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'It's going to be a dagger': Kiwi Super players on why New Zealand Rugby can't lose the Springboks

By Online Editors
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

With news reports surfacing this week of South Africa joining an eight-team competition in November, fears are growing that a full exodus from SANZAAR by South Africa will become a reality.

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For New Zealand Rugby, the ramifications would be far reaching off the field as well as on it.

Blues duo James Parsons and Tony Lamborn and Bryn Hall of the Crusaders discussed on this week’s Aotearoa Rugby Pod what would happen if South Africa’s Super Rugby sides left for Europe and potentially opened the door for the Springboks to find a new home in an expanded Six Nations.

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod discuss the Crusader firepower in the South Island side.

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod discuss the Crusader firepower in the South Island side.

“It’s going to be a bit of a dagger,” said Bryn Hall of the four South African Super Rugby sides, “for those boys to leave to go to the Pro14 in Europe.”

Hall believes the Springboks and All Blacks clash is the pinnacle test match of the international calendar, describing their would-be departure as “a massive blow”.

“They are our oldest foe, and yes we have the Bledisloe Cup which is dear to our heart, but every time we get to play South Africa in The Rugby Championship, for whatever reason, there is just no better test match.

“It’s going to be a massive loss if they head off. It will be a massive blow for us having that calibre of players leave.”

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USA flanker Tony Lamborn, who was born and raised in the South Island of New Zealand, explained that historical matches between the All Blacks and the Springboks were a defined part of his childhood memories, getting up in the wee hours to watch the games with his family.

“As a kid growing up, waking up in the early hours to watch the All Blacks play South Africa, those are my memories. My old man making a hot chocolate and sitting there watching those games,” Blues flanker Tony Lamborn recalled.

“I’ll be absolutely gutted if they were to withdraw.”

Lamborn explained the feeling within some players in South Africa is a preference towards playing in the Northern Hemisphere.

“I’ve got a couple of mates in South Africa and they feel it is a lot easier for them to just play in Europe and play over there.”

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Blues teammate James Parsons surmised that the demand for the Springboks following their World Cup victory is aiding their leverage, and that the financial rewards available in the North Hemisphere are tempting.

“Covid has opened things to change. They are the world champions, so they are in hot demand. They’ll end up somewhere, but there are so many variables to go into it.

“Not just the players comfort of being in the timezone, but she’s a different bracket of dough when you go up to the Northern Hemisphere. There is a reason a lot of players go up there after playing for their home nations and achieving what they want to in international rugby. It’s a different kettle of fish in that sense.

“What does Springbok rugby look like when they go and join Northern Hemisphere competition? There are so many variables that can impact the decision.

“Say it happens, say they leave, do we think that it will hamper All Black rugby? Does our depth, our talent pool, our ability to play each other keep us strong? Do we need that nation that bad?'” he asked.

Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall was adamant that without the Springboks, New Zealand Rugby could suffer. He said it won’t just be South Africa that benefits, the top sides of the Northern Hemisphere will all strengthen in an “iron sharpens iron” way.

“We 100 percent need them,” Hall said of South Africa’s involvement in SANZAAR.

“If we were to lose them, and no disrespect to Australia, with the change of guard they are going through and their struggles with depth in Super Rugby, you think about South Africa going up to the Northern Hemisphere, the likes of France, England, Ireland, Wales, all those team playing against each other, its only going to make them better.

“Who do we go to? So, it’s us, Aussie and possibly Argentina, Japan, do you think of a Pacific Island team? Who knows.

“I just think the level of competition, we would be at a disadvantage.”

Hall’s view was shared by Lamborn, who says the type of rugby the Springboks play is unique to them and gives the All Blacks a different kind of contest.

“I agree 100 percent, it’s bringing the best out of players, you get a different style of game out of them [Springboks], it’s that physical game for the All Blacks.

“South Africa are nailing their set piece, relying on their lineout, their mauling, their scrummaging, and I just don’t think you are going to get that with the Australians and Argentina.”

Parsons was a strong believer in the future of the Wallabies under Dave Rennie, which would potentially help the All Blacks receive fiercer competition. He said if South Africa is lost to Southern Hemisphere rugby, it is a case of rebuilding with what is left.

“With Aussie, with Dave Rennie, I just think they are going to thrive. The more and more I watch Super Rugby AU, they are on their way back. I genuinely believe that, I’m not just saying that.

“I think they will be a lot stronger under his guidance, he’s come at the right time where there is a really strong young group, their U20 team has been really successful the last couple of years, and he’s got a proven track record out of bringing the best out of young men, mentoring them with their careers.

“There’s also Japan, let’s not forget what they achieved in the World Cup. We’ve got this potential opportunity of growing the Pacific game, which has been a dream for a long time, and we have Argy, we don’t know where they are at.

“I agree, we can’t lose the Springboks, but I still think there is the opportunity to create something strong enough to keep us strong, but also the Southern Hemisphere strong.”

Listen to the full episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below

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A
Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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