This year’s Super Rugby tournament is down to four teams and the only countries not represented in it are South Africa and Japan.
Not good company when it comes to the world of rugby, but then again the men from the Land of the Rising Sun will probably say the same thing about Saffas.
Of the five countries represented in the tournament, three are present in the semifinals - New Zealand with the Crusaders and the Hurricanes, Australia with the Brumbies and Argentina with the Jaguares.
South Africa’s participation came to an end when the Bulls lost to the Chiefs and the Sharks going down to the Brumbies.
Now in a World Cup year, this doesn’t bode well for the Springboks.
OUR FORM IS GOING SOUTH: The Sharks looked out of their depth. Photo: Lukas Coch/EPA.
With only one foreign team in our Super Rugby Conference, the Jaguares, they were certainly not the favourites to walk away with that title.
Not having the luxury of playing local derbies would have made life difficult for these Argies.
Instead, they have proven to be a force in the game away from home and in Argentina.
We’ve got a shortened Rugby Championship before the start of the World Cup this year.
But I’d be very scared of what Argentina can produce at this year’s World Cup if I was a head coach of a national team.
As for Australia, they were supposed to be weaker than South Africa in 2019.
However, what the Brumbies proved against the Sharks is that the Wallabies won’t go down without a fight and that they shouldn’t be written off.
That leaves South Africa.
FRENCH FANTASY: Cheslin Kolbe. Photo: Alan Walter/Reuters.
Based on the evidence of this year’s Super tournament, do we have the talent at home to take on the big dogs in the world?
I’m afraid the answer is no.
And therefore we need some help from our friends that have decided to further their careers abroad.
Here, I’m talking about the likes of Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux and whoever coach Rassie Erasmus feels is going to make a positive difference in his team.
If this year’s Super Rugby proved anything it is that even South Africa can run out of world-class talent.
For a country rich in producing classy players, we have seen our resources stretched really thin this season. All over the country.
And that’s why it’s perhaps a blessing in disguise that there aren’t any SA teams in the tournament’s semifinal.
It will allow Rassie more time with his players and, more importantly, give his players a much-needed break from the game after what was a tough and unforgiving campaign.
With captain Siya Kolisi, Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit, another captain candidate Warren Whiteley and a few others still nursing injuries, Erasmus’s biggest challenge will be to get these guys match-sharp again.
As it stands, it’s hard to see South Africa as one of the favourites at the World Cup.
But if they can beef up the side with players who have performed well overseas this year and those who have done well at Super Rugby level, coupled by the old faces, they can still mount a serious challenge for the William Webb Ellis trophy.
You might wonder who I’m referring to as “those who have done well in Super Rugby”? Admittedly there weren’t a lot.
Erasmus, though, will do well to test Bulls prop Lizo Gqoboka as well as Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies at international level.
The Lions’ Kwagga Smith would also have been a decent option for the Rugby Championship, but then he suffered a hamstring injury. Still, he is the sort of player that can win you matches.
WONDER FOR WASPS: Springbok fullback Willie Le Roux had a good season. Photo: Tony o'Brien/Action Images.
In Durban, Dan du Preez probably injured his ribs at the wrong time - leaving the field against the Brumbies on Saturday, while Curwin Bosch has slowly but surely worked his way back into Springbok contention.
With the Stormers’ Damian Willemse out injured, taking another look at Bosch in the Rugby Championship will not be a bad idea - you need a player that can play at 10 and 15.
Most importantly, Erasmus will have to secure the availability of his overseas stars and he had to do so yesterday already.
As for the Super Rugby tournament, my bet is a Crusaders v Jaguares final.
And while I love a fairytale story, meaning I would like a Jaguares Super Rugby win, I simply can’t look past the defending champions successfully defending their title