Flyhalf Robert du Preez kicked 14 points as Western Province beat the Golden Lions 19-5 on Saturday to reach the Currie Cup final. MARIETTE ADAMS reports from Newlands.
With a spot in the final against the Sharks in Durban at stake, both semi-finalists played with freedom and intent in front of a 23,646-strong crowd.
However, it was Province who started brightly, with the Lions taking a while to find their rhythm.
WP took the lead in the third minute via a Du Preez penalty, but the Lions responded against a 14-man defence after lock JD Schickerling was sent off for deliberately collapsing a robust driving maul.
Turning down the three points on offer, the visitors set a lineout. From there, they swung the ball wide and once it came back in-field, Jaco van der Walt waltzed through a half gap after the WP defence bought his show-and-go.
The hosts dominated possession and territory, but let themselves down with poor ball protection in the tackle. WP spurned three try-scoring opportunities in the first half, but their failure to execute properly was also testament to the Lions’ excellent scramble defence.
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The visitors were dealt a big blow when fullback Andries Coetzee was forced off with an injury and replaced by Sylvian Mahuza midway through the first half.
Du Preez kicked WP back into the lead after the Lions were penalised for holding on at a breakdown.
As Province started to take the ascendancy at the set piece, Lions coach Swys de Bruin brought on a new front row – in Malcolm Marx, Ruan Dreyer and Jacobie Adriaanse – as early as the 33rd minute. But at the very next scrum the hosts powered forward, earning a penalty that would have felt like a mini-victory.
A five-phase attack close to the line then led to a try for tighthead prop Wilco Louw on the stroke of half-time, and Du Preez added the extras to stretch their lead to 13-5.
The Lions were flat in the second half. Not one player took responsibility on attack. And while their defence remained steadfast as they kept closing down the hosts’ space, the Lions’discipline and decision-making let them down.
Case in point was in the 54th minute, when poor communication led to a mix-up between Aphiwe Dyantyi and Mahuza as both players leaped into the air to field an up-and-under. Neither secured possession and teammate Andries Ferreira proceeded to play the ball from an offside position. Du Preez stepped up to convert the indiscretion into points.
The Lions camped inside the opposition 22 in the last 10 minutes of the game, but Province were resistant in defence, although Kwagga Smith came close to scoring close to full-time.
Western Province will now travel to Durban, where they will face the Sharks in the Currie Cup decider.
Western Province – Try: Wilco Louw. Conversion: Robert du Preez. Penalties: Du Preez (4).
Golden Lions – Try: Jaco van der Walt.
Western Province – 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Ruhan Nel, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl (c), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Jano Vermaak, 21 Werner Kok, 22 Damian Willemse.
Golden Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Len Massyn, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Dylan Smith, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen (c).
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ruan Dreyer,18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Rhyno Herbst, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Ashlon Davids, 23 Sylvian Mahuza.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
