Now tearful Os has won them all

By Jacques van der Westhuyzen

An emotional day for the Cheetahs - heartache for the Bulls.

This year's Absa Currie Cup final had it all. Naka Drotske will retire from the game having won the Currie Cup, only the second Free State captain to feel what it is like, while Anton Leonard will retire having won three cups, but missing out on his final fling.

For a man like Os du Randt, who does not have many playing days left, it was also very emotional. Before Saturday, the Bok prop had won everything in rugby except the Currie Cup. Now he can boast to have won the World Cup, Tri-Nations title and the biggest domestic prize.

"I really didn't know what to do with Os," said coach Rassie Erasmus. "The other props had done the job for us all season and I felt they deserved to play in the final. In the end I decided to

include all the props.

"Os was happy with whatever decision I took, but I never wanted to deny him as it was probably his last chance to do this. He's sobbing in the change-room.

"Not only was this important for Os and me, but for all the older guys in the team," said Erasmus. "This feeling - winning here at Loftus - beats everything we've achieved before."

Erasmus said it was now important for the Cheetahs to continue winning the big tournaments. "We can't leave it here. We have to keep on winning."

Drotske said it would definitely not take another 29 years for Free State to again win the Currie Cup. "With Rassie coaching this team and with the young players we have in the Free State we can expect a lot to come from this team."

The Blue Bulls coach, while disappointed, said he was happy for Erasmus and the Cheetahs. "We played okay at times and we built up a good lead, but the best team won," said Heyneke Meyer.

"It hurts, but we'll take it on the chin. We gave it everything we had and we can't say we didn't have a good year. We had more chances than them, but we just couldn't finish them off.

"Tactically they played the right game and I'm happy for Rassie. We don't want to make excuses, but you can't expect to win with only 14 men. Bryan Habana's card cost us dearly."

"This is part of life, said Bulls captain Leonard. We've battled against them all year and today they were just better. They're the second best defencive team in the competition and we found out the hard way."