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UK rugby commentator's take on Super Rugby Aotearoa sparks fascinating north versus south debate
A tweet from rugby commentator James Gemmell has kick-started a fascinating debate on the quality of rugby in the southern hemisphere compared to the north. Gemmell, who works for Sky Sports, took to Twitter to offer his opinion that New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aotearoa competition is on another level to anything he has seen before.
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Gemmell wrote: “Having lived in the UK for 12 years now, and having covered every major club rugby competition in the world, I firmly believe #SuperRugbyAotearoa 2020 has produced consistently the highest quality rugby I’ve ever seen.”
It didn’t take long for Gemmell’s tweet to take-off, with All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick and former Ireland international Jamie Heaslip among those adding their voice to the discussion.
Heaslip questioned whether the European Champions Cup winners would ‘stand a chance’, others argued that the lack of relegation in Super Rugby Aotearoa invited more open, attacking play, while some felt the competition lacks the atmosphere seen across the Champions Cup.
Super Rugby Aotearoa concludes this weekend, with the Crusaders wrapping up the title with a game to spare thanks to a thrilling 32-22 win over the Highlanders.
The competition has produced a number of brilliant games, and Gemmell wasn’t alone in his belief that the it has been unmatched in terms of consistent, high quality games.
Having lived in the UK for 12 years now, and having covered every major club rugby competition in the world, I firmly believe #SuperRugbyAotearoa 2020 has produced consistently the highest quality rugby I’ve ever seen.
— James Gemmell (@JamesGemmell_TV) August 9, 2020
Agree Jimmy 100%👍Also great to have the @BluesRugbyTeam back at the top table. https://t.co/8iJqWjDhrQ
— Sean Fitzpatrick (@SFitzpatrick92) August 9, 2020
Will be interesting if it draws UK players downtown play in it in the future. Although players probably won't earn anywhere near the money they could in UK and Europe
— Angus Brown (@angusbrown90) August 9, 2020
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Would the winners of @ChampionsCup this year stand a chance?
— jamie heaslip (@jamieheaslip) August 9, 2020
Well there were 7 Saracens on the field vs 9 Crusaders in the World Cup semi and we know how that went 🤷♂️
— Joe (@joesummer100) August 9, 2020
I agree wi the skill level quality of basic skills abd devision making however would they take those risk with more at stake like relegation? I know this will be seen as negative bit it is true risk can be rewarded when there are few consequences.
— Graham Smith (@grahamsmith36) August 9, 2020
I feel sorry to the SuperRugby AU which follows on Sky… the skill set and overall quality (Excluding Hooper) is way short of Artearoa
— Ian Rundall (@ian_rundall) August 9, 2020
100%! Without a doubt the highest quality rugby tournament I’ve seen since Super Rugby in the 90s. Fantastic spectacle of the game.
— Kaylan Geekie (@KaylanGeekie) August 9, 2020
I have watched all the SRA games before this weekend. I used to watch a lot of SR but found it boring when they overexpanded. Totally agree with comment on skills levels but honestly feel it lacks the passion and drama we get with the European Cup. Realise that might be my bias
— Ed Hunter (@edhunter1999) August 9, 2020
Couldn’t agree more. Genuine question, Is it commercially viable to just keep as it is without going back to Super 15 format? Because spectacle wise, why would anyone want to go back?
— Luke Bradshaw Lee (@LukeBradshaw85) August 9, 2020
A. Not sure of the relevancy of the 12 years in the UK?
B. If it is relevant you’re comparing 18 games (so far) over 8 weeks versus 12 years of all sorts.
It’s been awesome entertainment. But so is the end of the European Cup pools stages + the following KO comp.
— Tom 🦘 ⚽️ (@Salmon__Salad) August 9, 2020
I agree, but will add the NZ derbies in the traditional Super Rugby competition (Aust, SA, Arg & Japan) were just as entertaining games as Aotearoa.
Quality stuff 👍
NZ teams vs other nations isn’t as enjoyable to watch.
— Richard Jewitt (@jewitt76) August 10, 2020
The game yesterday Cru/Highlanders was best game of rugby I’ve seen in a while.
Not only the big names stepping up , every player bringing it.
Jordie Barrett’s all round game on Sat was pace, power and subtlety combined.— Billy Connolly (@BillyConnolly15) August 9, 2020
Of course. When teams push the boundaries, mistakes happen. But across the board the quality has been of such a high standard. It’s been a joy to watch.
— James Gemmell (@JamesGemmell_TV) August 9, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Are the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
2 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
2 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
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