2011 ABSA Currie Cup Final Match Preview: Natal Sharks Vs Golden Lions
Golden Lions will host the defending champions, Natal Sharks, in the final of the South African domestic Rugby Union competition, Currie Cup. Lions will be eyeing to register their first title
victory since 1950 on Saturday, October 29 at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.
Sharks defeated Cheetahs to secure a final berth, while Golden Lions defeated Western Provinces to confirm their place in the final. Both Lions and Sharks finished at the first and the second
position in the 2011 ABSA Currie Cup table, with 50 and 48 points respectively. Both teams have won 10 of their 14 games round matches, while Lions lost just three in comparison to Sharks 4.
Lions last won the title at home in 1950 by defeating Western Province with a margin of 11 points, with a final scorecard reading 22 – 11. However, they have lost four home finals of the domestic
competition after that.
Lions have four lost home finals against Blue Bulls in 1987 and 2002, to Sharks in 1992 and 1996 seasons. Sharks will enter the final match with an impressive track record. In addition to their
recent massive victory over the Lions in the last round match of the 2011 ABSA Currie Cup competition, Sharks have dominated Lions in last six years.
Since 2005, both Lions and Sharks played 15 games with each other. The later has won 10 while Lions ended as winner up on just five occasions.
In the history of the Currie Cup competition, both Lions and Sharks have been involved in the finals of the tournament four times, with both teams winning ending in victories twice. Saturday’s
game will provide the teams a chance to regain dominance in their inter-province sports rivalry.
Both teams contested each other in the finals of the Currie Cup in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1999. Sharks defeated Lions in 1992 and 1996 both times at Johannesburg, While Lions defeated Sharks
in 1993 and 1999 at Durban.
The stats above reveal an interesting fact that any time both teams competed with each other in the final of the Currie Cup tournament, the visitors have ended on the winning side. The stat
will allow the Sharks to start the match as favourites.
Golden Lions John Mitchell has expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance in the competitions. He has expressed his satisfaction on his side’s preparation for the final game. He
said, “All our work is done, so we we've just focused on being more accurate and bringing some of the attitude that is important at this time of the year.”
Mitchell termed Sharks as good side. He added that he is confident of his team’s forwards packs and they can match Sharks forwards pack, which features many Springboks international players.
Natal Sharks number eight and Captain, Keegan Daniel has denied the rumor of any difference between the two sides. He added, “A lot of us have played in finals while many Lions players have
not, but then you could reverse that and say they have been together all year and we've had to bring in new guys.”
Both teams have announced their squad for the finals of the 2011 Currie Cup final. The squad details are given below-
Golden Lions
Starting XV:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7. Michael Rhodes, 6. Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden,
3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse/JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Warren Whiteley, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Butch James, 21 Dylan Des Fountain, 22 James Kamana.
Natal Sharks
Starting XV:
15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Jannie du Plessis,
2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
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