It’s that time of the year again. While we’ve all been engrossed in the heady heights of top-flight international rugby the oft-neglected yet terrifically important apogee of domestic rugby has snuck up on us like a sex tape sneaks up on an unsuspecting Hollywood starlet. The Super 14, the Inbound Tours and the great return of the British and Irish Lions has kept us occupied over the first six months of 2009, and it’s time that we leave the flash and flicker of international commercialism and take a step backwards to the hard-fought, less televised civil war that is about to commence.

The Currie Cup has taken a lot of flack over the last few years. Declining attendances, low TV viewerships and sides that look like they’re strung to together from the boys still living their glory days of the Eerste Span at the local watering hole have all contributed to a rather dull tournament. Like haggard 50 year old pornstars we went through the motions of the preliminary rounds, biding our time until the gratuitous big-light return of the main actors for the climax in October.

But I think this year’s going to be a little different. While it may seem abstract, the William Webb Ellis trophy sitting in our cabinet has given South African rugby a little boost, and this new sheen that an opportunity to play for the best side in world rugby has meant that competition is fierce for those 22-odd places alongside Snorman. One only has to look at the wealth of depth that last year’s tournament helped to uncover, from Dewald Pretorious’ continued rise to Jean Deysel’s meteoric impact on anyone in his way to men like Colin Lloyd and Vuyo Sangqwa, whose exploits in the B-division have seen their stakes rise. Even the slow puncture of overseas-bound players has been somewhat reversed, with the likes of Chris Jack and Juan Martin Hernandez set for their Currie Cup debuts.

All in all, this has served to pique the interest of rugby pundits the country over. While I usually approach the earky stages Currie Cup with the same enthusiasm as I do my bowl of ProNutro in the morning, I now find myself actually excited to see my beloved Sharks take the field in the black-and-white hoops and to see what talent Plumtree and the boys have unearthed. I know for a fact that the likes of the Cronje twins, Luzuko Vulindlu and Patrick Lambie represent the future of Natal and possibly Bok rugby, and that their induction into the Sharks lineup will be the first step in the creation of a dynasty of fine talent that should continue for years to come.

The Bulls are threatening as always, with a wealth of talent brought forward from their successful S14 campaign and a very solid Currie Cup ‘08. With Derick Kuun, the awesomely-named Burton Francis and loosies Stegmann and Potgieter, they will pose a very big threat to anyone traveling up to Jacarandaland. And that’s without their Springboks.

A little further down, we have the real journeymen of the Currie Cup, the likes of the Leopards, the Kavaliers and the Griquas. With names like Bom Samaai, Ligtoring Landman and Draad Linde making appearances on the teamsheet, they provide some fodder for our bumbling commentators to stumble over. But I think that this year they will be more than just mild entertainment, and may just seek to upset the apple (onion) cart a little when the bigger unions swing into dorp for a fixture. The promise of free boerie from the plaastal and every blonde-haired, blue-eyed, pertly-built and Daisy Duke-wearing farmgirl tending to their every need is motivation enough to get them pumped for the big games. Hell, for that kind of a deal I’d even go live in Potch.

So, Currie Cup 2009 is upon us. Can the Sharks defend their title? Are Province going to threaten greatness but ultimately disappoint, again? Will the Bulls be able to bounce back from defeat at the hands of the Banana Boys to triumph again? Will Andy Capastagno ever stop telling us exactly where every player was educated? Will Hugh Bladen finally get that Firstwatch sponsorship? The answers to those questions, and all the dry-field, hot-cheerleader, boerie and chips action will unfold over the upcoming 5 months.

Ho yessa.

Peace.