South Africa has been financially rated ‘junk’ status by two of the leading world financial agencies, Standard and Poor’s and Fitch, with Moody’s likely to follow suit sooner rather than later.
If the Big Three financial agencies were to rate Super Rugby, it would have been junk status from the moment SANZAAR admitted a sixth franchise in South Africa, plus the Sunwolves from Japan, and Argentina’s Jaguares.
This week SANZAAR will remove two teams – the Cheetahs and Kings will cut South Africa’s involvement to four, and either the Force or Rebels to go, cutting Australia’s involvement to four, with New Zealand to remain on five.
That will cut the Super Rugby tournament to 15 teams – from 18 – but leave the Sunwolves and Jaguares.
Still junk status.
Nobody will admit to suggesting that the Sunwolves and Jaguares be admitted, but it had to be South Africa.
What’s even more disturbing is that either Australia or New Zealand went along with the stupid suggestion.
The Sunwolves can’t beat an egg, and would have great difficulty beating Sydney Subbies teams like Drummoyne, Colleagues, and Mosman.
Yet Roar Guru Fox Saker went to pains yesterday to support the Sunwolves claiming 25 million watched a World Cup game, obviously with Japan on duty.
But the Fox was thinking like the ARU, putting cold hard cash ahead of standards.
I don’t give a rats if 50 million, or 75 million, watch rugby on Japanese television, the Sunwolves simply can’t play,
So far they’ve played 19 Super Rugby games for a win and a draw.
Miracles can happen, even Don Bradman made a duck in his last Test innings when he needed just four runs to have a 100-run Test career average.
Admittedly the Jaguares are better with eight wins from 21 games, but they shouldn’t be there.
There are many ways of making Super Rugby better, and fairer.
First cab off the rank must be a revamping of the law book that for decades has supported the defending side.
Open up the field to give the attacking side more space and support, and rugby will come alive.
But the format is still a major problem
Retain the 15 teams of 2015, with five each from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.
Anything is better than the current format, and certainly better than the proposed format for next season.
Rugby, the fans, and the sponsors deserve better.
John R
Roar Guru
Think the reason they're doing it over 3 is to lower his income tax. Plus, it locks him in.
ClarkeG
Guest
Ohhh you are .....part of a tag team.
ClarkeG
Guest
Are you part of a tag team?
double agent
Guest
Brilliant post Sheek I should've said.
double agent
Guest
Surely you're not serious??!!
double agent
Guest
It's funny to watch coaches going mental but I have more respect for men who face adversity with a stoic exterior. Tantrums are for toddlers.
double agent
Guest
WTF?
double agent
Guest
Ignoramus you've just had your ass handed to you. Give it up.
double agent
Guest
Best post I've ever read on here Sheek. Well done.
double agent
Guest
Brilliant post!
double agent
Guest
GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
double agent
Guest
Rubbish idea.
double agent
Guest
You've explained it well TWAS. Case closed.
taylorman
Guest
Ok, as I e really only read his later ones and I thought they were good...the Afghan, Avenger. So I should go back to the Dogs of war, fourth protocol etc? For me Ludlum and Forsythe write similarly where I prefer Wilbur Smith more for his detail at the personal level where the others focus more on setting the conspiracy. And no one describes an arrow or bullet piercing through the chest quite like Wilbur. But I'll get on to those early ones. Cruise has put me off Lee Child forever, picturing him in the Reacher role every time I read them now causes to many conflicts on the brain!?
Jacko
Guest
I think they may make the 8,and as you say they havnt played some of the tougher sides. Unfortunately that is the nature of the comp and IMO it should be a RR as you say. As far as the jaguaries go they can only beat who they play and that is the problem with the current, and new, system.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I honestly don't know, Jacko. Someone told me it was just easier due to cashflow/accounting reasons? I really have no clue though, mate.
Jacko
Guest
Agree Fion, but the same could be said for some of the Jaguaries test players to I spose. It always amuses me when a team is described as having an all ABs pack, or an all Wallabies pack, as most of the time only 2 or 3 are actually in the current Abs or Wallabies.
Jacko
Guest
Again. From my perspective it seems wrong to pay him not to be involved in Aus rugby. As someone said above, why not just continue his negotiatedcontract when he returns? If 2 mil is what he got then give him a mil a season. Why split that into 3 years? What is the reason for that? It just asks some questions it doesnt answer and it sets a president, which others can demand.
Jacko
Guest
It did amuse me that of the 20 or 30 others who have disagreed with the article it was me he had a go at...And what a long winded go it was.... But we have disagreed before and i guess we will disagree again.
davSA
Guest
Hi Bakkies , If my memory serves me correctly Argentina put forward that their future role in the Rugby Championship was under threat if they were not included into Superugby . Reason being that Superugby would have given them the level of preparation required for the RC. They were totally supported by Tew in particular of NZRU. SA would in any way not have objected due to the close relationship between Argentinian Rugby and SA.