Well as we head toward the semi final stages of the super 14 I was conveniently reminded by my Korean venturing friend that it had been some time since I had made an entry - almost a year I guess - now that's just not cricket, although let's not climb up that chestnut or else everyone is going to rant about our amazing Protea's who just cant get it right!!!!!
Considering the huge time delay in entries I have decided to do a quick recap of the super 14 thus far, just to get myself back up to speed.
It has been a great year for the bulls once again, and the Stormers have finally lived up to their hype and produced some of the most dazzling performances of the tournament, as well as some of, if not the best, individual and team tries of the year. They ironically sit at the end of the season having to play the Bulls in their final game (At Newlands might I add) needing a win to assure them of a home semi final, and making it 2 SA sides at the top of the table. The Bulls are well and truly ahead and have no fear of not ending at the top of the table. They have therefore rested many players for this crazy battle upsetting many of our friendly competitors in Australasia, who were looking for the Stormers to lose so they could overtake them for that extremely valuable and very rare home semi final.
Waa Waa Waaa - cry me a river ya donkey's and suck it up. That's international rugby!!!!!
The next 4 teams all play each other this weekend for the 3rd and 4Th semi final spots. 6Th placed Crusaders, who have had a very poor run of form and some might say luck losing three games in a row, including the miracle loss to the bulls in the 82ND minute over the last 3 weeks, play a Brumbies side who in my opinion are just hitting their stride. The Crusaders travel home to Christ church for this epic encounter (which is arguably my game of the weekend) all the way from south Africa -so we will wait and see if they have enough left in the tank to take on the Brumbies, who have looked very powerful in their last 2 matches, and continuing to grow.
Then the Waratahs (Probably the most over rated team in Super 14 history) play the Hurricanes in Sydney who have also found some some recent form, with star winger Hosea gear racking up a hatric last weekend in a fine polished performance by the boys in grey, and sometimes yellow - I know ..... I am also confused.... The Hurricanes, although playing away, should wrap this up and shoot past 3rd placed Tahs, and book themselves a ticket to Newlands. the other semi for the bulls will be played at Soweto.....YES, I said it ...SOWETO!!!! no Loftus magic this year as they have to save the ground for the World cup soccer - woo hoo ( More blogs on that to follow).
The other 8 teams have nothing but pride to play for this year, and there is a lot of that going around with the cheetahs getting 2 great wins against the blues and the force. I feel I must mention that the SA teams this year have broken their record of 13 wins against NZ opposition in the super 14 beating 2007, and the Stormers became the first SA Super 14 franchise in history to get wins over all 5 NZ franchises - Super stuff!!!!!
There have been many highs and lows of this years super 14 - From Steve Walsh's Horrific refereeing, to some good law changes and some bad ones, to the on and off form of our very own Fijian flyer Sireli Nagalavuki (Hero one week, zero the next) to the downfall of the chiefs, and the rise of the stormers, and of course the boring Waratahs once again being in the hunt "puke". One can definitely say it has been the most exciting finale to the super 14 in years with the top 6 teams all viable to win the coveted trophy with 1 league fixture left.
Here's holding thumbs for the Stormers and Bulls and let's hope for an all SA derby in the final in SOWETO!!!!!!!!
