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DURBAN - Any South Africans who missed yesterday's Super 14 rugby semifinals were quickly up to speed today as twin successes for the Sharks and Bulls were plastered all over the Sunday newspapers.
The Sharks' 34-18 defeat of the Blues in Durban and the Bulls' 27-12 humbling of the Crusaders to set up an all-South African final produced a reaction that ranged from gleeful to hysterical.
Africaan language paper Rapport headlined its front page with "Super-triomf!" and the first sentence simply read "Super-sensasioneel!"
In typically aggressive style, the newspaper devoted as much space to the omission from the Springboks squad of super goalkicker Derick Hougaard as the semifinals. Hougaard kicked all 27 points for the Bulls.
The Sunday Independent writer Kevin McCallum believed New Zealand's double failure could have repercussions later this year.
"Mark the date, mark the time, mark the place. In a few months time at the World Cup in France, Springbok fans may be looking back at yesterday's two Super 14 semifinals and talking about the day the tide turned South African rugby's way."
Sunday Tribune sports editor Simon Osler couldn't resist another salvo in the direction of New Zealand rugby, saying the Sharks' turnaround in fortunes could be traced back to when coach Dick Muir replaced New Zealander Kevin Putt.
"His (Putt's) tenure as coach of the Sharks was little more than a disaster," Osler wrote.
"Muir came in at a time when the Sharks were being pilloried around the country as the "sardines" who couldn't win a match in the Super 12 and has turned the ship around in under two seasons."
- NZPA
