I see that the Aussies have, predictably, come out with a retort to SARU’s frankly bonkers decision to raise “concerns” in the media about the impact that the expanded Super Rugby tournament will have on players’ bodies and minds in a World Cup year.
O’Neill and his buddies have, I feel quite rightly, questioned why the South Africans have waited until a week before the tournament kicks off to raise these concerns, when there were , presumably, ample opportunities during the year-long negotiations that led up to this format, for all the parties to air their grievances. Yesterday’s Super Rugby launch at Vodaworld came across as a bit of an apologetic whinge-fest, with the presenters and suits from SARU taking it in turns to muse about how complex the competition format is, exactly how many injuries are going to occur, about how little depth the the Cheetahs have and so on and so forth.
It’s a little late for that, guys. If we, as South Africans, are concerned about getting hurt in a World Cup year, then maybe it’s up to us to be smart about it and not treat every single one of the 400 local derbies on the calendar as a must-win, do-or-die grudge match. I’ve for a long time wished that certain of our teams could go into matches against foreign opposition with the same fire that they seem to reserve only for games against their countrymen. If our top players go into the World Cup carrying bumps and bruises, we only have ourselves to blame.
The competition format is also not completely impossible to comprehend either. KSA Shark had it waxed about five minutes after it was announced and I caught on not all that long afterwards. It’s become a bit of an in-joke to “not understand how the hell this SupeRugby thing works”. A little lame and tired now, if you ask me.
It’s time to stop complaining about things that we’ve already put our name to. The opportunity to impact the format of Super Rugby, or pull out of it altogether if we did not like the way it was going, has long gone. Time to act like grown ups.
Go Rugby
Maybe the coaches should start putting faith in our fringe players to help us thru when the top guys need rest and there won’t be a issue about a long season..I mean there are so many lads crying to play so let them..we won’t know how the guy does until we let him try
Mind explaining how SupeR ugby works?
@shaniboi, I totally agree. there are plenty of players out there, who will hopegully now come forward and prove themselves on higher levels of the game. And this format os super rugby allows for this to happen. I think loads of talent that could be discovered.
@Crock (Comment 4) : I mean the cheetahs are crying that there is a lack of depth but they feed other unions..there must be so many fringe players who are lookin to play..
U can’t really blame lack of funds if u not tappin into ur assets first…
Ja well here is the thing Jurie (SARU CEO who complained), when this rubbish was announced fans from around South Africa on blogs like this warned you about this stupid format.
And you (SA Rugby) has the gall to say the format was changed because the ‘fans’ wanted it – I would seriously love to know which fans you chatted to.
I didnt get the broadcast, but did we really bitch about something that we were cosignatories to – madness.
@Morné (Comment 6) : Ja, Jurie jou ou drol!!! Morne for president!
@Pokkel (Comment 8) :
Shame, I am actually screaming at the wrong person.
From what I hear he is the only sane one in SA Rugby and only joined or got appointed after all this was signed and sealed already.
‘I’ve for a long time wished that certain of our teams could go into matches against foreign opposition with the same fire that they seem to reserve only for games against their countrymen.’
Damn Cheetah’s
@Morné (Comment 9) : So who is the real drol so I can kak him out?
Doesn’t really matter if he didn’t sign it off but you still don’t give an opinion like that at a function like that so he’s still a drol IMHO!
@Pokkel (Comment 11) :
Andy Marinos
As you say, they had a year to moan about the problems, but the administrators were blinded by the dollar signs in their eyes. As usual the Aussies are the ones smiling, because now they get to create an entirely new franchise in a city that didn’t even know rugby existed. Mo’ money!
@Morné (Comment 12) : I never did like him very much. Isn’t he a short shit just like Voldy?
Interesting, I came a cross an article that said Rugby Union was the 9th most watched sport in Australia in 2010, in terms of television audience. Turns out Bruce and Sheila would rather watch swimming, tennis (and interestingly enough) athletics events ahead of rugby on TV. No wonder the rugby administrators are trying to create fans out of thin air by creating new franchises.
@Pokkel (Comment 14) :
He is arguably one of the most hated figures in the Cape. he was the oke that lead the strike in the late 1990′s when the Stormers made the semi’s and hosted the Highlanders at Newlands – only to be klapped in the semi’s because the boys were more interested in money than the game thanks to this idiot.
Each team will play 3 more games than last year! The way these guys at SARU is going in you would think every team played 10 games more!
Agreed. It’s too late to complain at this stage…we didn’t have the intellect to realize during the negotiations that the new format would only benefit the Australians. We clearly need people with brains in SA Rugby to negotiate on our behalf. If the big idea was to really increase the number of local derbies, we should have negotiated that the points for a victory (including bonus points) against local competitors be half the points to be obtained from a win (including points) and foreign competitors i.e. victory against local competitor = 3 points, bonus point against local competitor = 1 point, finish within 7 points against local competitor = 1 point, victory against foreign competitor = 6 points, bonus point against foreign competitor = 2 points, finish within 7 points against foreign competitor = 2 points. This would in a way balance the points out when it comes to the business end of the competition (with the current format, a team has a better chance of going far in the competition if they only play their best players against local teams – I can assure you that Naka and Verster have contemplated that). In the history of Super Rugby when it comes to Australia, there have always been 2 teams that just don’t lose against other Australian teams, be it at home or away. Can you image how many points those dominant Australian teams are going to have when we combine the 3 conferences at the end of the competition? The Bulls have the best record when it comes to away games against local teams with something like 80%, we have a 60% success rate, the other teams have a below 33% success rate. With this format, I only see 1 SA team playing in the knock – out stages and that’s only because the first placed team in each conference is guaranteed a place in the knock out stages.
The Australians are smiling.
@Morné (Comment 6) : could that just maybe be the reason we have a new CEO?
It wasn’t Jurie who agreed or negotiated this long schedule. At the time he wasa also probably one of the outsiders complaining.
@Morné (Comment 9) :
Marinos is the same twit who led you guys (WP) to make threats and demands before a very important semi final.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 18) : Finally. Thanx for clearing that up.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) :
In other news, Johan Prinsloo has been appointed as new CEO of SWD rugby…
Can things get any worse for this poor union?
The 1 thing SANZAR will never be able to overcome is the travelling aspect which has and still favours Aussie and NZ teams.
SA teams will have to play 4 games in the Antipodes, while their sides only come here for 2 games. With the exception of the Perth games, their teams can basically arrive the day before and fly home the same night.
Not fair, Not fair. But what can you do?
if our teams can not win in superugby overseas we can mar stay home come WC time, i’m so exited that a team like the lions look to be more competitive and is not going to be giving away free points to visiting teams as in the past. dubling away point may only help the teams that always come here and get pointsfor free by teams like lions and cheatas.this year we must hit them hard. make them nervous for the WC
@GreatSharksays (Comment 18) : I don’t agree.
Those self same Aussie teams who win almost all their domestic games struggle heavily against foreigners.
Brumbies have never played in a S14 playoff and have a 66% domestic win percentage
Waratahs have played in 3 S14 playoffs and have a 73% domestic win percentage
Reds have never played in a S14 playoff and have a 20% domestic win percentage.
Force have never played in a S14 playoff and have a 33% domestic win percentage.
From those figures (only) I’d say the Waratahs will top their conference and by no means will any of the others have enough points to get a playoff spot. They are just not dominant enough.
@ KSA Shark. (comment 25). You missing my point. The dominant Australian teams are almost guaranteed of victory at home and away against the other teams in their conference (Warathas and Brumbies are very dominant in Australia, the same Reds team that was on fire last year and gave all the SA teams except the Sharks a clout were treated like school boys by the Waratahs and Brumbies ) – which means more points for them when we combine the 3 conferences. Australian sides also have a good record against the majority of SA teams – more points for them. This is a competition within a competition, if you can dominate your conference and win a couple of games against foreign teams you are good to go. Can anyone honestly say that they are comfortable with having to play other SA teams away from home and be able to pick up a victory (even at home victory isn’t guaranteed)? The path for the 2 best sides in Australia is easier than the path for the 2 best sides in SA and NZ..that’s my point. I predict the Reds and Waratahs are guaranteed a place in the knock out stages…4 places left..how many SA teams do you see occupying the last 4 places..?
Who cares… Southern hemisphere rugby is boring…
I love the fact that there is more rugby…Sharks have very good squad depth and now all the players can get a good go…and we want to see all our players; it will also give us more players with better Superugby experience and experience in general. Also will stop the Bulls slightly from playing Matfield,du preez and steyn everygame…without those guys they can’t do much to be honest. Congrates to The Sharks for signing and keeping all the great players we have in Durbs…the family vibe also goes a long way to showing everyone why The Sharks and Durban is the place to play rugby; and also develop your game. Wonder how many guys have joined The Sharks and shortly after been called up to the Bokke? Durbs…what a place to play rugby!
@JJR (Comment 28) : More rugby = more excitement. When the going gets tough, ladies, the Sharks get going.
@beet (Comment 23) : Come on, dude. These are not sissy little girls we are talking about, they are PRO rugby players. And the distance between here and the Antipodes is exactly the same each way. Jet lag works both ways too, I can assure you. Let’s leave the whingeing to the blokes from darn under… because you can guarantee when they lose out they’ll be blaming the long season, the format and the travelling while we polish the silverware.