The Golden Lions beat the Sharks emphatically by 42 – 16 at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg on Saturday in the final of the 2011 Currie Cup competition. An enormous performance (including a drop goal) by Elton Jantjies saw him walk away with a points tally of 24 points and the man-of-the-match award. The Lions scored three tries to the Sharks’ one.

Point scorers:

Lions - Tries: Michael Killian, Patric Cilliers, Jaco Taute. Conversions: Elton Jantjies(3). Penalties: Jantjies (5), Jaco Taute. Drop goal: Jantjies. (more…)

The Crusaders booked their semi-final spot against the Stormers on Saturday as they comprehensively beat the Sharks 36 – 8 in their Vodacom Super Rugby Qualifier at Trafalgar Park, Nelson.

The Crusaders will face the Cape Town side at Newlands on the 2nd July 2011.

Scorers:

Crusaders 36 – Try: Sonny Bill Williams, Kieran Read, Ben Franks; Conversions: Dan Carter (2), Mathew Berquist; Penalties: Carter (5)
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For Sharks fans everywhere the presence and well-being of at least one Frenchman is of paramount importance this coming weekend. While Dominic Strauss-Kahn’s parole restrictions and Nicolas Sarkozy’s impending fatherhood drew a fair amount of attention, Frederick Michelac is the focus here – the man who almost single-handedly turned the Bulls on their heels and Loftus Versveld on its head.

The former French international’s contribution to the crushing of every blue-blooded, horn head’s ticker was epic to witness, as was the faces of utter relief seen on the mugs of the hundreds of Durbanites who made the trip up north. Michelac commanded and received the respect of the every, single Bulls player on the park. Not through brute force (as is often the case in titanic Loftus battles) but through sheer brilliance and self-belief. Not once did the pivot, selected ahead of golden boy Patrick “Lamborghini” Lambie, look out of place or set a foot wrong. He distributed well, organized defence without much trouble and led the attack of the three-quarters effortlessly.

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The DHL Stormers totally outclassed the Sharks at Newlands yesterday to solidify their top spot in the South African conference of the Super Rugby tournament. The hosts won the game 32 – 12 and secured a bonus try bonus point.

The hosts were full value for their win, keeping the visitors tryless and running in four tries to move up to second place on the combined log and move eight points clear of the second-placed Sharks at the top of the South African Conference.

Following their 16-6 win in Durban in round six, the Stormers completed the double over their coastal rivals by virtue of bossing the breakdown and outclassing the Sharks in midfield. Meyer Bosman in particular was exposed on defence by Jean de Villiers, who returned to his brilliant best ahead of next weekend’s much-anticipated battle with Crusaders play-maker Sonny Bill Williams.

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Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott might be heading for Western Province next season.

Mercury columnist Mike Greenaway indicated last week that the Sharks No 9 was in talks with Western Province with a view to joining them next year.

Given that his shares in Durban have fallen dramatically over the course of the 2010 season, the news may not come as a shock to fans. Charl McLeod has been Sharks coach John Plumtree’s preferred choice in the Currie Cup this season.

The Sharks have already lost the services of Ulster-bound Ruan Pienaar, and should Kockott leave too, the Durban-based outfit would find themselves short of options in the scrumhalf position with the inaugural Super 15 looming.

Source: sport24.co.za

Fijian Sireli Naqelevuki has payed the highest price for his blunder against the Sharks last week by being left out of the squad for Saturday’s game against the Bulls.

The Stormers wing produced an elementary error when he failed to pick up a ball that had been kicked into the Stormers’ ingoal area by Sharks flyhalf Ruan Pienaar, who came through and pounced on it to score the Durban team’s second try in their upset Super 14 win over the more favoured side.

The score came at a critical time as the outplayed Stormers had done well to limit the Sharks to a lead of just 7-0 up to that point. As a result of the “gift” try, the Sharks had a comfortable buffer at half-time and on a night where their own defensive game was outstanding, John Smit’s men just left the Stormers with too much to do in the second half.

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Vodacom Stormers 42 Crusaders 14
Vodacom Stormers – Tries: Jaque Fourie (2), Sireli Naqelevuki; Conversions: Peter Grant (3); Penalties: Grant (7).
Crusaders – Tries: Daniel Carter, Colin Slade; Conversions: Carter (2).

Vodacom Bulls 27 The Sharks 19
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Gerhard van den Heever; Conversion: Morne Steyn; Penalties: Steyn (5).
The Sharks – Try: Rory Kockott; Conversion: Kockott; Penalties: Andy Goode (4).

Vodacom Cheetahs 36 Blues 32
Vodacom Cheetahs – Tries: Juan Smith, Jongi Nokwe, Bjorn Basson, Phillip van der Merwe, Waltie Vermeulen; Conversions: Naas Olivier (2), Meyer Bosman (2); Penalty: Olivier.
Blues – Tries: Isaia Toeava, Rene Ranger, Alby Mathewson, Anthony Tuitavake; Conversions: Stephen Brett (3); Penalties: Brett (2).

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