Rugby Round-up Week 4

This week in Rugby Round-up we learn that sports movies lie and that being “consistent” isn’t a good thing if you’re consistently bad.

In every sports movie since the dawn of time, the useless underdog protagonists only need, ‘heart’, ‘hard-work’, and ‘desire’ to win their match. Last weekend’s Currie Cup results prove those movies to be bold-faced lies.

The Sharks travelled to Nelspruit to face the Pumas. Six minutes in, the momentum was with the Sharks. They had started a drive on the Pumas’ five-metre line.They didn’t score a try, but did put  points on the board with Zeilinga’s penalty kick. Van Staden levelled the scores in the 22nd minute. Two minutes later Pumas’ Bothma scored. Van Staden converte and put away a penalty kick to take the score to 15-3 in favour of the Pumas. Zeilinga narrowed the gap with two consecutive penalties, but the Pumas kicked a penalty two minutes from the break. Halftime score 18-9 to the Pumas. Zeilinga added three points after the break. Ndungane got a yellow card. The Sharks managed to score a try with a man down when Marais dove for the corner. Zeilinga’s conversion and penalty kick put the Sharks in front with 22 points. Pumas would not let that stand though and scored consecutive tries by Watermeyer and Mtyanda respectively. The match ended with the Pumas leading 32-22. Pumas have climbed to third on log. Sharks have been knocked down from second to fourth.

The Griquas hosted the Free State Cheetahs. The visitors started off with a penalty by Du Plessis. When it was Brummer’s turn he, for reasons only he could fathom, opted to kick for touch instead of taking the points. That turned out to be the wrong decision when Griquas lost possession to the Cheetahs who then ran the ball, allowing Uys to score. Not too long afterwards Griquas’ Greef was issued a red card. Not even a minute later Cheetahs scored a try by Benjamin. Cheetahs led 15-0. When Griquas were awarded their second penalty in Cheetahs territory Grant took the kick and put points on the board. Griquas went to half time trailing by 12. At the restart Du Plessis’ kickoff went directly into touch. Fortunately the Griquas’ scrum was practically non-existent and the Cheetahs won a penalty. They decided to go for a try and almost scored but Burger stuffed it up. His pass was judged to be forward. Griquas sorted out their pitiful scrum and won a penalty. They kicked for touch, the lineout went in their favour and a well-placed kick put the Cheetahs under pressure. That pressure led to Meyer scoring. A penalty, and a try by Nepgen put Griquas in the lead. Cheetahs spoiled the party though when Blommetjies scored in the corner. Then there was a try each from Burger and Cook, just to be spiteful. The unlucky Griquas scored a try just as the buzzer went off. Cheetahs won 36-25. Neither Cheetahs nor Griquas have changed positions on the log. They are in fifth and seventh respectively.

The Blue Bulls hosted Western Province. The first half was an exercise in futility. It took an agonising 34 minutes for the first points to be scored. Coleman scored the only points of the half and Province led 3-0 at the break. Catrakilis replaced Coleman and added another three points after the restart. The Bulls stole a lineout ball, played it wide and Du Plessis placed the ball under the uprights. Debutant Joshua Stander had calmed down after his earlier miss and converted with ease. He was replaced by another debutant Tian Schoeman. Schoeman’s first kick was successful adding three to the Bulls’ tally. Province hit back with a try from van Wyk. Senatla, who decided it was time to display his prowess, left Small-Smith in the dust, broke Kriel’s tackle and proceeded to waltz over the try line. A penalty apiece put the score at 23-13 in Province’s favour. The Bulls scored again, but Mastriet’s try was not converted. Their last gasp attempt to score a winning try was ruined by a knock-on. Province won 23-18. Had their debutantes not missed a kick each, the game would have ended with the scores level at 23 all. Bulls are still in sixth. Province are still at the top.

The Eastern Province Kings hosted the Golden Lions. Lions kicked things off with a try by Kriel. Another followed about 15 minutes later after a penalty by Luiters. Lions kicked for touch, won the lineout and then battered the Kings’ defences until they were able to get through to score. In the 27th minute Kings were awarded a penalty try when Mapoe tried to stop their driving maul by coming in from the side and then obstructing a probable try. Mapoe was sent off. The Kings scored again when Whitehead put a kick in behind the Lions’ defence and Gates was able to collect. That put the score at 14 all. Lions went against common sense when they won a kickable penalty and kicked for touch, even though they were down a man. Insanity actually worked in that instance because Van der Merwe scored. Kings responded with a try of their own by Soyizwapi. The score going into the break was 21-19 Lions, since Soyizwapi’s try wasn’t converted. After the restart Whitehead realised that his team weren’t gaining any ground against the Lions’ defence so he dropped back and made a successful attempt at a drop goal, allowing Kings to take the lead. Two consecutive penalties for Lions took that lead away. Tries from Mostert and Minnie ended any delusion that Kings might get a bonus point for losing within seven. Lions won 39-22. Kings are still dead last. Lions have jumped into second.

Of the four “underdogs’, two suffered humiliating defeats (Griquas and Kings), one could’ve won if not for three basic errors (Bulls) and the last won because they were better on the day (Pumas, not really underdogs after all).

Five out of the eight teams’ log positions did not change, which probably says something about consistency. Although it is doubtful that the Kings and Griquas find any comfort in being consistently last.