Currie Cup Team of the Week – Round 3

Six Sharks feature in our Currie Cup Team of the Week after they turned back the Bulls at Kings Park, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash lived up to the hype in Durban, where the Bulls were determined to end their five-year Currie Cup losing streak. The hosts, however, had other ideas and eked out a 32-29 victory to close the gap on the pacesetters from Pretoria.

The Lions, meanwhile, fired on all cylinders as they crushed the defending-champion Cheetahs 39-23 in the late game at Ellis Park. The Johannesburg side claimed the full five log points and contribute four players to our team. Western Province also have four representatives in our side after kicking off Round Three with a 28-14 win over the Pumas at Newlands on Friday night to snap a two-match losing streak. A solitary Cheetahs star completes our line-up.

15: Manie Libbok (Sharks)

His best game in a Sharks’ jersey so far. Had an extra spring in his step against his former team. Showed attacking intent from the onset and was dangerous throughout. A piece of individual brilliance to unlock the Bulls’ defence – a stellar step and fantastic flip to send Lukhanyo Am away for a try, which was a key moment in the match. Shaded the impressive Tiaan Swanepoel.

14: Angelo Davids (Western Province)

Mr Excitement in a laboured affair. The diminutive dynamo’s dot down was the highlight of the game, with his Blitzbok pedigree shining through as he weaved and wangled past four defenders. Wonderful work rate, great in the air despite giving up considerable size and threw his body around on defence.

13: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)

Similar to Duane Vermeulen with the Bulls, Am’s mere presence lifts the Sharks to another level. Showed no sign of rust after an injury-enforced absence, stepping defenders and cantering in for a try. The defensive glue of the backline, organising his troops like only he can at No.13 and even snatched a turnover at the breakdown.

12: Rikus Pretorius (Western Province)

Tough call between the former Junior Springbok and Marius Louw, both of whom were monstrous in midfield. Asked to put in a massive shift, Pretorius was the Capetonians’ go-to man in the backline with 13 carries. Usual hard running on display but also demonstrated his agility, bobbing and spinning out of tackles.

11 Tristan Leyds (Western Province)

Made a big impression. If he keeps this up, he won’t simply be known as Dillyn Leyds’ brother for long. Showed his speed when he starched Erich Cronje during a try-saving scramble after Damian Willemse failed to secure a kick and fired a good long ball to Davids for his try. Managed to win a turnover as well before sadly being stretchered off.

10: Curwin Bosch (Sharks) – Player of the Week

Shepherded the Sharks with assuredness, kick-starting a polished performance with an unbelievable 61m penalty at sea level! A match-winner with a personal tally of 17 points, showing BMT to spark the decisive try with a pinpoint crosskick to Yaw Pence and slotted the difficult conversion. Earned net gains with his booming boot and troubled the Bulls with high bombs. Diversified with stabbing touch-finders into the attacking 22 and accurate, hanging restarts, one of which led to a penalty.

9: André Warner (Lions)

Took his starting opportunity with both hands. Reminded what a threat he can be, bagging a brace of tries. Vision and subtle touches at nine can make a world of difference and Warner was locked in, reading play well, making good decisions and putting runners into holes with slick passing.   

8: Jeandré Rudolph (Cheetahs)

Win or lose, you can always count on Rudolph to give 110%. Often undoes much of his good work with brain farts but was switched on in this one. Put out plenty of fires at the breakdown, including seizing a clutch steal on his 5m line. Dislodged the ball in one of his 13 tackles and broke tackles with ball-in-hand.

7: Vincent Tshituka (Lions)

Has found form over the last fortnight. His Man of the Match performance highlighted what an exceptional athlete he is – strong, explosive, fast and agile. Made a barnstorming break from a restart and doubled up with an offload to spark Jannie du Plessis’ try (time-stamped below). Never stopped working on defence, almost managing to hold up Marnus van der Merwe over the line, was the Lions’ top tackler with 10 hits and wrapped up the game with a final turnover.

6: Dylan Richardson (Sharks)

A breakout performance from the former Junior Springbok at senior level, proving he can excel against the big boys. Clear to see he relished the opportunity to face the frontrunners. Went tit for tat with the inform Marco van Staden in terms of breakdown steals and defended like a demon. Heated exchange with Duane Vermeulen highlighted the fire that fuelled his Man of the Match performance. Pipped Jaco Kriel.

5: Hyron Andries (Sharks)

The Bulls’ lineout has been a Rubik’s Cube for the opposition all season, a launching pad on attack and force of disruption on defence. Enter Andrews. The Sharks’ seasoned lineout guru stole two on the visitors’ throw in quick succession, both in the Bulls’ 22, from where the Durbanites scored the winning try. Also made eight tackles.

4: Willem Alberts (Lions)

Was the runaway freight train of old (12 carries). The 36-year-old provided the muscle the Lions often lack to spearhead a dominant display by the pack. Great showcase of strength in one particular passage of play to bulldoze over the advantage line, pop back up and steamroll over for a try a few phases later. Had a key hand in one of Warner’s tries, too.

3: Jannie du Plessis (Lions)

A vintage display by the veteran, one the 38-year-old will look back on fondly when he eventually bows out as he crashed over for a rare try. The deserved dot down was the cherry on top of a titanic outing, which saw “The Good Doctor” transform the Johannesburg team’s scrum into an attacking weapon.  

2: Dan Jooste (Sharks)

One of the main reasons why the Bulls’ lineout is unmatched (14/14 on the afternoon). A dead-eye with his throwing, and caught the Cheetahs napping with a quick short throw-in that resulted in an easy rumbling try, showing he’s not afraid to call an audible and play what’s in front of him. Popped up everywhere with his red scrum cap; executed nine tackles and was a breakdown presence.

1: Steven Kitshoff (Western Province)

Flexed his muscles in what felt like an 80-minute scrum fest and showed his class in general play to claim the Man of the Match award. A defensive juggernaut, not giving the Pumas an inch and making 17 tackles while poaching two turnovers on the floor. A cool head when the visitors were at their most dangerous, made telling carries (a match-high 14 hits) and powered over for the bonus-point try in the last play of the game.

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.