Comments on: New Zealand launches pre-emptive strike in rugby

By: The Bobster

The Bobster — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:29:26 +0000

Super 14 past sell by date? Yes.
Embracing the so called minnow rugby nations into a new competition formats? Yes.
I thnk that the time has come for rugby to look at itself collectively and not just the various unions doing their own thing. Think local but act global. The world is shrinking out there.
The only way to strengthen the game internationally is to boost it globally. A methodology would be to broaden the competitions over the boundaries that have traditionally been the exclusive rights of the stronger playing nations. This should even mean setting up competitions that would loosen up the northern versus southern hemisphere rivalries and competition formats.
Weaker rugby playing nations are starting to flex their playing prowess of late and it is time they receive the encouragement and are given the opportunity not only to improve, but also strengthen the game in their respective countries. Nations love their winning teams!
Might sound like a logistical nightmare or obtuse to traditionalists but the game needs to invigorate itself by international branding and marketing, to grow exponentially.
The IRB should start taking stock and look into the interests of the game in the longer term.

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By: Tony McKeever

Tony McKeever — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:32:36 +0000

OWEN - The Currie Cup does seem that it has lost its lustre and the gate attendances reflect that - the Vodacom Cup is going nowhere and there is no real coherence in the South African tournament structures.

They are cobbled together going in different directions and club rugby is suffering.

If club rugby is suffering so too are the new entrants into the game.

Playing numbers just plummet right after school and good players are lost because of the disjointed tournaments.

A swift overhaul is long overdue.

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By: owen

owen — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:14:11 +0000

Three thoughts

1. Perhaps not directly to the point but surely our Currie Cup and premier division rugby should include some franchises made up of players from Botswana, Zim, Kenya, etc. Maybe only a single franchise based in Gaboronne and call them the African Barbarians. We need to expand our african based.

2. What of having our Currie cup made up of 15 teams, home and away games, where teams are grouped around the 5 super 14 franchises so that players and coaching staff can be shared among 3 unions.

For example, the Sharks, Bulldogs and Mighty Elephants form a group that fields 3 teams, each trying to win the competition but they shared players and resources.

I say this as the big franchises have good spare players who are not getting enough game time while the small unions are battling to get depth. So the Blue Bulls can use their second string players to help the Griffons or as I mentioned above a African Barbarians side.

3. The tri nations is where we should expand to include more southern hemispere sides, including Argentina and the Islands.

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By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:26:00 +0000

South African rugby has regularly been muttering about the utter nonsense of a “travel disadvantage” and of how SA rugby would be better off cutting ties with the Antipodes and competing in UK/Europe instead. Clearly this sort of “thinking aloud” is examining the variety of options open to SARU.

Well, exploring the option of an Antipodean-only rugby option without South Africa being involved surely is something the NZRU can — and should — consider? Even if it is just “thinking aloud” too.

It’s all part of a SWOT analysis (strengths- weaknesses - opportunities - threats) which is part of any sensible forward planning.

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By: Siphiwo Qangani with kangaroos

Siphiwo Qangani with kangaroos — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:13:29 +0000

Ooops!

I wonder what would happen if they also pull-off their quality (brand) rugby jerseys-Yep! Canterbury.
Springboks and SA-Super14 teams will play with no-name brands. We have no alternative but to beg NZ to accommodate us, or else we’ll end up playing bare, if we play anyway.

Indeed, NZ is the powerhouse of rugby.

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By: Gerry

Gerry — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:32:52 +0000

My knee-jerk reaction is that I agree. Super rugby may have run its course. If they want to do a trans-Tasman competition without us – so what about it?

I’m quite excited by the “Heineken cup” proposal. Now THAT will be interesting and probably more fun to watch than the current super-series we’ve been seeing for the last 15-odd years. Kinda a southern-hemisphere “champions’ league”, eh? Super rugby is too long in season, a piece of old tekkie and predictable. We need something new.

I just wish that Heineken list will also include “Argentina”.

On the initial thought of it, it sounds like a good idea.

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