How would the top South African teams cope in the PRO14?
The future of South Africa in Super Rugby looks set to be over as the federation’s chief executive, Jurie Roux, appeared to confirm the country will no longer be involved in the competition and will instead be switching to the PRO14.
Reports from Sport24 suggest that sports ministers in South Africa have been informed that only four South African teams would be viable to enter the northern competition – the PRO14 – due to economic constraints.
This means the Cheetahs and the Kings would be at risk of being cut from the PRO14, despite the fact they are contracted to play in the competition until 2023.
For the South African teams, the move seems to make sense. With a manageable time difference, fans would not have to wake up at strange hours to watch away games. However, with flights taking upwards of 12 hours on some airlines, will fans be willing to take the journey regularly throughout the season?
The South African teams would be more than accustomed to the long journeys, with a trip up north being significantly shorter than the 15-hour flight to Australia or New Zealand.
South African fans, though, have not all appeared to be open to the idea of their teams playing in the PRO14. Some are favouring a move to strengthen domestic competition in the Currie Cup.
If I could have an early Christmas wish, it would be for a full strength Currie Cup to recapture the imagination of the SA Rugby public, so that SA Rugby would be forced to drop this Pro14 nonsense
— Great South African Rugby Quiz (@Gr8SARugbyQuiz) August 29, 2020
Anyone who thinks that games counting in the Currie Cup and a PRO16 would be insurmountably confusing clearly never had to untangle the web that was Kukri Qualifying 2 and Conference league fixtures.
— Jonathan Bradley (@JBradleyBT) August 29, 2020
The Springboks have made a name for themselves in the rugby world for their attritional game plan focusing on the high ball and their work rate in defence. This game plan would appear to suit the PRO14 competition rather the expansive play of Super Rugby.
With the Stormers boasting the highest contingent of Springbok players, we could very well soon see a South African Supr Rugby team challenging the likes of Leinster and Glasgow for the title.
This looks bleak… https://t.co/ksNuKboRQG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 25, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments