You don’t have to look extraordinary to do remarkable things.
The Stormers are living proof of this.
Let’s kick off by saying I gave them little to no chance against the Sharks at Kings Park this past weekend.
But that’s the thing about this year’s Super Rugby season - you just can’t call the games.
Anyway, what struck me most about the Stormers’ 16-11 win is that they went back to basics and preferred to play as themselves - not a rugby team disguised as superheroes.
HANDFUL: Sharks were no match for Eben Etzebeth. PHOTO: BACKPAGEPIX.
In fact, it was as Thor that they had a poor start to the season, losing 40-3 to the Bulls in the opening weekend and then trailing the Lions 14-6 at the break at Newlands last weekend.
It’s then when they underwent a bit of a metamorphosis.
At half time of that match against the Lions, they reverted to the traditional Stormers away jersey because the Thor jumper clashed with the Spider-man kit of the Lions.
As the Stormers, they bounced back and won the match 19-17.
They had another point to prove on the road this past weekend against a Springbok-laden Sharks team.
BULLIED: Bulls' Duane Vermeulen was too strong for Lions. PHOTO: GAVIN BARKER/BACKPAGEPIX.
And with a poor record on the road in recent years, the odds were stacked against them.
Again, the Stormers took the field in their traditional jersey as the Thor kit would have clashed with that of the Sharks’ Black Panther.
As the Stormers, they then stunned the Sharks, proving that not all superheroes wear capes
One player who was flying high and looked like a superhero in his return to the starting XV was lock Eben Etzebeth.
His clean-out of Sharks scrumhalf Louis Schreuder in the 58th minute was simply brutal and while he was penalised by referee Jaco Peyper, albeit for the wrong reason in my books, the Springbok selector in me found it pleasing.
The Enforcer is back.
In fact, Etzebeth impressed me throughout the match and was perhaps unlucky to miss out on the Man of the Match award which went to Pieter-Steph du Toit.
The Stormers’ enforcer was also the man who won the turnover from a rolling maul with the last move of the game to end the Sharks’ hopes of a late comeback.
While Etzebeth was impressive, there were a number of players who caught the eye.
HARD YARDS: Siya Kolisi led Stormers to a 16-11 win in Durban. PHOTO: BACKPAGEPIX.
Let’s be honest, when it’s South African Super Rugby derby weekend, we all turn into Bok selectors.
I’m no different.
While Etzebeth’s form was pleasing to the eye, it was interesting to see veteran Bulls hooker Schalk Brits getting the better of Bok incumbent Malcolm Marx in the trans-Jukskei derby earlier on Saturday.
With the World Cup around the corner, I’m really interested to see what coach Rassie Erasmus’ plans are with his hookers.
Shark Akker van der Merwe has been the form No.2 in the competition to date, but he has since announced that he will be leaving for England at the end of the season - perhaps signalling the end of his prospects in the Green and Gold.
As far as this past weekend is concerned, though, Brits had no equal, with the Stormers’ Bongi Mbonambi reminding selectors that he is also still in the running and a force to be reckoned with.
As for the match between the Bulls and the Lions, I expected the former to beat the Lions - even at home.
Let’s not forget that Erasmus is helping Bulls coach Pote Human at Loftus and his hand is clearly visible in the team.
WATCHING: Bok boss Rassie Erasmus. PHOTO: FILE IMAGE.
The Bulls are playing a Springbok brand of rugby and Erasmus will be happy with that.
The fact that they are getting positive results should be encouraging for Bok fans.
Meanwhile, with my Springbok selector's hat on, I decided to select a Bok XV based on this past weekend’s performances.
There are two areas of concern after the derbies.
One is that there isn’t currently an inside centre stamping his authority on the No.12 jersey, and two is that we are in desperate need of a quality openside flanker - aka a fetcher.
My combined SA derby XV:
15 Warrick Gelant (Bulls), 14 Sbu Nkosi (Sharks), 13 Jesse Kriel (Bulls), 12 Damian de Allende (Stormers), 11 Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), 10 Handre Pollard (Bulls), 9 Embrose Papier (Bulls), 8 Dan du Preez (Sharks), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 6 Marnus Schoeman (Lions), 5 JD Schickerling (Stormers), 4 Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3 Carlu Sadie (Lions), 2 Schalk Brits (Bulls), 1 Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls)