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April 5 - If nothing else, four of South Africa’s five franchises suffered on the Super 14 log this past weekend as the Sharks saved some face for the Land of the Springbok with the only win from four outings, while the Auto & General Lions dropped to last place without even playing.
It was a bleak weekend for South African rugby. Three more losses in Australasia underlined South African teams’ continued inability to take control on tour.
Just how difficult it is to play in Australia and New Zealand is borne out by the only three South African wins in 13 overseas matches so far this season. And it continues last year’s trend when the Bulls’ only three losses in the competition all came in Australasia.
Last year the Stormers lost four from five; the Cheetahs four from four: the Lions three from four; and the Sharks one from four - a total therefore of 13 South African losses from 21 matches in 2090..
** Two of this weekend’s losses in particular came as a shock to supporters when the table top sides Bulls and Stormers both went down.
The Stormers - despite (another) poor day at the office from referee Stuart Dickinson, went down to the winless Western Force in Perth. The score was 16-15 and it must be emphasised that Dickinson was not the reason for the defeat that came well after the hooter when Force flyhalf David Hill slotted his drop.
Once again it wasn’t clear why the Stormers didn’t get the ball to their expensive acquisitions Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana.
They have only 17 tries to show after seven matches, and it is their defence and Joe Pietersen’s goal-kicking that have kept them near the top of the log. Tries will have to be scored and try-bonus points gained if the Stormers hope to get close to the title.
The Stormers on Friday were outplayed in most of the other facets and seemed a tired side - something than cannot be blamed on jet lag only.
They have now dropped to fourth on the log and still have the Blues, Chiefs and Reds awaiting them in Australasia before they return to face Crusaders at Newlands, the Sharks in Durban and the Bulls at Newlands.
The Bulls, so quick out of the blocks this season, have been threatening their own demise in recent weeks. They won by only a single point against the Hurricanes in Pretoria two weeks ago and then had to rally in the second half against the Force the previous week in Perth, where they won 28-15 after being behind at the break.
This time the Blues took them to the cleaners in a comprehensive 32-17 win in Auckland on Saturday. The Bulls were outplayed at the breakdown, leaked 25 tackles, took poor options and lost the ball on the few times they looked dangerous. They were simply outplayed by a more committed and better team on the day.
It is interesting to note that the Bulls have been in front at halftime in only one of their seven matches this season - perhaps indicating an over-confidence, even arrogance, in their own abilities.
For South Africa’s chances in the competition, it must be hoped that this defeat is the warning they needed and that a turn-around in approach is on hand.
The Bulls were outplayed at the breakdown, leaked 25 tackles, took poor options and lost the ball on the few times they looked dangerous. They were simply outplayed by a more committed and better team on the day.
The defeat in Auckland continued a losing trend, with the Bulls having lost every time at the Blues’ headquarters. It also saw the Bulls drop to second on the log behind the waratahs, albeit with a match in hand.
** The Cheetahs were simply poor in their 40-17 defeat to the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.
After a positive start to their season they now look a limp, disinterested side without direction or fight - and they’ll have to be more positive in approach and in action if they do not want this season to end as an even worse nightmare than in 2009, when their two wins saw them finish last.
The Cheetahs have now gone down from five wins in their first season in 2006 to four the following year, only one in 2008 and two in 2009.
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