Challenge Cup Final: South African influence that was and presence that could've been

OPINION: While Ulster were left to rue the wreckage of their performance after a 26-59 annihilation by Montpellier in the Final of the EPCR Challenge Cup in Bilbao on Friday night, Juarno Augustus can keep his head high.

Prior to the Final, Ulster finished ninth in the United Rugby Championship. As the team that wins the Challenge Cup gains automatic entry to the Champions Cup regardless of where they end in the URC, Ulster missed the chance to gain entry to the premier club competition via a different route.

*ALSO READ: Physical Montpellier end Ulster’s fairytale bid

Montpellier scored nine tries to Ulster’s four to win their third Challenge Cup title in sweltering conditions. And while Ulster resembled victims given the ruthlessness of Montpellier, Augustus was one of the few exceptions.

Things looked promising for the Irish club early on, with Augustus’ try-creating charge down the left touch sure to have given Ulster supporters reason to believe that things might just go their way and that the twenty-year long dearth of silverware might come to an end.

While Trokkie’s early surge, which led to the opening try of the match, was a delightful sight, it did not set the tone for the night’s proceedings.

Ulster’s pack were humiliated by their French counterparts, with Montpellier using the scrum and maul, specifically, to devastating effect.

The intense humidity made Ulster’s errors almost forgivable, that is until Montpellier showed that they could be effective and clinical despite the sticky and slippery additions to the night.

The former Stormers back-row forward was Ulster’s best performer as he was a force with ball in hand, carrying strongly (as always) and consistently getting his team over the gain line, while he also served a good few bone-rattling tackles.

It was a continuation of the form he has put on display all season.

Ulster simply couldn’t compete against Montpellier once they put their foot down, and they were dominated in every area that mattered.

The only area where reasonable comparison could be drawn was the battle of the number eights…it wasn’t just worthy of comparison; it was a headliner in its own right.

Augustus took the contest to Billy Vunipola as he matched the former England international’s ferocity in his attempts to get his team ahead, while the burly South African also humbled Vunipola with a massive tackle in the second quarter.

The duo made the second-most carries for their respective teams, while their running contributions weren’t all too different, either.

Augustus made nine carries and covered 34 metres, while Vunipola made 10 carries for 17 metres. Augustus’ superior numbers when you look at the ground covered, despite clocking one fewer run, speaks to what he can do with ball in hand.

He has been in hot form for Ulster all season, and that hot streak has been coming for some time.

He has produced statement upon statement, with performances, particularly those against his fellow countrymen – like in the 38-all draw against his former team, the Stormers, in the penultimate round of the URC – impossible to ignore.

In a man-of-the-match display generously doused with physicality, overall ball-in-hand menacing, and bulldozing runs, the 28-year old’s performance in that crucial league match screamed quality.

Augustus also was also named man of the match performance in Ulster’s 29-12 Challenge Cup semifinal victory against the Exeter Chiefs.

He has been a consistent performer for Ulster, and the Final was no different.

If there were 15 performances like the one Trokkie put on show in the Final, it would have made a big difference.

Another consistent performer, another South African who has given his all for Ulster all throughout the season is Werner Kok. Only he did not get to carry his influence into the Final.

The in-form wing was a shock omission from the line-up as he was dropped from the matchday squad altogether after being one of their mainstays throughout the season.

Kok had to make way for Robert Baloucoune as the Ireland wing made his first start for Ulster in the final following an injury sustained in the Six Nations match against Scotland back in March.

While Baloucoune wasn’t a complete miss, he wasn’t really visible until the second half when he scored a try. And while he may not have been terrible under the high ball, he didn’t exactly do enough to prove the scrutiny he has faced in the past for his shortcomings in that area was unwarranted.

Ulster couldn’t get very much going out wide in Bilbao as Montpellier effectively shut them down and drove them inside. Exactly that shortcoming begs the question of whether Kok would have found a way to force a hole out wide and finish, as he has done so many times since settling in Ireland.

While there is an argument to be made for wanting to give a player who is part of your future plans an opportunity in such a crucial game, considering that the former Blitzbok’s contract has not been renewed beyond this season, axing a player who has been key to your progress just doesn’t sit right.

Sentiment aside, Kok’s form alone was enough to justify an appearance in the Final he helped Ulster achieve.

The curly-haired speedster started in their 38-all stalemate against the Stormers in the penultimate round of the URC, a game in which he scored a hat-trick, before also starting in their 22-26 loss to Glasgow Warriors, a result which saw them just miss out on the playoffs.

In the URC alone, Kok has bagged 10 tries (the third most in the competition) in 15 matches and made 19 clean breaks (ninth in the competition).

Ulster should have given Kok a proper send-off. He deserved a proper send-off.

After everything we have seen from the fan-favourite winger this season, there’s good reason to believe he would have returned the favour with another electric performance for the team from Belfast had he been given the chance.