Die Currie Cup het toe nou nie weer Kaap toe gekom nie.
But looking back at the season that was for Western Province, I believe the turning point came with the return of their Springboks.
Having worked on their game plan throughout the tournament and executing it well, the start of WP’s problems coincided with the return of their Boks to Currie Cup duty.
Through no fault of the returning players, WP put their gearbox in reverse.
See, what these guys trained to do, they executed on a weekly basis.
So when the semis came around, Province took the field with a new flyhalf in Damian Willemse, who wasn’t there throughout the season.
He had to get used to the game plan and he was expected to execute it with Bok-like perfection.
These things take a while to get used to - especially when you were just taught differently in a completely different camp.
So when it was time for the final, Province had a new spine.
At hooker, Bongi Mbonambi started and their lineouts bombed. At No.8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe probably didn’t have the same impact against the Sharks bruisers as a guy like Juarno Augustus would have had.
Then there was the disruption in your 10-12 channel which is also part of the spine.
And herein lies the question: should the returning Boks still have a say in the Currie Cup?