"LET'S do it for Jean and Schalk."
That was the refrain from Western Province captain Deon Fourie after his side beat the Golden Lions 33-16 to book a home Currie Cup final against the Sharks this weekend.
Fourie was referring to WP stalwarts Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger, who have both been on contract at the union since 2001 but have never won a cup final in that time.
This Saturday the veterans will have a chance to rectify that situation when they run out in a home final for the first time in their illustrious careers.
The pair missed last year's final in Durban through injury, which WP won 25-18.
Both De Villiers and Burger have won the Under-21 and senior World Cups with the Springboks (De Villiers has a winner's medal from the 2007 tournament despite only playing 40 minutes at the tournament). They've also won two Tri-Nations titles and have a British and Irish Lions scalp to boast about.
But in terms of cup knockouts at provincial level neither has experienced any success. Now only 80 minutes stands between them and a first Currie Cup title.
"We spoke about it after the game and we, as a team, feel we owe it to Schalk and Jean to help them fulfil a piece of destiny," Fourie said.
"Also for the rest of us it would be great to sit back as old men and say we won a Currie Cup with Schalk Burger, who had been out of the game for two years and who some said might never play again.
"Now he is a playing a Currie Cup final at Newlands. I can't think of a nicer scenario to be part of than helping them win the title. Hopefully we have no injuries and no citings."
But WP understand that the title won't just come to them and that they will have to lift their performance against the Sharks after the Durban side's 33-22 win over the Free State Cheetahs at home on Saturday.
WP out to win Cup for Jean, Schalk
"LET'S do it for Jean and Schalk."
That was the refrain from Western Province captain Deon Fourie after his side beat the Golden Lions 33-16 to book a home Currie Cup final against the Sharks this weekend.
Fourie was referring to WP stalwarts Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger, who have both been on contract at the union since 2001 but have never won a cup final in that time.
This Saturday the veterans will have a chance to rectify that situation when they run out in a home final for the first time in their illustrious careers.
The pair missed last year's final in Durban through injury, which WP won 25-18.
Both De Villiers and Burger have won the Under-21 and senior World Cups with the Springboks (De Villiers has a winner's medal from the 2007 tournament despite only playing 40 minutes at the tournament). They've also won two Tri-Nations titles and have a British and Irish Lions scalp to boast about.
But in terms of cup knockouts at provincial level neither has experienced any success. Now only 80 minutes stands between them and a first Currie Cup title.
"We spoke about it after the game and we, as a team, feel we owe it to Schalk and Jean to help them fulfil a piece of destiny," Fourie said.
"Also for the rest of us it would be great to sit back as old men and say we won a Currie Cup with Schalk Burger, who had been out of the game for two years and who some said might never play again.
"Now he is a playing a Currie Cup final at Newlands. I can't think of a nicer scenario to be part of than helping them win the title. Hopefully we have no injuries and no citings."
But WP understand that the title won't just come to them and that they will have to lift their performance against the Sharks after the Durban side's 33-22 win over the Free State Cheetahs at home on Saturday.
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