Ken Borland

In a scrappy semifinal win over Western Province, the Sharks’ top-class defending of the lineout maul was one of the few impressive features of the game … but eighthman Sikhumbuzo Notshe said on Tuesday that they do not want a repeat of that in the Currie Cup final against the Bulls on Saturday.

“It was not ideal to give Western Province a lot of lineouts in our 22, it means our discipline was poor, that’s why we had to defend so many. One has to credit the pack for showing so much resilience and energy to negate those mauls, but if we give away so many penalties against the Bulls then they will kick into the corner and maul us all day. We don’t want another afternoon like that!

“We did our homework though against Western Province, but it’s one thing knowing what the opposition will bring, you still have to go out and stop it. We will still need more of that energy and effort against the Bulls, and we know they have a good set-piece as well,” Notshe said on Tuesday.

The Springbok loose forward said slowing the Bulls’ ball at the breakdowns would also be central to the Sharks’ game-plan this weekend in Pretoria.

“It’s very important to have an impact at the breakdown because that’s how you kill their rhythm on attack, if you can slow the opposition’s ball down then it causes them to lose their rhythm, and it gives a lot of energy to the defence. So it’s very important that we sharpen up on our breakdown work, we need to clean up there because the Bulls have quality loose forwards.

Getting quick ball would also allow the Sharks to get their exciting backline into play, with Notshe the vital link-man, but he is not too optimistic it is going to be that sort of game.

“I’ll just play the game and if it does open up then it will suit my style, linking between the forwards and backs. But I’ve played in two Currie Cup finals and I’ve never seen the game open up. So I think we’re going to need the tight stuff and I will just try and bring that same energy,” Notshe, formerly of Western Province, said.

It’s been an age since the Bulls last won the Currie Cup, and longer still since Chris Rossouw played in his two finals, but the backline coach knows what it takes to win the famous trophy, having done it back-to-back with Western Province in 2000 and 2001.

The Bulls take on the Sharks in this season’s final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday and are looking to claim South Africa’s premier domestic title for the first time since 2009 and their 24^th crown overall.

“We all know in the final it comes down to experience and winning the big moments. And we have a good spine to manage those moments in Duane Vermeulen, Ivan van Zyl, Morne Steyn and Cornal Hendricks. At flyhalf Morne has seen it all, he’s played 66 Tests for the Springboks, he won the series against the British Lions in 2009 and he has won finals in France.

“It’s about keeping to the basic principles and Morne’s game-management is quite exceptional. As a young group we realise we have come a long way in a small space of time and we are in the process of building our brand. For the young guys to have that good spine around them is great and it is pleasing to see the team growing every week,” Rossouw said.

As backline coach, Rossouw is well aware of the threat posed by the Sharks backs, who have been, along with the Bulls, the most consistently dangerous attacking unit.

“The Sharks have been the most consistent team in the last year, they have played unbelievably well, and a big part of that has been their backline. They have a good mix of experience and youngsters and a good academy feeding into their system. They can play the expansive game and they’re very good defensively.

“It’s nice to watch the Sharks backline playing … but a massive challenge to play against them,” Rossouw said.

The team that makes the most of their opportunities will win the Currie Cup final, according to Bulls scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl, who has certainly been making the most of every chance he has had to shine this season.

The Bulls take on the Sharks in Saturday’s final at Loftus Versfeld and Van Zyl, who has been the most consistent scrumhalf in South Africa this season, will be a key player for the home side. His basics of passing and kicking have been outstanding, but he says being allowed to have a bit more freedom in terms of expressing himself has seen his confidence skyrocket.

“In finals rugby, the team that makes best use of their opportunities will win and this team has been functioning brilliantly as a unit, which makes a massive difference for a scrumhalf. I have had a very good season and I’m very happy with the way things are going, and it’s because the small stuff is working out. When everyone is playing with confidence, it makes you look even better.

“I’ve always thought my basics have been quite good, but coach Jake [White] came to me early in the season and showed me some small things, what he wanted to see more of in my game. Coach Chris [Rossouw, backline] deserves a lot of credit as well because he identified some key areas in my game that would help me take it to the next level. That gave me confidence.

“It gave me a freedom I haven’t experienced before and I’m very grateful for it because it has helped me take my game to the next level. One of my goals was to be a Springbok again and I believe I’m good enough to play there, I think the way I’ve played has shown that. Selection is not in my control though, but I would give anything to get back there,” Van Zyl said on Monday.

The Bulls will only be making a call towards the end of the week on outside centre Stedman Gans, who was a late withdrawal from the semi-final against the Lions due to a hamstring niggle, with Marnus Potgieter likely to start at No.13 if the Springbok Sevens star is not fit. Marco Jansen van Vuren did an excellent job in the semi-final, but his utility value means he would probably be more impactful off the bench.

The 21-year-old Potgieter would just throw more youthfulness into the pot for the Bulls, but Van Zyl said their strength this season has been how well the experienced and the more inexperienced have blended together.

“We have a great mixture at this moment, the seniors combine really well with the youngsters. There are no egos, it’s not about the individual, which is a massive thing. Everyone buys into what is going to be better for the team as a whole and we have incredible leadership. I love being part of this team, both on and off the field, and this is the dream: playing in the Currie Cup final.”

The Bulls have not won the Currie Cup since their 23^rd title in 2009, but like an old guitar that has been retuned and is now playing beautiful melodies, the current outfit playing out of Pretoria could revive those memories.

“This is my eighth year at the Bulls and as a kid I used to watch them play and win finals. It would mean everything to me, at the end of the 80 minutes, to be standing there and holding the Currie Cup. We will put in the hard yards this week to get that result. We are a proud union but it’s been quite a long time since we’ve won the Currie Cup. This would be a special one to win,” Van Zyl said.

Coach Mark Boucher said on Monday that he is on a crusade to change the mindset of South African cricket which is why the Proteas could well field three frontline spinners – Keshav Maharaj from KZN, Tabraiz Shamsi from northern Gauteng and George Linde from the Cape – in the first Test against Pakistan on Tuesday.

With Pakistan understandably going the dry and slow route in terms of the Karachi pitch, South Africa playing two spinners might have surprised a few people. For the Proteas’ attack to comprise three spinners and just two pacemen would be considered downright outrageous by many people used to “the South African way” of doing things.

But Boucher firmly believes that is their best chance of taking 20 wickets and, just like he was as a player, he wants the current Proteas to be bold.

“The weather is a lot cooler than normal on the sub-continent and there’s a lush green outfield. So conditions are completely different to in the past. In South Africa, colder weather means the pitch is a lot slower and with a quite moist outfield, I don’t know how big a weapon reverse-swing is going to be. But the pitch is really bare and there will definitely be turn.

“We are definitely not scared to go out and try something different. If you want to win away from home, you have to make brave calls. We’re not going to die wondering, you don’t want to go 1-0 down in a two-match series and then regret not playing the extra spinner.

“We’ve spoken about our mentality and the South African mindset has always been to revert back to seam. But I’ve said to the team I don’t want them to be scared of trying different options, if it looks like it’s going to turn then we must make good cricket calls. I’ve encouraged an open mindset instead of just going back to the norm,” Boucher said in a press conference on Monday.

Boucher later told The Citizen that Linde, who scored 37 and 27 and took four for 133 in his only previous Test, against India in Ranchi in October 2019, is likely to get the nod.

“We will make a call on the all-rounder – whether it’s a seam bowler or a spinner – and there’s a very big possibility that we will go with two seamers and three spinners, if it’s really going to turn. George showed before he can bat in sub-continent conditions and he’s been in good form with the bat for the Cape Cobras. Wiaan Mulder played really well in South African conditions, but it’s about who will create more opportunities, who can dry up an end in these conditions? And having George, Kesh, KG Rabada and Anrich Nortje doesn’t make our tail too long, it’s possible for those guys to score some runs too,” Boucher said.

With Tabraiz Shamsi being an aggressive wrist-spinner and Rabada and Nortje not really being holding bowlers, it looks like South Africa will go to town with attacking bowling and Maharaj could well perform the holding role.

“A lot of thought has gone into how we’re going to pick up 20 wickets on pitches that are generally good for the first three days. We’re not going to go in thinking about containing. Shamsi is an attacking, aggressive spinner, so if conditions suit, why not use him? We’ve got attacking options with spin, and pace through the air in flat conditions is the seamer’s best weapon and we’ve got that covered.

“But you also need to balance your attack and someone needs to do the containing role. Kesh didn’t bowl a lot against Sri Lanka because the pitches were more conducive to spin, but he’s hungry to get stuck in and do his role as the main spin bowler here. He wasn’t at his best on the last tour to India, but we’ve worked on a few technical things and he’s come on leaps and bounds,” Boucher said.