'I hope that we can get back to that': Springbok and ex-All Black wants to see South African sides return to Super Rugby
Former All Blacks and Highlanders star Ben Smith hopes Super Rugby hasn’t seen the last of South Africa’s involvement in the competition.
Super Rugby went through an overhaul last year after COVID-19 resulted in border closures worldwide, which forced the cancellation of the 2020 edition of the competition.
With international travel still severely limited, teams within New Zealand and Australia subsequently formed their own domestic competitions – Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU, respectively.
The South African franchises, meanwhile, have jumped ship to join Europe’s PRO14, with their first involvement in North Hemisphere club rugby coming in three weeks when they take part in the Rainbow Cup.
Neither the Jaguares, out of Argentina, nor the Sunwolves, from Japan, survived the dissolution of Super Rugby following the outbreak of the pandemic.
The competition is expected to revert back to a 12-team tournament next year, with the New Zealand and Australian franchises set to compete alongside two Pacific Island-based teams in a league with far more favourable time zones for trans-Tasman fans than when the South African sides were involved.
However, Smith, who is now plying his trade in Japan’s Top League for Kobelco Steelers, told Stuff he was concerned Kiwi Super Rugby players will miss out on the benefits that come with the exposure of playing against South African teams.
Renowned for their large, physical forward packs, Smith said the South African franchises provided him and his teammates with strong challenges that helped their development as professional rugby players.
“The whole time I was playing Super Rugby it was awesome to test yourself against the South African Super Rugby teams,” the 34-year-old, who played 81 tests for the All Blacks and won a Super Rugby title with the Highlanders, said.
“Having New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina in the competition, it also brought a different perspective on how they [each nation] played rugby.
“I know Japan with the Sunwolves as well…it was a big part of development for all of those countries, and I hope that at some point down the track we can get back to that.
“As a player we always enjoyed those battles against South African Super sides.”
Ardie Savea is not happy with how the standing down of six Highlanders players has been covered by New Zealand's media – and he's not afraid to show it.https://t.co/2Aa1hbKaTU
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Smith’s sentiments were echoed by Springboks and Toyota Verblitz fullback Willie le Roux, who said his compatriots would prefer to play New Zealand and Australian players rather than against themselves, as they have been since returning to action last September.
“I couldn’t agree more,” the former Cheetahs and Sharks star said of Smith’s comments. “Now every week [in South Africa] the guys are having to play against each other.
“I think they’d much rather play against the Aussies and the All Blacks. It’s trials every week. I’ve been watching New Zealand Super Rugby as well. It’s hard on the guys to be playing each other each week.
“You are going to miss those days when you toured New Zealand and all those places, and I think Ben could say as well when they were touring SA.
“I really hope it can get back so the guys can play each other, but I think the Rugby Championship is there as well to test yourself against the best.”
While it appears the days of South African teams taking to the field against their Southern Hemisphere rivals at club level are over, the Springboks will still regularly do battle with the All Blacks, Wallabies and Los Pumas in the Rugby Championship.
Despite the nation’s four ex-Super Rugby franchises heading north, South Africa pledged its commitment to SANZAAR’s premier international competition last year after they opted out of the 2020 edition of the competition due to fears around COVID-19.
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 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.
11 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 comments