HOME FIRES BURNING

Photos: BackpagePix | INPHO/Shutterstock By: Mike Greenaway

South African rugby franchises are taking the United Rugby Championship by storm after an indifferent start to the new competition.

WHEN the South African United Rugby Championship (URC) teams returned from Europe last November with their tails between their legs, the whispered refrain was “wait ‘til they come to us!”.

The Bulls fans have returned to Loftus Versfeld to see the likes of Madosh Tambwe in action.

Well, the European teams have come to South Africa and have experienced a month of collective hell in the Republic.

Why the dramatic turnaround in fortunes? Besides the obvious factor of the South Africans struggling with the frosty conditions in Europe in their winter month of November, it was also their baptism in a brand new competition. The opponents were new, the rugby itself was markedly different to Super Rugby and a most significant factor was the at times unfathomable refereeing of the northern hemisphere officials.

Interestingly, when the Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Italian teams came to face the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls and Lions, the URC insisted on those same NH referees, but this time the locals had a much better understanding of how they would blow.

The Lions have cashed in on the Highveld altitude factor by playing a high-paced game.

Looking at the SA teams, it has been the Stormers, who were the best SA team overseas, that have grown in leaps and bounds at home and are now looking like a good bet for a home semi-final after a hot streak of wins at DHL Stadium.

Flyhalf Manie Libbok along with fullbacks Damian Willemse and Warrick Gelant have been instrumental in the Stormers’ rise up the log.

The Lions have also enjoyed a turnaround in fortunes – they ended a nine-game losing sequence by winning four in a row against Cardiff, Munster, the Ospreys and Edinburgh before falling short against the Bulls and Connacht.

As for the Sharks, they remain on track for a playoff spot after victories over the Dragons, Lions and Leinster.

Manie Libbok has been instrumental in the Stormers’ charge up the URC table.