Like last week The Lions had to face a team bolstered with returning world cup Springboks. The week leading up to the final saw the teams sparing off against each other in the media. Supporters of both teams made it clear who would walk away the victors. And supporters of the other f teams in the competition through in their support behind the team the felt should win. And so the battle lines were drawn and the anthem was sung. Only thing left was 80 minutes of the hardest rugby in the world to decide who would lift the Currie Cup.
This season has seen the Lions go from a team that lost every Super Rugby game they played to a team with a Currie Cup record of 15 played, 11 won, 1 draw, 3 lost. A true turn around of fortune for them. They have had a consistent team with only 2 Springboks lost. The Sharks on the other hand has had an up and down season with players coming and going due to injury and 8 Springboks in the World Cup squad. All of this said it came down to who would be able to out play the other to decide the 2011 Currie Cup Champions.
The Lions kicked the game off and immediately put pressure on the Sharks as they tried to run from deep. The resulting penalty was kicked by Elton Jantjies, who would finish the game with a 100% kicking record. The Sharks can only blame their own discipline for the 19-6 half time score which included a brilliant try by Lions winger Michael Killian set up by Doppies le Grange. Fullback Jaco Taute also kicked a monster 57 meter penalty. The longest kick ever at Coca-Cola Park. Freddie Michalak tried to keep the Sharks in the game by kicking two penalties of his own in the half. CJ vd Linde did try and make it easier for the Sharks about 9 minutes before half time. Vd Linde forgot that he was playing rugby and suplexed Keegan Daniel when cleaning him out at a ruck. Most wrestling fans would have loved it, but Mark Lawerence was not impressed handing him a yellow card for his effort.After half time the two fly-halfs traded penalties again before the Sharks looked like getting back in the game. Willem Alberts went over for the visitors after he clearly dropped the ball. Both the referee and his assistant missed it and the try stood. Michalak converted to close the gap to 6 points. However from here on in it was all Lions. Prop Pat Cilliers went over after a storming run through Deysel and Jannie du Plessis. Jantjies converted and then added two more penalties to take it to 35-16 with 15 minutes left. Killian broke the line again before sending Taute off to score in the corner. Jantjies converted to make it 42-16 at full time.
The Lions clearly deserved the victory as they out played the Sharks in all areas of the game. The Sharks looked like fish out of water in the second half and the Lions pounced on this. Congratulations to the Lions on a tremendous victory after a great seasons. They are true champions and played like it on the day.