Where did the intensity come from?

Picture: thestormers.com

Wow!

If the Bulls and Stormers had played each match with the intensity they started today's games, they'd be one and two on the log. If they'd finished with today's intensity of the Sharks and the Cheetahs second halves, they'd be unbeatable.

Perhaps most pleasing is that the Boks are beginning to put their hands up and the young stars are pushing them hard.

Where was this level of commitment and belief earlier in the season. It seems that South African teams approach the Super 14 with the dread of the coming overseas tour. Then they hate the tour, and then they play to restore pride when they come back.

But equally, the players did the basics right today. It is amazing how commitment translates into good basics. It is also amazing how commitment rubs off. Rayno Benjamin has shown poor performances this season - today he worked hard

Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield piled into rucks with Pedrie Wannenberg today. Tim Dlulane struggled for the ball in the trenches. The Stormers committed numbers to the rucks today. De Wet Barry was his abrasive best. Defensive patterns worked and players attacked the gain line. Schalk Burger and Luke Watson bristled with aggression and were immense today - probably the best loose performance of the season. Big Joe was fantastic on defence and with some attacking play could be back to his best. Ross Skeate looked tomorrow's Victor Matfield. Peter Grant showed the promise he hinted at at the beginning of the season. Neil de Kock played his best all round game this season, and given his performance against the Chiefs, could challenge for the Boks - together with Fourie du Preez and Ruan Pienaar.

Coming back from deficit positions, although not quite, John Smit took it to the Bulls forwards with support from the young impressive Keegan Daniels and the old heads of Ackerman and later Albert van der Berg. For the Cheetahs, Bevan Fortuin and Giscard Pieters tried hard as they have the whole season - their role in sweeping line movements that brought their final try almost won their match for them.

Both the Bulls and the Stormers showed they could lead for 80 minutes. The defensive effort shown by the Stormers during the second half against the best provincial side in the world was particularly pleasing.

But most pleasing was 15 man performances.

These are pleasing signs. Why do they come in the dying moments of South Africa's Super Rugby seasons?