IT was like being back in primary school learning our seven times table … six times seven is 42, seven times seven is 49, eight times seven is 56, nine times seven is 63 … Nine tries, nine conversions, not a penalty or a drop goal – a remarkable performance by stand-in flyhalf Andre Pretorius (and later Patrick Lambie of the bench) and what an effortless return from injury as he also got the threequarter line moving in fine style.
We really didn't expect to lose to the Leopards (aka Western Transvaal) but what a performance this was, from Keegan Daniel's try in the first minute right through to the final hooter when the guys somehow kept up the pace – in spite of the game being all but over after the first 20 minutes – and kept piling it on. This refusal to sit back and defend a lead is most encouraging. Here is a team with the pirhana instinct.
And all credit to the Leopards. Here was a team totally outclassed and outhyped on the day, yet they played on bravely. They've chalked up some great performances for their meagre points on the log this Currie Cup. Let nobody forget the skrik they gave Northerns earlier on.
Of course, Northerns have done us a great favour by pipping Western Province – and for a time it looked as if it was going the other way. We go to Newlands relaxed. We already have the home semi. We can rest key players, those with niggle injuries. At this stage of the competition, it's like gold.
What rugby we had last weekend. Okay, Natal Sharks had a bit of a cakewalk, but it was still a superb display of driving, pick and go, close support and breaking the line. Also some stupendous tackling.
Then on Saturday two knife-edge matches –Northerns versus Province and Free State Versus Transvaal (aka Lions) – that exemplified the fast, running, ball-in-hand rugby that has suddenly burst forth in this season's Currie Cup. Seesawing fortunes, some truly amazing play – Currie Cup rugby has eclipsed the memory of the sorry shambles of national rugby and the Tri-Nations.
The Currie Cup is the best and most thrilling rugby competition in the world. It's better than the Six Nations and the Guinness Premiership and the Heineken Cup. It's the white-hot crucible within which Springbok rugby is forged. Last Saturday proved it again. This year's Currie Cup gives us hope for the World Cup next year. The trick will be to transfer the talent, pattern of play and commitment – above all, the positive psyche – to the national squad. Maar dis nou 'n ander storie.
It's distressing that the sponsors should now be threatening to interfere with the Currie Cup. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If they're serious about "transformation" let them turn their attention to where the problem really lies – the flow from the schools to the clubs, to create another pool of talent. And that requires a building up of club rugby to make it worthwhile and attractive for school-leavers who haven't made it into the rugby academies, another avenue of progress.
Maria Ramos should go to Newlands tomorrow and ask herself if she could, in all conscience, expect any player to venture into that gladiatorial arena if he is not equipped 100 percent to cope with it and survive.
Nothing rides on the result for us, but we'll moider da bums all the same! See you at The Pub With No Name! Crème de menthe all round! Frappe!
No comments:
Post a Comment