Phil Waugh's Super Rugby career began in Cape Town and he realises he may never reach a semi-final again, which, he tells Rupert Guinness on Rugby Heaven, makes him all the more intent on making a difference today
"Waugh is familiar with the Newlands experience, having travelled to Cape Town many times since his Super 10 debut in 2000, which resulted in a 22-15 defeat to the Stormers. Now 30, and with his odometer reading 79 Tests and 123 Super matches, Waugh needs no reminding of the significance another defeat to the Cape Town franchise would carry this weekend.
"Losses are unpalatable at the best of times, but when they occur in a semi-final before 52,000 partisan South Africans, the sting is especially acute. And given that this weekend's match quite possibly represents Waugh's last chance of celebrating a Super title win, the stakes could hardly be higher.
''Each time you make the finals - even for some of the guys new in their careers - it is [about] limited opportunities at the end of the season,'' he said. ''You see throughout the season the team's performances and you see how hard it is to get into the four - the tight games we have won, the tight games we have lost. And you look at other teams and the tight games they have won and lost.''
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