Ever since the passing of statesman Danie Craven and Nelson Mandela, South African rugby has become a shambles.
Through his passion, Craven kept rugby alive during isolation over apartheid. There was no justice that he died in 1993, aged 82, not living to see his country win their first Rugby World Cup in 1995 at their first attempt.
That honour fell to Mandela, and who will ever forget the President on the Ellis Park podium wearing Springbok jersey No 6, presenting the William Webb Ellis Trophy to the Springbok captain Francois Pienaar.
South African rugby was on top of the world winning a second World Cup in 2007 with a lot of help from Aussie Eddie Jones as assistant coach. Nelson Mandela lived to see it, passing away in 2013, aged 95.
South Africa last won the Rugby Championship in 2009, and only the Bulls have won a Super Rugby title – their third and last in 2010 when it was Super 14.
That was the last time there was a level playing field with the 14 teams playing each other home and away.
Today Super Rugby is in complete chaos with 18 teams that include the Sunwolves from Japan, the Jaguares from Argentina and a sixth team from South Africa when Australia and New Zealand only have five each.
How the hell did that happen?
To compound the stupidity, there are moves afoot to drop a South African and an Australian side, and make four groups of four, or two of eight, retaining the Sunwolves and Jaguares.
From one disaster to another, and all the trouble seems to surround South Africa.
That’s very easily fixed by leaving South Africa, Sunwolves, and Jaguares out altogether, ending the SANZAAR position as Super Rugby’s governing body, and launching Oceania Rugby of the same five Australian and New Zealand teams, plus the national teams of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.
That will limit SANZAAR to the Rugby Championship to ensure the southern hemisphere has an annual world class international tournament.
But Oceania Rugby will have far less debilitating air travel, and a shorter tournament that will be welcomed by the elite footballers.
The five Australian teams to play home and away within their group for eight games, play the five New Zealand sides once each, and the three Islander sides once for a total of 16 games before the finals series of eight teams.
The New Zealanders to do the same, home and away within their group, play the five Australia sides once each, and the Islander sides once for 16 games all up, as well.
While the Islanders play each other home and away for four games each, and play the Australian and New Zealand sides once each for a total of 14 games, plus two byes.
It’s not perfect, but it’s fairer than the current chaos that offends everyone, fans included.
The inclusion of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga is long overdue for the benefit of world rugby.
All three national sides have been treated as backwater countries, shown scant respect by World Rugby as the governing body by the odd grant from the bottomless pit of money derived by every World Cup.
World Rugby to subsidise the Islanders to the tune of $150,000 per player in 30-man squads, making the bottomless pit meaningful.
Franchise clubs around the world must release their Fijian, Samoan, and Tongan reps for Oceania Rugby. Those who have already made their allegiance to Wallaby and All Black rugby remain the same.
Failure to release the others would have drastic ramifications by losing accreditation to play in their local tournaments.
Any injured or “injured” players will be ineligible to play for their franchise for three months.
It’s time for the usually toothless World Rugby to show some bite as the governing body.
Oceania Rugby will be doing world rugby a big favour, with Foxtel worldwide and free-to-air in Australia supportive.
So bring it on.
Jacko
Guest
i think the Aus teams would get thrashed by the PI teams. Aus just want to be able to poach these players.
Jacko
Guest
Come on you know David cant. thats the laugh with all this, they want a domestic Aussie comp to be sponsered to the same tune as a 5 nation super comp. Not real clever to be honest.
Jacko
Guest
I think he meant rugby at supper.
Jacko
Guest
Cookie why does NZ have to kick out fellow NZers? You seem to be obsessed with our awesome Polinesian population. Why? The Polinesian population in NZ contribute so much to NZ rugby...World rugby for that matter...that I dont understand your desire to get rid of them from our game. Your League comp is 38% Kiwi!!! and 44% not from Aus!!! Whats the % of Aussies in the A-league???
Jacko
Guest
Haha.Not having AFL is DEFINATELY not LACKING anything
Jacko
Guest
Dave the NZ Polinesian relationship has been explained so many times before yet you still refuse to bother listening do you. Once more for the mummy then....I believe their was 2 Non NZ born players in the last WC. NZ has the highest Polenesian population in the world and are mainly now 4-5th generation Kiwi. Please go and do some learning as the situation has been covered so many times that even you should know this by now. Ignorance is no excuse
Jacko
Guest
Dont follow rugby Paul?
Jacko
Guest
What do you think of Paul's comments? Just defending ourselves Zero
Jacko
Guest
And you are earning no respect
Jacko
Guest
Muzzo he is really jealous of what NZ rugby has.
Jacko
Guest
Paul your jealousy is really making you bitter and twisted there. You cant even see facts but continue on blindly embarrassing yourself with your lack of knowledge and total lack of any understanding of world rugby. If all the $$$$ are in Aus why is it nearly bankrupt? Why cant they afford the local comp? why did they lose money last year? lots of stuff so inacurate about your post that the only consistancy is that you are JEALOUS.Even the most financially secure SR franchise in Aus is owned by a kiwi. Jealousy is a worry...hope you can get thru it
Jacko
Guest
NPC also broadcast in europe and America. Paul is jealous. Paul is jealous
Jacko
Guest
Paul your bitterness is sad but not as sad as your lack of facts. Foxtel is Aussie only.NZ has Sky which is all UK tied with rugby. They pay the most $$$$ to Super rugby not Fox. Its all those English wanting to see the ABs play. The NZ economy is doing well thanks for asking but you should check the Aussie one out. The population is the size of Victoria and yet they still Kick your Aussie Butt. Your jealousy is a bit scarry. Also researsh your history and you will find NZ has saved Aussies a.se with rugby so many times its embarrassing for you...Poor dear
Jacko
Guest
No Zero the Arrogance is the expectation that NZ will just go along with whatever Aus want. NZ is a very successful rugby nation and dont need fixing. Im not anti the idea completely but Aus rugby is in the toilet...not NZ rugby
Frisky
Guest
Are you joking? You will have a competition where Australian teams thrash the Pacific Island teams, and the NZteams thrash everyone. Seems that such predictable results will kill public interest in Rugby.
Tomas
Guest
Sunwolves were introduced at Aus request. Jaguares at SA request. I think you have a point there anyway. SA should focus internally and grab the african and south american markets. While Australia and NZ develop an South East Asia tournament. Maybe do a top four teams match up at the end of the season. Travelling distances and timezones are a substancial problem. There is no other team competition with such a travel schedule
Katipo
Guest
This article is interesting and relevant... A consultant to the ARU advising them to go it alone. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/consultant-warns-super-rugby-killing-the-code-in-australia-20170316-guzcop.html Everything he says is right. ARU should invest in a proper NRC, and his advice could accommodate a champion of champions Super Rugby tournament, administered by an independent body.
Yeah, politics, nepotism and poor administration is the direct cause of our issues
davSA
Guest
Well said Brett . The trials and tribulations of Springbok rugby is not reflective of the game at all other levels in SA . The foundations remain firmly in place and with good leadership can claim its rightful place at the top echelons . SA are still providing quality young players literally on a conveyor belt to not just our own sides but those overseas as well . The chaos in SA rugby resides at senior administrative level but should not detract from the many thousands of dedicated people involved in the game I so many other levels , literally from Primary School upwards.
Brett Susan
Guest
South African rugby is not in chaos. It is a thriving sport that has taken on thousands and thousands of new converts over the years. It is a thriving, well supported university competition, a fantastic easter schools calendar which attracts schools from around the world. It probably boasts the best school boy leagues in the world. Its female teams are getting better and better, the 7's team is on top, its players are snapped up all over the world and the currie cup remains competitive. If this is a shambles, what is Australia in? Yes we have a national team which is in an ebb but Australia has also lost to Tonga and Samoa in its time and its current super teams are awful.