As it happened: WP v Sharks

  WESTERN PROVINCE 19-33 SHARKS 

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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert

20:00 - PICTURE

The Sharks - 2013 Currie Cup champions (Gallo Images)

19:20 - Well done to the Sharks. A thoroughly deserved victory!

Apart from the scrums, they dominated WP in every aspect. They tackled like men possessed, won the lineout battle, won the aerial battle and simply overpowered their opponents physically.

WP, on the other hand, need to do some serious introspection as they have now developed a reputation of losing big games in front of their home crowd, especially when they are favourites... Time for a mental coach perhaps?

CLICK HERE for a full match report on the game.

19:34 - MAN OF THE MATCH

Sharks lock Pieter-Steph du Toit was outstanding!

19:33 - PICTURE

Sharks celebrate (Gallo Images)

19:22 - TWEETS

Sharks' dominance shown by Jean de Villiers' complete anonymity - Dan Retief

Incredibly one-sided #CurrieCupFinal down in Cape Town. Every key #Sharks player had a good game - Jean Smyth

19:14 - But WP lose yet another lineout and the Sharks kick it out. They are the Currie Cup champions!

Final score: WP 19-33 Sharks

19:13 - One last attacking chance for WP. But time is up... They'll have one last attacking lineout.

19:12 - He KICKS it. WP 19-33 Sharks. 90 seconds left.

19:11 - Lambie lines up for another penalty to put the final nail in WP's coffin.

19:11 - TWEET

Sharks have 11 Boks in starting XV ... WP had 6 ... and 2day's final showed who had the 11 - Mark Keohane

19:09 - WP fans leaving the stadium in their masses now. The faithful have given up on their team. And rightly so, they falter on the big stage more often than not.

19:08 - Lambie takes another snap drop, but it lands just short.

19:08 - Sharks have an attacking scrum close to the WP 22, with six minutes left.

19:05 - PICTURE

Frans Steyn had a massive physical impact... (Gallo Images)

19:05 - Pieter-Steph du Toit must be close to Man of the Match.

19:04 - WP launch another attack but it ends with Deon Fourie knocking it on. Brutal defence from the Sharks. 

19:01 - They're over the line and Kaplan wants to go upstairs. Looked held up to me... Michael Rhodes is in trouble for grabbing Bismarck illegally around the neck. Penalty to the Sharks with 10 minutes to go.

19:00 - Oh-so-close but WP can't get over the line. Another penalty and they kick it out for another lineout.

18:58 - Great attack from Aplon nearly leads to a try but Kolbe is tackled out. It was high though so the hosts get a penalty. Five-metre attacking lineout.

18:57 - TWEET

This has been so brutal (yet very legal) you could charge the Sharks with assault lol - Mark Keohane

18:57 - Some massive hits from the Sharks coming in. Louis Ludik absolutely floors Kolbe. WP are gonners here... Sharks simply too powerful.

18:53 - SP Marais dives over in the corner but the TMO must check it...  The try won't stand. Marais is in touch. Good try-saving tackle from Aplon though.

18:52 - Fifth lineout lost by WP off their own ball. The Sharks counter...

18:51 - WP get reprieve by winning a penalty at a scrum... Coleman kicks it into the Sharks half.

18:50 - PICTURE

Jean de Villiers cuts a frustrated figure... (Gallo Images)

18:49 - The home side simply can't get out their own half... and more misery for them as Coleman drops the ball cold.

18:47 - Lambie misses the tough conversion. WP 19-30 after 58 minutes.

18:45 - TRY! McLeod scores his second try after some relentless attack from the Durbanites. A total team try. They are simply overpowering WP.

18:45 - It's a ding-dong kicking affair with the Sharks clearly on top...

18:43 - He kicks the PENALTY. WP 19-25 Sharks after 54 minutes.

18:41 - Penalty chance for WP. Coleman will line up from 30m out with an angle...

18:39 - DROP GOAL from Lambie. WP 16-25 Sharks after 51 minutes. This looks like curtains for WP who are all at sea today..

18:38 - TWEET

Province playing with Stormers playbook today: inept and indecisive - David Moseley

18:36 - But the bad news for WP is that Catrakilis is off. He didn't get up from that tackle on him by Pieter-Steph... Kurt Coleman replaces him.

18:35 - NO TRY. This time Bismarck doesn't get away with illegal play... This could be a pivotal moment in the game.

18:35 - Looks like the try won't stand as Bismarck was off-side before WP cleared the ball...

18:33 - TRY! Lwazi Mvovo scores for the Sharks, who attacked after Catrakilis dropped the ball in front of his line. But Kaplan wants to check for dangerous tackle on the WP pivot and off-side.

18:31 - He CONVERTS. WP 16-22 Sharks after 44 minutes.

18:30 - But the Sharks get a penalty after De Kock Steenkamp goes off-side after a Schreuder kick. Another chance for Lambie..

18:29 - Finally WP take a kick-off...

18:29 - He kicks the PENALTY. WP 16-19 Sharks.

18:28 - Catrakilis lines up from 34m...

18:28 - Penalty for WP as Sharks go off-side in the middle of the park.

18:27 - Aplon immediately beats a few tacklers again... WP on the attack.

18:26 - Catrakilis gets the second half underway...

18:24 - TWEET

Lambie can't afford to miss kicks like this if he's hoping to take the bok 10 jersey away from Morne - Brenden Nel

18:20 - PICTURE

The Sharks are winning the aerial battle... (Gallo Images)

18:17 - PICTURE

The Newlands crowd is worried at the break... (Jannie Momberg - 24.com Editor-in-Chief)

18:14 - That's HALF-TIME. Sharks deservedly lead 19-13.

18:14 - The Sharks gather it and Lambie kicks it out...

18:13 - This time he CONVERTS. WP 13-19 Sharks after 39 minutes. WP also now on a warning for conceding too many penalties, and rightly so I reckon. Poor discipline!

18:12 - Deon Fourie is penalised on the ground after WP again fail to catch a high ball. Another chance for Lambie, 38m out...

18:10 - Lambie misses again, this time away to the right. He is doing his Bok chances no good here. Morné Steyn will be smiling I reckon...

18:09 - But another penalty for the Sharks as Jean de Villiers is caught off-side. Another chance for Lambie, 39m out. My word, WP are giving away a lot of penalties.

18:08 - Well that's a real let-off for WP as Lambie hits the sitter against the posts. WP very lucky there!

18:07 - WP lose the kick-off again and Kolisi is penalised after he is caught catching it off-side! Easy three-pointer again!

18:06 - PENALTY converted from Catrakilis. WP 13-16 Sharks after 33 minutes.

18:05 - But Province get another chance after Lambie fails to clear. This time they will opt for the three points.

18:04 - If you don't take your kicks at goal you lose big games!

18:04 - Yip, as predicted they lose the lineout when Duane Vermeulen drops it. 

18:03 - Oh wait, WP opt for an attacking lineout instead. Bad decision I reckon!

18:02 - WP back on attack after a brilliant run down the touchline from Kolbe... they get a penalty and Catrakilis will get another shot.

My word, Kolbe and Aplon always seem to beat the first few defenders!

18:01 - And now Catrakilis kicks it directly into touch... again a messy scrum for the Sharks...

17:59 - Again WP fail to gather the kick-off and Lambie punishes them by kicking a DROP KICK! WP 10-16 Sharks after 29 minutes.

17:59 - PENALTY converted by Catrakilis. WP 10-13 Sharks after 26 minutes.

17:58 - TWEET

WP lineout poor & Sharks stronger in 1st quarter at ruck & in collisions - Mark Keohane

17:57 - WP get a penalty after a dangerous tackle from Du Toit. The Greek will line up halfway from the touchline...

17:56 - They win the lineout and attack inside the Sharks 22m area...

17:55 - My word Aplon is looking dangerous - probably beaten about 6 or 7 tacklers now. But WP playing the game in the wrong half. They get relief with a penalty though...

17:53 - PENALTY converted by Lambie. The chorus off boos didn't help. WP 7-13 Sharks after 21 minutes.

17:52 - Another penalty for the Sharks after Aplon is caught holding onto it on the ground. Lambie to line up from in front, 30m out. He won't miss this surely?

17:51 - But Lambie pushes it out to the right... Similar to the kick he missed in Durban two weeks ago...

17:49 - The Sharks get a penalty after WP collapse another lineout maul. Lambie will line up again...

17:49 - Kolisi back on after going off for blood. Also no concussion. Burger back to the bench.

17:48 - Basic error from Kolbe as he kicks the ball out directly to hand the Sharks an attacking chance...

17:48 - Pieter-Steph du Toit steals a second WP lineout!

17:47 - Some massive hits in midfield from Frans Steyn and Willem Alberts on De Allende and Burger respectively but WP stay close to the Sharks 22m area.

17:46 - Jannie du Plessis is penalised at a scrum and Aplon kicks it into Sharks territory. The Bok front ranker is really struggling here.

17:45 - Western Province really playing old traditional WP rugby by running it from all corners here! Cheslin Kolbe looking dangerous.

17:43 - Schalk Burger is on for Siya Kolisi who is off to do a concussion test...

17:42 - My word WP demolished that first Sharks scrum...

17:41 - And now Lambie kicks it straight into touch...

17:41 - Catrakilis CONVERTS. WP 7-10 Sharks after 9 minutes.

17:40 - TRY! What a response from WP. Damien de Allende bursts through Jannie Du Plessis in midfield to score! What a response from WP. Jannie's broken hand clearly not healed yet!

17:39 - Massive first scrum from WP as they push the Sharks off their own ball and attack the line...

17:38 - McLeod nearly goes from hero to zero as Schreuder charges his kick down, but De Kock Steenkamp knocks it on close to the tryline...

17:38 - Lambie CONVERTS. WP 0-10 Sharks after 6 minutes. Newlands stunned into silence.

17:37 - TRY! Charl McLeod intercepts a Louis Schreuder pass and runs 65m to score close to the posts!

17:36 - WP make headway close to the Sharks 22m...

17:34  Good PENALTY strike. WP 0-3 Sharks after 2 minutes.

17:33 - Early penalty for the Sharks after WP collapse the lineout maul. Lambie will line up from about 35m out. His goal-kicking will be key for the visitors today.

17:32 - WP gather it and Catrakilis clears well.

17:32 - Pat Lambie gets the final underway. 

17:31 - Wow, ref Jonathan Kaplan is in tears just before his final game. But emotion is everywhere, as commentator Matt Pierce says.

17:29 - The national anthem is sung just before kick-off.

17:29 - Deon Fourie leads out WP before rapturous applause.

17:25 - The Sharks arrive to a few boos. Poor from a very small contingent in the crowd.

17:00 - Thirty minutes before kick-off here at Newlands. The crowd is slowly starting to full up the stadium now. No doubt it will be an incredible atmosphere as is always the case for a big game at Newlands.

Most pundits and bookies have WP as favourites but I tend to disagree. The Sharks have some big Springbok forwards and if they can get the upper hand up front they could make things very hard for the hosts.

WP should probably be slight favourites considering they beat the Sharks in Durban two weeks ago and are at home. But it can go either way...

16:58 - PICTURE

The Sharks team now on the field warming up ahead of the final - EWN Sport

16:52 - EXCITEMENT BUILDING

Crowds gather outside Newlands (Jannie Momberg - 24.com Editor-in-Chief)

16:52 - PICTURE

Who will have the last laugh? (Jannie Momberg - 24.com Editor-in-Chief)

9:00 - WP'S 2001 WINNING TEAM

How many faces do you recognise from the last time WP hosted a Currie Cup final in 2001? (Twitter - Egon Seconds)

8:35 - FAN PICS

Faith Fourie - 22 months and a die-hard WP fan... (via email)

Adele Bloem (via email)

12:52 - JAMES SMALL CHATS TO SPORT24

Former wing James Small discusses the mismanagement of Bismarck du Plessis and which team he’ll be supporting in the Currie Cup final...

Click HERE for the full interview...

16:00 - PICTURE

Happy fans with tickets for the final! (Gallo Images)

16:00 - CURRIE CUP WINNERS

Before 1939 and in 1959, 1964 and 1966 the Currie Cup was decided at a tournament or on a league system.

The total number of times each province has won the Currie Cup is as follows:

Western Province: 32 (four times shared)
Blue Bulls: 23 (four times shared)
Golden Lions: 10 (once shared)
Natal: 6
Free State: 4 (once shared)
Griqualand West: 3
Border: 2 (twice shared)

Results of all the Currie Cup finals (52 in total)

1939: Transvaal vs Western Province, 17-6 at Newlands
1946: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 11-9 in Pretoria
1947: Western Province vs Transvaal, 16-12 at Newlands
1950: Transvaal vs Western Province, 22-11 in Johannesburg
1952: Transvaal vs Boland, 11-9 in  Wellington
1954: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 11-8 at Newlands
1956: Northern Transvaal vs Natal, 9-8 in Durban
1968: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 16-3 in Pretoria
1969: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 28-3 in Pretoria
1970: Griqualand West vs Northern Transvaal, 11-9 in Kimberley
1971: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 14-14 in Johannesburg
1972: Transvaal vs Eastern Transvaal, 25-19 in Springs
1973: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 30-22 in Pretoria
1974: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 17-15 in Pretoria
1975: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 12-6 in Bloemfontein
1976: Orange Free State vs Western Province, 33-16 in Bloemfontein
1977: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 27-12 in Pretoria
1978: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 13-9 in Bloemfontein
1979: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 15-15 at Newlands
1980: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 39-9 in Pretoria
1981: Northern Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 23-6 in Pretoria
1982: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 24-9 at Newlands
1983: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 9-3 in Pretoria
1984: Western Province vs Natal, 19-9 at Newlands
1985: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 22-15 at Newlands
1986: Western Province vs Transvaal, 22-9 at Newlands
1987: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 24-18 in Johannesburg
1988: Northern Transvaal vs Western Province, 19-18 in Pretoria
1989: Western Province vs Northern Transvaal, 16-16 at Newlands
1990: Natal vs Northern Transvaal, 18-12 in Pretoria
1991: Northern Transvaal vs Transvaal, 27-15 in Pretoria
1992: Natal vs Transvaal, 14-13 in Johannesburg
1993: Transvaal vs Natal, 21-15 in Durban
1994: Transvaal vs Orange Free State, 56-33 in Bloemfontein
1995: Natal vs Western Province, 25-17 in Durban
1996: Natal vs Transvaal, 33-15 in Johannesburg
1997: Western Province vs Free State, 14-12 at Newlands
1998: Blue Bulls vs Western Province, 24-20 in Pretoria
1999: Lions vs Natal, 32-9 in Durban
2000: Western Province vs Natal, 25-15 in Durban
2001: Western Province vs Natal, 29-24 at Newlands
2002: Blue Bulls vs Lions, 31-7 in Johannesburg
2003: Blue Bulls vs Natal, 40-19 in Pretoria
2004: Blue Bulls vs Free State Cheetahs, 42-33 in Pretoria
2005: Free State Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls, 29-25 in Pretoria
2006: Free State Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls, 28-28 in Bloemfontein
2007: Free State Cheetahs vs Lions, 20-18 in Bloemfontein
2008: Sharks vs Blue Bulls, 14-9 in Durban
2009: Blue Bulls vs Free State Cheetahs, 36-24 in Pretoria
2010: Sharks vs Western Province, 30-10 in Durban
2011: Golden Lions vs Sharks, 42-16 in Johannesburg
2012: Western Province vs Sharks, 25-18 in Durban

16:00 - PICTURE

WP 'enforcer' Eben Etzebeth (Gallo Images)

TEAMS:

Western Province:

15. Gio Aplon, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jean de Villiers, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Cheslin Kolbe, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Louis Schreuder, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Deon Fourie (captain), 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16. Frans Malherbe, 17. Brok Harris, 18. Michael Rhodes, 19. Schalk Burger, 20. Nic Groom, 21. Kurt Coleman, 22. Juan de Jongh

Sharks:

15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Louis Ludik, 12. Francois Steyn, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Keegan Daniel (captain), 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4. Peet Marais, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Stephan Lewies, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Cobus Reinach, 21. Fred Zeilinga, 22. Heimar Williams

16:00 - PICTURE

Jonathan Kaplan - the man with the whistle in the final (Gallo Images)

16:00 - Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's Currie Cup final between Western Province and the Sharks at Newlands in Cape Town!