WP, Bulls youngsters turn on the style in Currie Cup

Ill discipline cost a youthful Western Province, in defence of their Currie Cup title, victory over an equally inexperienced Blue Bulls outfit in an entertaining clash yesterday.

Western Province (14) 24   - Bulls (6) 24

A stream of penalties in the final quarter saw the Bulls overturn a 21-9 deficit to force a draw when replacement flank Jean Cook barged over for a 79th-minute try to level the score.

Flyhalf Tony Jantjies missed the touchline conversion, but for the Bulls it will feel like a victory after they appeared down and out when WP scored their third try through Nizaam Carr in the 58th minute.

Both sides fielded a handful of current and recent SA Under-20 players and the newcomers added sparkle after a Super Rugby season where the emphasis was on positive results no matter the method.

Last night both sides abandoned a win-at-all-costs mentality in favour of adventure but not at the expense of structure.

The Bulls scrum dominated, a welcome sight after their woes in set pieces in the latter part of Super Rugby, while WP's lineout drive was still impressive.

Individually, giant Bulls blindside flank Jacques du Plessis, who was outstanding for the Junior Boks at the recent World Championships, had an immense game and looked every bit a future Bok.

For WP wing Cheslin Kolbe, also sensational for the Junior Boks, showed glimpses of his impressive stepping after a conservative start to the match.

Every time he touched the ball there was a buzz in the crowd, but the little flyer initially disappointed by taking pragmatic kicking options from deep inside his own half. Of course he was right but Newlands had come to see the kid bob and weave through the Bulls, not drive them back with the boot.

He later obliged, beating three or four defenders a few times before being cut down. An ugly tackle from Bulls scrumhalf Rudy Paige midway through the second half saw Kolbe hyper-extend his knee awkwardly, which cut his evening short. He walked off suggesting no serious damage.

WP looked incisive behind the scrum while the Bulls held the edge in the set piece. Despite being under scrum pressure at times and having a couple of lineouts poached, the home team used their possession far more effectively than the Bulls.

Their second try, by debutant centre Pat Howard, was from a scrum on the Bulls' 22 on the left side. The ball went right and centre Damian de Allende drew his opposite number Francois Venter, who abandoned his defensive duties out wide.

The mistake opened a hole for Howard and De Allende put him through with a neat pass.

Earlier fullback Gio Aplon stepped through two tackles to score the opening try after a 16-phase build up stretched the Bulls defence to breaking point.

But the visitors stayed in touch by forcing penalties and free kicks, leading to two first-half penalties for flyhalf Jantjies, also on debut at this level.

He added two in the second half and landed a conversion to Venter's 68th-minute try that kept then in the contest.

SCORERS

Western Province 24 - Tries: Gio Aplon, Pat Howard, Nizaam Carr.Conversions: Gary van Aswegen (3). Penalty: Van Aswegen.

Bulls 24 - Tries: Francois Venter, Jean Cook.Conversion: Tony Jantjies. Penalties: Jantjies (4).