After all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans and political manoeuvrings of the past few months, rugby fans will be looking forward to getting down to the real business of playing the game when the Super 12 kicks off this weekend.
South African rugby desperately needs the four Super 12 teams to restore faith in the game in South Africa and halt the alarming ”loser trend” that has engulfed the country’s teams.
The opening round of the southern-hemisphere showpiece sees two local derbies — the Cats host the Stormers at Ellis Park on Friday night, and the Sharks and Bulls clash at Loftus on Saturday in a repeat of last season’s Currie Cup final.
Both matches are mouth-watering prospects, but if rugby fans harbour any hopes of a South African team progressing to the knock-out stages for the first time since 2001, then favourites the Bulls and the Stormers must win their first-round encounters.
Ironically, that year it was the Cats and Sharks that both qualified for the play-offs, but since then South African teams have failed to trouble their Australasian counterparts, with only the Bulls showing any grit in last year’s series.
In the past, matches between South African teams have been very physical and draining for the players and upset wins for the Sharks and Cats cannot be discounted.
However, it is unlikely that either of those teams will feature at the business end of the competition, while the Bulls and Stormers look like South Africa’s best bet as possible semifinal contenders at this stage of the season.
Stormers coach Gert Smal, though, is weary of a Cats backlash — his team came from behind to win last season’s encounter at Newlands — and is in virtual awe of their tight five.
”Their front row is massive,” gushed Smal this week, referring to the combination of Faan Rautenbach, Lukas van Biljon and Os du Randt.
”They will have a good base and have very good backs. It’s a well-balanced team. They may lack a bit of experience, but will pick it up quickly,” admitted the recently appointed Springbok assistant coach.
While the Cats may have beefed up their pack in the off season, it is their backline that excites assistant coach Chester Williams most.
”We probably have the most exciting backs in the country. I think we will give many teams plenty to think about with our attacking approach,” said Williams.
Kevin Putt’s Sharks outfit, meanwhile, look early candidates for the wooden spoon — as far as South African teams are concerned — and the Natal Sharks’ pathetic showing in last year’s Currie Cup final in Pretoria could come back to haunt the Durban-based team on Saturday.
With centre Rudi Keil out of action for the foreseeable future with a knee injury and skipper John Smit and lock Johan Ackermann under injury clouds for the match against the Bulls, the Sharks will struggle to get revenge for the Currie Cup final drubbing.
”We are fully focused,” countered Putt on Thursday, ”and now we are just looking forward to getting started.”
”There is no question that it will be a flipping hard game, but I don’t regard it as a revenge match.
”It’s important to start the season positively, but we all know the magnitude of the task that awaits us.”
The Cats and the Sharks leave for the gruelling away leg of the competition immediately following the first-round matches, while the Bulls remain at home and the Stormers return to Cape Town for five consecutive home games. — Sapa