Steve Morris : Rugby
The institution of the long-awaited judicial commission under Johannesburg advocate Jules Browde into the the way rugby is run in this country has had one effect that, with no disrespect to the commissioner, was probably never taken into account.
The tight battle for Currie Cup honours, the speculation which has gone on over the appointment of the new Springbok coach and even the compostion of the squad which will wear the green and gold in Italy, France and the United Kingdom later this season, have all suddenly been relegated to the conversational backburner.
For anyone who has an interest in the game, the coming battle between the commission and the South African Rugby Football Union under Louis Luyt is the prime and often only subject.
In one way, this is a huge pity, for the Currie Cup is shaping up as one of the most intriguing for many years, with only Natal looking the part of champions with any sort of assurance, an aspect they will surely underline against lowly North West this Saturday.
But they will do so without Wayne Fyvie, who was so badly injured in the game against Eastern Province that his rugby career is in jeopardy. Such is the depth of the game in Natal though that even without the talents of Fyvie on the flank, Ian McIntoshs men look likely to hold on to the trophy they have all but made their exclusive fiefdom over the past few seasons.
Western Province have emerged as the most likely challengers under the shrewd coaching of Harry Viljoen and underlined their claims in snuffing out the Griqualand West challenge with a 30-6 win last weekend.
But there must remain some doubts about the Province pack who took a severe mauling in the set pieces against the Kimberley side.
There is a brittleness about the tight five that surely cannot inspire confidence in the hordes of Province supporters that here is a side to bring back the glory days of the Eighties and take the cup back to Newlands.
It was a factor that took some of the edge off the glittering twin-bladed sword of flanks Bobby Skinstadt and Corne Krige that inspirational eighthman Andrew Aitken has directed with such devastating effect to free the Province backs and produce some of the more sparkling rugby this season.
The Province loose trio are all uncapped at full international level with veteran Aitken one of those players mores the pity who seem doomed to be fted but remain unrewarded. For his young counterparts though higher honours undoubtedly await.
But equally, there can be no disputing the claims of Free State, a side which has matured immensely through exposure to the speed and finesse of Super 12 and emerged as one of the most exciting teams to watch this season. Under the wily veteran Helgard Muller, the Cheetahs have mounted a charge towards a spot in the semifinal stages which was all but assured with the massive 106-0 whitwash of their luckless Northern Free State neighbours last Friday.
It would be a fitting tribute indeed to the pleasure Free State have given to all except their opponents.
The biggest battle of all looms between Boland and the Gauteng Lions in the chase for the elusive spot in the semifinals. Boland have been a revelation under Nick Malletts guidance and have done much to redress the imbalance of rugby power in the Western Cape with some well-drilled and workmanlike performances.
Gauteng on the other hand have more often than not looked like a team that has lost its way. True, they have been decimated by injuries in key positions, but that cannot be the only cause of the current malaise.
This seemingly rudderless drift has been one of the great disappointments of the season and, taken as part of the larger picture, is not a good thing for rugby in this country.
For surely the biggest union in the land should at least be expected to be counted among the top four sides in South Africa, and at present there is a distinct danger that this will not be so.
The reintroduction of Hennie le Roux in the vital game against Griquas this weekend could mark the turning point for the Ellis Park outfit and provide them with the win and the impetus to advance up the log to a position of being real challengers.
This is far from a foregone conclusion though for the Kimberley side have proved time and again to be a match for any opponents thrown at them and were a good deal better on the day against Western Province than the scoreline would suggest.
It is a game Gauteng must win and win well if they are to have any chance. It is, in many respects, the game of a season which has produced some welcome surprises and some deep disappointments.
ENDS