Lions v Blue Bulls in semi-finals
They've met only twice before
Northern Transvaal, as the Blue Bulls were before they changed their name, were born out of the Transvaal, as the Golden Lions were before their name-change, in 1938.
The child has been more successful than the parent in the Currie Cup, but in semi-finals they are on level terms.
They have met in only two semi-finals – in 1996 and 2004. Each team has won one, and the Lions are ahead on points!
In 1992 there were two sections. Natal topped Section A, with Transvaal second. Northern Transvaal topped Section B, with Free State second.
In the semis one played two. Transvaal played Northern Transvaal and Natal played Free State.
The semi-final between Transvaal and Northern Transvaal was charged with emotion. The Springbok team to tour Argentina, France and Wales had been announced, and there was no François Pienaar in the team. The hero of the 1995 World Cup, the man who, cup in hand, had gazed at Madiba, the man who lifted the trophy and the hopes of a new nation was not in the Springbok team. This led to a national outcry.
That François Pienaar led his team out onto Loftus Versfeld that spring afternoon, and they were pumped up. They ripped the Blue Bulls apart and by half-time led 20-6.
Northern Transvaal fought back in the second-half and did enough to win the half, but not enough to win the match.
Transvaal won 31-21.
Just before the end the name of the Man of the Match was flashed up on the electronic scoreboard – François Pienaar. When the final whistle went the Transvaal players carried their captain off the field.
Their next meeting in a semi-final was in 2004.
Blue Bulls 40 Lions 33:
In 1996 the Lions started off running. In 2004 it was the Blue Bulls' turn to start charging. After 18 minutes they led 17-6, as first wing Keegan Fredericks and then fly-half Derick Hougaard scored tries.
Early in the second-half it seemed that there initial bravado had subsided and that the Lions were on top.
Hooker Schalk Brits, chunky, bouncing, dodging, dashing, right on the touch-line, scored in the corner. Andre Pretorius goaled from touch and the Lions led 19-17. Slow-motion replays suggested that "right on the touch-line" was literally true for it seemed that the vibrant hooker had put an unnoticed foot out.
Then the mastodon moved. The Blue Bulls scrummed the Lions off their ball and Anton Leonard at No.8 scored. Hougaard converted and the Blue Bulls led 24-19.
But the Lions did not lie down in the Loftus shade. Instead that man Brits was at it again, scoring and enjoying scoring – enjoying the prospect of scoring so much that there was a suggestion that he lost the ball in doing so. But the try stood and Pretorius converted it. The Lions were back in front 26-24. But there were 25 minutes to go and the big men took over.
Hougaard banged over two penalties and then scrum-half Fourie du Preez scored a try. That made it 37-26 with 12 minutes left.
With seven minutes left Hougaard banged over a penalty and the Blue Bulls were going to the Final.
Just before the end a tap and an electric dart by Bryan Habana, then a Lion but now a Blue Bull, brought a try which Pretorius converted to make the final scored 40-33.
The Lions were noble, the Blue Bulls just that much more efficient.
