The final countdown

It seems that the South African Rugby Union (Saru) has decided to give Peter de Villiers one last chance to prove his credentials on the post-season Grand Slam tour to Britain and Ireland.

An unkind analysis might suggest that De Villiers has been given enough rope with which to hang himself.

So it should come as some relief to the beleaguered Springbok coach that the return of his star players ­galvanised the Currie Cup in last week’s final round of log play.

Schalk Burger, Jacque Fourie and Jean de Villiers were outstanding in Western Province’s defeat of the Sharks and the Bulls took the Blue Machine out of mothballs against Griquas in Kimberley.

Several Springboks who looked jaded in the Tri-Nations returned from the much talked about conditioning programme “hungry for rugby”, in the words of the coach.

The only Bull who looked in need of a gallop was Bakkies Botha and that was largely due to the fact that his eight-week suspension in mid-season meant that he had not played for three months.

Wynand Olivier and Morne Steyn looked a class act in midfield, but the revelation was Victor Matfield. With not much more than two years left in a stellar career, Matfield could have been forgiven for easing his way back slowly against Griquas.

Instead he was all over the park making tackles and yards, motivating his teammates by his mere presence.

It goes without saying that he was a colossus in the lineouts, but perhaps it should be reiterated: Matfield is the finest forward of his generation and he has dominated the art of line-out play like no one else in the history of the game. When he retires he will not be replaced.

It says much about the respect in which the Bulls are held in this country that the conversation ahead of last week’s games revolved around how to avoid Matfield’s men in the semifinals.

Ultimately, the log-leading Sharks will have to front up in Durban this week, while Western Province will host the Cheetahs at Newlands.

Province will start as favourites, but their record in knockout matches in the 21st century is a lamentable one. Since beating the Sharks in the 2001 final, Province have failed to reach the final in eight further attempts, losing two semis to the Bulls and, tellingly, two to the Cheetahs, both at Newlands.

They came agonisingly close against the Bulls last year before going down 21-19. Morne Steyn punished foul play by Province wing Sireli Naqelevuki to steal the win.

Province captain Schalk Burger has a World Cup winner’s medal in his sideboard, but has never played in a Currie Cup final.

This could be the year if Burger’s fellow forwards dominate the Cheetahs the way they did the Sharks.
The Cheetahs will enjoy being written off and will cling to the hope that a win against the odds could result in the final being held in Bloemfontein for the third time in five years.

For that to happen, of course, the Bulls have to beat the Sharks in ­Durban.

Playing the wrong game against Province with a very different looking side to the one that topped the log, the Sharks may have lost a little momentum going into the knockout stages. But home advantage is a powerful ally and a number of influential ­players return to the team against the Bulls.

The halfback combination of Rory Kockott and Andre Pretorius failed to fire against Province, due in no small part to having to play behind a retreating pack. Nevertheless the return of Charl McLeod and Pat Lambie will make a major difference. McLeod has greater variety at scrumhalf than Kockott, while Lambie has a calming effect on the whole team when he is close to the ball.

One Sharks player who could do his career no end of good with an eye-catching performance is Willem Alberts. The big fellow from Monument has made mincemeat of the advantage line all season, successfully camouflaging the long-term absence of Jean Deysel.

Against the Bulls, Alberts will meet his match, physically speaking, but if he dominates he may find his name being added to the Springbok squad for the end-of-year tour.

It is, of course, entirely possible that the Bulls will carry too much muscle for the Sharks to handle.
Joel Stransky made the point that they are simply bigger than 90% of the opposition in every game they play and, in boxing terms, a good big ‘un will always beat a good little ‘un. However, on this occasion the Bulls may fall at the penultimate hurdle, giving the Sharks home advantage in the final.

As for the other game, Province have a habit of finding banana skins when it seems like the hard work has been done.

The Cheetahs are a side with few stars, but a fine work ethic. If they can stop Province putting width on the ball and using their stellar backline they have a chance. Logic dictates, however, that Province will win enough ball to prevail and travel to Durban for the final at the end of the month.