Currie Cup Rugby Final 2014: Western Province vs. Golden Lions
Western Province lifted the Currie Cup after a determined display saw them overcome the Golden Lions at Newlands by a score of 19-16.
A try from Jaco Taute and 14 points from the boot of Demetri Catrakilis hauled Die Streeptruie to victory in a match that followed an unexpectedly abrasive pattern, especially given the expansive style both teams have showcased this season.
Jaco van der Walt scored the only try of the game for the Lions, while it was a bittersweet day for Marnitz Boshoff, who notched eight points before missing a last-gasp penalty that would have taken the match into extra time.
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The result was confirmed by the official Western Province Twitter account:
It was agreed by plenty ahead of this game that the two best sides in Super Rugby made it to the showpiece final this year. Both Western Province and Golden Lions have played a brash brand of absorbing rugby throughout the 10 rounds preceding this final, and those in attendance at Newlands were always going to be in for a real treat.
Indeed, the Golden Lions Twitter account was unashamedly excited ahead of this one:
Despite many feeling as though Province probably had the edge going into the final, their coach Allister Coetzee insisted it was actually their opponents that should be considered favourites for this particular clash, per Ashfak Mohamed of IOL Sport:
"I know the Lions are in form and have played superb rugby throughout the competition. They are one of the sides who have had the most continuity in terms of their selection. I suppose they are the favourites this weekend, and favourites for a lot of people."
Indeed, while both sides play a dazzling style of rugby, of the two, it’s the Lions that probably have spectators on the edge of their seats a little more often, even if that means compromising somewhat when it comes to defensive cohesiveness. And that was something that cost them early in the game, as Province raced into an early lead.
Province put some early pressure on their opponents—who were admittedly a little slow out of the blocks—and were able to take advantage with a couple of early penalties, Catrakilis making no mistake on both occasions. The opening 30 minutes descended into an exceptionally tight affair with neither side willing to give an inch, but with just five minutes to go until the half time break, we had the first try of the match.
And it was Die Streeptruie who accrued some vital momentum going into the interval. Catrakilis was central to the score as some deliciously fast hands put one on a plate for Taute; the fly-half added the extra two points and Province had a 13-0 lead at the end of the first half.
The Western Province Twitter account paid tribute to the slick build up that put Taute clear:
The Lions needed a response after the break, and it didn't take them long to get on the scoresheet, as Boshoff slotted a penalty to reduce the deficit to ten points. That seemed to rid the Lions of the shackles that seemed to hamper them in the first period, and they almost immediately began to play their familiar fluidity.
They got their reward not long after, as Van der Walt went over in the corner for their first try of the game. Boshoff added the conversion from the tightest of angles and suddenly they were back in the game with the score 13-10 in favour of Western Province.
Within minutes, their comeback was seemingly complete, as Boshoff notched another penalty, but the restoration of parity seemed to wake Province up. They surged back in front courtesy of two penalties—Catrakilis again proving to be clinical—but with the lead standing at just six points, the Lions could still ease in front with a converted try in the latter stages.
Ruan Combrinck gave the Lions even more hope in the 75th minute when his penalty reduced the gap to three points and with the clock ticking down, the Lions were awarded another. The clock moved past 80 minutes while Boshoff lined it up, but he couldn't send the final into extra time, as his kick sailed away to the left.
After missing some kicks from a similar range earlier in the game, Rugby writer Dan Lombard queried the logic behind letting Boshoff take the decisive kick:
The win is the coup de grace on a fine campaign for Province, and although Coetzee insisted that the Lions were the favourites here, his side have been the most balanced on show this season.
They play with a swagger, for sure, but Die Streeptruie have preserved defensive diligence to accompany that mercurial streak throughout the season, and, ultimately, that's what saw them through a tricky final few minutes.
To win this iconic trophy represents a major achievement for these players, and after triumphing in this tournament for the second time in three years, there's little doubt that they're now the dominant force in South African rugby.
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