Why the Aviva Premiership is better than Super Rugby
Over in the Southern Hemisphere, momentum is starting to build and the runners and riders in this year’s Super Rugby competition are starting to make themselves known. In England’s Aviva Premiership, the pecking order has been established for some time, and now it’s a case of jockeying for position with one eye on the playoffs or, for some, where they’ll be playing next season. But which competition is best? There’s only one logical answer…
Relegation makes things more interesting
Bristol may be propping up the table, but their fight for survival adds a level of spice to a competition which would be over by now without the threat of doom provided by a trapdoor into the Championship dungeon. Sure, an underfunded and largely non-competitive second tier renders banishment from the Premiership a potential death sentence (RIP London Welsh), but Super Rugby lacks the requisite mortality to force teams at the bottom end of the table to pour their hearts into the game. Thus, especially towards the end of the season, you end up with matches with little to no meaning, with players just trying to avoid injury instead of being terrified of financial ruin.
Defence over attack
The free-flowing, free-running, free-scoring rugby on display in the Southern Hemisphere may be pleasing on the eyes, but it lacks the grit and bile of a good old fashioned English mud-wrestle. Titanic tussles in terrible conditions resulting in a 6-3 victory can be every bit as entertaining as an extravagant try fest, and the ability to prevent the opposition scoring is often as rewarding as scoring yourself. A beautifully choreographed routine featuring every player on the team, finishing with Julian Savea going under the sticks unopposed may look pretty, but seeing the perpetually gnarled Dan Cole flop exhaustedly over the line in the pissing rain after 78 minutes of running into a brick wall also has its charms. Plus, by liking the more complex or less aesthetically pleasing aspects of rugby, English fans get to think of themselves as culturally superior, like people who listen to experimental jazz or Tom Waits.
The fans
Super Rugby matches seem to generate a decent atmosphere for the most part, but it’s jarring to watch some of the best players in the world performing in giant stadiums with a sea of empty seats. English teams have seemingly learnt the lessons of London Irish, who will be taking a step down in capacity from the never-full Madejski to Brentford FC’s proposed new ground in 2019. Matches are generally well-attended in the Premiership, probably largely due to the fact it’s ever so slightly easier to travel from Northampton to Leicester than it is from Auckland to Buenos Aires. There’s also a little less razzle-dazzle in the Prem, with a general paucity of pyrotechnics or scantily clad women serving as substitutes for genuine atmosphere – though the less said about the god-awful Stand Up For the Saracens song the better.
Big name players
A controversial one this, considering the bulk of the former Tri-Nations international sides still ply their trade in Super Rugby, but the Premiership seems to be attracting more and more big name players. Whilst France has long been the destination of established big names looking for a hefty pay cheque for relatively little work, French rugby is waking up to the reality of allowing clubs to chuck money around without developing their own talent. As such, the mass exodus to France seems to have stymied somewhat, but it looks like the big buck deals are shifting to Blighty, especially given the increase of funds from the new TV contract. Relegation favourites Bristol have attracted the likes of Steven Luatua, Northampton have pinched Cobus Reinach, Willie Le Roux will be lining up for Wasps and Maxime Mermoz will be heading to Newcastle after his stint with Leicester. South Africa have recently adopted the Australian system in order to allow them to pick overseas based players as they attempt to overcome the departures of several key players. Whilst the All Black production line shows no sign of slowing down, expect to see more and more big names popping up in England before word gets out that the weather is bloody awful in the UK.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments