Province underdogs?

So admittedly I have not blogged for quite a while and I have missed it, so hopefully I will be more disciplined now and blog more often. So the reason for me blogging again is I would like to talk about the up coming Currie Cup final.

 

So there has been talk about who the favourites are and who the underdogs for the final in Cape Town are on Saturday. Now you would think that being unbeaten this season Western Province would be clear favourites and most in the media are saying that. Recently I have read a few articles where they subtly still see the Sharks as favourites.

 

Their reasons being that they will possibly have their Springbok front row back as well as Willem Alberts which in all honesty will boost their chances dramatically, added to that Fly half Patrick Lambie is finding his form. We all remember what he did to the Cape side in Durban in the 2010 final. So you would not be too far off for saying that the Sharks have a good chance of winning the final in Cape Town.

 

Now I’m going to tell you why they won’t. While the Sharks may have an all Springbok front row, they didn’t have an easy time against the Province front row last time out. Given that the final is at Newlands, the young front row of Province will be fired up and ready to go. Steven Kitshoff brings the physicality to the front row with his bustling runs most times breaking the defensive line as well as his impressive scrumming ability. He will be a good match for Jannie come game day. Scarra Ntubeni may be diminutive in stature but is solid, his pace is great for getting over the advantage line and his lineout throwing has greatly improved. He has been a stand out player this season and he can match Bismarck although he won’t be alone.

 

Pat Cilliers might have been criticised for not being the best scrummager but he has put his hand up and has been crucial to the Province pack that has dominated the Currie Cup this season. To combat the physicality of the Sharks they are spoilt for choice, they have at their disposal De Kock Steenkamp, Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen and who can forget what Eben Etzebeth did to Bismarck in Super Rugby not too long ago. They also have talismanic skipper Deon Fourie who has been instrumental in their success over the last 2 seasons. He is physical and has astounding speed but his main attribute is his skill at the breakdown, making a lot of turn overs will slow down the quick ball the Sharks thrive on.

 

Everyone always talks about how games will be decided by the flyhalf battle, well this time I have to agree with them. Patrick Lambie is undoubtedly a world class flyhalf and has been unlucky to have warmed the Springbok bench for so long. He is just finding his form and will be tough to contain and he can destroy any team given an inch.

 

I just have 2 words in response Demetri Catrakilis. Who can forget his outstanding performance in last years Currie Cup final against the same opponents? His wrong footed drop goal and almost perfect performance controlling the game. He too is finding his form and in my opinion is a highly underrated player who I believe to be the in form flyhalf in the country. He can and will be the deciding factor in this weekends final and he has a lot of backup. Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, big Damien de Allende and the lighting back three of Cheslin Kolbe, Gio Aplon and Gerhard van den Heever will all be there to assist him in breaking down the Sharks.

 

So calling either tam underdogs or favourites would be more than a little wrong but I am bias and I don’t care, but I think that Western Province will take it 33-20.