And with the Stormers having topped the combined log, this country’s fans have reason to take great pride in the strength of our local sides.

But we have to remember two very important things about what happens from this point on.

The first is tied to one of the oldest maxims in team sport; no matter how well you played in the league phase, the knockout games are a straight two-horse race and there is no coming back.

Picking winners has much the same cache as spinning a coin.

There is a winner and a loser and luck can be a fickle mistress when you have called heads and, almost inexplicably, it comes up tails.

We would all do well to remember though that this country’s players have showcased the strengths of the South African game and given us a solid base for the new Rugby Championship, which  starts on August 18 and replacers the Tri-Nations now Argentina have been drawn into the fold.

But for the moment it’s Super Rugby. So let’s call “heads” and hold thumbs it lands up that way.