Finals past - Cheetahs v Blue Bulls
History favours the Blue Bulls
The Cheetahs (née Orange Free State) have played the Blue Bulls (née Northern Transvaal) seven times in finals. The score is 6-1 to the Blue Bulls.
Here is a summary of results between the two great rugby provinces.
1. 21 September 1973 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
This was the first time Free State had ever been in a Currie Cup final.
Northern Transvaal 30
Orange Free State 22
Half-time: Northern Transvaal 10-10 Orange Free State
Crowd: 44 000
In the first half the Free State backs dominated, in the second the Northern Transvaal pack. In the first half Northern Transvaal defence held firm.
The two dropped goals by scrumhalf Dirkie de Vos were remarkable.
Scorers:
For Orange Free State
Tries: Kleintjie Grobler, Frikkie Naudé
Con: Jackie Snyman
Pens: Snyman 4
For Northern Transvaal:
Tries: Thys Lourens, Mof de Klerk, John Williams, John Knox
Con: Pierre van Zyl
Pens: Van Zyl 2
Drops: Dirkie de Vos 2
Teams:
Northern Transvaal: Pierre van Zyl, Frans Aucamp, John Knox, André van Staden, Willem Stapelberg Vic Booysen, Dirkie de Vos, Albie Bates (captain), Martiens Eloff, Thys Lourens, Moaner van Heerden, John Williams, Daan du Plessis, Mof de Klerk, Lucas Viljoen.
Orange Free State: Frikkie Naudé, J Pienaar, Pikkie du Toit, Jan Schlebusch, Gerrie Germishuys Jackie Snyman, Willie Strydom, Kleintjie Grobler, J Swart, P van Zyl, Daan de Wet (captain), J Botha, Martiens le Roux, André Bestbier, Rampie Stander.
Referee: Piet Robbertse
2. 27 September 1975 at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Northern Transvaal 12
Orange Free State 6
Half-time: Orange Free State 0-3 Northern Transvaal
Crowd: 50 000
The field was muddy after the thunderstorm – a match which will be remembered for that last-gasp try by Pierre Spies as he reached up and got his fingertips to the soggy ball and raced over to score the try which won the Currie Cup.
Scorers:
For Orange Free State:
Try: Pikkie du Toit
Con: De Wet Ras
For Northern Transvaal:
Try: Pierre Spies
Con: Keith Thoresson
Pens: Thoresson 2
Teams:
Orange Free State: Piet Strydom, Gerrie Germishuys, Pikkie du Toit, Jan Schlebusch, Hermanus Potgieter De Wet Ras, Barry Wolmarans, Gerrie Sonnekus, Basie Verster, Kleintjie Grobler, Klippies Kritzinger (captain), Ross van Reenen, Martiens le Roux, Wouter Hugo, Wilhelm Potgieter.
Northern Transvaal: Olaf de Meyer, Keith Thoresson, Christo Wagenaar, Hennie du Rand, Pierre Spies Len Gerber, Tommy du Plessis, Wynand Claassen, Louis Muller, Thys Lourens (captain), Louis Moolman, John Williams, Daan du Plessis, Willie Kahts, Nic Bezuidenhout.
Referee: Justus Moolman
3. 24 September 1977 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Northern Transvaal 27
Orange Free State 12
Half-time: Northern Transvaal 9-3 Orange Free State
Crowd: 55 000
Wouter Hugo was injured at the first scrum, and it was this facet of the game which above all ensured a Northern Transvaal victory.
It was Naas Botha's first Currie Cup final. He was 19.
Scorers:
For Northern Transvaal:
Tries: Christo Wagenaar, Daan du Plessis, Pierre Spies
Cons: Naas Botha 3
Pens: Botha 2
Drop: Botha
For Orange Free State
Pens: Gysie Pienaar 2, De Wet Ras
Drop: Pienaar
Teams:
Northern Transvaal: Pierre Edwards, John Knox, Christo Wagenaar, Hein Piater, Pierre Spies, Naas Botha, Tommy du Plessis, Wynand Claassen, Burger Geldenhuys, Thys Lourens (captain), Louis Moolman, Moaner van Heerden, Daan du Plessis, Willie Kahts, Nic Bezuidenhout.
Orange Free State: Gysie Pienaar, Gerrie Germishuys, Edrich Krantz, Jan Schlebusch, Hermanus Potgieter, De Wet Ras, Barry Wolmarans, Gerrie Sonnekus, Eben Jansen, Theuns Stofberg, Hennie Bekker, Ross van Reenen, Martiens le Roux, Wouter Hugo (captain), Henning van Aswegen.
Referee: Jimmy Smith-Belton
4. 30 September 1978, Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Northern Transvaal 13
Orange Free State 9
Half-time: Orange Free State 6-7 Northern Transvaal
Crowd: 52 000
Yet again the Northern Transvaal pack laid the foundation for the victory.
Naas Botha made the first try and scored the second.
There were 11 players from Tukkies in the Northern Transvaal side.
Scorers:
For Northern Transvaal:
Tries: Christo Wagenaar, Naas Botha
Con: Naas Botha
Pen: Pierre Edwards
For Orange Free State:
Pens: De Wet Ras 2
Drop: Ras
Teams:
Orange Free State: Gysie Pienaar, Hermanus Potgieter, Joggie Jansen, Dirk Froneman (Jan Schlebusch), Edrich Krantz, De Wet Ras, Barry Wolmarans, Gerrie Sonnekus (Herman van Heerden), Japie Wessels, Theuns Stofberg, Hennie Bekker, Ross van Reenen, Martiens le Roux, Wouter Hugo (captain), Rampie Stander.
Northern Transvaal: Pierre Edwards, Darius Botha, Christo Wagenaar, Tjokkie van der Merwe, John Knox, Naas Botha, Tommy du Plessis, Thys Burger, Thys Lourens (captain), Burger Geldenhuys, Louis Moolman, Koot Coetzee, Daan du Plessis, Willie Kahts, Jan Oberholzer.
Referee: Gert Bezuidenhout
5. 3 October 1981 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Northern Transvaal 23
Orange Free State 6
Half-time: Northern Transvaal 10-0 Orange Free State
Crowd: 56 000
Free State climbed in at the start and dominated the first half-'n-hour of the match and then the Northern Transvaal pack took over and won comfortably/
Scorers:
For Northern Transvaal
Tries: JC Strauss, Johan Heunis, Burger Geldenhuys
Con: Naas Botha
Pens: Johan Heunis 2
Drop: Botha
For Orange Free State
Pens: De Wet Ras 2
Teams:
Northern Transvaal: Pierre Edwards, Darius Botha, Christo Wagenaar, Dirk Hoffman, Johan Heunis, Naas Botha, Tommy du Plessis, Johan Marais (Jannie Breedt), Thys Lourens, Burger Geldenhuys, Louis Moolman, André Skinner, Okkie Oosthuizen, JC Strauss, Jan Oberholzer.
Orange Free State: Ernst Viljoen, Christo Fitchet, Johan Coetzee, Gert Jordaan, Jan du Toit, De Wet Ras, Toetie Marais, Barry Schoeman, Willie Bolton, Gerrie Sonnekus, Herman van Heerden, Rudie Visagie, Martiens le Roux (captain), Callie Wegner, Schalk Oosthuizen.
Referee: Johan Gouws
6. 23 October 2004 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Blue Bulls 42
Cheetahs 33
Half-time: Blue Bulls 27-16 Cheetahs
Crowd: 50 000
The Blue Bulls were much the best side in the Currie Cup and substantially the better side in the final when the magic feet of Ettienne Botha brought in two sparkling tries.
Scorers:
For Blue Bulls
Tries: Ettienne Botha 2, Keegan Fredericks 2, Frikkie Welsh, Victor Matfield
Cons: Derick Hougaard 3
Pen: Hougaard
Drop: Hougaard
For Cheetahs
Tries: Anton Pitout 2, Hendro Scholtz, Tsepho Kokoali
Cons: Willem de Waal 2
Pens: De Waal 3
Teams:
Blue Bulls: Johan Roets, Keegan Fredericks (JP Nel), Frikkie Welsh, Ettienne Botha, Gavin Passens, Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez, Anton Leonard (captain), Warren Brosnihan, Jacques Cronjé (Pedrie Wannenberg), Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha (Danie Rossouw), Richard Bands (Wessel Roux), Gary Botha (Danie Coetzee), Kees Lensing (Richard Bands).
Cheetahs: Tshepo Kokoali, Eddie Fredericks (Jaco van Schalkwyk), Chris Kruger, Jacques Claassens, Anton Pitout, Willem de Waal, Falie Oelschig, (Michael Claassens) Rassie Erasmus (captain), Juan Smith, Hendro Scholtz, Barend Pieterse, Boela du Plooy, CJ van der Linde (Rayno Gerber), Naka Drotské, Os du Randt (Guthro Steenkamp).
Referee: André Watson
7. 22 October 2005 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Cheetahs 29
Blue Bulls 25
Half-time: Blue Bulls 12-9 Cheetahs
Same venue, same teams – different result as the Cheetahs through history and form out of the window and scored a well deserved victory at Loftus Versfeld. The victory came six minutes from time when Noel Oelschig kicked high, the Blue Bulls messed up and Meyer Bosman grabbed the ball and had a simple run to the line.
The Bulls had led 25-15 with nine minutes to go. Then Bryan Habana went to the sin bin and the Cheetahs scored two sudden tries.
After 29 years in waiting the Cheetahs had won their second Currie Cup.
Scorers:
For Cheetahs
Tries: Bevin Fortuin, Meyer Bosman
Cons: Willem de Waal 2
Pens: De Waal 5
For Blue Bulls
Try: Akona Ndungane
Con: Morné Steyn
Pens: Steyn 4, Derick Hougaard
Drop: Johan Roets
Teams:
Blue Bulls: Johan Roets, Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier (Riaan van den Bergh), Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn (Derick Hougaard), Fourie du Preez, Anton Leonard (captain) (Johan Wasserman), Pedrie Wannenberg, Jacques Cronjé, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha (Danie Rossouw), Andries Human, Gary Botha (Danie Coetzee), Kees Lensing (Wessel Roux).
Cheetahs: Bevin Fortuin, Eddie Fredericks, Chris Kruger (Meyer Bosman), Barry Goodes, Philip Burger (Alwyn Hollenbach) Willem de Waal, Michael Claassens (Falie Oelschig) ,Ryno van der Merwe, Juan Smith, Hendro Scholtz (Kabamba Floors), Barend Pieterse, Corniel van Zyl, Jannie du Plessis (CJ van der Linde), Naka Drotské (captain), Wian du Preez (Os du Randt), Ollie le Roux).
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Summary
Finals played: 7
Blue Bulls won: 6
Cheetahs won: 1
Blue Bulls points: 172
Cheetahs points: 117
Average score: Blue Bulls 25 Cheetahs 17
By Hannes Nienaber
