Comebacks and predictions

rugby365 columnist Robbie Fleck gives us his views on one of the most amazing comebacks on a rugby field he's seen and then also gives us his weekly Super 14 predictions!

I don't want to sound like a stuck record, starting with the Varsity Cup every week. But this week we have every reason to kick off with this amazing tournament.

The Ikeys (University of Cape Town for any new readers of this column/website) came back twice - going behind 0-17 and then 10-31 - before winning their Varsity Cup semifinal against Puk-NWU (Potchefstroom) in the dying seconds at the 'Green Mile' in Cape Town on Monday this week with a Mathew Rosslee penalty. Three tries (22 points) in the final 15 minutes was amazing. All I can say that it was one hell of a comeback.

I've seen some incredible comebacks in my life. I think of France against New Zealand at the 1999 World Cup semifinal, with Les Bleus trailing 10-24. But in a sudden Gallic turnaround, they added 33 points to just seven from the All Blacks for a sensational 43-31 victory in a second-half blitz.

Then of course there was Durban 1998 - with the All Blacks leading the Springboks by 23-5 going into the final 10 minutes. Three quick tries and Gary Teichmann's Boks were the victors. I was a spectator at that game and what an awesome feeling.

It is something similar to what I experienced in the Varsity Cup encounter with Pukke earlier this week. I don't think UCT played particularly well and we certainly made unnecessary mistakes. The first 15 minutes we were not the side that we were throughout the tournament.

Credit to Pukke, they were extremely good. Matthew Proudfoot and the rest of the coaching staff did an excellent job in terms of analysing our game. They took us on out wide, where we never thought they would, and it took us by surprise with those two early tries. And we looked very much buried at 17-0 and then, later, 31-10. However, we always believed this Varsity side could turn it around.

All we said to them was to get hold of the ball, keep the ball and the points will come. We always felt the guys would score tries, it was just a matter of not leaking any more points.

The critical point came (and Matthew Proudfoot said it as well) when they scored that third try midway through the second half to go 21 points clear. We felt that Pukke just switched off and they probably felt they had the game sown up.

With the new laws (ELVs) you have to play the full 80 minutes and it's not over till the final whistle. It just shows what great character this varsity side has, the type of rugby they can play.

That was probably the greatest comeback I've seen outside of Test rugby. I've never been part of a comeback of that magnitude. To be a coach and to watch it... there's nothing better.

You can feel sorry for Pukke in a way, because they played a great game, but in the end it was the character and the way we approach our game that pulled us through. Who would have thought Matthew Rosslee would have kicked that last kick?

But if you look at quality sides like the Crusaders, even when they have a bad day at the office, they can still pull off a win.

We would like to hope this Varsity side show similar characteristics and grit to go on to win the competition and take it through for the rest of the season.

We are looking forward to the Final against arch rivals Stellenbosch next Monday.

Enough of that. It was a much better Super 14 week for South Africa.

I must say I was impressed with the Bulls. I've been quite critical of the Bulls over the past couple of weeks, but whatever they did they must have had a serious chat and got their side together. They were completely different side. They stepped up to the plate against the Blues and their key players - like Fourie du Preez and Bryan Habana - just stepped up to the plate.

It is one of the best games I've seen Habana play in a while - for an individual to have such an impact is great for SA rugby, to see he is back to form. It's such a pity he doesn't get used more often. But from a Bulls perspective it was great and they were very unlucky to lose it. Maybe a bad option playing to Danie Rossouw at the end and not go for a Derick Hougaard drop-goal, but from a South African perspective it is great to see the Bulls back.

They are still struggling with the ELVs and I still believe it is not the right coach.

In terms of the Stormers, it was magnificent - that's the best game I've seen the Stormers play in five years. It is really great to see that a young bunch of guys have got together, the confidence is growing.

They've got confidence in each other, they've got confidence in the way they are suppose to play the game, they've bought into Rassie Erasmus's philosophy of how the game should be played. They are - definitely the best South African side in terms of the education of the DELVs, in terms of the breakdown.

It is wonderful to see Stormers rugby back to where it was a couple of years ago and I really do hope they continue that form, because they can win five on the trot back at home and get a possible semifinal.

Cape Town rugby has needed the Stormers to come back. It also shows in terms of Ikeys and Maties they don't have to look too far in terms of local talent either. Cape Town rugby is strong, I just think it needs to be administered properly.

I think we've got the best coach in the country (in Rassie Erasmus), along with Dick Muir and John Plumtree.

Robbie Fleck's Super 14 predictions:

Friday, 4 April

Highlanders v Lions, Dunedin

The Lions had their best opportunity to win that game against Reds and they butchered that. They're a young side and Loffie Eloff has one way of playing the game. I don't know how much variation he has. I like the way he is playing the game, with trying to keep the ball alive and using their exciting backs, but they just don't have the big game players and the experience. Even though it is a really poor Highlanders side, they are desperate for a win and I think it is going to too tough for the Lions in Dunedin. The Highlanders to win.

Brumbies v Chiefs, Canberra

The Brumbies are not the same as yesteryear. Their key playmakers and experience is missing from their lineups and it has shown this season. Probably questions could be asked of coach Laurie Fisher. He's had a couple of years at the helm and what has he given them? The Chiefs are starting to hit their straps and starting to play good  rugby. I think they'll be too powerful for the Brumbies side out wide. The Chiefs to win.

Force v Bulls, Perth

This is a difficult one. Two weeks ago I would have said the Force to win by a long way. The Force have a quality coach and quality players in their side in Nathan Sharpe and Matt Giteau and Ryan Cross and they're a good side. But suddenly you see the Stormers dominate them in every facet of play and the Bulls had a magnificent game against the Blues. SDo where do you stand? I'd like to say that the Bulls will come right again, their last game on tour and they've sorted a few issues, maybe the Bulls pack will be just too strong for the Force. The Bulls to win.

Saturday, 5 April

Hurricanes v Sharks, Wellington

This is a big game. The Sharks are still unbeaten, but have they hit their straps? For me they haven't dominated any of the games they played, they were fortunate in a couple of games that they played - like against the Stormers and the Blues. It's also their first game abroad. I still think the Sharks will be there come semifinal time, and I would like to think they would get a home semifinal. But the first game on the road against the Hurricanes in Wellington - a Hurricanes team that is also starting to play good rugby - I think this is going to be the Sharks' first loss of their campaign. The Hurricanes to win.

Waratahs v Blues, Sydney

The Waratahs just got rid of their coach, which is quite a strange decision. But Ewen McKenzie has obviously been there for a couple of years, but he still hasn't brought any silverware and they do like to change. I think the Waratahs will pick up their game for this one, they are going to play for the coach. I still think the Waratahs are a good side, with good individual players, and they always play well at home in Sydney. The Blues just don't seem to be firing. They started so well in South Africa and have gone off the boil. The Waratahs will sneak it.

Cheetahs v Reds, Bloemfontein

I've been extremely impressed with the Reds. Phil Mooney has a great track record with the Aussie Under-21 side and he's made a great impact on this Reds team. The game they play, the style of rugby they played against the Sharks, really impressed me. They kept the ball alive in the tackle, passing to players in space. They're not a quality side in terms of individual rugby talents. Obviously there's Chris Latham, Quade Cooper, Morgan Turinui and David Croft. But they played well and impressed me against the Sharks. I thought the Sharks were lucky. I think the Reds are playing very well to the new laws. If they had one or two more quality players in their ranks, they would be a serious side. The Cheetahs have been very unlucky, but they've been leaking too many tries. Maybe it is the youth and lack of experience. Obviously I would like the Cheetahs to win, but the way the Reds approach the game they should win this. The Cheetahs are back from a long trip, they're tired and it will be tough to pick themselves up from so many losses on the trot. The Reds will sneak it.

Chat to you again next week!
Fleckie