Ken Borland

It’s been the proverbial season horribilis for the Nashua Titans with the Ram Slam T20 Challenge providing the last chance for the dominant franchise of 2011/12 to get something out of the summer.

The four-day Sunfoil Series was particularly galling for the Titans, who went into the competition as the defending champions, but lost eight of their 10 matches and failed to win any. To make it even more traumatic, their defeats were by huge margins – one by an innings and 247 runs, three by 10 wickets, one by nine wickets and others by 161 runs and 393 runs. Six of their matches were all over in three days.

The root of their travails would appear to be that the reserve talent in the squad responded poorly to the challenge of stepping up and replacing the likes of Faf du Plessis, Jacques Rudolph, Albie Morkel, Farhaan Behardien, Marchant de Lange, Paul Harris and Morne Morkel, who for various reasons only played 15 Sunfoil Series matches between them.

“The four-day campaign was dreadful and there were a combination of reasons. But it’s fair to say that the youth didn’t come through, they just didn’t execute their skills, either batting or bowling.

“Sometimes youngsters come in and take to it straight away, for others it takes them a while. We were playing three or four youngsters at once, whereas in an ideal world you’d like to knit one or two at a time into the team. We’ve got to work really hard,” coach Matthew Maynard admitted.

The Titans were, of course, rocked by twin tragedies at the start of the summer, with Maynard losing his son, Tom, a Surrey cricketer who was considered one of the most promising in England, and long-time and much-loved CEO Elise Lombard then passing away in August.

But their followers were heartened by their start to the season, making the semi-finals of the Champions League and then reaching the Momentum One-Day Cup playoff.

It is fair to say that the franchise are baffled by how the season just totally unravelled from that point.

Jacques Faul is the new CEO of the Titans and he admits that a franchise will always be judged by the performance of the team.

“The team is the showcase of the franchise and the play on the field is what we sell, if you like. I’ve been impressed with Matt Maynard as a coach, but even he doesn’t seem to really know where it all went wrong. He has worked out what we need though, going forward, and this has been such a successful franchise so I don’t think it will be difficult to return to winning ways,” Faul said.

A late resurgence in the T20 Challenge could, of course, turn around the whole season, especially in terms of the financial rewards it provides a franchise.

And the increased financial resources means Maynard could be in the market for some new players, while yesterday’s men slip from the scene.

“We still need to strengthen the squad and we’ll look to do that,” Maynard said.

Faul, drawing from his experience of helping to build the high-flying bizhub Highveld Lions team, is frustrated that the Titans allowed players like Hardus Viljoen, Imran Tahir and Gulam Bodi to slip away.

“You need to hang on to your talent, we were losing matches to teams with guys who used to play for the Titans, and you need a good mix of old and young players. It took the Highveld Lions a while to build their team. We know our national players are not going to play, it would be naïve to rely on them. We have to win without them and we have to create more stars to win,” Faul said.

The Titans management would seem to want a top-order batsman, a paceman and perhaps an experienced spinner, Harris having retired, who specialises in four-day cricket.

Of course, the Titans will look a different team when the likes of Rudolph, Albie Morkel, Behardien and De Lange play regularly.

“What the senior players bring to the table is match-winning performances. But the positive from the season is that guys like Graeme van Buuren, Francois le Clus and JP de Villiers look to have the potential to succeed at that level. The talent is there,” Maynard said.

The pressure will now be on the team and coaching staff to ensure that talent makes the Titans way more competitive next season.

It was a result cheered all around the country, except probably in Gauteng, as the Southern Kings surprised everyone by making a winning debut in SuperRugby and dispatching the Western Force 22-10 in Port Elizabeth.

It was a thrilling victory for rugby romantics, with passion and commitment in defence counting as much as any skill or big-name stars.

That the Force enjoyed 63% of possession and made just 83 tackles compared to the Kings’ 165 (with a 94% success rate) are telling statistics epitomising an effort that will go down in Eastern Cape rugby folklore.

And the name Sergeal Petersen is one you are clearly going to hear a lot more of as the 18-year-old SA Schools wing scored two tries.

What’s impressive about Petersen is that he clearly has a nose for an opportunity, his first try coming when he darted between two defenders, juggled and caught the bouncing ball and sped clear to make a try out of nothing.

Petersen’s second try came when he received the ball close to the touchline, but he managed to evade a couple of defenders and the powerfully-built former World Youth Championships athlete then muscled his way over.

The Kings’ character was in the firing line in the first half as they trailled 5-10 and then lost inspirational captain Luke Watson after he took a blow in the throat. But they came out in the second half in high spirits, taking the lead through two penalties by flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis.

The key moment came in the 54^th minute as Force lock Hugh McMeniman was yellow-carded for a high tackle. The penalty was kicked into the corner and this gave the Kings the territory to launch the attack that led to Petersen’s second, crucial try.

The rookies led 16-11 and Catrakilis added to this advantage with two late penalties to seal one of the most surprising results ever in SuperRugby.

The other surprise of the weekend came in Pretoria where the Stormers played with none of the spark nor passion that took them to the top of the South African Conference and Currie Cup glory last year.

Coach Allister Coetzee called it “the Currie Cup blues” and the over-riding impression was that the Stormers just failed to pitch up for the game, which was extraordinary because it was the north/south derby against their arch-rivals, the Bulls.

The Bulls’ game plan of strangling the opposition by dominating territory through their kicking game was clinically executed, with flyhalf Morne Steyn the star of the show for the way he took control of the match and succeeded with all seven of his kicks at goal.

As captain Jean de Villiers pointed out, the Stormers picked up a log point from every game last year, but this time they would depart Loftus Versfeld with nothing after their 25-17 defeat.

“We were flat, in the first half especially, and we gave away stupid penalties and made stupid mistakes. It’s a massive wake-up call, there’s a huge difference between Currie Cup and SuperRugby, you need to step up, and we didn’t,” De Villiers said.

When playing the Bulls at Loftus, it is essential to have a good kicking game to release the pressure, but flyhalf Elton Jantjies sadly had a dreadful first outing for the Stormers, missing their first four kicks at goal and also being schooled by Steyn when it came to tactical kicking.

A creaking scrum and a dysfunctional lineout will be other items Coetzee and De Villiers will be looking to address this week.

The Bulls were in firm control in the first half, enjoying 68% territory, and probably should have converted that pressure into more points than just the three Steyn penalties that put them 9-0 in front.

Judging by how upset Coetzee was after the game, the Stormers were obviously given a blast by the coach in the changeroom in the halftime break and they came out firing for the third quarter.

De Villiers dived over in the corner for a try – which only the man in the TMO box thought was legal after a knock-on and Bryan Habana crawling along the ground with the ball – and a Joe Pietersen penalty closed the gap to 10-12 in the 54^th minute.

Stormers scrumhalf Nic Groom then did well to catch Pierre Spies in possession at the back of a scrum, but the visitors then went off their feet, gifting Steyn his fifth penalty.

De Villiers was then caught on the wrong side of a ruck in front of his own poles, giving Steyn another penalty just four minutes later, and hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle’s try, running on to a Francois Hougaard grubber, gave the Bulls a cosy 25-10 lead with just 12 minutes remaining.

The Sharks had to survive some rough seas in Bloemfontein (sorry, but there is Naval Hill nearby!) to see off the Cheetahs 29-22.

Attacking from broken play is the one department in which the Cheetahs consistently excel and, as the game opened up in the second half they mounted a stirring fightback from 5-26 down.

But the Sharks always had the edge in the set-pieces and this ultimately was the telling factor.

“We always knew it would be tough playing the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, but the whole pack of forwards dominated on the day. Thanks to guys like Jannie du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira, we got a good platform from the scrums for our attacks,” Sharks captain Francois Steyn said.

It also didn’t help the Cheetahs that their talismanic young flyhalf Johan Goosen had an awful first half.

In contrast, his rival for the Springbok number 10 jersey, Pat Lambie, had a fine afternoon and had a hand in much of the good work the Sharks did, as well as kicking faultlessly at goal.

The Cheetahs were not structured nor sharp enough on attack in the first half, not enjoying the same cohesion they displayed in the second half when Goosen came good.

But when they click, the Cheetahs are not going to be easy-beats in Bloemfontein.

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The Southern Kings have neither the funds nor the players that the Bulls and Stormers do, but there will be as much attention on their Vodacom SuperRugby debut in Port Elizabeth as there will be on the humdinger expected at Loftus Versfeld for the north/south clash.

The Western Force should provide reasonable opposition and at least some chance of victory for the Kings, but the downside for the competition newbies is that there has been precious little time for their team to gel as a unit for one of the games they would have targeted for a win.

Captain Luke Watson has a key role for the Kings in this regard and is one of the few members of their squad who knows what SuperRugby is all about, having played in 82 matches for the Stormers and Sharks.

Lock Steven Sykes, centre Andries Strauss and hooker Bandise Maku have also played enough SuperRugby to know what to expect, but such is the pace and intensity of the southern hemisphere competition that the Kings are most definitely being thrown into the deep end. Most observers expect defeat on Saturday to be the precursor to a series of batterings for the Eastern Cape minnows.

While many are eagerly preparing themselves to mock the Kings’ efforts this season, the chance their participation gives the likes of former Western Province flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, 18-year-old SA Schools wing Sergeal Petersen, fullback SP Marais and young forwards Wimpie van der Walt and David Bulbring to play on this stage should be welcomed.

The Kings enter a whole new world at 19:10 on Saturday night, but at the same time on Friday night, all eyes will be on Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria when two of the title contenders clash.

The Stormers will be chasing a third successive win on that hallowed turf and victory will certainly set them on their way to another strong challenge.

Some key injuries will count heavily against them, though. Schalk Burger’s imminent return has just turned out to be a fanciful yarn, while the absence of lock Eben Etzebeth means the Bulls pack now nears the Stormers’ in terms of physicality and ability.

The absence of hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and centre Juan de Jongh, both Springboks, are further spokes in the Stormers’ wheel, but eighthman Duane Vermeulen is a man who can inspire a forward pack and there is still plenty of quality in the backline.

Elton Jantjies has been entrusted with the number 10 jersey and the responsibility of sparking that backline, with the Stormers also calling on the experience of Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana to ensure they keep calm in the cauldron of Loftus.

Bulls captain Pierre Spies called the Stormers/Western Province the best team in South Africa last year and he is aware that the Bulls’ prospects in their second season since the Great Trek saw the likes of Matfield, Du Preez, Rossouw and the two Bothas depart, will be measured against how they perform against the 2012 SA Conference winners.

The Stormers can expect little leeway from a Bulls side that will be steely in midfield with Wynand Olivier teaming up with JJ Engelbrecht, and physical up front with the likes of Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Flip van der Merwe and Werner Kruger thriving on the tight exchanges.

While the Bulls and Stormers are competing for an early psychological edge and a quick start to the competition, the Cheetahs start their campaign aware that they are already probably standing on the ledge with a huge drop beneath them.

Taking on last year’s two finalists – the Sharks in Bloemfontein on Saturday and then the defending champions Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend – is not the kindest of draws for the Cheetahs, who will be keeping an eye on the progress of the Kings lest they get caught up in the horror of promotion/relegation at the end of the season.

And the Sharks are obviously over the “bogey side” phenomenon, having beaten the Cheetahs in their last four encounters.

It will be a massive blow to the Cheetahs’ confidence if they lose at home hours before flying to New Zealand, but it is a very real possibility given the depth, experience and quality that the Sharks will be bringing to Bloemfontein.

And it does not help the home side’s cause that the one area of improvement the Sharks are focusing on is starting the competition well, after they lost four of their first seven matches last year, which came back to haunt them in the end as they had to travel for all their playoff games.

The Cheetahs backline is a dangerous one, however, with Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn and Raymond Rhule all players that should be on the radar of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. Johan Goosen is back at flyhalf to direct the show, while scrumhalf Piet van Zyl is one of the most improved players in South African rugby.

The Sharks backline is blessed with current Springboks though in JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Pat Lambie and Lwazi Mvovo, while Louis Ludik and Paul Jordaan are great talents.

The Sharks loose trio is regarded as one of the best in the competition and will play a key role as defenders and stiflers of the quick ball that makes the creative Cheetahs so threatening.

Veteran Lions lock Franco van der Merwe makes his debut as a Shark in the number five jersey alongside Anton Bresler, who emerged as one of the country’s most promising second-rowers in last year’s Currie Cup.

Jannie du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira are as formidable a pair of props as their journeymen Cheetahs counterparts, Trevor Nyakane and Lourens Adriaanse, could hope to come up against.

Coenie Oosthuizen is on the bench for the Cheetahs but, as one of just four Springboks against the 14 in the Sharks’ squad, not even he can provide enough firepower to avoid the home side being rank underdogs.

Other fixtures

Friday: Highlanders v Chiefs (Dunedin); Rebels v Brumbies (Melbourne).

Saturday: Hurricanes v Blues (Wellington); Reds v Waratahs (Brisbane).

South African teams

Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Lionel Mapoe, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Morné Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Morné Mellett. Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Grant Hattingh, Arno Botha, Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouché, Francois Venter.

Stormers: Jaco Taute, Gio Aplon, Jean de Villiers, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, Elton Jantjies, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi, Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp, Pat Cilliers, Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Frans Malherbe, Don Armand, Nizaam Carr, Dewaldt Duvenage, Gerhard van den Heever, Joe Pietersen.

Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn, Raymond Rhule, Johan Goosen, Piet van Zyl, Philip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Frans Viljoen, Francois Uys, Lood de Jager, Lourens Adriaanse, Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane. Replacements: Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuizen, Waltie Vermeulen, Boom Prinsloo, Sarel Pretorius, Elgar Watts, Ryno Benjamin.

Sharks: Louis Ludik, JP Pietersen, Paul Jordaan, Frans Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Pat Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Marcell Coetzee, Jacques Botes, Franco van der Merwe, Anton Bresler, Jannie du Plessis, Craig Burden, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Wiehahn Herbst, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean Deysel, Charl McLeod, Meyer Bosman, Odwa Ndungane.

Southern Kings: SP Marais, Sergeal Petersen, Ronnie Cooke, Andries Strauss, Marcello Sampson, Demetri Catrakilis, Shaun Venter, Luke Watson, Wimpie van der Walt, Cornell du Preez, Steven Sykes, David Bulbring, Kevin Buys, Bandise Maku, Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: Edgar Marutlulle, Jaco Engels, Daniel Adongo, Jacques Engelbrecht, Johan Herbst, George Whitehead, Hadleigh Parkes.

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The power-hitting of Dwaine Pretorius led the Highveld Lions to a seven-wicket victory over the Titans in their T20 Challenge match at the Wanderers on Wednesday.

Pretorius helped himself to three fours and four sixes as he bashed 42 runs off 20 balls to carry the Lions to 150 for three in 18.5 overs and victory with seven balls to spare.

Pacemen Sohail Tanvir and Hardus Viljoen, and spinner Aaron Phangiso had earlier claimed two wickets apiece in a stellar all-round bowling performance by the Lions that restricted the Titans to 148 for seven after being sent in to bat.

It was certainly a competitive total given the inconsistent bounce that saw several deliveries keep extremely low on an unusually poor Wanderers pitch.