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Cape Town – It would be far too early to assume that the good times are suddenly rolling again on the rugby front in the Eastern Cape.
A late-January triumph by the Southern Kings in a friendly against the Bulls, fielding a decidedly second-tier combination – and in some cases only third or fourth personnel in key positions – isn’t enough to warrant the word “renaissance” in Port Elizabeth and surrounds.
No, it might be a while yet before men in red and black jerseys start consistently emulating the halcyon days of no-nonsense Frans Erasmus, George Rautenbach, Pote Human and that global superstar from Despatch named Danie Gerber.
But if baby steps can precede big strides – they often do in sport – then the Kings at least delivered a statement of serious resolve and ambition at an atmospheric Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
A crowd reported to be in the region of 30 000 saw the home side not just see off the defending Super Rugby champions, but do so with an unexpected amount of daylight to spare.
I don’t imagine that you would have had too many takers for a 23-7 score-line beforehand, and keep in mind that until they finally bothered the scoreboard with a converted try in the 67th minute, the Bulls were in grave danger of having to settle for a particularly ignominious nought.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super...in-PE-20110129