OLD FINAL NEWISH RIVALRY
WP V SHARKS: A QUICK HISTORY
Western Province are undoubtedly the most successful team in the Currie Cup. To date they have won the coveted trophy 34 times
In contrast, the Sharks have won the title seven times and are the fourth most successful team in the competition behind the WP, Bulls (24) and Golden Lions (11). The Sharks, along with the Griquas, are the only championship winning teams to have never shared the cup. Here, the WP share that honour or dishounor, depending on your outlook, of having shared the trophy, along with the Bulls, a record four times.
The Sharks first contested final was in 1956, which they lost 9-8 to the Northern Transvaal at Kings Park. They would have to wait until 1984 to play in another final, again losing, this time to Province 19-9.
It took the Durban team 98 years to win the Currie Cup – in 1990 they beat the Northern Transvaal 18-12 to secure their first championship.
In all, WP and the Sharks have faced each other eight times in the Currie Cup final. Currently, the WP hold sway in these championship encounters, having won five of them.
Those three victories of the Sharks came in 1995, 2010 and 2013. They have only ever won one final at Newlands, their most recent trip there, which ended in a 33-19 triumph.
TEAMS
WESTERN PROVINCE STARTING XV: Dillyn Leyds, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Damian Willemse, SP Marais, Josh Stander, Jano Vermaak, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Ernst van Rhyn, Kobus van Dyk, JD Schickerling, Chris van Zyl (c), Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Ali Vermaak;
REPLACEMENTS: Scarra Ntubeni, Caylib Oosthuizen, Michael Kumbirai, Salmaan Moerat, Jaco Coetzee, Herschel Jantjies, Dan Kriel, JJ Engelbrecht
SHARKS STARTING XV: Curwin Bosch, S’bu Nkosi, Jeremy Ward, Marius Louw, Aphelele Fassi, Robert du Preez, Louis Schreuder (c), Daniel du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Tyler Paul, Hyron Andrews, Gideon Koegelenberg, Thomas du Toit, Akker van der Merwe, Juan Schoeman;
REPLACEMENTS: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Mzamo Majola, Coenie Oosthuizen, Jacques Vermeulen, Luke Stringer, Cameron Wright, Kobus van Wyk, Leolin Zas
ALSO IN ACTION
Consistency will be key for the Sharks in their SA Under-19 Championship Final against the Blue Bulls at Newlands tomorrow (11am). The team that has won every game this season, home and away against all opposition, and then last week’s semi-final against Western Province, will not be looking to change anything they’ve done. Head coach Sean Everitt says that despite the excitement over the opportunity to win silverware, his team will continue playing as they have each week.