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, 16:04 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-346: So I take it you are now a believer? Dale is a believer
@WP Till I Die-344: This is eye of the tiger stuff we are seeing now.
23 Jul 2012, 16:05 pm
@>^..^< katman-347:
23 Jul 2012, 16:05 pm
Reds allowed easy offloads. Alister has obviously noticed that. Expect ball n all tackles from the Stormers.
Then the game becomes a) territorial, b) opportunistic, and c) a gain line slugfest.
Crusaders are praying for a Sharks win.
23 Jul 2012, 16:05 pm
Wow, Broady really looked guilty there.
23 Jul 2012, 16:07 pm
Steyn taken 4 so far in this innings, 5fer on the cards
23 Jul 2012, 16:07 pm
Broad certainly looks like a miserable cnt. Looks like he comes from family money too. Always good to see those ones slump back for ducks.
23 Jul 2012, 16:10 pm
@>^..^< katman-356:
He attended Oakham School – described by the Good Schools Guide as “a privileged but unpretentious and non-spoiling start in life for the lucky.”
23 Jul 2012, 16:11 pm
@>^..^< katman-356:
******* minor public schoolboys.
23 Jul 2012, 16:13 pm
@WP Till I Die-357: and Slough?
23 Jul 2012, 16:13 pm
@Transformation-334: He’s probably comparing his victory in the tour de France to his Olympic golds. They don’t quite register as high as this one. People are aloud to be happy when they win their life time dream you know!
23 Jul 2012, 16:15 pm
Yessssssss Steyn gets his 5th
23 Jul 2012, 16:16 pm
Cheers Swanny.
A Michelle for the Tigers Eye.
23 Jul 2012, 16:17 pm
@Transformation-359:
Slough Comprehensive?
23 Jul 2012, 16:17 pm
Swan’s goose is cooked, but not for a duck.
23 Jul 2012, 16:18 pm
@>^..^< katman-356: I felt sorry for Stewie once. When his dad was umpiring in Pakistan, and the Sri Lankans buses were attacked. His dad also came into the crossfire somehow. Can’t recall if he was injured or not. But for about 3 secs in 2009 (I think) I felt sorry for the twat (although he wasn’t quite as much of a twat back then – fame and adoration had not made the quite the impact it has made now…)
Another eye of the tiger. Daleyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.
23 Jul 2012, 16:19 pm
@>^..^< katman-364: Now that’s pure poultry.
23 Jul 2012, 16:20 pm
Poms dressing room looking very sad :crying:
23 Jul 2012, 16:20 pm
@>^..^< katman-366:
A fowl effort.
23 Jul 2012, 16:21 pm
@HongKongSlong-360: no matem he was comparing it with OTHER tour de france wins, he mumbled something about his win “redeeming the sport” blah blah blah!
23 Jul 2012, 16:23 pm
@Transformation-359:
Slough Comprehensive = Eton College.
23 Jul 2012, 16:24 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-368:
23 Jul 2012, 16:25 pm
@WP Till I Die-370: mmhh…
23 Jul 2012, 16:26 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-363:
The Good Schools Guide calls Slough Comprehensive “the number one boys’ public school”, with “the teaching and facilities second to none”.
23 Jul 2012, 16:27 pm
@WP Till I Die-373:
Indeed?
23 Jul 2012, 16:27 pm
@Transformation-372:
You should ask gunther to crack out his black-and-turqouise tie and sing you the Eton Boating Song.
23 Jul 2012, 16:31 pm
The non-Pom cricketing icons in the icon central commentary losie are enjoying this, the subtle and toned down glee in their voices throughout has been a dead giveaway – they are trying hard not to sound smug.
23 Jul 2012, 16:33 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-376:
Warney has changed his tune.
He was predicting a Pom victory.
Probably trying to get into Hurley’s onnerpant.
23 Jul 2012, 16:35 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-377:
you like his new hairstyle??
23 Jul 2012, 16:37 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-377: Wouldn’t be the first.
23 Jul 2012, 16:39 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-376:
love it!
23 Jul 2012, 16:39 pm
@>^..^< katman-379: Or the Last,
23 Jul 2012, 16:40 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-377: hahahaha
23 Jul 2012, 16:41 pm
WOW – Journalistic brilliance – FORM will decide the Semi’s.
Would never have thought of that.
Genius – really
23 Jul 2012, 16:43 pm
@sharks_lover-378:
He looks like Biebers oupa.
With lipgloss.
23 Jul 2012, 16:44 pm
@cane-256:
I don’t dispute the fact that the Sharks’ traveling itinerary is atrocious, like that of the Saders last year
All I said is that the Newlands match may not be as detrimental for the Sharks who are young, resilient and fit, they can recover from the strain with 4 days of rest.
If they’ll have to fly again east on Sunday, they would be better off staying home
23 Jul 2012, 16:51 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-384:
23 Jul 2012, 16:56 pm
i’m getting sick of these 2, get them out!!!
23 Jul 2012, 16:57 pm
plumb yesssssssssssss
23 Jul 2012, 16:57 pm
Tahir gets a indian creeper in hehehe
23 Jul 2012, 16:58 pm
BOOM!
23 Jul 2012, 16:58 pm
Can’t believe they reviewed that, you don’t get more plumb than that.
23 Jul 2012, 16:58 pm
It’s all over now, baby blue.
23 Jul 2012, 17:00 pm
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
23 Jul 2012, 17:00 pm
Proteas take it by an innings & 12 run via a. Tahir flipper. England played like the old England
23 Jul 2012, 17:02 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-377: The Australian representative at icon central was heard to be laughing out loud at times
Just trying to keep his employers happy by singing England’s praises for the 1st 2 days (and pre test)
Oh man – this reallllllllllllllllllly is a GOOD win. A totally unexpected one if I must be honest, going into this series. Have you fellows chatted about our wicket keeping options from hereon in? AB will keep the gloves I reckon. I’m still not convinced though.
23 Jul 2012, 17:03 pm
Repeat of the Bulls showing on SS
23 Jul 2012, 17:07 pm
@Transformation-369:
Do you have a link to a website where he said that his victory is more significant or that he has redeem the sport? i would like to see what is his motivation for saying something like that as he certainly did not appear to be arrogant or full of himself during any of the interviews that I have seen. Maybe it has something to do with drugs as he and his team are very well known “non-dopers”.
23 Jul 2012, 17:07 pm
And so we take the lead?? what of boycotts prediction of us being whitewashed??
pretty rude awakening he got
23 Jul 2012, 17:08 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-395:
Strauss looks looks like a stunned mullet.
De Villiers will probably keep the gloves but I’m not convinced. In other circumstances that drop could have been costly.
Time will tell.
Would it be wrong to ease the cork on a bottle of the Widow Clicquot’s finest this evening?
23 Jul 2012, 17:10 pm
@viewer-396: We are celebrating and enjoying a dominant performance by SA’s sporting elite at the moment. Why on earth would I want to sour that with a replay of Spies showing all and sundry why one will never see his name and the words ‘dominant performance’ in the same sentence.
Pass.
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