At this stage the Sharks is in position 3 and the Cheetahs is in 6 - the Bulls is in 10 and the Stormers is in 11 - with the Kings in 14. That brings about an interesting scenario this coming weekend.
If - as is highly likely - the Cheetahs beat the Stormers this coming weekend and the Crusaders beat the Sharks - the Sharks will drop down to number 8 or thereabouts on the log - depending on the outcome of the other matches. That will mean that bar the Cheetahs all the SA teams will be in the bottom half of the log. Bad news for SA teams all rond.
The worst team as far as log points is concerned of the SA teams thus far in Super 15 is the Kings - but nobody really expected anything much from them. What made their matches admirable is that in every match they played - they put up a determined battle and played way above expected capacity. Really a lot to their credit.
The worst performing team is in fact the Stormers. They had two good matches and three serious flops. They blew hot and cold - mostly cold. There problems have been clearly highlighted - but is ignored by the Management and coach. They let Catrakilis go to the Kings and in return got Jantjies at a rdidiculously high price in return. He proved to be a total flop and the main reason for losing of two of the four matches they lost. They are also stuck with a player who over two seasons has proved that he has no attacking skills in De Jongh. Combined those two players manage to destroy the Stormers backline attacking capacity and their defencive play is also in tatters. The problem is that their forwards gets dispirited by the abysmal backline and lose hope - hence the hot and cold performances.
The Bulls blows hot and cold as well. They had two losses in Australia. They lost in both cases - but were in fact within reach of wins - but was opposed by the opposition supported strongly by dismally poor referees. They have used two really great players only a few times and Ludeke needs to get his selections right. Morne will always be Morne - a dud in attacking rugby performance - but even then - they did show some real fighting spirit in the last two games.
The Sharks backline was toally negatived by two players. Lambie - who got it into his head to become a Morne Steyn clone and kicked balls away constantly and the abysmal Francois Steyn who crashballed constantly and if not just manage to destroy any potential backline attacks. Steyn also failed badly in the games against the Kings and the Brumbies in the defence department and was benched in both games - with a remarkable improvement in backline performances by the Sharks after his benching. The latter is apparently out of contention insofar as center selection is concerned - and there is indeed some hope for improvement in the Sharks backline. They have only lost one game so far in the competition - against the Cheetahs two losses - but they still have to go on tour and that could make a difference. They will secure their third spot by a victory on Saturday - so everything is not lost as yet.
The disappointment is the Stormers - but with their present performances in mind and the fact that they still have to go on tour - they are bound to end up about no 10 on the log. What a comedown for them.
