Two Semi-Finals, Four Fly-Halves
Just got back from Dennis' Sugar Reef Bar in Kalamaki, where I watched back-to-back Currie Cup semifinals from South Africa, courtesy of Sky Sports and Dennis. One and a half matches without sound, because of Premier League soccer on the other set - Arsenal losing their unbeaten record to Everton - fancy soccer taking precedence over rugby!
Anyway, without benefit of the SA commentary, or press reports of either game, I was intrigued by the battle of fly-halves in both matches. In an exciting, fluent, running game between the Lions and Cheetahs, showing credit to both sides, Kennedy Tsimba showed that he is the best flyhalf in the SA game, but Andre Pretorius is not far behind, and a regular match-winner with the boot, so the Boks are well-served for now. Since Tsimba is denied the opportunity of playing international rugby for any country other than Zimbabwe, the world is robbed of the sight of him cutting loose behind a dominant pack of forwards. Maybe we'll see something of his talent in the 2003 Super 12, since he has been granted special dispensation to play there.
The young pretender, 19 year-old Derek Hougaardt of the Bulls, revelation of their last few matches, did not disgrace himself in a tight, brutal, forward-dominated battle with Butch James and the Sharks. Poignant to see the two skippers, Mark Andrews and Joost van der Westhuizen, giants of the game, World Cup-winners in 1995, probably playing their last big match in SA together. Andre Venter also bowed out of his career with Free State in the earlier game.
It was awesome seeing Willie Meyer packing down against Os Du Randt, and the commitment of both packs in the second game - Warren Britz very prominent.
So, Bulls vs Lions in the final next week - the under-achievers of the last few seasons rising to the top of the pool. My money is on the Lions.
10:29:28 PM 
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