All this talk of an expanded Super Series, with games running until August, is fantastic news for us, the supporters. I mean, what’s better than a non-stop competition between the best rugby players in the Southern Hemisphere? It’s pure bliss.
But with all the rugby being played – don’t forget an expanded Tri-Nations in the middle of all this – what does this have in store for the Currie Cup? Will South Africa’s top rugby players, who can’t even get through the normal Super 14 without burning out towards the end of it, be able to cope with that as well?
There has been a lot of talk in recent times about too much rugby, and it’s never been more evident; just take a look at the current year. Super 14 February to May, Lions series in June, Tri Nations July and August, Currie Cup September to October and then an end of year tour. It’s a lot of rugby. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, and I’m sure you do to, but can it last?
If this new expanded Super Series does happen, will it mean the end of our beloved Currie Cup? The Springbok players won’t be able to cope with all the rugby, which means that the unions will suffer, as the Boks will have their enforced rest periods. And if the unions don’t get their Springboks, the crowds will dwindle, and we all know the story from there.
The Currie Cup, over the past few years, has become the white elephant of S.A. Rugby, with Springboks not getting a lot of game time, and fans only going to the bigger games or derbies, with the Semi’s and the Final being the greatest draw card. The Currie Cup will end up being another Vodacom Cup.
So what do we do? What is a possible solution? A short and sweet Currie Cup, just to keep the old tradition alive? Or is it time to face the truth, a truth that might hurt, but we cannot deny it. Is it time for us to bid farewell to a great tradition?
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I agree totally, to much rugby is being played already, I dont want the CC to suffer and I dont want an expanded Super Series either. We as supporters should have a say in all this, its us going to the stadiums and its us who are watching it on TV. Why dont they do a proper sensus/poll to see what we want.
What about Absa as sponsors, there is going to be a massive fight about this.
by the way – have you guys noticed we have a new contributor? Thanks to Richard for a great article… keep them coming!
I have said it for many years now – the Currie Cup has lost its appeal.
The only thing that made the Currie Cup popular in the first place was the fact that South Africa was isolated for so long. It is all we had.
Now we have more, and a Currie Cup will never compete with a Super rugby competition. That is reality.
You can restructure the Currie Cup all you want, it will make no difference. The Currie Cup has to take a backseat to Super rugby, end of story.
Death of the Currie Cup?
I don’t think so, it will always be around. But people may as well stop viewing the Currie Cup on the same level as Super rugby cause its no-where close.
Too much rugby?
I never believed in that.
We can structure our competitions better however because there is too much crap rugby inbetween really good rugby.
@Morné (Comment 4) : You’re just saying it’s lost its appeal becuase your team never makes the semis 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
I knew that would come up, but I honestly could not care less if they win it or not.
It really is a glorified VC.
@robdylan (Comment 3) :
Sheez!!!!!!!!!!1 the guy wins tickets to watch the Boks v lions and we make him pay for it with articles. 😉
@Morné (Comment 4) :
The only thing that made the Currie Cup popular in the first place was the fact that South Africa was isolated for so long. It is all we had.
I have to disagree with that.
How long was the Currie cup popular for?
How long were we isolated?
I do agree though that the CC will never be able to compete with Superrugby.
I expect a “we are cutting the CC or cutting back on the CC because our top players have to much rugby” press release from SARU during the next year
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : was it in fine print
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
Well it will be difficult for me to say how popular the Currie Cup was from 1900 to 1960, as I was not there.
But given that players hardly played international games then it was also, the only thing we had.
The supporters now come mainly from a generation where we were in isolation – 70’s and 80’s. It is the reason we have this high regard for the competition because the best of the best from SA played in it.
NOW, the best SA has plays in the Super 14 – hence, the CC lost its appeal and is nothing more than a VC competition.
Im glad to see such a good response.
And yes, I bet nobody here knew if you won the Lions tickets you have to start writing articles!!
Thanx Rob..
@Morné (Comment 11) :
IMO the CC is doing just fine at the moment and would be fine for many years to come, had O’Neill not screwed Marinos and Marinos not screwed the SA fans.
The CC still is VERY popular and would have remained our premier domestic comp had we not agreed to such a ridiculously long Super rugby season.
I disagree with Morne entirely. I think Super rugby has lost its appeal. Its become drivel…And now there is more of it. (* this opinion may or may not be influenced by those useless clunts who call themselves the Stormers)
The Currie Cup lost its vigour because the clowns at SARU stuck with the all inclusive all unions in drivel. If the Currie Cup had remained as a 6 team competition home and away – it would be a far better competition and one which may be worthwhile supporting.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 12) : 🙂
@Morné (Comment 11) : What about moving the current Vodacom Cup, that runs during the Super 14, and making it the new Currie Cup, because we need a competition to bring the youngsters through. That’l make that competition more appealing, and the fringe Boks will have a decent competition to play in. Just a thought..
@Morné (Comment 11) : for what it’s worth- i like CC for what it is and not for what it was. surely without springboks it’s not the same but still exciting.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) : Does the VC still run?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) :
But then we still lose the CC. All we are then doing is renaming the VC.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) :
It is our premier DOMESTIC COMP because it actually is our ONLY DOMESTIC COMP.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 14) :
You were influenced… 😉
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) :
I would like a move to a league comp and a Cup comp, so every year you have league and Cup champions.
League comp all unions (extended competition over 5 or 6 months), Cup comp top 6 unions (shorter comp).
@rekinek (Comment 17) :
I enjoy watchin all rugby, even club rugby – I simply believe that the Currie Cup was SA’s premier comp in the past, it is not anymore, Super rugby is.
@Morné (Comment 20) :
Is the VC not a Domestic comp? 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 21) :
The what??? 🙂
@Morné (Comment 20) : A return to the old. 6 team Currie Cup and a longer Cup Comp – much like the old lion Cup – home and away – knock out including all unions and there Dogs !
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 23) :
I love it!
@Morné (Comment 22) :
That thing that gets the union a cool 1 mil. 🙂
@Morné (Comment 20) : I would enjoy a league comp which runs over a few months, it can take breaks for when the Springbos play, like they do in the U.K. But we still not getting away from the too much rugby question.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 23) : That’s exactly what I’ve been after. At least that way it’s strength versus strength. There should also be promotion and relegation. With the bottom team of the 6 in the CC being replaced by the top of the B section. I know it won’t happen because Wee Pee will be scared shitless of being in the B section 😉
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 23) : would the dogs also beat WP? 🙂
and by 2013/14/15 its going to be even worse with a possible S20 tournament on the cards. And then they are asking why our talented youngsters dissapear… Because they dont get gametime
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 26) :
More rugby will mean unions and franchises would have to work even harder to work on their depth and increase this.
That will mean more investment in younger player and possibly stop the loss of young players to Europe.
We have over 1/2 mil registered players in SA!
Too much rugby?
Bring it on
@robdylan (Comment 28) : By at least 30 point 😀
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 12) : Only 11 999 to go. Almost there! 😉
@Villie (Comment 27) : Indeed. But it might be the wake up the clowns need
@Morné (Comment 31) :
You have earlier said that the CC has lost its appeal with the public but are now proposing addittioinal games/competitions, do you think these will be supported.
At what stage is saturation point reached and overkill realised.
@Salmonoid (Comment 35) : See the Super 14 as a prime example for overkill
@Morné (Comment 31) :
No we don’t.
Our figures only read so high because SARU never removes ex-players from the list.
I was still registered as a player in SA more than 5 years after I’d played my last game there.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 14) :
Amen Brother Sauce!
Morras, you’re just a pessimistic old bastard.
The Currie Cup has been there through thick and thin and is arguably the reason we have remained competitive over the last 100 years.
You can lose the SuperComp and SA will still be amongst the best in the world but if you lose the Currie Cup we won’t remain top of the pile for very long.
SA has always been unique in the brand of rugby that we play and what carries us is the depth in player we have and they are bred in the Currie Cup, not in the SuperComp.
Why is it you think JON fought so hard to get the SuperComp format changed? It was simply to help develop their domestic league. Get rid of the CC and we’re sitting in the same situation.
Sure over the short-term you won’t notice any difference but in the long-term you’ll witness a gradual decline in Bok rugby without the Currie Cup.
As for the player burn-out – Morras you may think it’s not an issue but peeps with a lot more knowledge than yourself have voiced concern about this before the additional games and strains that additional games will entail.
Fact is the likes of Tim Noakes spend day in day out working with professional athletes and don’t just make educated guesses based in watching the players once a week from the confort of their sofa with a beer in their hand.
Sorry mate but when it comes to the physical attributes of the game the likes of Tim Noakes’ opinion carries many mutliples more weight than yours.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 39) : fight! fight! fight!
@robdylan (Comment 40) :
Hmmmm… my post sounds aggressive and stern but was not really meant that way.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 41) : that’s just you, dude 🙂
@VinChainSaw (Comment 39) :
Bru, as of this morning I’ve been granted the right to ban people on this site.
Watch it Papa!!! 😕
Morning All
I still love the CC – nothing like Local Rivalry!! 😆
But, saying that, I think I am about to vomit! “die Blou Bul eet nie van die vloer af nie” has just been played FOR THE SECOND TIME TODAY on HIGHVEL, nogals… 😳
@wpw (Comment 43) : 😆 😛
oooh we are scared now 😀
@Prof. Ice (Comment 44) :
Die blou bul eet gewoonlik van die gras af. 😆 maar more gaan hulle uit die beker out drink. 😉
@Prof. Ice (Comment 44) : and there is more to come 🙄
@wpw (Comment 43) :
😯 Dude I think you must have misunderstood when I said “Hey do you wanna join the band?” 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 48) :
Dammit!! 👿
@KSA Shark © (Comment 46) :
Ja…but actually i dontr really want to hera that or think about it… 😈
@rekinek (Comment 47) :
Was thinking of changing the station to Jacaranda – but i guess I’ll be giving myself an overdose then! 🙄 😆
@VinChainSaw (Comment 37) :
With that aggression…did yous plays for vi Blou Balle?? 😯 😈
@Prof. Ice (Comment 44) :
You think thats bad, I heard it on Cape Talk this morning…… and then JJ Harmse gave his views. 😯
@Salmonoid (Comment 51) :
NAAAWWHHT???!!! 😯
@Salmonoid (Comment 51) : even your pic / avatar is all blue
@wpw (Comment 43) : askies????
Will be a tragic if they tamper with the CC. Its our most valuable asset. That U19 & U21s competition is SO important getting players through the system. I’ll ditch S14 anyday for good old CC rugby.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 52) :
SERIAAAASSSS,
Those blue testicles reach everywhere these days.
@Salmonoid (Comment 56) :
testicles should read tentacles, but the truth of the post reamins the same.
@Salmonoid (Comment 51) :
You think that’s bad??
A year or so ago during a CC game WP played that song when the Bulls came out of the tunnel AT NEWLANDS!!! 😯
@rekinek (Comment 53) :
You mean I’m a closet bull and I never knew it. This could be serious, maybe thats why I was singing along with Steve Hofmeyer this morning…. Die Blou Bul weet nie van verloor ……… Lekker ek se.
@Salmonoid (Comment 57) :
LOL!! I reckon #56 is most probably closer to the truth!
@Salmonoid (Comment 59) : just please do not come clean – we may not be in a position to handle it right now. 🙄
@wpw (Comment 58) :
Thats taking the be kind to visitors tourism garble to far.
Seems like Cape Town folk are filled with this warm fuzzy feeling when it comes to Pretoria people, or maybe its pity.
@rekinek (Comment 61) :
Never, some things are to remain in the closet [email protected]Prof. Ice (Comment 60) :
I actually saw a car with those that hang from the towbar in Cape Town the other day.
@wpw (Comment 43) : What were you thinking rob 😯
i think theres quite a few closet cases here at SW 😛
@Prof. Ice (Comment 44) : Ice that damn song is actually quite catchy! 😯 🙄
Sharks just need to get a decent one of our own…but no-one has managed to come up with one yet!
@Villie (Comment 66) : Actually anyone remember in the early 90’s when the NRU commissioned people to come up with a song and the winner was a song that they consistently played for the whole season but it never really caught on? I can still remember it and am singing it now…but it wasn’t great!
@JarsonX (Comment 65) : u got the same avatar 😯 🙁 😈
@Insane (Comment 68) : i was here 1st
😉
@Insane (Comment 68) :
@JarsonX (Comment 69) :
😳 😳 😳
Two chicks go to a nightclub and wear the same thing = bietsfight
Two guys do the samething = best mates forever. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 70) :
THAT is SO true!!
@Prof. Ice (Comment 71) :
or in some cases, the guy actually just saw himself in the mirror, 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
The CC has only run every year since 1968 (around the time SA became isolated).
First final was played in 1939.Between 1939 and 1967 it was played only 10 times.
Before 1939 it was awarded only 20 times.
http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=5246.html
Maybe if they go back to “awarding” the CC without a final then WP will dominate again. 😀
@Villie (Comment 27) :
There was a time when it was run in a similar way…we (Natal) ended up in the B section…..and that was the beginning of great things…the best & biggest fan/supporter base of any rugby team…and the biggest “after game” party in the world…… 😀
@fyndraai (Comment 73) :
Was there some other form of domestic competition to keep themselves occupied in the non CC years?
@fyndraai (Comment 74) : Is that how they got so many of them, yeah awarded and won arent actually the same things are they.
Don’t know. The history before 1939 is very obscure. Seems they played some sort of round robin competition. Who took part? or How many games? is not clear.
Check this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Province_(rugby)
No score, no venue, no runner-up. Only a winner = WP.
There was also a cricket Curry Cup…..don’t remember what happened to that comp. Anyone know??
@Me2 (Comment 78) :
Its now the Super Sport series, played over 4 days per match and of lower quality and intensity.
The cricket Currie Cup must surely have been some of the best provincial cricket that could have been watched. I remember “studying” for exams on the grass banks at Kingsmead on the last Monday of interprovincial cricket games.
@fyndraai (Comment 77) :
Looking at that its only that period in the 80s that Province really dominated the competition. One is always of the opinion that Province have been dominating forever and a day.
Oh and I have awarded the Currie Cup to Natal in those years that Province werent awarded it.
@Salmonoid (Comment 79) : Yes, I remember sneaking out at lunch time & then going back after work, to catch the action! That was in my “student days” when we had to work during our vacs, to pay our fees!!!