Equator (noun): An imaginary line drawn around the earth equally distant from both poles, dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres. Dividing is indeed the word that comes to mind.
There is definitely one question that divides rugby union fans around the world. For as long as anyone remembers, this has been the question that will spur the fiercest of debates. And as every rugby fan knows, the equator does not only split the world in half geographically, but the rugby union world emphatically.
Or maybe I’m just slightly exaggerating it.
Nonetheless, the question is “Which hemisphere is better at rugby?”
There is only one way it can be settled. A Northern Hemisphere versus Southern Hemisphere match, the match to end years and years of debate.
Although many antipodeans will obviously point to the SANZAR nations’ stranglehold on the top three world rankings, the British and Irish Lions are not exactly regarded as a weak outfit. Throw the the likes of France and Italy in the mix (some may scoff at this reference to Italy, but I assume not many would scoff to Sergio Parisse’s face) and you have one hell of a side in prospect.
Likewise, a combination of the Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina teams would be just as devastating. Can one imagine a backline of Ma’a Nonu, Digby Ioane and Francois Steyn facing up against Manu Tuilagi, Brian O’Driscoll and Vincent Clerc? My god.
This would be a rivalry that stems not only from geographical lines, but completely different rugby ideologies about how the game should be played. The flashy and slick running style of the South juxtaposed against the gritty and brutal physicality of the North.
Or maybe I am, yet again, making too much of this.
Despite its potential to be the most mouthwatering of rugby feasts, it just hasn’t happened yet. Why not? Some point to the congestion of the rugby calendar, and some point to the lack of interest. Yes, some will also say that there was already a SH versus NH match in 2005 for the tsunami charity. I’m not quite sure that it counts, though.
Still, I do believe that if this match were ever to happen it would be an absolute blockbuster.
I realise that I’m obviously not the first on The Roar to write about the North-South divide, and definitely not the last, but the question of which hemisphere holds superiority is one that just needs to be answered.
My question for the meantime, however, is who would be in your Southern Hemisphere or Northern Hemisphere XV?
Rug
Guest
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2380369.stm
Football United
Guest
because the best of the 6 nations are packed into the top teams in france, england and ireland rather than spread out like super teams. They have the power to support an extensive squad of not just the top europeans but other quality internationals from the south as well such giteau, van niekerk, fernandez lobbe, brad thorn, steenkamp and sivivatu
Rusty
Roar Guru
Woodcock is done - Franks is way out front nowadays I think SBW brings more to the table than Nonu who isnt doing much for his chances at the Blues Habana is very good but I think Guildford is a better positional player and he also passes when he should instead of just trying to make the play himself.... on second thoughts I would put Francois Hougaard at wing, he pops up everywhere, is great at link play and can keep the ball moving at ruck time as a 2nd halfback Beale to 15 then
Jerry
Guest
Which is fine - that's a personal preference on your part, but how do you justify the belief that the top NH clubs would spank Super Rugby teams? The SH national squads are generally superior to NH national squads, and the talent is generally more thinly spread in NH club sides (eg 14 French sides, 12 EP teams vs 5 Super Rugby franchises).
Football United
Guest
This, the whole experience is bland at SR. I just moved to europe this year and the seasons here are just on a whole different level of excitement.
Derm
Roar Guru
Maybe the SH calendar needs a revision. Cut the Super 15 to 12 teams. Play each other home and away on a league basis. Start in August, break in November for internationals, then play the rest of the season. Stck in the 4N In April and May. Have some time off. Play tests in June.
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
Right now, an ANZAC team would just increase the All Blacks workload. Not a single Wallaby would make the cut, not even for the bench. Well, hold on, maybe I'm jumping the gun. Dave Pocock might make the side... Possibly. Or eeeeeven Digby...?
Ivan
Guest
i dont rate genia, plays well when reds pack dominating, doesnt really have the same spark as a francois hougaard. not as fast, not as powerful. Id rather put hougaard at 9, or fourie du preez when hes fit. Woodcock at 1, yes perhaps. Frans Steyn at 12 surely. Long range goal kicking and defensive kicking abilities. Sonny bill perhaps to 13. Nonu has never impressed me. makes about 3 high tackles per game. easy to predict. Id rather take Beale over Dagg. Habana seems to be finding form again... defensively far stronger than guildford.
kiwi
Guest
Has to be Woodcock @1 Agree with loosies Agree with Genia @9 Nonu @12 Habana waaay over Guildford @11 (You're dreaming there!) Dagg or Beale @15 - would struggle to pick between them Great team!!!
Bushytop
Guest
Probably been mentioned many times in historical threads on rugby sites globally but it is about time that the NH rugby calendar gets a revision. Maybe a shortened version of Top 14, Aviva, Pro 12 etc should could run from Sept - Dec, Heineken Cup group stages Jan - Mar, 6 nations April, Heineken Cup 1/4, semis and finals in may - June.
allblackfan
Guest
my bad. when you get as old as I am, your memory starts to play funny tricks!
Emric
Guest
Or the NPC, Curry Cup
Wales15
Guest
No offence bud, but when you play about 2 games a year as SH teams do, it's easy to be at your best and high intensity each week. What happens if you do rubbish, you don't get relegated or anything. Super rugby is boring. Heineken cup with decent teams withholds much more intensity. I'd rather watch Leinster v Toulouse in a packed RDS stadium, than the Crusaders v Chiefs. There is nothing better than a freezing friday night, in a packed surburban stadium, with the crowd hostile and on top of you. True rivals with sometimes hatred going at each other. You can only experience that in the HC.
Wales15
Guest
It was Toulouse if it was in 1996. They beat us 21-18, I believe in extra time to win the Heineken cup final.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
"It was like being run over by a bus a hundred times." said Penaud. "The 101st time, the tackling gets a bit clumsy." Auckland now travel to South Africa to begin their Super 12 title defence. Same quote you mention. It was Brive
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Are you sure it wasnt Brive?? http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-roundup-brive-out-with-the-washing-1280240.html I only remember them playing the Blues but might have missed another game v toulouse or toulon
allblackfan
Guest
it wasn't brive. It was either toulon or toulouse (I always get them mixed up). It was that year's HC winner up against the current Super rugby champs; the only time rugby had a world club championship. Final score was something like 51-46 or something!
Ivan
Guest
Based on what ? Super Rugby contains the same players that thump the English, welsh, French and Irish year after year in internationals. What would make Toulon, Leinster stronger than Crusaders, Bulls, Stormers ? In the North South Match, the SH blasted the NH. when the Sharks played the Crusaders at Twickers, did you enjoy that game? I seem to recall the Brittish commentators saying that they rarely get to see such high levels of footie and that they would welcome this fixture more often.
Ivan
Guest
the only ones I would pick from Aus for a SH team are Pocock and Beale. Every other position has a better player from either SA or NZ.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I think you're talking about Brive. This was a different era. A one off (match) does not mean much anyway. To really assess Crusaders, Toulouse, Leinster etc,'s level, we would have to have them in the same comp, same ruls, same calendar etc. Fpr example, Toulouse and Toulon started their domestic season in August last year....they will finis it next w-e. Woudl love to see how the McCaws, Carters, Crudens etc, cope with a 10-month long domestic season, plus heineken cup, plus tours, plus 6 nations etc.... As of today, both worlds are just too different to say one is better than the other imo