Cape Town - While the Lions are still in with a chance of Super Rugby glory, the dismal performances of the two other South African sides in the Super Rugby playoffs is likely to be a cause for concern for Springbok coach Allister Coetzee.
The Boks will be back in action in just over three weeks' time when the Rugby Championship kicks off on August 20, with the South Africans taking on Argentina in Nelspruit and the world champion All Blacks squaring up against Australia in Sydney on the same day.
But while New Zealand have three teams in the Super Rugby semifinals this weekend, only the Lions will be flying the South African flag after both the Stormers and Sharks suffered heavy defeats in their respective quarter-finals at the weekend.
The Durban-based Sharks had to bear the ignominy of becoming the first team to be scoreless in a playoff game in a 41-0 thrashing at the hands of the Hurricanes in a wet Wellington, while the Stormers didn't fare much better as the Chiefs scored eight tries in a 61-20 hiding at Newlands.
The fact that many of the Sharks and Stormers are also current Springboks will make Coetzee a worried man before he names his squad for the Rugby Championship in a few weeks' time. All of Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen, Lwazi Mvovo, Garth April, Coenie Oosthuizen and Tendai Mtawarira were part of the Bok squad that beat Ireland 2-1 in June.
The Stormers had an even bigger Bok squad representation against the Chiefs - Damian de Allende, Nic Groom, Siya Kolisi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi and Scarra Ntubeni.
Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss' Bulls outfit didn't even make it to the playoffs, and neither did the Cheetahs. The light at the end of the tunnel is the Lions, whose eight Boks were outstanding in thumping the Crusaders 42-25 at Ellis Park at the weekend.
Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert and Julian Redelinghuys featured against Ireland, and it wouldn't be a surprise if a few more of their franchise teammates run out in the green-and-gold in August.
Hooker Malcolm Marx has been outstanding as a ball-carrier and in the tight exchanges, while Rohan Janse van Rensburg, who is joint-third on the try-scorers' list on nine, has developed into a fine inside centre who could challenge De Allende for the Bok No 12 jersey.
Left wing Courtnall Skosan again displayed his predatory instincts in scoring against the Crusaders, and he is just one behind Janse van Rensburg with eight tries.
It may be the cue for Coetzee to have the Lions form the nucleus of his Bok squad for the Rugby Championship.
In contrast, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has an embarrassment of riches to choose from, and he will have a number of selection headaches, particularly at halfback.
All of Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes) and Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) are worthy of the New Zealand No 10 jersey, while Hurricanes scrumhalf TJ Perenara's inventive display against the Sharks could see him push the Highlanders' Aaron Smith for the No 9 spot in the national team.
Given the lethargic performances of the Stormers and Sharks, Coetzee may be forced to opt for a Lions-filled Springbok team if they are to have any chance of winning the Rugby Championship.
African News Agency