Bulls "choke" in Currie Cup semi-final at Loftus

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 The Currie Cup had reached its knockout stages once more. The stage was set to determine who would challenge the Lions at Emirates Airline Park after their victory over the defending champions, the Cheetahs, with a score of 43-34. With the URC's opening round of local derby matches postponed to next year, the four franchises were able to field their strongest teams for the semifinals. 

The Bulls began the game sluggishly, with an initial error from starting scrum-half Keagan Johannes failing to clear the ball following a charge down by Sharks' lock Emile van Heerden, leading to a try for the towering player. At that moment, Johannes was having difficulty with his aerial kicks, and I believe Goosen should have been the one to send it deep into touch. 

Shortly after, Johannes corrected his previous error and darted through a narrow opening to score an impressive try for the Bulls. Their defence, however, faltered occasionally, allowing the Sharks to score twice within three minutes. The score stood at 23-19 as they approached halftime.

The Bulls kicked off the second half with a bang, scoring an impressive try via winger Stravino Jacobs just three minutes after the interval. However, they faced challenges in defending the outside channels, which the Sharks exploited by scoring twice in quick succession through wide ball distribution.

Regrettably, the Sharks' fortunes worsened when Francois Venter, wearing number 13, was sent off with a red card for a high tackle. This decision was justified as the tackle was excessively high with no mitigating factors. Shortly thereafter, the Bulls capitalized with Stravino Jacobs scoring. The Sharks remained resilient, equalizing the score at 40-40 with a remarkable try by Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane. The Bulls' opportunity to advance to the final was lost when Boeta Chamberlain, number 15, failed to convert a critical penalty. Personally, I would have opted for a lineout to draw a penalty via a driving maul. Earlier in the match, Johan Goosen had also missed a kick from a similar range.

Observing this game, it seems the Bulls anticipated an easy victory, given their home ground advantage. However, they committed several silly and unforced errors that proved costly. Head coach Phiwe Nomlomo was unable to match the vast experience of John Plumtree. Congratulations to the Sharks on a well-played match and a truly deserved win.



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