Wednesday, 31st October 2007 at 4:31 pm

A big week for Jannie du Plessis

Normally, there wouldn’t be any debate - World Cup trumps domestic title every time. But in Bloemfontein the Absa Currie Cup is religious artefact and then some, which makes winning the trophy a massive achievement for any Free Stater. Os du Randt speaks of winning the Currie Cup in the same breath as he recalls the ‘95 World Cup, and now Bloemfontein’s next superstar front row forward has a similar comparison to make.

While the rest of his team-mates were parading the World Cup round Vodacom Park, Du Plessis - who’d been part of the triumphant squad in Paris after a late call-up to replace the injured BJ Botha - was back in the thick of things, representing the Cheetahs in the most absorbing final local rugby’s seen for a while (we’d have to back to this year’s Super 14 at least).

And when the Cheetahs snuck home at the death, it meant that Du Plessis had chalked up a rare double: World Cup and Absa Currie Cup in the space of eight days. The World Cup, one suspects, will sneak pride of place on the Du Plessis mantlepiece, but having played much the season, and given the fervous for the Currie Cup that pulses through Bloemfontein, the 2007 win over the Lions won’t be too far behind.