Currie Cup

Its about this time most years that local rugby fans switch back to the Currie Cup, mostly due to the fact that the Boks are finished with the Tri Nations but its also nearing Semi Final time.

I always reckon the Currie Cup brings false hopes to alot of players and commentators alike. Sure your rough diamonds seem to crop up time and time again but its when they start throwing names around for Springbok selection that my blood boils. Talk about the same players mauling he took in the Super14 not six months ago and they have the memory of Aunty Marge in frail care. Absolutely non existent. I have a certain pain the neck of a player, named Earl. Now this young chap probably doesn't deserve my full roasting quite yet so I will try take it easy in him and present my argument as calmly as possible.

He is a decent Currie Cup player, granted, at Vodacom level where he belongs he is at best a play maker. Now lets all cast our selective memories back to the Super14. Ok, we there. Young Earl who resembles a Mummy running around the field is being completely mauled by the Aussie commentators while playing for the Lions. Sure the rest of the Lions team aren't having the best day out there but Earl is having what we term a shocker. It's emboerrising.

The Lions stumbled through the tour losing every game. We cant blame it on one player, yes and I never would but lets slow the f#%^k down about talking this guy into the Springbok team. God, he's half Dollie's size and yes Matt Giteau isn't much bigger but they ain't Matt Giteau...full stop !

So here is my point, don't rush to put players into the green and gold, let them play another Super14 and we will be able to judge their ability against quality players week in and week out. Not the early rounds of the Currie Cup the Super14 please...

So now that the Boks are back in the Currie Cup we get a better reflection on the ability of certain players. Suddenly the Free State who have looked amazing are stumbling and aren't so amazing. The Lions are now back to square one too, they have yet to play decent a decent Currie Cup team with their Boks in it. Sure they may surprise someone because they are not useless but lets wait and see. I reckon they will not beat either the Bulls, WP or the Sharks.

If Province fail to win with a bonus against them in the final week of the competition it will be fair enough. The squad is not yet big enough to carry the Springbok load whilst constantly losing players to the Pound and Euro so our early form could cost us.

But, if we do make the semi's watch out, we may just have the team to go all the way. I am not certain of a few of the forwards when the going gets tough but hey at least we are moving in the right direction after a poor start and years in the wilderness.

The future looks bright...