Coach Johan Ackermann comforting Jaco Kriel after losing to the Crusaders during the Super Rugby Final match between Emirates Lions and Crusaders at Emirates Airline Park on August 05, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images)
South African rugby had to once again endure a painful Super Rugby campaign.
With the honourable exception of John Ackermann’s brilliantly drilled side, the local franchises proved mediocre and even inadequate opposition as New Zealand increased the gulf in class between them and the rest.
What 2017 emphasised in particular was that South African sides still don’t have the skills nor the savvy to pull off a dynamic game-plan.
Only the Lions, who had worked on their approach for the best part of four years, displayed the ability to trouble the Kiwis.
They were outstanding, winning 14 of their 15 pool games to finish top of the log and were arguably merely denied the title due to Kwagga Smith’s red card and a poor first half in the final.
The Crusaders duly claimed the title 25-17.
The rest of the South African challenge was, frankly, depressing.
How they finished:
Lions (Finalists, 1st overall on log, 1st in SA group)
Stormers (Quarterfinalists, 3rd overall on log, 2nd in SA group)
Sharks (Quarterfinalists, 8th overall on log, 3rd in SA group)
Kings (11th overall on log, 5th in SA group)
Cheetahs (13th overall on log, 6th in SA group)
Bulls (15th overall on log, 7th in SA group)
Highlight of the year
Naturally, the Lions provided quite a few of them over the course of the campaign.
Yet their rousing 44-29 triumph in their semifinal over the Hurricanes was really something special.
Ackermann’s troops had, until that point, only played South African and Australian opposition and there were legitimate questions over whether they could cope with New Zealand opposition.
When they went down 3-22 after 38 minutes, they looked doomed.
But the Lions kept their shape, believed in themselves and beat the Canes at their own game.
Beautiful.
Disappointment of the year
The Bulls have been on the decline for some time now.
But boy, 20 log points from 15 matches was pitiful.
It was really scary to see such a traditionally powerful franchise stoop so low, especially after they were rubbished 62-24 at Loftus by the Crusaders.
Another sad development was that the Kings had to be torn apart again as a squad after they won six games and ended with 28 log points – a fine effort.
Controversy of the year
It was rather typical of Saru – and their Sanzaar buddies – that the poor Cheetahs had to play the whole season with the axe hovering over them.
The reduction in franchises was a dominant theme throughout the year and it did the Cheetahs no favours, who threw away some games simply because they were too scared to lose and weaken their survival case even further.
They are an instinctive team that needed to back themselves.
Sanzaar’s dillydallying on their future was unfair on them.
Star of the year
Jaco Kriel has always been praised for his attacking play but some critics believed he couldn’t play a tighter game.
That perception was thrown into the bin, especially after he had to take over the Lions captaincy from the injured Warren Whiteley.
Try of the year
Tough to beat SP Marais stupendous score against the Chiefs for the Stormers…
Funniest moment of the year
It wasn’t funny at the time but Warrick Gelant kicking Jan Serfontein’s behind instead of the ball was so sad that it was incredibly amusing.
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