Already notoriously bad on the road, South African teams now seem to have lost their fear factor when playing at home.
In the past, teams from all over the globe knew they were in for a tough time when coming to our shores - especially travelling to the Highveld.
The coastal regions - where the Stormers and the Sharks operate - were seen as okay.
But while the tour of South Africa was always a lekker one for players, they knew it would not be a safari on the pitch.
That seems to have changed a bit this year, with the other Super Rugby teams coming to SA and playing our boys off the park.
On the weekend, we witnessed defending champions Crusaders blow the Bulls away 45-13.
Not far from Pretoria, at Ellis Park, it was the Waratahs who gave the Lions a run for their money - ultimately going down by one point - 29-28.
IN THE DEEP END: The Sharks are battling at the Shark Tank. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/Backpagepix.
Now let’s start with the Bulls and a place they once called a fortress - Loftus Versfeld.
It wasn’t their first hammering suffered at the hands of Kiwi opposition this season.
Coach Pote Human’s men were also flushed down the toilet 56-20 by the Chiefs, while fellow SA Conference contenders the Jaguares missed out on a win in the capital by two points.
While the Kiwis and the Aussies have upped their game against South Africans in our country, don’t discard the Jaguares.
They Argies smashed the Sharks 51-17 at Kings Park, while they were also beaten by the Reds at home.
As for twice-finalists the Lions and the home of South African rugby, Ellis Park, things also don’t look too good.
While the Jaguares and the Rebels pushed them all the way at in Johannesburg this season, they could also just beat the Waratahs by one point at the weekend.
Yes, they are still winning games at home against overseas competitors, but the margins are getting smaller.
Closer to home, the Stormers only hosted overseas opposition twice so far this year - beating the Jaguares and then losing to the Brumbies.
And on Saturday they will be in for their toughest assignment to date, when they host the Crusaders.
The defending champions are on fire again this year and will be favourites heading into the tie.
SOFTER UNDERBELLY: The Lions have lost their edge in Joburg. Photo: Christiaan Kotze/Bakcpagepix.
Already on the back foot heading into the match, the Stormers are currently at the foot of the SA Conference. Though, they are weirdly still in with a shout of making it to the playoffs. Undeservedly so.
Now, the Crusaders coming to town has generally divided the Mother City.
And with Stormers fans already frustrated with their team’s performances, I find it puzzling that the Union sent out a press release over the weekend saying they still back coach Robbie Fleck.
Nee man, manne.
Why would you cause further disruption to the team when they should be busy preparing for the ultimate Cape Town derby?
If they wanted to get rid of Fleck, they should have done so at the start of the season.
I wrote in one of my columns before season kickoff, that John Dobson should have been put in charge then already, with Fleck gradually fading into the background.
With the former centre star's contract running out at the end of the season, with five games left, they now sat and decided whether to sack the man or not.
Damage control? I think so.
If Fleck was allowed to hand over the reins to Dobson in the background, meaning he would have helped his long-time friend this year, this situation would have been avoided.
But instead of identifying possible pitfalls, Province have waited for them to fall into the trap before now trying to find a solution.
Be part of the solution not the problem.
BELOW STANDARD: Stormers need to up their game big time. Photo: Backpagepix.
Sacking Fleck with five games left would have killed whatever hope they had of making the playoffs.
If it is that he is a suurgat like Jose Mourinho at Man United and doesn’t get along with his players, then the best they could have hoped for was a Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-type job - a quick fix.
If that isn’t the case, then why don’t you just let the guy see out his contract?
It’s only five games, or are you only realising now that you should have made some changes at the start of the season already?
Anyway, back to the Stormers and the Crusaders interesting week ahead.