Talking points from the past weekend’s Currie Cup action

To the credit of the embattled Currie Cup, its race for the playoffs was pretty compelling.

In the end, it was quite appropriate for the Gauteng teams, the Lions and the Blue Bulls, to reach the last four as they’re late season form was certainly attractive to watch.

But the question now is: can they beat the odds in Cape Town and Durban?

However, it won’t be fair not to discuss the Cheetahs and Pumas, who came desperately close as well and made the tournament as a whole very competitive.

Here are the talking points from the weekend’s final round robin action.

Youth policy paying off for John Mitchell 

Relying on inexperienced but enthusiastic rookies has always been a double edged sword for sport teams.

Giving them a chance encourages their development yet it also impacts results.

For the majority of this campaign, the Blue Bulls seemed headed down that path – the one were you build for the future.

Then the players started to believe so much in their attacking ability that they suddenly surged into playoff contention.

It’s reward for believing in Mitchell’s new system.

“We’ve been building for the past few weeks and we’re clearly confident,” said the Bulls’ director of rugby.

“They’re challenging themselves to be better.”

That’s not a bad attitude going into a semi against the table toppers in the Sharks.

Pumas should feel aggrieved … with themselves

There have been years where the men from Mbombela have experienced good campaigns because they’ve punched above their weight.

At first glance, it certainly seems like that was the case again in 2017.

However, the Pumas shouldn’t be aiming that low.

Coach Brent Janse van Rensburg, who deserves credit for moulding a well organised team, and his troops can’t accept their finish.

2017 truly was the year where they needed to be in the last four.

And they would’ve been had they not lost to the Cheetahs (32-33) and Griquas (35-38) in successive weeks.

Wins in those to eminently winnable contests would’ve seen them through.

That they didn’t should be blamed on themselves and they deserve to be so hardnosed about it because they can be a force.

Welcome back “Trokkie”

It’s been a season of consolidation for bulky Lions centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg, who’s battled injury and a some iffy form after the heights of 2016.

Thankfully for South African rugby, he looked back to his best in the cat fight against the Cheetahs.

“It seems to me like ‘Trokkie’ (Little Truck) had an oil change,” said coach Swys de Bruin.

“Rohan played like the player we’ve come to known. The whole backline clicked for a change.”

A tough assignment waits at Newlands but Janse van Rensburg’s physicality could be a major factor in midfield.

Cheetahs chilled over double dipping

Was it really necessary for the Free Staters to overwork their Pro14 stars by drafting them into the Currie Cup climax?

Probably, given their great start to the tournament and the fact that they are defending champions.

Coach Rory Duncan acknowledged changing between tournaments so frequently was a problem but still feels it was justified.

“We have high standards and we didn’t maintain them (at Ellis Park),” he said.

“The guys have been playing a lot but there is a break around the corner. We’ll be better because we don’t have balance things anymore.”

Did Robert du Preez jnr undermine his new team?

Western Province coach John Dobson joked that his flyhalf, who’s linked to the Sharks from next season, caused a family feud with a brilliant performance at King’s Park.

“I think we might have caused a bit of schism in the Du Preez family because we went hard at Rob this week,” he said.

“Rob obviously had a lot riding on this game if it is true that he is coming up here.”

That audition went so well that his father and Sharks coach, Robert snr, was fuming at his troops’ 20-31 loss.

That grumpiness can either serve as a wake-up call for the Durbanites … or it can induce doubt.

This weekend will tell.