(Argieffoto: Filippo Monteforte/AFP)
There is a saying that lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Yesterday afternoon in Welkom, shortly before the end of the Currie Cup match between the Griffons and the Blue Bulls, there were a few thunders in the distance.
The referee, Griffin Colby, had no choice but to move to the locker room with both teams after following the proper protocols.
The Griffons were ahead 32 – 28 with barely two minutes left, but the Bulls kicked the ball out shortly before the break after a penalty in the Griffons’ half area.
When the game resumed after a few minutes without lightning striking again, the Bulls could not take advantage of the penalty kick. A tackle followed and they were also punished twice.
This enabled the Griffons to send the Bulls home with the stocking over their head 32 – 28.
It was a historic victory for the Griffons, because it was the first time since 1968, when the union seceded from the Free State, that they could beat the Bulls in the Currie Cup series.
The Griffons did win the Currie Cup’s First League in 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2022, but they have never been awarded a victory over the Bulls.
What should be worrying for the Bulls’ rugby bosses is that the Bulls have their backs against the wall in the United Rugby Championship to finish among the top eight in order to still be able to play in the European Cup series next season.
Even worse, there were four Springboks, Lionel Mapoe, Johan Goosen, Nizaam Carr and Lizo Gqoboka, in the Bulls’ starting team. In addition, Jacques du Plessis, who played for many years in France, and Wandisile Simelane, who was on the national selectors’ radar, were also in the starting squad.
The unsung Griffons’ only international player is Jamba Ulengo, who played in one test for the Springboks in 2016.
But the rest of the unsung team still had to make their mark in the First League last year to gain promotion to the Currie Cup series.
So far they’ve kicked off pretty well against the Lions, but, just like against the Sharks, they fell apart in the second half. Last week against the Free State Cheetahs, their lack of experience was exposed, but one wonders if they weren’t already planning for the Bulls battle then.
For the sealless Bulls it is back to the drawing board and for Griffons a syrupy victory for the record books.
Scorers:
Griffons 32 (20): Tries: Soso Xakalashe, JJ Pretorius, Jaco Willemse, Jamba Ulengo. Goals: Jaywinn Juries (3). Penalty goals: Jury (2).
Bulls 28 (21): Tries: Wandisile Simelane, Muller Uys, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Robert Hunt. Goal kicks: Johan Goosen (4).
