Goosen is the man …

So the World Cup now comprises the Six Nations sides on one side of the draw, and the Tri-Nations sides on the other … at the same time robbing me of the chance to belt out Ireland’s Call at the Cake Tin on the 9th of October! And the Boks – powered by a truly outstanding performance by LOCK Danie Rossouw – put together the much needed confidence boosting performance against the hard running Fijians … While the Welsh did enough up front to keep the Samoans at bay, thus probably securing second spot in the brutal Pool D. Spicy stuff …

More on the Bok performance later, but first a wrap of what happened inside our borders …

Leopards 23 (9) Golden Lions 43 (21)

As expected, the Golden Lions were too strong for the Leopards and easily won the first match of the weekend in Potchefstroom on Friday evening. It probably wasn’t the team from Johannesburg’s best performance of the season, but they still looked dangerous when they spread  the ball wide. But that didn’t happen enough, mostly because of unnecessary errors.

Leopards – Tries: Johann Laker, Gavin Williamson. Conversions: Clayton Durand (2). Penalties: Wesley Dunlop (3).

Golden Lions – Tries: Derick Minnie (2), Jaco Taute, Pat Cilliers, Michael Killian, Johan Snyman. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (5). Penalty: Jantjies.

Cheetahs 53 (23) Sharks 32 (18)

Perhaps the best performance of the season from the Bloem boys as they crushed the defending champion at home. It was a complete performance by the Cheetahs, the big difference between the two sides being the performance of SA Under-20 flyhalf Johan Goosen, who was in sublime form as he contributed 29 points. Goosen, who was still at school last year, is without doubt a Springbok in the making.

The Sharks struggled with their tackling and made way too many unforced errors. Their discipline was also not at its best. When replacement lock Jandre Marais was sent to the sin bin in the 61st minute for a dangerous tackle, the Cheetahs scored two converted tries to open up a handy lead on the score board. After that, The Sharks’ challenge was effectively over.

Cheetahs – Tries: Johan Goosen, Pieter Labuschagne (2), Ashley Johnson, Tewis de Bruyn. Consversions: Goosen (3), Sias Ebersohn (2). Penalties: Goosen (5). Drop goal: Goosen.

Sharks – Tries: Stefan Terblanche, Lwazi Mvovo, Jacques Botes (2). Conversions: Fred Michalak (2), Meyer Bosman. Penalties: Michalak (2).

Griquas 31 (7) Pumas 34 (9)

Talk about leaving it late! But the Pumas finally got their first victory of the season via a try in the dying seconds of the game. The try started deep in their own half with a tap penalty, followed by good runs by Pellow van der Westhuizen and Dewald Pretorius, and was rounded off by fullback Carl Bezuidenhout. This only moments after Riaan Viljoen scored to put Griquas ahead with four minutes left in the game.

Griquas – Tries: Rocco Jansen, Marnus Schoeman (2), Riaan Viljoen. Conversions: Earl Rose, Rudi Vogt (3). Penalty: Rose.

Pumas – Tries: Ricardo Croy, Hendrik van der Nest, Pellow van der Westhuizen, Carl Bezuidenhout. Conversion: Bezuidenhout. Penalties: Bezuidenhout, Croy (3).

Blue Bulls 28 (20) Western Province 20 (3)

The Blue Bulls won their first game in almost a month, thus keeping their semi-final aspirations alive. Two converted tries and two penalty goals in the first half helped the Blue Bulls to a handy 20-3 lead, and basically wrote the game off as a contest, even though they lost Jano Vermaak and Akona Ndungane to injury.

Province came back strongly after the break, though, scoring three tries as they chased the game, but the gap was always going to difficult to bridge. They managed to close the gap to just eight points but when Wynand Olivier went over with 10 minutes to go, it was game over, with Siya Kolisi’s late try being a mere consolation.

The game was played at pace, epitomised by the five minutes of breathless rugby after the hooter had sounded as both teams searched for a fourth try, but it was the Bulls, who have blow seriously hot and cold this year, who were too strong for the exciting Cape youngsters.

Blue Bulls – Tries: CJ Stander, Zane Kirchner, Wynand Olivier. Conversions: Francois Brummer (2). Penalties: Brummer (2).

WP – Tries: Danie Poolman, Marcel Brache, Siya Kolisi. Conversion: Isma-eel Dollie. Penalty: Dollie.

Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Log

Absa Currie Cup First Division

Eagles 27 (20) Griffons 39 (23)

Eagles – Tries: Dumisane Meslane, Jeff Taljard, Howard Noble. Conversions: Elric van Vuuren (3). Penalties: Van Vuuren (2).
Griffons – Tries: Nicky Steyn (2), Japie Nel (2). Conversions: Tiaan van Wyk (2). Penalties: Van Wyk (4), Valentine van Wyk.

EP Kings 40 (21) Valke 10 (3)

EP Kings – Tries: Marcello Sampson (2), Luke Watson, Ross Kennedy, Jacques Coetzee, Bobby Dyer. Conversions: Louis Strydom (4), George Whitehead.
Valke – Try: Johan de Bruin. Conversion: Juan Kotze. Penalty: Kotze.

Absa Currie Cup First Division Log

National Club Championships

Invited Cape side SK Walmers were given a proper lesson in rugby by the defending champions College Rovers, and has to beg the question as to why they were the team called upon to do duty in Stellenbosch …

Results from the first round, played on Saturday:

UJ 91 Noordelikes 21
Park 28 Progress 27
Shimlas 12 Winter Rose 18
Springs 36 Welkom Rovers 40
Pukke 117 Kimberley Police 0
Roses United 22 Tukkies 39
Maties 61 Middelburg 20
College Rovers 46 SK Walmers 0

Quarter-finals, Mon 19 Sep:

CUP:
11h45, B field: College Rovers v Winter Rose
13h30, B field: Maties v Tuks
15h15, Stadium: UJ v Welkom Rovers
17h00, Stadium: Pukke v Park

PLATE:
10h00, F field: SK Walmers v Shimlas
10h00, G field: Middelburg v Roses United
11h45, F field: Noordelikes v Springs
11h45, G field: Kimberley Police v Progress

Only the winners of Monday’s matches will stay on for Wednesday’s Cup and Plate semi-finals.