Adam Ashley-Cooper models the new Wallabies jersey designed by Kooga – Image from Rugby.com.au
As far as appetisers go, the last ever Super 14 final was a beauty. The Bulls and Stormers went at it in a good old-fashioned battle of attrition that just happened to be one of the best games of rugby of the season.
Such was the pace of the game, that the kettle boiled pre-game in my kitchen didn’t produce the intended cup of tea until the 26-minute mark. At which point Murphy’s Law took over and I missed the first try of the game to Bulls winger Francois Hougaard.
The noise of the nomadic Pretoria-to-Soweto crowd at Orlando Stadium was unbelievable. The din of who-knows-how-many thousand plastic bugles was as constant as it was deafening, with the buglers only seeming to take a breath whenever Bulls superboot Morne Steyn was lining up a kick at goal. When Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant lined his kicks up, the volume increased to such an extent that I think I could hear it outside my lounge room.
Just as I predicted last week, Bulls scrumhalf Fourie du Preez turned on a master class in game management. From the early exchanges, du Preez was in everything, controlling where the Bulls played their game, and unleashing his backs when the time was right. Between his own pinpoint kicking from behind the ruck, and Steyn’s unwavering accuracy, du Preez controlled the game like a maestro, and you just knew it was a matter of time until he produced the big play.
And so he did from just inside the Stormers half, where du Preez drifted to his right with quick ruck ball and superbly put the flying Hougaard through a yawning gap. Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen was no match in the last line, and before he knew it, Hougaard was launching himself under the posts. The Bulls were looking ominous as they went into the break with a 16-3 lead.
To the Stormers great credit, they fought back in the second half with yet another intercept try to winger Bryan Habana. It was a calculated risk from Habana, with three unmarked Bulls outside him, and it could well have been a 14-point turnaround had the pass found its intended mark.
At 16-10, and with a little over twenty minutes left, the title was there for the taking. Despite the best efforts of Grant and Springboks outside centre Jaque Fourie though, the Stormers just couldn’t make the big play when it was required. All the while, the Bulls played the percentages as they waited for the Stormers to err within Steyn’s prodigious kicking range.
Sure enough, giant Stormers lock Andries Bekker provided the necessary brain-explosion by attempting a rather crude ruck cleanout, gifting Steyn three more points. Two more penalty goals in the last ten minutes gave Steyn 20 points for the match, and a third Super Rugby title to the Bulls. Ricky Januarie’s 78th minute consolation try for the Stormers only briefly delayed the Bulls’ celebrations.
As I snuck back to bed at a touch before 3am, I couldn’t help but wonder what this might mean for the Springboks, as the southern hemisphere season now looks toward the main course: the Internationals.
Like those curious progressive dinners, the main course is broken into two segments, with the European nations first heading this way in June, before the SANZAR partners retreat back into their national guises, returning in July to belt seven shades out of each other during the Tri-Nations.
The June tours will see South Africa head to Cardiff firstly to take on Wales, before returning to the Republic to take on France and Italy. The home Tests shouldn’t pose much problem for the Springboks, but the trip to Wales could be a real danger game for them so soon after the Super 14 Final and more so given they’re resting several of their big names from this quick trip in favour of a handful of European-based fill-ins.
New Zealand host Ireland and then two Tests against Wales, and you’d expect the All Blacks to come out and prove all the current criticisms and concerns about depth are unfounded.
Australia host England for a two-Test Cook Cup series, followed by Ireland, of which I’d like to see three wins, but recognise that playing England in Perth might bring the same dangers as playing South Africa over in the west. Before these though, the Wallabies take on Fiji, in one of the cruellest pieces of rugby scheduling I can think of.
You see, the Fiji Test represents a return to Canberra Stadium, following last year’s successful hosting of Italy in the nation’s Capital. But Canberra in June can be a bit well, fresh, to put it mildly. The corresponding match last year saw the Italians having to deal with temperatures as low as -4. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great that we’ve got another Test in town, but Fiji, in Canberra, in June? It just doesn’t seem very sporting to me.
Come July, the Tri-Nations begins and The Roar has already been abuzz with South Africans, New Zealanders and especially Australians all bullish about their teams’ chances. And fair enough too, Super Rugby form and recent rugby history can create some compelling arguments.
For what it’s worth, South Africa would have to be a big chance, with the draw seeing them finish with three home games up on the Highveld where they’re rarely beaten. Should they manage a win or two away from home first though, they’ll be short-priced favourites by the time they return home.
The All Blacks are always dangerous of course, and will be especially hard to beat at home, as they always are. Only playing one game in South Africa is a big plus too, and playing in Australia has presented few challenges in recent seasons.
The Wallabies, on the other hand, will be buoyed by not having to play New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland, plus two home Bledisloe Cup Tests. If they can snare one win in South Africa, well you just never know.
However it pans out, we’re easily looking at one of the more evenly contested Tri-Nations tournaments in the last few years.
A tip? Don’t be silly, that’s how arguments start…
Photon
Guest
Tutu The reason the South African sides get to have the last few and first few weeks at home is to counter the disadvantage of having to tour for 4 or 5 weeks as opposed to 3 like the Australasian sides
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
Chisholm at 8? I like it. He's serviceable at lock but 8 he could be sensational similar (but not as good) to Spies. Especially with Palu out, we need all the size we can get to counter the BokBlacks. Hey Robbie, how about giving Marky Mark a run at 8? C'mon, you know it makes sense........
tutu
Guest
I would like to know why both in 09 and 10 the South African teams are always back in the republic with 4 weeks to run yet the Australasian teams are still clocking up the miles? Yes the schedule was reversed but time wise it is always in the South Africans favour. The Bulls started with four games at home in 09 then a bye then start their trip south, and finished with four games at home Stormers played 5 at home in SA a bye then head south. Bulls are home by week 11 and the Stormers by week 12 Say what you like but the SA teams have had some great draws lately, I'm not saying tha'ts why the bulls won but it does and has given them a significant advantage especially when the Australasian teams are still travelling and some are still in the Republic in the last rounds of Super 14 yet all the SA teams are home tucked up
Tutu
Guest
That you are right rusty however as normal the South African teams Bulls and Stormers always start the season with 3 to four home games and a bye before heading south, after there games in Australasia they are back in the republic with 4 weeks remaining in the competition. I do not remember the last time a South African team started their campaign away from SA or finished out of South Africa. But strangely there is always an Australasian team in SA come round 14 and in R13 there are a few more. Be it what it may but the draw does help in some regards so it would be foolish to ignore this. Yes the Bulls played some teams at home last year but the Bulls and other South African teams are not playing away from their country at the end of the tournament. Unlike the Australasian teams. From week 12 in 09 all SA teams were back in the republic where as 5 Australasian teams were still in Africa, by week 14 this was down to just the Waratahs. I can understand travelling has a factor in it but why should all the SA teams ber back in SA with weeks to go in the tournament and not still be on the road as are the Australasian teams? Anyway rant over
mickh
Guest
OJ, How are people going to talk about the coming games if we are not supposed to express our opinions until we know the result. Sounds a bit soft to me to wait until you win or lose to express an opinion. I didn't think you were that kind of bloke. "Sick of hearing about it, sick of reading about it, sick of playing these guys and beating them match after match. They ought to have loser leaves town matches in rugby. Please Wallabies, if you’re on the up, win a godamn match this year." I want you to picture this image OJ. Me standing on the shores of Bondi Beach with my bare pimply ar*se pointed across the Tasman after we prise the Bledisloe Cup from your "cold dead hands". Trust me, with the type of smugness you ooze onto these pages you must be prepared for the barage of brown eye's heading your way.
Ben J
Guest
Sorry Tim, are you seriously comparing Mark Chisholm with Pierre Spies? Pierre Spies is a muscled freak athlete who is a premier strike weapon for the Boks and Bulls. Chisholm, with all due respect, is not. To say they are the same height and weight is to say that...they are the same height and weight.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
'Fully expect the boks to live down to your epectations, I mean the Springboks have never been regarded as anything above average by Messrs Saunders and Pothale. Yet somehow they’ve managed a world cup,lions series and tri nations victories inthe last three years, here’s hoping we find a way to garner some more luck and a few more tophies along the way.' Yawn. Your pantomine ire might be reasonable were SA to actually have a good record against France, the team in discussion. Grow up.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Since when was this site a newspaper. I'm worried about the forests.
warrenexpatinnz
Guest
GTW the line will be a long one but never trust a dead kiwi unless they are actually dead and buried, ABs will still be difficult no matter the injuries and unless we get that win belief like the very late nineties and early 2000's we do talk up a good game without closing the deal. Maybe this year? and better be next year!
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
OJ - This is an Aussie site (hence the au at the end) and we can be as positive as we damn well like. If the Wannabe's get over their injury woes and put their best team on the track, then I think we have a right to be optimistic about our chances this year - and why not? Has to better than the previous 4 or 5 years, right? And yes, I would look forward to prising the Bledisloe from your cold dead hands!
Rusty
Roar Guru
minor point but the Bulls also won it last year with the draw reversed...
Rusty
Roar Guru
touche Pothale touche
Rusty
Roar Guru
even as an ardent Bok supporter I have to agree with you on this one - we both play the same style but the French augment it with better backplay
Brett McKay
Guest
Tim, funnily enough, Mitch Chapman has made this very move for the Brumbies. After starting the year at 6 when Elsom was out (might only have been the first game), he's played from the bench, at No.8 in stages, before finishing the season at lock. And he played pretty well in all positions, too, providing all the size, strength and agility you could hope for. I'm glad he made the BaaBaas squad, but in all honesty, my first impression of the 30-man squad was that the wrong Brumbies lock was there. If anyone could make a fist of No.8, I think Chapman could be the one...
John
Guest
In fairness to Giteau he is usually pretty bloody good whenever he actually plays 12. Plus he has a kicking game that Horan didn't.
Derm
Roar Guru
Particularly in Wales.
johnny-boy
Guest
RR - you might have a point there ...
nicksa
Guest
Pothale then deans is def at fault :P
Derm
Roar Guru
Ooh - can I have a go? 15. Bryan Habana 14. Digby Ioane 13. Rob Horne 12. Matt Giteau 11. Adam Ashley-Cooper 10. Quade Cooper 9. Will Genia 8. Richard Brown 7. David Pocock 6. Rocky Elsom 5. Nathan Sharpe 4. Dean Mumm 3. Salesi Ma’afu 2. Huia Edmonds 1. Ben Alexander Replacements: F de Preez, V de Matfield; P de Villiers, B de Botha, other Aussie blokes
nicksa
Guest
Red rooster If u had to pick a first 15 team made out of wallabies and boks, what would it be? Dont be bias, just go from position to position and choose who u think are the best players.