The year 2008 is a long time ago but, significantly, that was the last time a Super Rugby playoff didn't come to SA. This year, the prospect of SA's teams hosting a playoff is remote, especially with the Bulls writing themselves off with consecutive draws against the Blues and the Highlanders.
The Sharks took themselves out of the equation, with five out of their seven losses coming at home and, like most SA teams, need a miracle for them to host a playoff.
The Lions and the Stormers thrived on being inconsistent, but none of them looked like they'd force a playoff issue at any stage of the season. It's a dismal failure not only for the teams, but for the conference system that was set up for them to succeed.
The system was set up to ensure each nation hosts playoff games and to avoid drought periods like the time between 2002 and 2006 when there wasn't a Super Rugby playoff on SA soil.
In the Super 12/14 era since 1996 to 2010, the round-robin format meant the cream always rose to the top. SA only hosted playoffs in 1999, 2001, 2007, 2009 and 2010 in that time. In each year since the conference system came into being in 2011, there's always been a playoff on these shores. The Lions had a playoff for three consecutive years between 2016 and 2018.
This was expected but sudden downturn in fortunes was difficult for former Bulls and Springbok lock Bakkies Botha to explain.
"I can't put my finger on it. I don't know whether it's because it's a World Cup year where players are holding back. I don't quite know. Last week I stuck my neck out for the Sharks as the best SA team and they ended up losing to the Hurricanes. It's sad but SA teams have been massively inconsistent," Botha said.
"The most important thing for me has been the mindset. We know we've got the players across the franchises but I think the mindset isn't always there. How can you win away from home and when you're home, you lose?"
Former Springbok and Bulls winger Akona Ndungane said the SA teams didn't always have the required urgency to confront teams at home.
The Bulls were a good example of this, with their wins against SA and Australian teams bookmarked by heavy losses to the Chiefs and the Crusaders.
Former Springbok and Bulls winger Akona Ndungane said the SA teams didn't always have the required urgency to confront teams at home
The Sharks took this to the extreme this season, with four of their five home losses coming against SA conference teams.
They were a bit better on the road but couldn't reprise the kind of touring form this season that they displayed last year.
The Lions only won one SA derby at home against the Stormers last week while the Bulls were embarrassed at home by New Zealand teams.
"From the games I've seen, it's a lack of urgency that's been a problem with the guys. The physicality is something they don't lack, nor were they outperformed in that department. We also have the skills, but it's like the guys weren't pitching up for those games," Ndungane said.
"You have to rock up for each game separately each weekend and I hope that's a lesson they've learnt this season."
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