The metronomic Zander du Plessis had a field day on his home turf slotting eight penalties.
THE TAFEL Lager Griquas find themselves in third spot on the Carling Currie Cup log after a convincing 41-20 win over the Airlink Pumas at Tafel Lager Park on Wednesday.
The metronomic Zander du Plessis had a field day on his home turf slotting eight penalties, the last of which was a monster 63m attempt that sailed through the poles.
What worked in Du Plessis and Griquas’ favour was the fact that the Pumas’ ill-discipline saw them conceding an alarming 18 penalties during the encounter.
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The Pumas would have felt that they had competed against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, eventually however losing that game 33-19, but they had come back strongly to beat the Sigma Lions 50-9 at Emirates Airlines Park in mid-January.
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Tafel Lager Griquas 41 – 20 Airlink Pumas
📍 Tafel Lager Park
📽 Live on SuperSport#TafelLager #GRIvPUM #CurrieCup #TheChampionWithin pic.twitter.com/QUx6CYoAzk— Griquas Rugby (@GriquasRugby) February 2, 2022
But Griquas shattered all their well-laid plans while the visitors were sin-binned at regular intervals, picking up four yellow cards as well as a red.
With the numbers advantage, Griquas could play with more freedom and eventually dominated their opposition, something they were unable to do in the first half when the Pumas had organised their defences.
3️⃣ tries apiece, but what a kicking performance from Zander du Plessis for @GriquasRugby in their #CarlingCurrieCup win over the Airlink Pumas – match report: https://t.co/xUDRXs8E0E@blacklabelsa #TheChampionWithin #ReachForGold
— Carling Currie Cup (@TheCurrieCup) February 2, 2022
The hosts were clinical in the second half, sticking to their structures and game plan and they were happy to let Du Plessis kick the life out of Jimmy Stonehouse’s boys from Nelspruit.
In the dying minutes, the nail in the coffin for the visitors was when flyhalf Theo Boshoff’s perfectly weighted and directed cross-kick saw winger Munier Hartzenberg collect the ball and score.
Griquas now have some time off to prepare themselves for the visit by the log-topping Vodacom Bulls who will be visiting Tafel Lager Park on March 5.
Point scorers:
Griquas (21) 41 – Tries: Penalty try, Alandre van Rooyen, Munier Hartzenberg; Penalties: Zander du Plessis (8)
Pumas (13) 20 – Tries: Corné Fourie, Jade Stighling, Simon Raw; Conversion: Eddie Fouche; Penalty: Tinus de Beer
