South African teams occupy the top two rungs on the Super 14 rugby ladder but their unaccustomed prominence will be challenged in the competition’s fourth round starting on Friday.
The Durban-based Sharks are the only unbeaten team after three rounds and will sit out the fourth round, along with the New South Wales Waratahs. The bye will ensure a top-of-the-table reshuffle.
Bloemfontein’s Cheetahs hold second spot with a 2-1 record embellished by two bonus points which leaves them two points behind the Sharks and ahead of the Western Force, Auckland Blues, ACT Brumbies, Wellington Hurricanes and the Lions, who are also 2-1.
The resilience of the Cheetahs’ form will be tested on Saturday when they play defending champion Canterbury Crusaders, smarting from last week’s tryless loss to the Lions. The Crusaders are 1-2.
Coach Rassie Erasmus said the Cheetahs have to work towards consistent improvement and could not take for granted a win over the under-strength Crusaders.
”They’re still an impressive side on paper, even without Dan Carter and Richie McCaw,” Erasmus said. ”We still have a lot of work to do if we want to beat them this weekend.
”We will approach this game much like the last. We are still searching for that balance between a good kicking and attacking game.”
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans said his side will be wary of the Cheetahs after their win last week over New South Wales, the first four-try defeat for the Waratahs in 14 games.
”Rassie Erasmus is a creative thinker,” Deans said. ”It has already been apparent after just three games, that his side plays with a lot more width than do most of the other South African teams.
”They are also prepared to launch from anywhere on the field, backing their ability to play an expansive game.”
A greater test for South African teams will come when the Lions meet the Western Force in Perth and the Stormers take on the Highlanders in Dunedin.
The Lions’ 2-1 start to the season is unexpected and they have shown an ability to prey on vulnerable teams on their home ground. They face a Force side which took two wins from a two-match visit to South Africa.
The Force’s only loss was to the Highlanders, by a point, at home in the opening round.
The Lions have been perennial under-performers in the Super 12 and 14 but coach Eugene Eloff said the win over the Crusaders had given them a mental boost.
”We are ecstatic about the result,” he said. ”The guys showed great character against a team which is very organised on attack and defence. They are really adapting well to the demands of Super 14 rugby.”
Pretoria’s Bulls have a chance to improve their 2-1 season start on Saturday when they host the winless Waikato Chiefs.
The Queensland Reds may be without coach Eddie Jones when they take on the Auckland Blues at Auckland on Saturday. Jones faces a fine and suspension after his scathing attack on the referee of last week’s match against the Brumbies, won 6-3 by ACT.
Jones has refused to retreat from his position, in the face of threats of disciplinary action, demanding that referees’ performances are subject to reasonable scrutiny.
”Every part of our game is under review all the time, and we must have a forum to review referees as well,” Jones said. ”We are getting 9-3, 9-6 [scorelines] and they [referees] are having a significant part in the game.”
The fourth round starts on Friday when the Hurricanes host the Brumbies in Wellington. ‒ Sapa-AP