o6C73woaqK
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) September 8, 2024
Many South African rugby supporters have asked what became of Siya Masuku, the Sharks flyhalf who had made a strong case for Springbok inclusion only for it to never happen in the Rugby Championship. The good news is that Masuku has had a good break and hit the ground running for the Sharks on Sunday. Equally good was Player of the Match Ethan Hooker, the 21-year-old inside centre.
Masuku’s goal-kicking was sublime. He never missed a kick as the Sharks overcame a strong start by a Bulls team that included URC stars Cameron Hanekom, Akker van der Merwe, Johan Grobbelaar, Harold Vorster, and Embrose Papier.
Earlier in the weekend, the Cheetahs were magnificent in smashing the Pumas in Mbombela in what was an effective quarter-final. They responded to a poor month of results by shutting out the plucky Pumas.
They visit a high-riding Lions team that annihilated the Griffons at the weekend. Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi said his team has good momentum going into the play-off.
“With the home semi in mind next week and not getting any injuries, the two objectives for us were to get the five points and secondly to get a bit of momentum going into the semis,” Nkosi said.
“I think to a large degree we did that against a team that had nothing to lose in their last game. The Griffons came to throw the ball around. At times, it got loose. But when we did tighten up, we scored good tries,” Nkosi said.
“I don’t have to be too harsh on the team,” the coach added. “Finishing top of the log with a home semi is something to write home about.”