Shaun Goosen looks at what we learned on Super Rugby Round 13 and the Champions Cup Final this past weekend.
Sharks go down fighting
While it was always going to be a big ask for the men from Durban to one-up their epic 21-all draw with the Crusaders a week ago, the Sharks did well to nearly come away from Hamilton with a rare win over the Chiefs. Starting again at flyhalf, Curwin Bosch put on an excellent performance with ball in hand to take his side to within six-points of causing an upset, before ultimately going down 23-29 at the FMG Stadium. Their showings on tour would have given the Sharks a much-needed confidence booster heading into the home stretch of the competition, and there is every reason to believe they can remain top of the South Africa conference come the playoffs.
Bulls taught rugby lesson
It seems an age ago that Pote Human’s Bulls completely blew the Stormers off the park in a 40-3 week one victory at Loftus. Many optimistic supporters were quick to heap praise on the Pretoria-based outfit and proclaim that this was indeed the side to end South Africa’s nine-year Super Rugby title drought. Well, 10-games later and it is clear that the fallen giants are about as close to challenging for a fourth championship as Manchester United were to competing for last season’s Premier League crown. Friday’s match against the Crusaders only served to highlight the gulf between not only the Bulls but most of the South African franchises, with the defending champions running in seven tries for an emphatic 45-13 win. Expect the Cantabrians to put in a similar performance in Cape Town this weekend.
Another Bok headed abroad
The Sharks, and indeed South African rugby as a whole, were dealt another huge blow with the news that the 30-Test capped Coenie Oosthuizen was headed for England at the conclusion of this season’s Super Rugby tournament. The Sale Sharks – who have made an ironic (and rather irritating) habit of pinching marquee players from Durban – were the benefactors, having already announced the signings of all three du Preez brothers, Akker van der Merwe and Lood de Jager in recent months. Among others, Oosthuizen will link up with fellow Saffas Faf de Klerk, Jono Ross and Rohan Janse van Rensburg in Manchester.
Saracens legacy affirmed
Saracens pipped defending champions Leinster 20-10 in the final of the European Champions Cup on Saturday to claim a third title in four years. Mark McCall’s men put in a gargantuan performance on defence to absorb Leinster pressure before hitting back late in the game with a crucial Billy Vunipola try. The result solidifies this current bunch as arguably one of European club rugby’s finest ever sides, with the London-based outfit still in contention for what would be a fifth Premiership crown since 2011. Considering the unique structure and culture at the heart of the club, they’re not likely to stop winning anytime soon.
Written by Shaun Goosen
