Undercats have nothing to lose

The first time I watched a rugby match on TV, Northern Transvaal put 50 points past Ian McIntosh's Natal.

All I can remember about that day was this blond oke who seemed determined to kick the leather off that old Springbok ball with which they used to play.

Being from the East London side of the Eastern Cape, the local team to support was Border, who would be given 13-point head-starts in the cross-section matches but still lose.

That day, my mind was made up. I was a Blue Bulls fan.

Little did I know that a fortnight later, Natal would pull off the biggest upset in Currie Cup history by beating the Bulls at Loftus to win their first domestic title.

Looking at Saturday's final between the Lions and the Sharks, I can't help but get that 1990 feeling again: an exceptionally well-coached but "inferior" team up against a juggernaut of the local game.

Just two weeks ago, a Sharks team laden with Springboks beat the Lions' second-string side 53-9, yet I wouldn't be surprised if they were rolled in Johannesburg this weekend.

To be sure, the Sharks are the superior team - they have seven World Cup returnees; the Lions have Butch James.

The Sharks' Boks will be playing for the third consecutive week with the team that helped guide them to the play-offs, which means the Lions can't rely on the disjointedness that played a part in the demise of Western Province last week.

But, rather like the recently concluded Rugby World Cup, the Currie Cup is due a romantic story - even if hard-hearted old Joburg would be the recipient.

The Lions, who haven't been in a Currie Cup final since pretty much all the 2007 World Cup Boks were withdrawn from the competition, are looking for their first win since 1999.

Lions coach John Mitchell will be loath to admit it, but he could have used the Springboks staying in New Zealand for another week, which might have made his team's life a little easier on Saturday.

But to suggest that all the Lions have going for them is a fighter's chance and a weakened opposition would be doing them a disservice.

A largely no-name-brand lot, their playing pattern has been a combination of two qualities which don't always go side by side - attractiveness and effectiveness.

Mitchell has done a phenomenal job coaxing professionalism and belief from them.

This he has done by showing the players the kind of faith they haven't been shown in the past.

Bandise Maku has gone from believing he was third-class at the Bulls to knowing he is the man at the Lions.

Elton Jantjies was still entrusted with leading the team from flyhalf, despite the return of James.

The masterstroke was his comment before the semifinal against Western Province. He said that, even though Province boasted a Schalk Burger, his team boasted three in Josh Strauss, Derick Minnie and Warren Whiteley.

His loose trio would have wanted to bash through walls by the time that game started.

Mitchell's decision to stay at the union after the Lions parted ways with Robert Gumede and Ivor Ichikovitzs told the players he was committed to what they had started. Only on the field could the players demonstrate their appreciation of that commitment.

There's a lot at stake on Saturday for a team that hasn't seen a proper final since 2002. And the key to winning is recognising that they have nothing to lose despite having last won 12 years ago.

Of course, for Mitchell and Sharks coach John Plumtree the Hawera Cup (a figment of their imagination named after the town they both call home) is also up for grabs.

May the Joburg branch win.