There are three ABSA Finals in Durban today. The Sharks and the Bulls feature twice with OFS and WP each featuring once. We will be bringing you live updates on all three matches here at Sharksworld.
The action kicks off with Under-19 defending champions Western Province taking on the Sharks’ u/19’s at ABSA Stadium in Durban at 12:00 SA time.
WP u/19 coach Kennedy Ford believes that his counterpart at the Sharks u/19, Rudolf Straeuli, would have done his homework and is expecting a great onslaught from the Natal Sharks u/19 in an attempt to wrestle the trophy away from Western Province.
Will WP manage to take back to back championships?
Or will the Sharks start the day off with a good win, setting the mood for the Currie Cup Final?
Western Province Under-19:
Starting XV: 15. Martin Du Toit, 14. Jean Du Plessis, 13. Nicholaas Hanekom, 12. Johann Sadie (Capt), 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Jurgen Visser, 9. Liam Slatem, 8. Reuben Johannes 7. Wimpie Van Der Walt, 6. Jacobus Rossouw, 5. Yaya Hartzenberg, 4. Rynhardt Elstadt, 3. Nezaam Bewee, 2. Sydney Tobias, 1. Alistair Vermaak.
Substitutes: 16. Madoda Yako, 17. Ruan Smith, 18. Stephan Greeff, 19. Theunis Botha, 20. Willem Louw, 21. Nathanael Pekeur, 22. Thythan Adams.
Sharks Under-19:
Starting XV: 15 Faizel de Bruin, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Arno van Zyl, 12 Wynand Pienaar, 11 Logan Basson, 10 Guy Cronje, 9 Ross Cronje (Capt), 8 Meyer Swanepoel, 7 Lambert Groenewald, 6 Cameron Dunlop, 5 Kenechukwu Okafor, 4 Jan Andre Marais, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Johannes Snyman, 1 Dale Chadwick (Vice Capt).
Substitutes: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Pierre Hanekom, 18 Francois Robertse. 19 Renaldo Bothma, 20 Justin Botha, 21 Howard Mnisi, 22 Damien Jansen van Rensburg.
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant Referees; Cobus Wessels, Siphokasi Njani
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
Tweet
GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rudi coaching again? Didn’t know that
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 2) :
Neither Did I. That is why I felt the need to include it.
Maybe that is why the WP coach included it in his comment as well. To stir up some unrest amongst the Sharks supporters 😉
Voldy reckons it’s raining?
It was raining last night during the CC Special on Supersport 1 as well.
Good thing is that we will have picture from 11:45 SA time and will be able to judge to pitch pretty well.
But three matches in the wet (if it rains all day) can only make for a scrappy CC Final.
Owen Speaking to the turf manager at the Stadium.
had 17mm overnight.
Not raining at the moment, TM thinks if it doesn’t rain again there will be no break-up of the pitch.
Bladen doing the u/19 game.
Should be interesting to see how on form he is by the time the final is going. 😀
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) :
Why wait for the final. He has just called Jason Jafta, Jonathan Jafta. 🙄 Gonna be a long day.
WP kick off
The day has dawned, I wish I could say bright and sunny, welcome to Durban! But never mind the weather as long as we are together as they say>
Sharks u19 will set the tone for the dressing room and then the big boys will do the rest as long as we do not not choke on that last piece of Bluue Bull rump!
Sharks forever. This has been a long time comming and well overdue! Go boys! Cheers I am off.
PK advantage WP 5m out
No Adv.
PK WP
going at goal
Over
3 – 0 WP
3min
territory 100% WP. 😛
After some Ping Pong the Sharks give WP a LO in the middle of the field.
WP put it in skew and Sharks opt for scrum
Sharks PK for WP backline offside at the scrum.
going at goal
Over
3 – 3
7min
WP almost score.
stopped 1m short
recycle and #13 knocks on. 😳
If you could combine the Sharks’ scrumming and the WP running ytou would have an awesome team.
Sharks shot at goal by Cronje.
misses WELL to the right.
3 – 3
15min
Intercept try by Hanekom, all they way from the WP 22. 🙁
Replay shows he was waiting for the intercept.
Conversion over
3 – 10 WP
17min
WP backrow are not getting ANY clean ball from the scrums.
Sharks are pushing them back everytime.
Faizel De bruin TRY!!!!!!
After Sharks scrum WP off the ball at the scrum.
Conversion missed
8 – 10 WP
19min
This De Bruin Litey can RUN!!!!!!!!!!!
Handling Errors
WP 5
Sharks 1
22min
proooovince
6 Blue get’s PK’d a second time for playing the ball on the ground at the ruck.
And he has Burger’s hairstyle as well. 😛
@PJLD (Comment 25) :
My team looks better at the moment. 😉
wp scrum getting moered hey
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) :not on the scoreboard boety! 🙂
@PJLD (Comment 29) :
Only coz that Hanekom dude has been studying JdV’s style of play 😉
Game settling down to a nothing now. 😕
And AS I say that the Sharks get a PK and slot it.
11 – 10 Sharks
31min
@PJLD (Comment 29) :
Sorry I can’t understand what you said.
Say it again Please 😉
Go Sharkies!
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 34) :
Hey we should take the bad and turn it into good.
They called the other place Sharksworld and we turned it to our advantage.
Maybe we should call the u/19’s the Guppies? 😆 😉
#6 Blue nailed for hands in the ruck again.
3 times now.
Are we sure this isn’t the WP senior side in disguise?
Intercepts, Blonde Flankers getting nailed for hands in the scrum.
Hooter goes.
Cronje gets the ball and slots a DG!!!!!!!!!!!!
HALF TIME
Sharks 14 – 10 WP
GO SHARKIETJIES!!!
2nd Half time on
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) :oops
18Blue on the field for 50seconds and he nails Cronje Late with a shoulder charge.
Sharks going at goal.
Wiese: it wasn’t late it was in the next game. 😀
OVER
17 – 10 Sharks
36min
@PJLD (Comment 39) :
😀
Interesting observation by Bladen.
The Cronje twins kick with different feet. 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) :
The Flyhalf is left footed the scrum half is right footed
Early tackle by WP on a Shark and the Sharks get a shot at goal.
A bit harsh on WP IMO there.
NOT over.
Dunlop TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
being refered. But not needed IMO.
this is not going well
Awarded
Converted by Ross Cronje
24 – 10 Sharks
40min
JJ Engelbrecht Great run up field for WP.
Sharks have given away a few PKs now and finally the ref warns them.
WP going at goal with PK 10m out from the Sharks try line 😯
Over
24 – 13 Sharks
50min
20min remaining
2nd half possesion
WP 65%
Sharks 35%
Tackles made
WP 62
Sharks 37
Handling Errors
WP 12
Sharks 4
Hanekom deliberate knock down at back of Ruck and Ross Cronje goes at goal.
Missssssssssssssss to the right.
I’m enjoying this ref.
No Nonsense, consistent, knows his stuff and refs well.
Arno van Zyl TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WP knocked it on and he scooped it up and scored.
Converted by Ross Cronje
31 – 13 Sharks
63min
Too late for any jinx effect to work so I can now say what i have been thinking for the last 20min.
I really thought WP would win this match comfortably. Seems I was horribly wrong.
Hartzenberg TRY!!!!!!!!!!!
Too late for that jinx to have any effect 😳
Conversion Missed
31 – 18 Sharks
70min
Hooter goes
WP play on
Go Sharks! That’s one in the bag
Final Whistle goes as Sharks boot the ball into touch.
FULL TIME
SHARKS 31 – 18 WP
The Sharks are the Under-19 Champions for 2008.
How does the pitch look?
still in perfect condition
slippery?
does anybody know if the Cronje twins are the sons of former Bok centre Peter Cronje?
Great Game by ref Jason Jaftha
@Fattmann (Comment 69) :
i can’t answer that one for you.