Ali Vermaak and Bongi Mbonambi of Western Province indulge in a favourite Currie Cup tradition. Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images.
It’s not going to reclaim its former glory, it will remain anonymous for most part and it will only be competitive in patches.
But it was pleasing to have a rather buzzing end to this year’s Currie Cup campaign.
World rugby’s oldest domestic tournament at least isn’t dead yet.
We dish out a few “awards”.
Game of the season
The free-scoring Blue Bulls of John Mitchell were involved in a few heart-stopping affairs.
But an agonising 45-46 loss to Western Province at Loftus was a treat in particular, a thrilling and frenetic game of running rugby.
It was by no means perfect yet the Bulls’ never-say-die attitude and skill on attack were fun while Province’s own second half revival added meat to the script.
Of course, then there was a match-winning, pressure penalty from a 19-year-old named Damian Willemse too…
Performance of the season
Everybody loves it when an underdog topples a big gun.
We have no qualms then in awarding this award to the Pumas, for their brilliant 51-15 walloping of the Bulls in Mbombela.
The best of all was how a team known for their attacking backs had a powerful pack scoring tries from mauls at will.
Lekker!
Player of the season
Many men made their mark but we’ve got to hand it to Province No 8 Nizaam Carr, a man gets knocked down but always comes back.
He’s been rewarded with a short-term contract with Wasps in England too.
Newcomer of the season
Welcome, Tertius Kruger!
Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images.
The Sharks’ brilliant new find S’bu Nkosi actually had made his mark in Super Rugby already and simply elevated his game at this level.
As a result, we honour Griquas midfielder Tertius Kruger for announcing himself to the broader rugby public.
How chuffed the Cheetahs now must be that they only loaned this hidden gem to the Peacock Blues.
Try of the season
Pretty difficult to beat this gem from Damian Willlemse. (Just ignore the fact that the New Zealanders thought he was a Lion!)
Quote of the season
I’ve had enough of him now.
Sharks coach Robert du Preez was at least smiling when he lamented how his eldest son, Robert jnr, kept beating them with Province.
Issue of the season
At least it changed for the playoffs but the South African Rugby Union really need to revisit the rule of just having seven replacements in a match squad.
Supposedly it’s (was) a budgetary thing for the smaller unions but they also now have sponsors.
Will one more plane ticket really make that much of a difference?
Province coach John Dobson summed it up well.
“I’m not saying it happens often but there’s much more room for teams to cheat,” he said.
“Teams run a scenario where, when they get stuffed up in the scrums, they manipulate their replacements to such an extent that there are uncontested scrums. It’s poor for the integrity of the game.”
Team of the season
Warrick Gelant (Blue Bulls), Seabelo Senatla (Western Province), Burger Odendaal (Blue Bulls), Tertius Kruger (Griquas), S’bu Nkosi (Sharks), Robert du Preez (Western Province), Stefan Ungerer (Pumas), Nizaam Carr (Western Province), Jacques Vermeulen (Sharks), Thembelani Bholi (Pumas), JD Schickerling (Western Province), Ruan Botha (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Western Province), Edgar Marutlulle (Blue Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Sharks).
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