South Africa Rugby

As a proud South African, nothing made me happier than seeing the Poms being thumped by the Springboks. It was not pretty rugby, but effective, it certainly was. Only the intercept try due to a reckless pass from CJ Van Der Linde gave the English something to cheers about.

I was caught between a rock and a hard place.

If the Boks won, we restore a whole lot of pride for a team missing some top notch players back at home recovering from injury.

If the Boks lose, we get a new coach and the Lord only knows how many prayers have been sent up stairs to the Big Guy asking for Peter De Villiers to be axed. The sad reality is we have CLOWN until the end of the Rugby World Cup next year.

England beat Australia two weeks ago in a display of rugby that rivaled that of the All Blacks. For some reason Martin Johnston thought that taking on the Boks up front would be the answer.

They did not reckon on the fact that a wounded Bok is a dangerous animal. The fact that by halftime three English players had to be substituted due to injury was proof on just how hard the Boks were playing. Do not for one moment think that I enjoy players getting hurt. I don't. As a coach, the wellness of my players are paramount and true rugby fans want to see the best player on the field at all times.

Ruan Pienaar had by far his best game of the tour and showed just why he is one of the best nine's in world rugby. The tight five were very strongly lead by Bismarck Du Plessis and Bakkies Botha. Victor Matfield although strong in the line-out is not an international Captain and certainly not a leader that the South African team would lay their lives down for. John Smit was certainly missed on tour.

Deon Stegmann is not our answer to fetcher flank and, although improving with every game, he certainly is no Ritchie McCaw.

Pierre Spies is finding some form and it is about time, but Juan Smith was my forward of the day. One school of thought is what do you do with Willem Alberts? Three test caps and three tries.

What would happen if he plays for a full 80 minutes? The non Sharks supporting public in South Africa still don't reckon he is a full 80-minute player, but John Plumtree certainly has other ideas and the Currie Champion Coach was not proven wrong.

I would like to see the youngster given a chance for the Baa-Baa game on Saturday. Willem Alberts, Keegan Daniel, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Bandise Maku, Coenie Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss and Flip van der Merwe up front with the forwards. In the backs players like Francois Hougaard, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod and Lwazi Mvovo, need to start and Elton Jantjies on for a run in the second half. Lwazie Mvovo showed his class with a fantastic try and this young man given the chance will become a record holder for the most Bok tries.

The trouble though is that our coach can not adapt to the new style of rugby.

The fact that the Bok pattern of play has not changed from Jake Whites' days is very concerning. Graham Henry and Robbie Deans have adapted to the new interpretations on the existing laws and as with John Plumtree and John Mitchell there are only two teams in South Africa that have tried this and been successful.

It is now adapt or die and I am not confident that if the Boks do not try to change their pattern of play instead of aimless kicking away of possession, we will be lucky to make it to a Semi Final, let alone retain the William Webb Ellis Trophy.

So here's to wishful thinking and Springbok rugby changing for the better.

They were on a hiding to nothing from the start. The Boks were just never in the game.The played there game in the press and got suckered into the mind games of the press on their arrival in New Zealand on Monday.

The fact that Victor Mattfield said that he would ensure the Boks win and that they would dominate the tight phases was beyond me. Where do you ever hear the All Blacks trash talk a team before a test match.

They put their money where their mouths are and do their talking on the rugby field.

For starters, Guthro Steenkamp is not the best loose-head in South Africa. That title goes to Hienke van der Merwe.

Jannie Du Pleesie is also very poor at tight-head. When BJ came on, the scrums did settle.

Onto the second rows, well Victor Mattfield did not dominate in the lineout and missed his scrum partner for 10 minutes of the game.

Onto Bakkies "Retard" Botha. The man who wears his IQ on his back. WOW that man is stupid, reckless and disgraceful.

As for the 9 week ban, well that is not enough, he is lucky he did not get a six month ban. Bring back Danie Roussow the best lock in South Africa at the moment.

The lose forwards only had one player and that was Schalk Burger. Peire Spies and Francoius Louw were poor. Their defense sucked and they were certainly out of their depth. Hopefully we can look at other options for next week. Let see Dewaldt Potgiter.

Onto my pet hate... Ricky Januaries, you are a chop. You can't even make the Stormers reserve bench and yet the coach selects you to start ahead of the best scrum half in South Africa.

Ruan Pienaar must start next week. This would ensure that Morne Steyn would get better service, although if the pack is going backwards again he'll continue to remain poor. That's Morne Steyns weakness. Butch James is a great option and this will certainly stop Carter from running up at channel one.

Jean De Villiers why are you being waisted on the wing? No.12 is the jersey you should be wearing.

You and Jacque Fourie are the best center combination in the world. Even the New Zealand centers would concur with that statement. This would ensure a stronger defence in the midfield and ease the pressure on the back three.

I would bring Gio Applon in on the wing though as he has proved he deserves a chance to play the AB's. Although Francoius Hougard my be a good call up.

Nevertheless, next weekend's game at Wellington will be worthless of my comments if the Boks don't pitch up. As for PDV you should be the ball boy because I am convinced you do not ever see the same game that the rugby public do.

The All Blacks should just count themselves lucky that they don't have Peter De Villiers as their countries coach. That would bad!!!

Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira has been declared eligible to play for the Springboks once again after being awarded South African citizenship by the South African government.

Mtawarira—who had played 22 times for the Springboks before being declared uneligible—is back in the fold for selection after missing the first four Test matches of the 2010 season.

The Sharks loosehead prop is included in the South African touring team for the away leg of the Tri-Nations alongside Bulls utility back Francois Hougaard who has recovered from a hand injury which delayed his start to the season.

There is no space, however, for Racing Metro fullback Francois Steyn who continues to be left out by Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.  Long running animosity between the pair appears to the main reason for Steyn's omission from the Springbok team.

Butch James of Bath and BJ Botha of Ulster are the overseas based players in the squad.  The group includes 16 forwards and 12 backs. 

The Boks—who set out their defence of the Tri-Nations with an away trip— are without a ream of injured players that include: wing JP Pietersen, centre Adi Jacobs, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, flank Heinrich Brüssow, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, and wing Odwa Ndungane. Flank Juan Smith was also unavailable for personal reasons. 

“It’s a strong squad,” said Springbok coach Peter de Villiers. 

“We are fortunate to have so many of our frontline players fit and available, which shows that our management of the players is working well. There is a very strong core of experience in this group and there are several leaders too. The new players who have come into the set-up this season are rewarded for their good performances. 

“We are very fortunate that we have several players who are versatile and can offer us options in different positions,” De Villiers said. 

“The Vodacom Tri-Nations is always tough and this year’s tournament takes on added significance given that the World Cup is taking place in New Zealand next year. 

“We have a tough start with successive matches against New Zealand but we have had a good build-up and we have shown that we can win in New Zealand over the past two seasons. However, what happened last year is history and we have to look forward and be ready for a new set of challenges in the 2010 competition,” De Villiers said. 

The team will depart in two separate groups on the 3rd and 4th of July and will open their tournament in Auckland on July 10 when they take on the All Blacks.  They meet the All Blacks again a week later in Wellington before taking on Australia in Brisbane on the 24th of July.

Springbok squad: 

Backs: Gio Aplon (Vodacom Stormers), Juan de Jongh (Vodacom Stormers), Jean de Villiers (Vodacom Western Province), Jaque Fourie (Vodacom Stormers), Bryan Habana (Vodacom Stormers), Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Bulls), Butch James (Bath), Ricky Januarie (Vodacom Stormers), Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Bulls), Wynand Oliver (Vodacom Bulls), Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls). 

Forwards: Andries Bekker (Vodacom Stormers), Bakkies Botha (Vodacom Bulls), BJ Botha (Ulster), Schalk Burger (Vodacom Stormers), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), Francois Louw (Vodacom Stormers), Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Dewald Potgieter (Vodacom Bulls), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Vodacom Bulls), Danie Rossouw (Vodacom Bulls), John Smit (Sharks, captain), Pierre Spies (Vodacom Bulls), Gurthrö Steenkamp (Vodacom Bulls), CJ van der Linde (Vodacom Cheetahs). 

Invictus is a must see film, even if you are not even interested in rugby or sport.

Invictus tells the inspiring true and historic story of how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) joined forces with the legendary captain of South Africa's rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), to help unite their country.

Newly elected President Mandela can see that his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid.

He believes he can bring his people together through sport; Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Tournament. 

The film shows how the end of apartheid affects both the people at the top (i.e the government) and the people down at the bottom (children in the slums).

It's such an amazing story line that will make you think about your own life, the way you think and what you would do if you were in such situations.

Invictus is inspirational, liberating, and uplifting.

When Mandela (Freeman) becomes president of South Africa, he tries to pull everyone in South Africa closer together through the magic of rubgy.

He targets Pienaar (Damon), and teaches him to become more of a leader to his team.

They were underdogs right from the start but with the mixture of Mandela and Pienaar, they manage to get to the Final and beat the mighty All-Blacks (New Zealand) in an exhilarating, nail-biting encounter.

The match isn't just about rugby.

The apartheid was an awful policy of legal racial segregation, where white people were superior to black people.

Nelson Mandela was the man who turned around South Africa for the better. The world needs more people like him.

As I said earlier, this is a must see film. It will amaze you.

With one game remaining in the year, 2009 has been a great year for South African rugby, in particularly, the Springboks.

The Super14 earlier in the year, seemed like it was going to be a race between two South African teams, but the early pace setters, the Sharks, faded towards the end of the competition, and the team from Durban failed to make the play offs.

The Bulls, however, were their usual dangerous selves.

Boasting the world's best players in ever position, it was going to be difficult to stop the men from Pretoria. Not even seven–time champions, the Crusaders could stop them in their semi final in South Africa's capital.

With a majority of the Bulls in the Bok squad, it seemed as though they would just carry on their beatings at the international level.

Ahead of a British and Irish Lions tour, a British journalist asked Victor Matfield, Bulls captain and Springbok vice captain: "Can you get any better? Tell me you can't get any better."

He didn't like the response from the big lock. And neither did the Lions. The first test was a described as an unbeliavable test match. The young Tendai Beast Mtawarira proved a handful for the experienced veteran Phil Vickery, and the England prop, capped 73 times by England, was taken off the field early on.

The Boks won 26-21.

The second game was a much tighter affair, with the boot of Morne Steyn winning the game, and the series, with a drop goal late in the game.

The game was to be marred by controversy as Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger were handed suspensions.

The Lions however, won the third test as some of South Africa's more established players were not available.

Then it was time for the Tri Nations. New Zealand, as usual, was the favorite as they'd won it for four consecutive years, and were seeking a fifth straight win.

The Boks however, had other things in mind, and beat everyone and everything in sight. They became the first team in history to record three consecutive wins against the All Blacks.

The title was won in Hamilton, which left the last game between Australia and New Zealand nothing but a game about pride.

The end of year tour was much different. This Bok side left South African shores rated as the greatest national rugby team ever, and unbeatable. But the first test was lost to the French, a side South Africa has not beaten in France since 1997. The game was a classic  close encounter between two top sides, the only two teams to have beaten New Zealand this year.

But, the game will probably not be remembered for the rugby.

Rather, for the highly intoxicated Rastafarian man who sang the South African national anthem before the game. A rendition of Nkosi Sikelela iAfrika that was deemed embarrassing, and played a part in the performance of the Boks.

The South African flag had also been flown upside down, which has left others to believe that the French intended to intimidate the World champions before the game had even started.

The following week, the Boks beat the Nick Mallet coached Italians, and are now all that awaits are the Irish at Croke Park in Dublin.

It's been a great year for the Springboks. Not only have they reminded everyone why they're the World Champions, they've silenced a lot of critics, and proved to the world that South Africa is the home of rugby.

In a country that's been built over years of racial divide, great strides have been taken in restoring the image locally and on the international stage.

A country that respresents a multi-cultural, diverse group of people mending old wounds and striving for a better future.

A nation where sports has united people from various race groups, religious backgrounds and cultural differences.

After years of apartheid, division, disunity, disrespect for the lives of others...South Africa is now a country where it's citizens are proud to be a part of.

Our sporting codes represent its people, our passion, commitment and dedication is why we have achieved so much in the 15 or 16 years.

But on Friday night in France, our countries image was butchered by the pathetic representation of our National Anthem.

Ras Dumisani said to be born in Durban, South Africa now residing in France sang the Anthem with no tune, no keys and didn't have a n idea which word come next.

In an International arena, the World Champs looks bemused, lost and some shocked by the rendition of not just an Anthem but the brick that cements this country.

For people in South Africa, they accept the defeat and congratulate the French on a well played game hard fought up front, but will not just accept an apology.

The South African Rugby Assoc. has said that they take great care in selected the best individuals to render the National Anthems for any visiting nation, and sees to rehearsals etc. But it seems the same care was not carried out in Toulouse on Friday.

Lets hope and pray that the Italians and Irish will respect our Anthem and take the necessary steps in selecting the best singer who has knowledge and ability with regards to "Nkosi Si Kelele Afrika"

The annual South African rugby awards were presented on Monday night at a banquet in Johannesburg.

The main award for SA Player of the Year was won for the second time by scrumhalf Fourie du Preez.

Also nominated were Morne Steyn, John Smit, Victor Matfield, and Heinrich Brussow. Any of these players would have been deserving of this award.

Du Preez has had an outstanding year, and is the fulcrum behind which both the Springboks and Bulls have been able to base their winning campaigns this year. He is a consistent player, who is rewarded for his hard work, and dedicated attitude.

His option taking this year has been superb, not being afraid to take quick taps and chance his arm, as evident in creating Francois Hougaard's opening try in the Currie Cup final.

Add to that his solid positional play, safety under the high ball, crisp pass, and pin point kicking game, and it is not hard to see why Fourie du Preez has been the world's premier scrumhalf since he first won the SA Rugby Player of the Year award in 2006.

Du Preez had this to say, "It’s an incredible year. I don’t think we’ll experience anything like that again and that is why the award was extra special."

He is now focused on the Springboks end of year tour, "It’s important for us to finish the year on a high, but it’s not going to be easy."

Du Preez was also pleased with the inclusion of his Bulls teammates Heini Adams and Francois Hougaard in the Bok squad, "They deserve it. I think Francois is the guy who will take over from Heini and myself when we finish playing in a year or two."

After the 2011 World Cup, du Preez may leave South Africa to play overseas, "I’m still looking around, but it’s definitely an option. It will not just be about rugby, but will also be a lifestyle choice when I go overseas."

Whilst du Preez has had a great year, the man I thought deserved the main award was Morne Steyn.

Steyn has had a superb year, being a large reason behind the Bulls and Springbok successes this year. He has played his way into the Springbok side and smashed his way into the record books. To become the fastest Springbok to 100 points against the hardest opposition he could, including having to play off the bench, speaks miles of his achievements.

He is an incredibly humble man, and it is his attitude that allows him to enjoy massive success today. A few years ago, his kicking was very wobbly, but one can see how hard he has worked with kicking coach Vlok Cilliers, to become the world's most accurate kicker.

Morne Steyn captured three awards, the prestigious Players' Player of the Year Award, as well as the Test Player of the Lions Series Award, and the Player of the Super 14 Award.

Like Steyn, Heinrich Brussow was a newcomer in the Bok team this year, and won the award of Best Provincial Player of the Lions Tour, and the Young Player of the Year Award.

Coach of the year went to Peter de Villiers, and in my view he has certainly gotten better and better, and is now one of the world's leading coaches. However, I would have given the award to Paul Treu who has had an outstanding year, and made the Springbok Sevens world title holders.

The Springboks were the SA Rugby Team of the Year, although they would have been pressed hard by the Bulls and the Springbok Sevens.

The full list of awards winners is:

SA Rugby Player of the Year – Fourie du Preez (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

Players’ Player of the Year – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year – Heinrich Brüssow (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)

Test player of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

Provincial player of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series – Heinrich Brüssow (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)

SA Rugby Team of the Year – The Springboks

Absa Coach of the Year – Peter de Villiers

Vodacom Super 14 Player of the Year – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls)

Absa Curie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year – Luke Watson (Vodacom Western Province)

Absa Curie Cup First Division Player of the Year – Allistair Kettledas (Pumas)

SuperSport Try of the Year – Jaque Fourie, 2nd Test v British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld)

Sasol Sevens Player of the Year – Frankie Horne

SA Under-20 Player of the Year – Lionel Cronjé (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)

Vodacom Cup Player of the Year – Jonathan Mokuena (GWK Griquas)

SAA Club Champs Player of the Year – Dustin Jinka (Hamiltons)

SA Rugby Women’s Rugby Achiever of the Year – Saloma Booysen (Eastern Province)

Marriott Refereeing Achievement of the Year – Jonathan Kaplan

Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Tournament – Andile Jho (Border)

The Blue Bulls squashed any remaining doubts about their status as South Africa's premier side with a 36-24 victory over the Free State Cheetahs at Loftus on Saturday.

The final lived up to expectation, with plenty of drama and action.

The Free Stste Cheetahs signalled their intentions early with some wonderful running. However the Bulls absorbed the pressure and Pierre Spies initiated a breakout after reclaiming a high kick. Derick Kuun was brought down inches short on the left hand side and the Bulls were awarded the penalty. Fourie du Preez it quickly and executed a wonderful cross kick to put Francois Hougaard in the right hand side.

It signalled the pattern for the first 25 minutes of the match as the Cheetahs attacked relentlessly. They had the majority of territory and possession, but the Blue Bulls defence was up to the task. The Cheetahs seemed to make easy metres every time they went wide, the Bulls not rushing up in defence, but happy to let the Cheetahs run at them.

Whenever they got ball, Fourie du Preez orchestrated the attack beautifully and three opportunities to break out led to three wonderfully taken opportunities. With Morne Steyn in supreme form and able to land a 52m penalty, the Blue Bulls had a 24-0 lead after 25 minutes.

Jacques-Louis Potgieter had an easy penalty chance after six minutes but missed the kick. He blows way too hot and cold at this level, and the Cheetahs needed him to get the scoreboard ticking over. Coming back from 24-0 down was always going to be tough.

However, credit to the Cheetahs, for they certainly don't give up. Most sides who visit Loftus would succumb after a 24-0 lead. The Cheetahs stuck to their game plan, and scored two well worked tries to close the gap to 10 points.

The Bulls had good field position close to the end of the half and worked beautifully into mid-field to set up Morne Steyn for the drop-goal. It showed the difference between the sides. The Bulls' execution, especially under pressure is faultless.

In finals, it is all about building up pressure, and the Bulls know exactly what is required. Even Victor Matfield said after the match he doesn't have to say anything each time the opposition scores, his side knows exactly what it has to do.

If the Cheetahs could have started well after half-time, they could have worked their way back into the match, but once again the Blue Bulls started well and almost took the game away from the Cheetahs.

Transgressions allowed Morne Steyn to take the lead to 16 points, and in my view they were lucky not to earn a yellow card for repeated infringements at the breakdown.

The Bulls started to relax, and the Cheetahs were dominating the scrums. A poor clearance from a defensive scrum led to wonderful interplay between the Cheetahs forwards and a try that put them back into contention. With a quick drop-goal from Jacques-Louis Potgieter, the Cheetahs were suddenly only six points shy.

I thought the Bulls were desperately unlucky when Morne Steyn produced a brilliant chip and chase that resulted in a try to Jaco Pretorius. Not sure what ref Jonathan Kaplan ruled, but the try was not given, and Morne Steyn missed his only kick.

From here the Cheetahs kept transgressing due to the pressure, and the Bulls simply ground out the victory. Perhaps the Cheetahs may rue their game-plan to run everything, but it did seem to work for them.

The Blue Bulls on the other hand seemed content to handle whatever was thrown at them, and have so many strings to their bow that makes them difficult counter.

The Cheetahs used their scrum well to exert pressure on the Blue Bulls, I was surprised the Bulls didn't slow the game further and try to work more lineouts where they once again dominated.

Heinrich Brussow started to become a factor late in the second half, but he was overshadowed by his schoolmate Deon Stegmaan, who was well supported by Dewald Potgieter.

I thought the Bulls players did everything they had to, and the difference in class was evident, but for me their players have also looked slightly jaded after a long, long season. They can now celebrate this victory before their Boks leave for the end of year tour, and their remaining players get together to start preparing to defend their titles for next year!

The Bulls made history as they became the first South African side to achieve the Super 14 and Currie Cup double!

If there was ever any doubt, surely now the Bulls have laid to rest any doubt: They are the premier side in South Africa, and have been for the last seven years.

Naka Drotske even had to concede, "They’re the best in the world and they have the record to prove it. They’ve been involved in most Currie Cup finals since 2004 and now they’ve won two Super 14 titles and a Currie Cup. So, yes, they are the best in the world."

Balie Swart has been working as a scrumming consultant recently, and has coached in New Zealand and with the Sharks. He said "No other team with which I have been involved believes as much in hard work as the Bulls do."

That is the secret to the Bulls success, and one can see the development and effort all the players have made in the last few seasons.

They now leave a legacy, and as Frans Ludeke said after the game, "There was a piece missing from the puzzle and tonight we filled that piece. We wanted to leave a legacy and now we’ve achieved that. Credit must go to this special group of players. They showed their character in the semi-final, and they were excellent this evening. They’ve worked hard to get where they are and they’ve reaped the rewards of that hard work."

It's fantastic to hear Bulls Captain Victor Matfield say that their success this year won't mean anything unless they back it up again next year. It's this attitude they will keep the Bulls at the top next year and beyond!

120 years of competition, 69 seasons, the history of the Currie Cup speaks for itself.

On Saturday night, the 70th final that bestows South African domestic rugby supremacy will be played out between one of the great dynasties in the Blue Bulls, and the modern-day upstarts, the Cheetahs.

Note: Western Province won the first recognised title in 1883, but most acknowledge that the competition proper commenced in 1889.  Finals were played from 1939.

To call the Free State based team nouveau riche may be a bit harsh, but their four Currie Cup crowns pale into significance when compared to the 22 that Northern Transvaal/the Blue Bulls have won, and the 32 titles (including 23 of the first 26 Cups) that Western Province have been victorious in.

The Cheetahs are looking at becoming the third great side of the history books, with the Bloemfontein team looking at establishing their own modern-day Currie Cup Empire.

Of recent times, the Cheetahs have been arguably the best team in South African domestic rugby, winning three of the last five titles.  This year sees them in their fifth final in six years. 

The Cheetahs reached their first final in 1973, before winning it in their third decider in 1976.  Despite reaching another six finals since their debut Cup, they would wait until 2005 before winning their second, but would then win three straight (only the third side after WP and the Blue Bulls to do so). 

The Blue Bulls though are well versed and already can claim to be a ruling party of the Currie Cup history books, with this being their seventh final in eight years.

While they may have less overall titles than Province, they have won 20 finals, eight more than the team they beat in the semi final, with 16 finals being played at the grand fortress of Loftus Versfeld.

There are more Springboks on the Bulls than any other side, and their influence on the team is immense.  In the 10th round of the Currie Cup, they were fifth in the competition and on a three-match losing streak.

Since their shock troops have returned, they have not lost a game, and in the five matches played (including the semi final win) they have scored 245 points.

The Cheetahs were all but finished after a month of competition, sitting on four losses.  But they won eight of their next 10 to pip the Griquas into fourth spot.  With the best offense in the competition and a tournament leading 61 tries, they then upstaged the Sharks in Durban.

Some, including Cheetahs backline coach Hawies Fourie, believe that it is because they became more rounded as the competition drew on.

"The first few games we just didn't get the balance right between attack and kicking,” Fourie said.

"The big difference for me between how we played in the last 10 games and the first four of the season was that we managed to find that balance - knowing when to attack and when to kick, when to be more conservative and when to take risks."

But it is also the Cheetahs' character that has impressed, not only from coming back from a 0-4 win loss start to their season, but also dealing with injuries. 

Not only was Springbok stalwart and Captain Juan Smith was ruled out for the season, but many of his replacements suffered injuries throughout, including Meyer Bosman, Hendro Scholtz and Adriaan Scholtz, before Nico Breedt was named fifth captain of the team.

But whether this character can stand up to the sheer class evident in the Blue Bulls is another question.

Their key weapon also appears to be their ability to adjust.  Against Western Province, their lauded scrum and world class lineout stuttered, but their outside backs rose to take control.

Fourie Du Preez may not have been as effective with a pack that was on the back foot, but the holy trinity of Du Preez, Morne Steyn and Wynand Olivier settled the ship. 

The backline of the Bulls is the one area the Cheetahs will be wary of, because Free State has the ability to match the hosts in the lineout, dominate the scrum with a marvellous front row, and rule the loose via the brilliance of Heinrich Brussow.

Brussow’s combination with Frans Viljoen and Ashley Johnson will likely have the edge on the Bulls despite the presence of five Springbok forwards in the likely Bull’s match day 22 - which will give the Cheetah’s less decorated back division more possession and opportunity.

Equally, the Bulls pack will be wary that they delivered a performance against Western Province below their lofty standards, and they could come out like men possessed this week.

So finally, the defining factor may be the boot of Steyn.

Like legendary Northern Transvaal Losskakel Naas Botha, Steyn could by himself determine the result, but the Cheetahs will be wary about either conceding kickable penalties or getting in a territorial dual with arguably world rugby’s most educated boot.

Either way a classic spectacle waits.