The 2009 Currie Cup final between the Blue Bulls and the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Verfeld on Saturday will re-write the record books.
The Blue Bulls have an impressive Currie Cup record, and stand to achieve greatness never before achieved, if they win the Currie Cup for the 23rd time.
Only Western Province with 32 wins have won more Currie Cup titles.
The Free State Cheetahs, for a supposed breeding ground of Springboks, have only ever won the 4 Currie Cup titles, 3 coming in the last 5 years.
In the 8 times these 2 sides have clashed in the final, the Blue Bulls have only ever lost once. And that was the fateful day in 2005 when a momentary lapse of concentration, a yellow card for Bryan Habana and the cruel bounce of the ball handed the Cheetahs an improbable victory.
The Blue Bulls have the best record of all teams in South Africa over the past 10 years in terms of finals played (6) and titles won (3 outright, 1 shared). Add to that 2 Super 14 titles, and they have clearly dominated the South African rugby landscape in the professional era.
Over this period the Free State Cheetahs have only made 4 finals (2 wins, 1 shared title) and not one Super 14 semi-final.
Saturday present the Blue Bulls with a chance to make history that may never ever be repeated. They could become the only side to ever hold the Super rugby title, along with the Currie Cup.
For the Bulls Boks, they also hold every other title there is to hold. The Freedom Cup (South Africa/New Zealand), The Nelson Mandela Plate (South Africa/Australia), The Tri-nations, the British and Irish Lions series and the Rugby World Cup! The chances of any other players holding all those titles is slim, although not impossible if you are a Bull!
In my mind there is only 1 side deserving of victory on Saturday. 1 side had proven time and again they are the best side in South Africa, has the players, the management, the supporters deserving of another title, as just reward for consistent performances.
Go Bulle Go! Ek Bly ‘n Bull! Go Bulle Go!
The Blue Bulls/Northern Transvaal v the Free State Cheetahs in Currie Cup Finals:
1973: Northern Transvaal won 30-22 in Pretoria
1975: Northern Transvaal won 12-6 in Bloemfontein
1977: Northern Transvaal won 27-12 in Pretoria
1978: Northern Transvaal won 13-9 in Bloemfontein
1981: Northern Transvaal won 23-6 in Pretoria
2004: Blue Bulls won 42-33 in Pretoria
2005: Free State won 29-25 in Pretoria
2006: Free State and Blue Bulls drew 28-28 in Bloemfontein.
Last 10 Currie Cup finals:
1999: Lions v Natal, 32-9 in Durban
2000: Western Province v Natal, 25-15 in Durban
2001: Western Province v Natal, 29-24 at Newlands
2002: Blue Bulls v Lions, 31-7 in Johannesburg
2003: Blue Bulls v Natal, 40-19 in Pretoria
2004: Blue Bulls v Free State, 42-33 in Pretoria
2005: Free State v Blue Bulls, 29-25 in Pretoria
2006: Free State v Blue Bulls, 28-28 in Bloemfontein
2007: Free State v Lions, 20-18 in Bloemfontein
2008: Sharks v Blue Bulls, 14-9 in Durban
October 30th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Sanjay
You can’t win the currie cup with history. Look at the facts of this season. Stop denying it. The Cheetahs came from the bottom of the log and with a lot of courage and integrity showed their flair and is now in the final to pray on some Blue Bulls.
The Cheetahs are going to slaughter the Bulls.
Cheetah man
October 30th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I’m not saying we will win with history, but we will win because of history. And we will make history.
The Cheetahs were at the bottom of the log because they are a rubbish side. just like in the Super 14. They had a couple of wins over Griquas and the Lions, sneaked home against Western Province at home, and beat a Bulls second string side. They snuck into the play-offs on points difference and had a lucky result in the semi-final, courtesy of an intercept try.
Saturday will show you why the Bulls are a class above the Cheetahs. We’ve proven it all year, and have consistently performed to a standard deserving of a Currie Cup victory!