The Blue Bulls triumphed at the weekend in the Currie Cup finals to wrap up a great twelve months for South African Rugby. They have won the IRB sevens title fro the first time ever, the Springboks won the Tri-Nations title, The Blue Bulls from Pretoria also won their second Super 14 title.
Which raises the issue as to whether we should look at having the best northern hemisphere team take on the best from the southern nemipshere?
This would be a great spectacle and would probably carry a lot more meaning and interest for the fans than some of these tours to the northern hemisphere at the end of the southern hemisphere season and vice versa.
With all the money being in Europe it would show whether despite losing some of the best players the impact on South Africa and New Zealand is minimal. We have deliberately left Australia out, as currently in both Super Rugby and Test match rugby they are lagging behind the other nations due to a lack of foresight by those charged with running the game.
The interesting thing for the successful Springboks and the Bulls is can they bring through young talent that will slip in and replace the older players who have served them so well, and make it a seamless transition?
With the next World Cup in 2011 and South Africa defending their title, it is questionable as to whether Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield can keep going and remain so dominant for another two years. Botha will be 32 and Matfield 34, there may be some who would say they should be rested for a year of international rugby to keep them ready for 2011.
Whatever the outcome it will be interesting, and it is good news for World Rugby that South Africa is coming back to be the force to be reckoned with that it was before isolation.
