Suddenly, South African teams believe the new ‘Super’ Rugby tournament is not so super for SA teams as Stephen Nell reports for Sport24.
The new format of Super Rugby is not so super from the perspective of South African teams.
That is the view of Stormers chief executive and WP Rugby (Pty) Ltd managing director Rob Wagner, who has written to SANZAR about the issue.
And, in an interview with Sport24, Sharks and Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis has raised some points on how South African teams are being disadvantaged.
Wagner is worried about the bye in week one for South African teams in the new format. He also does not believe the new format is necessarily fair, as every team does not play every other one in the league phase. Each one misses out on two opponents.
“We are discovering that it’s a very demanding competition, particularly among the South African franchises with the double headers as there is a greater intensity in the matches between them,” said Wagner.
Du Plessis also believes that leading Australian teams have it much easier than South African and New Zealand sides, writes Christo Buchner.
“That inequality in the tournament definitely needs attention because as things stand now, the playing field is definitely not level for all the teams,” said Du Plessis.
“It’s much easier for a team like the Reds to play the Rebels and Force twice than it is for us to play in tough derby matches every week.
The notion of an easy game simply doesn’t exist when you play against a South African team. It’s even a tough match against the Lions, even if their position on the points table is not good.
“That is why I believe this tournament is not balanced. It’s so much easier for the Australian teams because in their derbies you don’t find the intensity of our derbies and those in New Zealand.”
Du Plessis believes the matter should be addressed so that the tournament can be contested on an equal footing.
“The other problem is that you don’t play against all the teams. You miss one or two of the teams and if everybody does not play everybody then it can’t be a fair tournament to determine the best side.”
Wagner raises the point that a bye in the first round is not really a bye – it simply means that a team starts the tournament a week later than the others.
“It has been reported that a South African team will always have a bye in week one. When you put all that in the pot again – a bye in week one, derbies and the intensity of it, South African teams are at a disadvantage,” said Wagner.
The Sharks also finish their campaign with three tough away derbies against the Cheetahs, Lions and Bulls.
“The competition needs to be re-looked at to see where we can make it fairer so that the playing field can be level for teams from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia,” said Wagner.
“The other thing that concerns me – and I have also gone on record to SANZAR about this – is that I don’t think we have brought anything new to Super Rugby. Compare it to the razzmatazz you find in the Varsity Cup.
“The Super 12 was a breath of fresh air in 1999 because it was different to the domestic tournaments. We have not done anything new except expand.”
As of next year, Super Rugby will also be played over a longer time frame. The teams will now take a break in June to allow for an international window so that Test teams from the Northern Hemisphere can come and tour. Once the Test window is over, Super Rugby will continue.
“Your top players are going to play in Tests and not get rest, while the others will,” said Wagner.
“How will it affect spectators’ interest if Super Rugby stops for a while and then starts again after the Tests?”
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May 27th, 2011 at 9:34 am
you think!? DUH!!
Ever since this BS idea was concockted most of us here said it was BS and would only help Aus!
May 27th, 2011 at 10:02 am
The attendance stats tell a bit of a different story.
Will post them later.
May 27th, 2011 at 10:11 am
Reply to JT_Stormers @ 9:34 am: Jip but what do we know.
In life their will be always someone who will have it better off than the other one, that’s life.
The best for domestic and Super Rugby in my mind will be lesser teams.
I liked the idee in the early days that the top four teams in each countries domistic compition gets a shot at super rugby. Then through in a Puma team and a island team. Devide them up in two groups playing home and away(12 games each) top 4 in each group play each other in order of log finish. Then semi’s and then final.
But offcourse the useless Aussies do not have a domestic compition so their goes my idee.
My problem with the format is that it was said that local derby’s is a must for super rugby for it is pulling more spectators. I am sorry the only place it is pulling spectators is in SA and some games in NZ. Aussies stadiums are empty.
We sold our souls to Sanzar as we said last year already.
May 30th, 2011 at 9:14 am
End of the day the Ozmob will only have one team in the finals series with the Worrytahs unlikely to make it. To get there they have beaten the Blues, Crusaders and the Stormers amongst others.
It seems we are quick to forget for how many years the Lions and Cheetahs did a great job in propping up the table. This year may be different but it is one year.
May 30th, 2011 at 9:36 am
My biggest ‘pain’ with Super rugby right from the start has been the difference in LENGTH of touring.
There can be zero reason why Aus and NZ teams do not also tour 4/5 games on the go. 2/3 in SA and 2/3 in Aus/NZ IN ONE GO !!! And please don’t choose easy option : make NZ go to SA first and Aus to NZ first – THEN they will also spend (what?) 18-36 hour traveling one direction before reaching SA
May 30th, 2011 at 9:54 am
Reply to The Brand @ 9:36 am:
Hi Brand – here in Austria in our League we have the same problem.
We play against 3 clubs in Vienna, 1 in Graz and 1 in Linz! Now we have to travel away from home 5 times, the closest is Linz which is a 4 hour trip, then Vienna which is a 5 hour trip and Graz which is a 6 hour trip. Vienna is only 2 hours away from Vienna and Linz, and Linz only 1:30 away from Vienna.
Financially we pay 4000Euro MORE than any other club in the top league and we can’t afford it for much longer unless we find a big sponsor!
Mentally we can prepare/focus on a game or 2 but after a few the travelling becomes a drain to the players. 1 because we need to travel on the day of the game (leave at 6:00 am) – again financially not possible to go on Friday, unless it was 1 or 2 games but all 5…
This means we are stronger at home BUT the other teams can prepare much better for this 1 trip in a season which makes it good for them, they can come on the friday and target this game as a weeekend away and get a good vibe.
Not sure how to go on – if we can afford to go on at all!
May 30th, 2011 at 10:11 am
Ahrggg JT – I remember as a schoolboy how tedious the bussing to dorpe were – up at 4/5 in morning then hour or two on bus before game. Then same back !
I can not imagine 4 – 6 hours ONEWAY !!!
Must you play in Austria league – is Germany not closer?
May 30th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Reply to The Brand @ 10:11 am:
Would Germany want us? Italy don’t!
And also realise that we play in the top league in Austria for which we get money allocated by teh different government departments, if we pull out of that to play in Germany, Switzerland or Italy we will lose that backing.
Saturday we took the train at 6:06 that means we met up at the station at 5:30. We got to Vienna at about 11:00, got to the pitch at about 12:00 and KO was at 14:00. Then after the 2nd game we left the pitch at 18:00 and took the 19:14 train back to IBK to be home just after midnight. That will become 6 time ritual next season!
May 30th, 2011 at 10:34 am
OK thanks for added info.
Do all teams get equal funding?
Is it ‘valuable’ enough for Austria to keep RCI in league?
May 30th, 2011 at 10:38 am
Reply to The Brand @ 10:34 am:
we bring a lot to the league – only competative club out-side of Vienna.
If it is financially viable to keep us in – depends on who you ask
Funding? From whom? – union gives fokkol! Each club has to worry about his own funding.
May 30th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Reply to JT_Stormers @ 10:38 am:
Julle sal maar my raad moet volg:
Bak en verkoop koeksisters.
In Orania staan ‘n koeksister-monument vir die bydrae
wat die lekkerny se verkope gelewer het tot die opheffing van
arm Afrikaners.
Just joking JT. I seriously hope you have better plans.
May 30th, 2011 at 10:59 am
Reply to Boertjie @ 10:52 am:
We made about a 800 Euro profit at our last event in IBK selling sosages and beer
Next problem: we only get the pitch in the city for 2 games a year – the rest we play about 20min drive outside of the city where we can make any money selling things…