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South Africa's big guns miss out on Currie Cup semifinals for the first time in 20 years

Pote Human

Not seeing Western Province and Blue Bulls’ names in the Currie Cup semifinals fixture list is a rare occasion.

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For years the Currie Cup has been dominated by the duo. However, this year will be the first since 1999 that both teams will not feature in the semifinals.

Western Province and Blue Bulls are the most successful Currie Cup teams in history with the Cape side boasting 34 titles in their cabinet while their Northern rivals have 23.

The Blue Bulls have the best percentage record when it comes to winning semifinals, while Western Province are second best.

However, the class of 2019 has failed to add to that impressive records.

Pote Human’s Blue Bulls concluded the season in sixth place – one point clear of the bottom of log Pumas. The Pretoria side managed to secure just two wins for their 10 log points.

Human’s charges started their campaign with a defeat to the Western Province and they just struggled to build momentum.

During their two wins over Golden Lions and Pumas they showed signs of what they are capable off. However, their lack of discipline throughout the season and in Saturday’s 40-48 defeat to Sharks just nullified their attacking threat.

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For the second week in row, the Blue Bulls were forced to play with 14 men after centre Johnny Kotze was red-carded for a high tackle in the 38th minute.

“The last two games were very disappointing in terms of discipline,” Human said, adding: “It was a tough one on Johnny but it was around the neck, so it’s a red card.

“The good thing is we scored four tries with 14 men which showed that the guys really wanted to do well, unfortunately, we also conceded tries.

“Having said that discipline is certainly the big factor and we have to address during the off season,”

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For Western Province, it is a season to forget.

John Dobson’s side, who played in the 2018 Final, came agonisingly close to claiming a semifinal spot. However, a defeat to the Free State Cheetahs combined with the Sharks’ win over the Blue Bulls halted all their dreams.

Even though they were boosted with the return of Damian Willemse, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw and Scarra Ntubeni, Province failed to combat the Cheetahs’ robust onslaught.

The Cape Town side had a comfortable 33-12 lead at one point but then Cheetahs captain Tian Meyer scored a try which started a phenomenal comeback.

In the end, Province suffered a 33-38 defeat and ended the season in fifth place with 14 log points.

“The defeat is certainly close to a career low-point,” WP captain Chris Van Zyl said after the match.

“As good as the first half was, we weren’t clinical enough particularly with our exit strategy. I think there were two exits that they exploited.”

Commenting on the team’s overall season, Dobson revealed a whole list of what needs to be rectified.

“Against the Cheetahs it was the exits. However, the evolution of our kicking game at the Union is a challenge. While I also think we should get our mauling culture like it used to be.”

He added: “It has been a challenging year for the Union, but we must take responsibility for what happens on the field.”

Blue Bulls (a.k.a. Northern Transvaal): 20 semifinals – won 15
Western Province: 22 semifinals – won 16
Golden Lions (a.k.a. Transvaal and Gauteng Lions): 19 semifinals – won 9
Sharks (a.k.a. Natal): 19 semifinals – won 10

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J
JW 1 hour ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

Yep, that's exactly what I want.

Glasgow won the URC and Edinburgh finished 16th, but Scotland won the six nations, Edinburgh would qualify for the Champions Cup under your system.

It's 'or'. If Glasgow won the URC or Scotland won the six nations. If one of those happens I believe it will (or should) be because the league is in a strong place, and that if a Scotland side can do that, there next best club team should be allowed to reach for the same and that would better serve the advancement of the game.


Now, of course picking a two team league like Scotland is the extreme case of your argument, but I'm happy for you to make it. First, Edinbourgh are a good mid table team, so they are deserving, as my concept would have predicted, of the opportunity to show can step up. Second, you can't be making a serious case that Gloucester are better based on beating them, surely. You need to read Nicks latest article on SA for a current perspective on road teams in the EPCR. Christ, you can even follow Gloucester and look at the team they put out the following week to know that those games are meaningless.


More importantly, third. Glasgow are in a league/pool with Italy, So the next team to be given a spot in my technically imperfect concept would be Benneton. To be fair to my idea that's still in it's infancy, I haven't given any thought to those 'two team' leagues/countries yet, and I'm not about to 😋

They would be arguably worse if they didn't win the Challenge Cup.

Incorrect. You aren't obviously familiar with knockout football Finn, it's a 'one off' game. But in any case, that's not your argument. You're trying to suggest they're not better than the fourth ranked team in the Challenge Cup that hasn't already qualified in their own league, so that could be including quarter finalists. I have already given you an example of a team that is the first to get knocked out by the champions not getting a fair ranking to a team that loses to one of the worst of the semi final teams (for example).

Sharks are better

There is just so much wrong with your view here. First, the team that you are knocking out for this, are the Stormers, who weren't even in the Challenge Cup. They were the 7th ranked team in the Champions Cup. I've also already said there is good precedent to allow someone outside the league table who was heavily impacted early in the season by injury to get through by winning Challenge Cup. You've also lost the argument that Sharks qualify as the third (their two best are in my league qualification system) South African team (because a SAn team won the CC, it just happened to be them) in my system. I'm doubt that's the last of reasons to be found either.


Your system doesn't account for performance or changes in their domestic leagues models, and rely's heavily on an imperfect and less effective 'winner takes all' model.

Giving more incentives to do well in the Challenge Cup will make people take it more seriously. My system does that and yours doesn't.

No your systems doesn't. Not all the time/circumstances. You literally just quoted me describing how they aren't going to care about Challenge Cup if they are already qualifying through league performance. They are also not going to hinder their chance at high seed in the league and knockout matches, for the pointless prestige of the Challenge Cup.


My idea fixes this by the suggesting that say a South African or Irish side would actually still have some desire to win one of their own sides a qualification spot if they win the Challenge Cup though. I'll admit, its not the strongest incentive, but it is better than your nothing. I repeat though, if your not balance entries, or just my assignment, then obviously winning the Challenge Cup should get you through, but your idea of 4th place getting in a 20 team EPCR? Cant you see the difference lol


Not even going to bother finishing that last paragraph. 8 of 10 is not an equal share.

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