The Brumbies, who started heading down a more South African type path when Jake White was coaching them nearly a decade ago, got out of a hole against the Reds in Canberra at the weekend almost exclusively because of their maul.

They set up three line-out driving opportunities in the game and they scored all three times. Their third try came at a time when the Reds were on top, leading by six points, and any other kind of try was highly unlikely.

The Highlanders came back from the break driven by Covid-19 with much more intent in the maul and it reaped dividends for them in the early weeks of Aotearoa. The Hurricanes appear to have learned from the mauling they received from the Bok dominated Stormers pack in the first round of the original global edition of Super Rugby 2020, and the Blues have profited from an opposite experience on their more recent visit to Cape Town.

The Blues’ strong scrumming and driving off the scrum accounted for a lot of the headway they made against the Highlanders as they kept their Aotearoa silverware hopes alive with their first win in Dunedin since 2011 and hence their first win under the roof at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Sunday’s performance was also built around a physical defensive system and a highly potent penchant for making the most of the resulting turn-over ball. Pivotal to what was possibly the Blues’ best showing in the competition so far was a much more influential performance from Beauden Barrett than we have seen from him since he traded the yellow of the Hurricanes for the blue jersey.

It was Barrett’s second appearance at flyhalf since making the switch back from fullback and he revelled in being back in his preferred position, with a little dummy kick followed by a skip pass that led to one of the tries being just one highlight of a strong game for him.

If there is one weakness in Barrett it remains the one that has always plagued him and which possibly played a role in the All Black decision to include both him and Richie Mo’unga in the same team: His place-kicking.

While Barrett was brilliant in his all-round game, his attempts off the tee produced a shower. Only two of his five conversion attempts were successful, and not all of them were from difficult positions.

The crucial thing for the Blues was that they managed to grab the bonus point for scoring three more tries than the Highlanders, and that means there is still a chance that the final game of the season between the Blues and Crusaders in Auckland two Sundays hence will have something riding on it.

But the Blues are still two points behind the Crusaders. The Crusaders have a game in hand on the second-placed team.

While the Blues take their second bye this coming weekend, the Crusaders are at home to the Highlanders. On the evidence of what we saw in the latest round, the Crusaders should win, and that will effectively clinch them the first Aotearoa trophy and render the blockbusting Eden Park finale to the league competition a dead rubber.

The Crusaders were back to their best in their away win against the Chiefs in the first Aotearoa game to be played this past weekend but it was nonetheless another game where the Chiefs must wonder what they have done to invoke the ire of the gods of rugby luck.

The Crusaders try that eventually put some daylight between the teams deep into the second half should never have been awarded as there was a clear knock-on from Quinten Strange in the build-up.

Indeed, refereeing will remain a talking point in New Zealand this week, as the Blues were unlucky not to have an intercept try to flanker Dalton Papili’i awarded to them in Dunedin on Sunday. It was at a critical stage of the game too, with the Blues in a position to put daylight on the scoreboard had the try been awarded. Instead, they had to go back for a penalty that Josh Ioane kicked to give the Highlanders the lead by one point.

Fortunately, the Blues were too relentless on the day for it to become an issue, but it would have been considered another controversial Aotearoa refereeing moment had they not won.

Meanwhile, the Brumbies’ close sneak against the Reds leaves them as the only unbeaten team in Australia at the halfway point of that competition and they are in a commanding position on the log table. But they are far from convincing with their performances, and the Reds are improving.

The quality of both packs is good and overall the Australian competition, although nowhere near the level of the Aotearoa, is improving.

– READ this story on SuperSport.com

Sarel Pretorius excelled in Super Rugby for the Cheetahs and Waratahs.

• Sarel Pretorius holds Super Rugby close to his heart, but believes SA rugby will probably make the switch to Europe.
• The recently retired 36-year-old says New Zealand’s announcement means there’s little reason for the local game to stay south.
• Pretorius argues that SA teams may also find it a bit easier to win tournaments in Europe.

Back in the late 1990s, when broadcasting agreements weren’t quite the dictators of kick-off times, Sarel Pretorius would rise early to catch some Super Rugby action.

The prospect of missing out on a precious commodity, like a teenager’s sleep-in, didn’t bother him in the slightest.

“Weekend mornings were filled with Super Rugby matches. It was one of the joys of growing up,” he told Sport24.

“More importantly, those years did a lot for my early grounding as a rugby player. The quality and tempo were fantastic. I dreamt of playing in the tournament, to be part of the action.”

Given the indelible mark Pretorius – affectionately named ‘Super Sarel’ for his exploits – left on Super Rugby during fruitful stints with the Cheetahs and Waratahs, one would expect the 36-year-old former scrumhalf to lean south when it comes to the debate on South African rugby’s future direction.

It’s not the case.

In fact, Pretorius dutifully believes the realities of a rugby landscape, shaken up by the Covid-19 pandemic, means the local game will probably have to accept that the road ahead is Europe or bust.

“When you think about it, South African rugby has stayed loyal to the southern hemisphere region because the New Zealanders valued our participation,” he said.

“But when they recently announced that they want to go at it on their own, the writing was on the wall.

“If the Kiwis don’t want to play as regularly against us anymore, then there’s probably not much reason to look for many alternatives, except going to Europe.”

The recent retiree, who is back in Bloemfontein to assume his role as a relationship manager for a local insurance firm, is obviously taking the pragmatic view on the matter.

However, he’s actually just as conflicted over it as many others.

Pretorius excelled in Super Rugby, his initiative, skill and electrifying pace capturing the imagination of a litany of supporters.

He was crowned as South Africa’s Super Rugby Player of the Year in 2011 and left a legacy of being highly unlucky to only become an Emerging Springbok.

“Super Rugby was great. Admittedly, I and various other teammates had a lot of freedom to express ourselves at the Cheetahs. We were encouraged to play what was in front of us,” said Pretorius.

“The nature of the tournament is very conducive for it. It’s high in tempo, high in skill and very competitive. You always felt as if you were part of innovation. I don’t think you can really blame anyone who continues to argue that playing regularly against New Zealand teams has kept us strong.”

Yet, even if his move to Wales’ Newport-based Dragons in 2015 was viewed as lucrative if somewhat less glamorous, it proved an immensely enriching experience for Pretorius.

“At 31, I was exposed to a totally different style of play and conditions. You obviously never forget your more attacking roots, but playing in the UK and Europe forces you to become tighter as a player,” he said.

“You’re required to focus more on tactics, to adapt your game-management skills and make sure your tactical kicking is up to scratch. I found it very valuable to play in the northern hemisphere. I know it’s a cliche, but it really made me a more rounded player.”

Unfortunately, such best-of-both-worlds scenarios simply aren’t realistic in this new cutthroat era of the professional game.

It means South African rugby now needs to make decisions that transcend Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber’s ideal of possessing a national squad of players versed in all conditions.   

It’s now about where one can adapt quicker, deliver relatively immediate results and drive commercial value.

“Let’s be honest, the time difference between South Africa and Australasia will always be an issue. That travel takes it out of you and it always put us at a disadvantage in terms of winning big matches.

“You don’t just go and win a semifinal and final in New Zealand. Maybe that’s one factor that would make a move to the north more beneficial,” said Pretorius.

“I’m not saying any South African franchise will just waltz into a PRO14 and start winning the tournament. But the travel is better on the body and the conditions also perhaps suit our traditional style of play a bit better.

“The Cheetahs managed to reach the playoffs of the PRO14 in their very first season.

“It will be sad to see us not part of Super Rugby anymore, but the alternative is hardly a bad one.”

Cape Town Sevens (Photo by Ziyaad Douglas/Gallo Images)

• On Tuesday, World Rugby announced the cancellation of the popular Dubai and Cape Town Sevens tournaments.
• These two tournaments would have been the first two legs of the popular World Sevens Series
• Due to the coronavirus pandemic, World Rugby decided to cancel the events, however, they will return in 2021.

World Rugby announced on Tuesday that the popular Dubai and Cape Town Sevens, the opening legs of the 2020/21 World Sevens Series, had been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Register your interest for the British & Irish Lions tickets in South Africa 2021

Brett Gosper, the chief executive officer of World Rugby said although his organisation were disappointed that the decision had to be taken to cancel the tournaments, it was done with the health and well-being of the global rugby community in mind.

World Rugby, its partners, SA Rugby and the Dubai organisers undertook a comprehensive consultation process and constructive dialogue to reach the decision to cancel the events.

“While we share in the disappointment of players, teams, fans, hosts and everyone involved with the popular events in Dubai and Cape Town, this is a prudent decision taken with the health and well-being of the global rugby community and wider society as our top priority and guided by the relevant government and international public health authority advice,” said Gosper in a statement released to the media.

Gosper confirmed, however, that both tournaments would return in 2021.

“We look forward to welcoming these wonderful destinations back to the series following this year’s hiatus,” said Gosper.

The event at Cape Town Stadium was provisionally scheduled for 4-6 December.

Siya Kolisi (Gallo Images)

• Springbok World Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus says even with five minutes to play, he was nervous about the result.
• “I kept asking Mzwandile Stick (assistant coach), can we still lose this?”
• After the final whistle went, “I felt embarrassed,” he says.

“I thought s**t, life can’t be this unfair again.”

This is what was going through the mind of Springbok World Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus as the clock wound down at the Yokohama Stadium in Japan on 2 November last year during the final against England.

At that stage, the Springboks had put themselves in a position to win the game thanks to tries by wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe.

Erasmus’s nerves were down to him still being haunted by previous World Cup campaigns.

Springbok fans will remember a Bryce Lawrence refereeing special in the 2011 quarter-final against Australia (yes, we are still talking about that) put paid to any Bok challenge at that edition, while the jury is still out on whether the shock loss to Japan or the two-point defeat at the hands of the All Blacks – who made it back to back titles with the 2015 win – in the  semi-final is where they actually lost their challenge.

“With about five minutes to play, I kept looking back at (assistant coach Mzwandile) Stick asking, can we still lose this game from here. And the reason I was asking was because I wanted to get Herschel Jantjies (replacement scrumhalf) on, but if I did that, we wouldn’t have a replacement on the bench and I said to him I want Hersch to play as well.

“Stick told me to relax, we’ve won and that I should send Jantjies on, and I did,” Erasmus said.

The now full-time SA Rugby director of rugby was a guest on The Crest Talks on Thursday – a leadership talk hosted by the Stellenbosch University alumni office.

He was speaking exclusively on how the Springboks, under his watch, went from a negligible sixth on the world rankings to champagne sipping champions.

The session was hosted virtually.

“At full-time, I actually felt embarrassed about it… also because I thought, how is it that I felt so entitled to winning it that I could even think it ‘will be taken away from us’ because I really thought it can’t happen again because we have been through so much,” Erasmus explained, going as far back as referencing the 1999 and 2003 editions.

“I’m so honoured to have coached them (2019 group). It was so easy to motivate them, and from the quarter-final (at the world cup), I could see they were playing for South Africa.”

With the Covid-19 pandemic causing all sorts of disruptions on a global scale, the director of rugby would have been pleased with the two good news items which emerged last week: the return to non-contact training for eight professional teams and the mooted October – December international window.

Cricket SA president Chris Nenzani during a media briefing at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on 7 December 2019.

• Cricket South Africa (CSA) have unveiled a plan of action in response to the “national outcry” over the Black Lives Matter campaign, which has gained massive traction in South Africa.
• The CSA board has revealed a Transformation Committee of the Board and a sustainable response strategy in order to deal with the issue.
• CSA will engage with the major stakeholders, starting with former players in the upcoming days.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have responded to the latest developments in the country regarding the Black Lives Matter campaign.

Earlier this month, Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi stated that he would educate and address the Black Lives Matter movement in Proteas the dressing room.

This led to highly-criticised social media posts written by former South African cricketers Rudi Steyn, Pat Symcox and Boeta Dippenaar and, since then, 30 former Proteas – all players of colour – and five coaches also signed and expressed their support for Ngidi and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Last week, former Proteas fast bowler Makhaya Ntini appeared on SABC’s Morning Live and revealed that he often felt lonely throughout his international career.

On Friday evening, CSA stated in a press release that the “national outcry by cricket fans, the greater South African public and broad stakeholder groups could not be ignored”.

CSA confirmed that the Transformation Committee of the Board has developed a sustainable response strategy.

It will address the following: 

• The establishment the Office of the Transformation Ombudsman, whose core function will include the management of the independent complaints system, convene a National SJN Imbizo and provide assurance regarding the extent to which transformation programmes are impactful on society, amongst others.

• Engage in the healing, restoration and uniting process of cricket players, fans, and the nation, starting with the disgruntled former players.

• Formation of The Restoration Fund – to deal with opportunity cost due to discrimination

• Promote and intensify Diversity, Belonging and Inclusivity (DIBS) program implementation

According to the press release, the CSA board has written to Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa and the Portfolio Committee Chair about the board response strategy.

“The plan is that the Ombudsman will be appointed by the end of August 2020. Independent Director and Transformation Chair, Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw, will lead the process of ensuring that the SJN process maintains integrity,” read the statement.

CSA revealed that in the “forthcoming days, engagements will commence with the major stakeholders, starting with the former players”.

CSA Board Chair, Chris Nenzani commented: “We are sorry that our cricket players had to endure the emotional hardships that they did; subjugated by their peers along racial lines under our new democracy that enjoined us to embrace reconciliation and inclusivity. SJN is the first-of-its-kind project meant to rid cricket of apartheid racial discrimination. This is the very important project that all stakeholders must make sure it succeeds for the future sustainability of cricket.”

He went on to say, “the fortunes of cricket, its players, stakeholders, and fans are not going to be held to ransom by the wayward few who definitely have no place within our ranks. We are determined to pull out all stops to ensure that healing takes place for those who have been wronged, and that perpetrators are exposed, sanctioned, and isolated.”

Dr Kula-Ameyaw added her voice and said: “Transformation needs to happen in our lifetime and as the Board we need to fully deliver on that mandate. Having heard what our ex-players shared, my focus as the Transformation Chair was to come up with a solution, hence the Cricket SJN concept. I am grateful that the Board supports this initiative. The office of the Transformation Ombudsman is a solid brick that we can use as a foundation to deal with racism and discrimination in Cricket.” 

“It has been a very challenging time for Cricket South Africa, and we have to acknowledge that what we have heard was not easy to digest. However, I am also encouraged by our plan to address this. We will need the buy-in from all our stakeholders to ensure a racism free future at Cricket South Africa,” said CSA Acting CEO, Jacques Faul.

“We commit that never again shall we be found wanting and will consolidate our efforts to assure an inclusive cricket environment, free of any discrimination, racism or any other ill that negate the gains of the democracy that we fought so hard for,” he concluded.

– Compiled by Sport24 staff