I sense a giant stirring from its slumbers

Springbok coach Harry Viljoen would be right if, amidst all the euphoria at having two South African teams at the top of the Super 12 table, he experienced a few discomforting moments during the past weekend.

Yes, while South Africans flush themselves with pride at having the Sharks and the Cats in first and second place respectively with two matches to play in the league stages, a giant is slowly stirring itself out of its slumbers down south. The Highlanders were far better than their seven point margin of victory over the Brumbies in Dunedin and the Blues flexed their muscles to score an away win over the Stormers.

With the Crusaders showing class even in their defeat to the Cats, the past weekend would have been a major psychological boost for the embattled New Zealanders.

Few who have not been there will fully understand just how seriously the Kiwis take their rugby. Those who believe the sport is an obsession in South Africa should just take a trip to New Zealand when there is a major test series being played there.

On my first tour there as a reporter in 1994, I was flabbergasted at how the post-mortems of their series defeat to France utterly dominated the media. Speculation over the future of Laurie Mains, who was then the coach, was the lead story on every television channel, radio station or newspaper.

A New Zealand television producer I do the odd bit of work for probably summed up the mood in New Zealand after last week's round of matches, when South African teams won three out of three games against Kiwi combinations. After being given a hard time the previous week for having two Stormers players among the three Most Valuable Player awards after their narrow squeak against the Reds, I sent an explanation note for my awards following the Stormers/Crusaders game.

"I am sorry, but for this one I had to give all three awards to Stormers players," read the e-mail sent to Auckland.

"As I saw the rout, I have absolutely no doubt," came the response. Indeed. So down were the New Zealand rugby media last weekend that they chose to lead the newspapers on the Monday not with the Super 12 games, but with an uplifting story about New Zealand winning the FIRA World Under-19 tournament.

Then this past Saturday night came a call from a New Zealand radio station wanting a South African view on the weekend action. The voice on the other side suggested a complete change of psyche. He was bubbly and effusive: "We now cross to South Effrika, where the Blues have just pulled off one of the most momentous achievements in this year's Super 12..."

When I suggested Cape Town was shocked at the result, he assured me that so was Auckland. The inhabitants of the city which once ruled the Super 12 roost had given up on their team and had given them no chance. The rest of the interview left me in no doubt: The Auckland victory, while not saving their Super 12 campaign from failure, had given the New Zealanders new heart.

And so it should have. While their approach was never spectacular, the Blues showed that they still have their fair share of tough forwards and big backs who can both put in thumping tackles and outrun their opponents. Young flyhalf James Arlidge also added the direction which had been missing when veteran Carlos Spencer was in the pivot position, suggesting that New Zealand has its share of young halfbacks coming through.

Lest it be forgotten, the New Zealanders have five different squads over which to spread their rugby strength. The re-emergence of Eroni Clarke as a quality centre now that he has linked up with the Highlanders should have served as a reminder that New Zealand does not lack depth.

The quality of the Highlanders performance against the Brumbies told us two things. Firstly, the chances of a New Zealand name being inscribed on the Super 12 trophy once more have not been completely obliterated. Both they and the Hurricanes are displaying ominous form as the season comes to an end. Secondly, there are more than enough classy players for All Black coach Wayne Smith to build a winning combination with in the coming season. South Africa may be short of scrumhalves, but in Byron Kelleher and the evergreen Justin Marshall, the New Zealanders have at least two quality players to choose from.

The injury to All Black hooker Anton Oliver led some of us to believe it would reduce the Highlanders' effectiveness. Instead, up stepped Tom Willis, who turned in as fine a performance as any hooker has during this year's Super 12.

He also went one better than Oliver by consistently finding his jumpers.

The feared Highlanders front five had not fired on all cylinders in the earlier stages of the season, but the way they dominated the Brumbies in most phases of the game would have sounded a warning not only for their own future opponents, but also to the other international teams.

It should also not be forgotten that the Crusaders have been without Andrew Merhtens for most of the current season. Once he regains his old momentum after his injury, he will be back to his best. But in the meantime Tony Brown, who now boasts several test caps, is looking the part outside Kelleher. Now that Tana Umaga has hit a groove at outside centre for the Hurricanes, midfield should also not present too many problems to the All Blacks. Outside of Umaga, they have Jonah Lomu, the fast improving Jeff Wilson, a back-in-form Christian Cullen and what about Roger Randle or Iliesa Tuivela, two wingers who have been class acts with the ball in hand.

South Africans are getting excited because they have a big winger coming through in Dean Hall. In New Zealand such players are a dime a dozen, as Joeli Vidiri showed when he returned to the Blues team for their win against the Stormers. Doug Howlett was not shabby either.

Apart from Mehrtens there have been several other top New Zealand national players missing for much of this year's Super 12. Taine Randell and Norm Maxwell are just two players who should arrive at the international stage of the season feeling relatively refreshed. In their absence, the poor form shown collectively by their teams has not prevented individuals from putting their hands up.

Most importantly, however, the Super 12 results would have erased any prospect of the All Blacks reaching the international season with a mood of expectation.

Unlike last year, when the third successive Super 12 win for the Crusaders sent them in riding a wave of confidence, every New Zealand player will go in with a realistic outlook.

Any arrogance should have been swept away by the sobering experiences every player would have had to live through at some stage of this year's Super 12.

Far from being down and out, the All Blacks, as Smith suggested in an interview conducted last week, will be more dangerous than ever. The Super 12 defeats would have sparked much introspection, both from players and coaches, and that can be to their advantage.