ANDY CAPOSTAGNO, Johannesburg | Monday 9.00am.
AGAINST all the odds there is still a chance that not one, but two South African teams could contest the Super 12 semi-finals.
Brilliant performances by the Cats and the Stormers earned them the right to hope and had it not been for last minute scores in two matches, either side’s prospects would be brighter still.
At Ellis Park on Friday night the Cats, inspired by a performance of international class from their fullback, Thinus Delport, beat the Blues 34-27. The Cats scored three tries, one shy of a bonus point, but will rue most of all Andrew Blowers’ last minute try which gave the Aucklanders a bonus point of their own.
Still, it means the Blues have to beat the Reds in Brisbane next week to ensure a semi-final spot, far from a formality against the team which almost beat the Brumbies on Saturday, also finally succumbing to a last minute try. The Cats finish in Bloemfontein against the Chiefs knowing that five points would give them every chance of making the playoffs.
On Saturday the Bulls came within a whisker of doing their countrymen a huge favour. After a fast and loose game against the Highlanders, Ruben Kruger’s try in the last minute of real time seemed to have clinched a first win in this year’s tournament for the Bulls.
Then Jannie de Beer hit the upright with a penalty and finally in the 13th minute of injury time, Tony Brown kicked the winning penalty that gave his team five points instead of two. A bonus point or two against the Waratahs in Sydney would now be enough to see the Highlanders through.
On Sunday in Cape Town the Stormers clinched a bonus point with yet another injury time try, beating the Hurricanes 43-23 in emphatic style. In points it was 5-0, which means that the Bulls have a chance to redeem themselves for their Witbank defeat if they can beat the Hurricanes in Pretoria.
Despite their victory the Stormers can only reach 31points which is probably not enough. They finish against the Sharks in Durban and could scarcely have believed a month ago that the result of that game would matter so much. But much has changed in those short weeks.
Ultimately, however, it is not a matter of results and bonus points, it is that at the end of the tournament South Africa’s standard bearers, the Cats and the Stormers are playing superb rugby. The Cats have built a pack that would be the equal of any international side and the backs have belatedly discovered how to use quality ball.
As for the Stormers, they have nurtured quality players in key areas that could be highly significant for Springbok rugby.
Hendrik Gerber is a superb loose forward, the entire back line is responding to a new found vision from flyhalf Braam van Straaten and scrumhalf Dan van Zyl is playing the best rugby of his life.
Next week Nick Mallett selects his first Springbok squad of the season. A month ago he must have despaired, but now he has reason to believe that the Tri- Nations can be won, and won in style.