Saturday’s big derby at Loftus between the Bulls and the Sharks will, in all likelihood, mark the end of the Super Rugby season for whichever team loses. This implies that whatever the result, their will be one or two big name players who won’t be seen in their team’s respective colours again.
Let’s just caveat this by saying that, should the Brumbies pull off the impossible and beat the Waratahs in Sydney, none of this will come to pass, as both the Sharks and the Bulls will then live to play at least one more Super Rugby game each this season. Should the more likely scenario unfold, though, then Loftus will certainly mark the end the road for a few Super Rugby careers.
On the Bulls side, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Gary Botha and Fourie du Preez will all be playing their final games at Loftus, with the former retiring after the World Cup and the others all set to play in either France or Japan next season. You don’t often find quite so many stalwarts playing their final match all at the same time and you can assure that the Bulls will be extra fired-up for the occasion in order to give these boys a proper send-off. The stadium will also be packed to the rafters by the blue horde, determined to come ou in force to see their heroes one last time.
For the Sharks, things are less cut and dried. We know that Steven Sykes has probably already played his last game in black and white, since he’s unlikely to be passed fit for Saturday’s game and will leave for Ireland after the Super Rugby season. Another factor that has so far gone unnoticed, though, is that both John Smit and Stefan Terblanche could potentially be playing their last games in Sharks colours this weekend as well, if the Sharks do lose the match.
Smit is widely tipped to join English side Saracens for a final hurrah next season, while Terblanche is said to be weighing up an offer from Japan.
The Sharks would do well to be mindful of the Currie Cup Final in 1999. That game marked an emotional Kings Park farewell for a number of Natal greats, including Gary Teichmann and coach Ian McIntosh. While the home side allowed themselves to be swept up in the sentiment of an emotional occasion, the visiting Lions concentrated on the rugby and came away with an unexpected, although thoroughly deserved victory. While there is no doubting the Bulls experience and professionalism in 2011, it’s nevertheless possible that that the inevitable festivities and sideshows might prove distracting to the home side, giving the visitors just the slightest edge as a result.
Tweet
First, to say bye bye Legends!!
The bulls will miss victor…du preez…bakkies…gary botha…gurthro…danie tjo they have been brilliant for bulls rugby…we will need to get johann sadie and others like eben etzebeth as soon as possible
Even though some of those players donned the blue, they were/are great servants of rugby. So glad I’m going to be watching this one regardless of the outcome.
The Bulls WONT win this year’s Currie Cup. 😈 Remember you read it here first.
Here’s to all the boys who thrilled and amazed us, brought us glory and kept South African rugby up there where it belongs.
Saturday’s game is going to be a spectacle of note for so many reasons. Glad I am going to there and hope that, whatever the result, it will be a great game of rugby that will be remembered for a long time. GO SHARKS!!!!
So let’s go and spoil their party and beat them six-love 🙂
GUYS DONT WORRY!!!! I was just informed by KingShark that he never went to watch a Sharks game where they have lost. So guess who is coming with us to Loftus on Saturday???? 😈
This is also Bakkies’ hundredth game.
@Viking (Comment 8) : If only that was enough to ease my fears.
@war1 (Comment 10) : Don’t doubt the power of my attendance. In King Shark you trust.
@King Shark – Kanko at 12! (Comment 11) : Sorry but I don’t believe in superstitions. But if it makes you feel better . . .
@war1 (Comment 12) : 😳 At this stage I will grab at any straw!
@Rob, just a caveat to your caveat, the brumbies need to beat the waratahs, and starve them of any bonus points.
One point to the waratahs puts them level with both sharks and bulls. bulls stay ahead by virtue of more wins, but waratahs above sharks by virtue of a better points difference. Even in losing, to make the playoffs, sharks would need a bonus point.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 4) : Nor will the sharks
Can anyone tell me whether one is allowed to take your own food and drink inside Loftus? And by drink I mean non-alcoholic beverages like Coke, juice etc?
@Greg (Comment 15) :
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 16) : I have always taken my own stuff – if I remember correctly glass containers are not allowed, but we’ve never had hassles with plastic bottles of water and juice.
@Greg (Comment 14) : dêmmit 🙁
Okes, please will those of you going do your best to give Sharksworld some good press?
@robdylan (Comment 20) : How?
@robdylan (Comment 20) : Will try…I will see what pops into my head (if there is space for anything other than supporting the sharks) when we parade arround rofstus. 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 20) : You had a T-shirt idea once, didnt you?
@diablo (Comment 18) : @Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 16) : we also could at KP but when we went and watched the game against the bulls they did not allow it, we through away about 20 500ml bottles of coke into bin by the gate. Would be nice if someone that went to loftes recently could tell us?
@franshark (Comment 24) : You are allowed to bring in food and drinks, but tins, bottles, glasses, hard cool bags, alcohol, fire arms, horns and fire crackers are not allowed. (From the Blue Bulls website.) 😀
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 25) : So, basically, a soft cooler bag, food and drink in plastic bottles are allowed.
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 26) : So I can take a 2lt spiked Coke inside 😳
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 27) : Apparently so. 😛
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 28) : Just remember that alcohol is not allowed, so if they open the Coke and smell the spike, it’s history!
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 29) : That’s the tricky one. 😆
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 29) : thanks Sharon,
Are the toxic oranges still a fan favourite?
(Haven’t been to Loftus for a rugby match in ages!)
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 29) : AND if they peel the naartjie and smell brandy it’s also Bye-bye
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 27) : The trick is to get the spike in without breaking the seal. Any ideas ❓
Bulls team for Sharks:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Fourie du Preez, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Akona Ndungane.
@Viking (Comment 34) : With a injection through a thin needle.
@Viking (Comment 34) : Injection??
I am taking my daughters Baby Love doll (the one that can make crying sounds) and plenty of baby bottles of “rooibos tea”…. 😆
@diablo (Comment 35) : Dropping Daniesaurus! How dum is that?
@Ice (Comment 37) : 😯 😆
@Ben (Comment 38) : Impact from the bench? 😉
@diablo (Comment 40) : Nah, I would have started him. But hey I’m not complaining at all! 😉
@Ben (Comment 36) : Remember you can only get so much in using a needle? 1 tot at best. If we knew someone at the bottling plant that can supply new caps then we have a plan. Otherwise it is “totpacks in die onderbroek” time
@Viking (Comment 42) : You can insert and extract fluid with a syringe. 😉 😈
@Viking (Comment 42) : Is that what is known as a “hot toddie” ❓
@Viking (Comment 42) : You can take some out with the needle as well, like Mclovin said£ or you can just add mampoer or stroh Rum. One tot will be enough then! 😉
@Viking (Comment 42) : @McLovin (Comment 43) : @diablo (Comment 44) : @Ben (Comment 45) :
Bwahahahahahaha!
Will they let you in with a ‘Camelbak’?
@McLovin (Comment 47) : Only if you’re dressed in Blue 😈
@diablo (Comment 48) :
@McLovin (Comment 43) : @Ben (Comment 45) : Ek voel nou weer soos ‘n stoute skoolseun wat gaan kak aanjaag 😆 😆 😆
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 29) : Just spike the naartjies 😉
@McLovin (Comment 47) : No but I hear moon bags are all the rage at Loftus. Sure you could fit something in there.
How well does the naartjie spiking thing work?
How much can you pump into a naartjie & how do you ensure the whole naartjie is full of booze and not just one ‘wedge’?
Just wondering, not actually going to attempt it.
@McLovin (Comment 53) : Sure you are not going to try 😉
Apparently you get ‘Seat Cushion Flasks’, ‘Cell Phone Flasks’ and ‘Binocular Flasks’ to name but a few. 🙄 😆
@Viking (Comment 54) : I can only eat so many naartjies.
@McLovin (Comment 53) : I think it has to be done a few days in advance? Maybe it ferments or something 🙂
Provided the Sharks pack can play with the same grunt and determination that they played with in the 1st 3 matches of the season, and emulate the desire and flair they displayed in the 2nd half performances against the Crusaders, Brumbies and Canes; keep the basic errors out of the game. Maintain discipline and keep their composure when taking the ball through the phases, then there is no reason not to believe that we can prevail…… but hey I also believe in a cure for aids, world peace and the end of corruption and a decline in price of Brent crude.
Any how go boys, I will be there in my Black and White jersey ( surrounded by Blue) cheering you on until the last minute.
Amazing how quickly this thread turned into a ‘How to smuggle booze 101’ guide
@diablo (Comment 57) : Seems like too much trouble to me. 🙂
There’s also the ‘wine rack bra’. 😈
Holds 750ml. 😎
Word of warning from the manufacturers: Not recommended for 36DD & 38D+ 😆
@McLovin (Comment 61) : ”No sir, this is man boobs!” 😯 😛
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 59) : Well the Article’s title does start with Loftus! 🙂 😉
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 59) :
I hear that Loftus has plenty of BARS…. but you will have to stand in thing called a “BLOU TOU!”
@Ben (Comment 63) :
@Ragged (Comment 64) : Hence the smuggling issue 🙂
For those interested in more just head over to hideyourbooze.com. That’s a real site btw. 😆
@Ragged (Comment 64) : Hi Raggs!
Whole bunch of us alos going! 😀
Jip there are bars behind the stands – but you have to finish you drink right there before you go and sit down.
@Ice (Comment 67) : Ice I thankfully will be in a suite so no worries about smuggling in cold ones, my greatest concern is that I will be lone ( not a loan) Shark swimming in a sea of Blue. @Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 65) : Tell me where you are and I will lower you down some brews on a rope!
@Ragged (Comment 68) : Somewhere in CC sector 🙁