Blue Bulls notch up vital win in Durban

The Blue Bulls continued their recent Currie Cup resurgence with an impressive 24-20 win over the Sharks in Durban on Friday afternoon.

After starting the domestic competition with three successive losses, the Bulls made a well-publicised shake-up to the coaching staff last week, and a shift in emphasis on the Currie Cup setup has seen a turnaround in fortunes.

Friday’s victory away from home will be particularly pleasing to Bulls boss Jake White, who watched on from the stands as the visitors ultimately outclassed a fourth-placed Sharks side that has battled with inconsistency this season.

?? Consecutive victories for the @BlueBullsRugby

An impressive display in Durban sees the men from Pretoria pick up an important win in the #CurrieCup#WhereLegendsRise pic.twitter.com/hrRtWJdSiD

— The Currie Cup (@TheCurrieCup) April 14, 2023

Both teams came into this clash on the back of important wins, with the Sharks having claimed a crucial win over the defending champion Pumas, while the Bulls recorded a comprehensive 40-3 victory over Griquas.

That result for the Bulls represented their first win in the competition, and lifted them off the foot of the table. Although several players returned to the URC squad, there was a clear boost in confidence that filtered into the Currie Cup team that turned up in Durban on Friday.

With Springbok veteran Morne Steyn pulling the strings at flyhalf, the Bulls certainly looked the more composed side in a first half where they were able to rack up a commanding 19-3 lead.

NOVUKA HAT-TRICK

The opening try came the way of the visitors rather fortuitously as the ball went loose following a swirling up-and-under from Steyn, with wing Sibongile Novuka ultimately finishing off the movement.

From there, the Bulls settled into their stride as Jan-Hendrik Wessels powered over the try line after a successful maul from inside the hosts 22m line.

Late in the half, matters went from bad to worse for the Sharks as James Venter was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle, and in his absence Novuka finished off one of the tries of the season after a sequence of silky interplay.

To the Sharks’ credit, they started the second half with a real determination and in fact reduced the lead to just six points after a converted try to Phikolomzi Sobahle, and a penalty to Zeilinga, saw the hosts score 10 unanswered points.

Yet, as the stadium clock ticked towards the hour mark, Novuka was put away in the corner to score his hat-trick try, and from there the Bulls did well to hang on after the Sharks threatened a late fightback following a try to Zee Mkhabela.

SCORERS

Sharks - Tries: Phikolomzi Sobahle, Zee Mkhabela. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga, Lionel Cronje. Penalties: Zeilinga (2).

Blue Bulls - Tries: Sibongile Novuka (3), Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Conversion: Morne Steyn (2)

Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Phikolomzi Sobahle, 13 Josh Jonas, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 James Venter, 7 Ockie Barnard, 6 Tinotenda Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Dian Bleuler.

Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Athi Khethani, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Zee Mkhabela.

Blue Bulls: 15 Franco Knoetze, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Wandisile Simelane, 10 Morné Steyn 9 Zak Burger, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Cameron Hanekom, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.

Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange 17 Jacques van Rooyen 18 Robert Hunt 19 Phumzile Maqondwana 20 WJ Steenkamp 21 Bernard van der Linde 22 Cornal Hendricks 23 Kabelo Mokoena.