Form will decide Super Rugby semis
23 Jul 2012
MARK KEOHANE, in his Business Day column, says play-offs are all about momentum – and all the momentum this weekend will be with the Sharks and Crusaders.
The Stormers’ and Chiefs’ reward for claiming the top two spots in the league stages was a home semi-final and a week’s breather in between games. But what was supposed to be a favour for the consistency of the season could be the curse that ends the Super Rugby season for the hosts of both semi-finals.
Form is definitely with the Sharks and Crusaders and form is all that will matter this weekend. League clashes count for nothing when the teams meet in a match in which there is no second chance.
The Stormers, in 2010 and 2011, were the best defensive team in the competition, yet losing in a final and a semi-final is the return of a good side and not a champion one.
This season they’ve exceeded expectation. Their defensive record is unrivalled and so too is their lack of attack. The players have shown impeccable discipline in respecting the coach’s strategic approach to what best suits the strengths of the team. The squad has been depleted through injury, yet the resolve of the reserve players has been strengthened.
You have to applaud the Stormers’ campaign, regardless of whether the climax is a first home final and a trophy or a second successive home semi-final defeat.
A year ago there was an expectation because of momentum and player availability. This year needs more perspective, even if it may bring no comfort.
The Stormers have the respect of every team in the competition and they are now recognised as among the most powerful in the league. It is a respect that has been earned over the past three years through consistent performance. A team whose players were once labelled pretty boys with no appetite for a scrap are now the biggest scrappers in the tournament. Again, this may not be enough to win the title. The quality of Stormers players in too many positions does not match the desire of those who will play on Saturday.
A team doesn’t fluke winning Super Rugby’s trophy. No limited or poor team has ever ended the season champions because when the big moments have come the quality players have produced — and that’s why I also give the Sharks an advantage, despite the travel back from Australia and the venue being in Cape Town.
The Sharks have the greater individual pedigree in the pack and big-name players are flexing their muscles at just the right time. The physicality that was absent earlier won the Sharks the match against the Reds, who had lost just two of their past 23 matches in Brisbane.
The Sharks, individually and as a unit, were brutal in the collisions, but never did the need to impose themselves physically come at the expense of composure or attacking intent.
It was a glorious evening for the Sharks and South African rugby. It also ensured one all-South African semi-final, which means SA will be represented in the final. That makes a statement that had to be made after the Boks’ disappointment of the 2011 World Cup.
It is also confirmation of the strength of the South African game, which is why South African players must always be expected to be among the leaders in the game
We have always had the players, but the belief of those players hasn’t always matched their playing pedigree.
The Sharks never doubted they could win against the Reds because they’ve won there before. The Bulls never believed they could win in Christchurch, despite all the pre-match boasts of changing history and fearing nothing. The result was as predictable as the traditional Bulls success at Loftus.
There is no need for crisis in Pretoria. The best Bulls team in the past decade couldn’t win in Christchurch.
The Crusaders, inconsistent this year, relied on the incomparable Richie McCaw and the equally magnificent Dan Carter. McCaw, in particular, was a beast and to produce a performance of such influence in his 11th season of Super Rugby was monumental, even by his incredible standards.
Carter was as imposing and as good as at any stage of his career, yet even if he had produced the worst game of his life it wouldn’t have changed the result. The Bulls were beaten before they got on the aircraft.
The Crusaders were very good because, like the Sharks, their best players stood tallest. It is why they will beat the Chiefs in Hamilton.
And while it isn’t the popular view in Cape Town, the Sharks have the better combinations and the better individuals.
476 Comments
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23 Jul 2012, 14:29 pm
@sharks_lover-248: wont make the game bud, fly the flag and watch out for the nutters.
23 Jul 2012, 14:29 pm
@cane-249:
is there no end to your bragging…? too fast…!! phhttt
23 Jul 2012, 14:30 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-232:
Tsk tsk tsk. And this from a man preaching that all rockdpiders are equal?
23 Jul 2012, 14:30 pm
@cane-220: One of the highlights of the Olympics will be MUSE performing at the opening ceremony. Kak song – but great band.
Medals…..well unless Castor Semenya is pulling off the 2nd greatest bluff in sporting history (she was responsible for the No 1 ranked bluff as well lest I remind you) with her current form; about 5. Cameron, mens 400m relay team, Moekoena (kak form at the moment though), Viljoen, our tri athlete etc etc. We have quite a few medal “hopes” or “possibles” – then again, they usually fold on the Olympic stage.
So ok, maybe 3.
23 Jul 2012, 14:32 pm
@rangerman-239: The oke was kak for about 3 years before this rebirth. Admit it.
23 Jul 2012, 14:33 pm
@Hondo-246:
But every Team that goes West,
returns flying East.
And then must play a game.
Fatigue…………………………jet lag…………………call it what you will.
The travel factor is huge.
Add to that simple home advantage.
23 Jul 2012, 14:33 pm
@cane-249:
Sorry to put you on the spot but Stormers or Sharks on Saturday.
Go with your gut.
23 Jul 2012, 14:35 pm
@rangerman-251:
pitty mate
23 Jul 2012, 14:35 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-254:
That should see off Togo.
This year anyway.
23 Jul 2012, 14:37 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-241:
‘n Voël in die hand is beter as twee voëls in die bos.
23 Jul 2012, 14:38 pm
@WP Till I Die-237: That’s handed down.
23 Jul 2012, 14:39 pm
@Jeraldjay-257:
Stormers.
Full stop.
Period.
End of.
Best defensive record in the comp.
A weekend off.
Sharkies will try hard, as they always do.
But you cannot ignore/defy the travel factor.
23 Jul 2012, 14:39 pm
@rangerman-239:
Shetland.
23 Jul 2012, 14:40 pm
Cricket about to restart
23 Jul 2012, 14:42 pm
@cane-262:
Cane, I treasure your input. Your such a knowledgeable poster.
23 Jul 2012, 14:43 pm
@TooMuchRugby-253:
Afternoon Bonehead.
Don’t worry nobody expects you to get it.
23 Jul 2012, 14:43 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-255: he wasnt k uk he has just had a lot of injuries that have prevented him finding any kind of continuity in the team with all the backrow options we have.
he has always been better than spies imo and has made a bad decision to feck off to j a p land now as he may have had a look for the rugby champs if he was around.
personally i prefer him as an option to duane because of his speed.
sure, duane does the hard yards really well but if you have marcel, alberts, schalk, elstadt and players of that ilk making it over the advantage line, why have another plodder who does the same thing when you can use kanko to link with the backs and utilise the momentum?
kanko also has the ball skills that pierre never had.
look at keegans performances at 8 for the same kind of benefits albeit without the lineout option and bulk that kanko brings.
dont get me wrong, duane is a great player but kanko fits the bill for me.
23 Jul 2012, 14:44 pm
@cane-262:
brag as much as you like…!!
23 Jul 2012, 14:45 pm
@Jeraldjay-265:
perhaps the preeminent blogger on keo…
23 Jul 2012, 14:45 pm
@cane-262: BUt Cane??? Some of the Stormer supporters have been telling us this is no excuse?? traveling is just traveling
23 Jul 2012, 14:46 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-263: deon fourie is the shetland.
kanko is the thoroughbred.
@cane-262: well thats a first, a kiwi who admits that travel is a factor.
ladies and gentlemen, we are embarking on a new age of honesty and truthfulness here, you can tell your kids you were there when it started.
23 Jul 2012, 14:46 pm
@rangerman-267:
HM has given you the front row. Now you want all the lossies as well.
23 Jul 2012, 14:47 pm
Not looking like we will get the other 5 wickets ffs
23 Jul 2012, 14:48 pm
@Provvas-273: Yeah we need a new ball fast
23 Jul 2012, 14:49 pm
@ufo-269:
cane is the only senior blogger left on this site…
23 Jul 2012, 14:50 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-266:
Another keyboard coward surfaces……
23 Jul 2012, 14:50 pm
@Jeraldjay-272: look, i dont really approach it from a provincial point of view bud, it just so happens that the sharks have the players at the moment.
i did mention schalk, duane and elstadt as options and i think we are blessed to have them available for the boks but marcel and alberts are white hot at present and kanko seems to be joining them.
ask the kiwis what they think of kanko.
but he is likely unavailable anyway so duane must get his shot because if i see spies running out as no 1 bok 8 for the next four years i will kotch everywhere.
23 Jul 2012, 14:52 pm
@TooMuchRugby-276: surfaces?
gunther has been around for years, ever since he found the keo sites details stencilled inside sondeboks coolerbox.
who are you and what have you done with a keyboard lately?
23 Jul 2012, 14:53 pm
@TooMuchRugby-276:
Calm down.
Bonehead isn’t a cultural reference.
It’s a tribute to the large space between your ears.
As you were buddy.
23 Jul 2012, 14:53 pm
@WP Till I Die-275:
Mr Cane… please…
23 Jul 2012, 14:54 pm
cane toad
23 Jul 2012, 14:54 pm
sour cane
23 Jul 2012, 14:55 pm
or as i prefer to call him:
Six of the best
23 Jul 2012, 14:55 pm
@rangerman-271:
Shallowpig.
23 Jul 2012, 14:55 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-279:
“Bonehead isn’t a cultural reference.”
try sneaking that one passed the conehead pc police..
23 Jul 2012, 14:55 pm
@rangerman-271:
As I said Dangerman.
Travel is a huge factor.
But in the Round Robin stage, the equation is equal.
However, If Your Team cannot qualify in the top 2.
Then you are really up against it,
specially if you have to travel inter-continental.
23 Jul 2012, 14:56 pm
@rangerman-278: Has he been a sanctimonious pratt all these years?
23 Jul 2012, 14:56 pm
@rangerman-267: I also prefer Kanko to Spies, Daniels and most others. He is great in the lineout and offers quite a bit from the back of the scrum. That said: All of the above is applicable when he is playing with a POWER pack of forwards who are dominating every facet of play. My gripe with him in the past has been his Houdini act in tight games, especially for the Boks.
He like Spies, can’t play his natural game when the pack is under ANY SORT of pressure. Sadly, in the international arena, even good packs are put under pressure at times, and THAT is where he has struggled in the past.
It looks as though he has upped his physicality,but this also in games where the Sharks forwards have been smashing all comers. He was good for the Boks as well,and he will probably get another shot in the Rugby champs. Behind a pack being whipped (and I don’t mean ‘mini whipping’ like the Poms did in PE, I mean AB’s in form whipping) – let’s see if anything has changed.
I am a Duane fan out and out,and it’s a disgrace that he doesn’t have one Bok cap. He is the finest defensive 8 in the country (which is needed in certain games….)Duane and Kanko have different strengths, but if we are playing the Meyer way, Duane fits the profile more.
Kanko has always been (IMHO) an impact player more than a starter.
But huge credit to him for this fight back.
23 Jul 2012, 14:59 pm
@ufo-285:
Indeed.
Toomuchbuggery is about to go to war over it.
An insult to one re.tard is an insult to all.
23 Jul 2012, 15:00 pm
@rangerman-277:
Ranger just taking the piss. I don’t care about provincialism when it comes to Bok rugby either but Kanko has had two good games when is pack was dominent.
If Vermeulen is available on Saturday and is fully fit for the start of the Championship then I believe he should be at the front of the queue when it comes to 8th man.
Alberts to me is a given at 7.
Coetsee has impressed at 6 and should be the incumbent but I’m a Brussouw fan and Kolisi is also not far behind.
23 Jul 2012, 15:03 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-284:
now that you mention it…
@cane-286: true cane true.
@TooMuchRugby-287: i am not sure what you are referring to?
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-288: personally i think kanko will fit the bill for meyer. the england tests showed us nothing, there wasnt any prep time.
i also dont see the abs having the wood on us come scrum time this year. the sharks front row absolutely demolished the highlanders much vaunted front row and when you add in a bekker and etsebeth to the grunt given by marcel, alberts and whoever is 8, you are talking about a HUGE pack that is mobile a f u k and has ball skills too.
pretty exciting imo.
and later in the gamne, kolisi can come on and start running rings around whomever whilst duane or elstadt keep the hurt on.
that will be quite refreshing.
anyways, gotta go all cheers!
23 Jul 2012, 15:04 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-289: To be honest, I don’t care if you call me bonehead, rockspider or whatever. I wear the label with pride.
The trouble is you don’t allow me to use the same approach towards my fellow boneheads whom I regard as a bad example of my clan.
A proper hypocrite you are indeed
23 Jul 2012, 15:04 pm
@sharks_lover-270: For the really good teams, travel isn’t a factor, and they will rarely use it as an excuse before the game has even started.
If your team had started peaking against the Lions, instead of after the autumn internationals, you would be waiting for the Stormers in Durban, and not the other way round…
Why not try to talk up the numerous strengths of the Sharks, and possible reasons as to why they could win, instead of continuosly bleating about the travel and other reasons they could lose.
Be a fan, you can do it.
23 Jul 2012, 15:06 pm
@TooMuchRugby-287: He does seem a bit of a twat.
23 Jul 2012, 15:07 pm
@Jeraldjay-290: ja i wont be falling all over the place if duane gets a shot bud.
but kolisi is not above marcel imo,he is a bencher at the moment.
brussow is an amazing rugby player, a favourite of mine but he doesnt offer as much on attack as marcel does and bizzy makess as many steals so….
anyways, keep well bud.
23 Jul 2012, 15:08 pm
@TooMuchRugby-292:
But I never called you a rockspider.
I called you a bonehead because you are as thick as Keo’s booster shoes.
To insinuate you ate better than anybody due to the accident of geography is rich indeed.
Now use this time constructively for some introspection before I make you properly embraboer.
23 Jul 2012, 15:10 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-294: What’s the idea behind the “1” in your nic – expecting a flood of copycat names now that you’ve bravely broken the ice? And how’s that working out for you?
23 Jul 2012, 15:10 pm
@Spiesisworthless1-294:
Of course I am.
Remember you own me at life.
23 Jul 2012, 15:11 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-293: Uhm pot kettle??
We have seen for a few years as the Stormer supporters in here used the Travel excuse big time….
And as for talking About my teams strengths?? hell you quickly squeeled early that we were being loud mouth etc etc etc
Hell i could tell you the Sharks are Krap and the Stormers will whipe the floor with them, you wouls still find a reason to dissagree, so whats the point??
23 Jul 2012, 15:12 pm
For once I agree w/Keo — McCaw is really laying down some performances, especially for someone entering the twilight of his career. In terms of pure fetching, Pocock is certainly superior, as are Liam Gill and Brussow. But as an all around player? McCaw’s ball carrying, tackling, and workrate elevate him.
I wonder how much of this has to do with McCaw being able to essentially skip the first month of every Super rugby season. So valuable to get that extra rest. Shows the difference b/w NZ and Saffa rugby — in NZ, every decision is made based on what value it adds to the ABs, regardless of Super Rugby consequences. Would love to see SA letting some players get extended rest, but the franchises would never go for that.
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