In his novel A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickins said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
South African rugby’s traditional rivalry between the Bulls and the Stormers will add another chapter to its storied past this Friday night at Loftus Versveld. And much like Dickens’ tale, you would be hard-pressed to find two clubs who differ so vastly in terms of success and stature at this point in their illustrious histories.
Their rivalry was born during South Africa’s years of isolation from world sport and the Currie Cup was almost exclusively ferried between Cape Town and Pretoria each season.
However, fast forward to 2021 and it is the Bulls who hold all the cards and the Stormers seem to be left punch drunk at the card table, holding nothing.
For the Bulls, it is the best of times, an age of wisdom and it is a season of light. Patrice Motsepe, the billionaire mining magnate, acquired a 37 per cent stake in the club and immediately set about using those funds in recruiting some world-class management and players to the club.
Some eyebrows were raised when Jake White was appointed director of rugby in 2020 – his forthright manner at times and a history of belligerence has seen him often leave clubs (Montpellier, Sharks, Brumbies) abruptly and often with burnt bridges still on fire at the exit door.
However, his influence as director of rugby has already borne fruit for the Bulls, with two trophies (Super Rugby Unlocked, Currie Cup) locked away until next season.
White has also recruited superbly during his tenure so far, experienced players such as Nizaam Carr, Gio Aplon, and Arno Botha, but none more influential than Duane Vermeulen, anointed as captain and recently sweeping all before him in collecting individual and team awards at the annual SRugby AU awards dinner.
(Photo by Kaz Photography/Getty Images)
The Bulls are in the midst of building a championship team, the club has real investment (which can’t be understated in these vacillating times), they’ve built depth in their roster, but most importantly they are winning and have an actual direction in terms of where they want to place themselves over the next few years as a team and as a club.
White has also expanded their way of playing to a degree – the Bulls will always have a monstrous pack of forwards, astute tactical kickers and a superb set-piece. It is in their DNA as a club and will always be.
While the Bulls are expanding their philosophy (which you can only do with confidence and winning culture), the overall skill factor has been the most impressive aspect of their style of play.
Their tight forwards are now not only offloading in the tackle but actively seeking to put a teammate into space instead of trying to run through the opponent, which is testament to their growth as a team, especially considering their traditional pattern of play.
For the Stormers, it is the worst of times, an age of foolishness and it is a season of darkness. Western Province Professional Rugby was liquidated in 2017 after a botched business deal in which WPPR was found guilty of bad business faith.
This is after they were considered one of the wealthiest unions in domestic rugby. Now they sit with enormous debt and court cases piling up like uncollected rubbish during a strike.
Herschel Jantjies (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
They moved from their traditional stronghold Newlands to Green Point Stadium, which will not generate the same atmosphere when crowds are allowed back in, as well as the continuous boardroom trouble which plagues the union to this very day.
Almost a decade ago, during Allister Coetzee’s reign, they had the best defensive system in Super Rugby, their roster had players such as Schalk Burger, Jean De Villiers, Jaque Fourie, and Bryan Habana, and yet still no silverware after making it into the playoffs and a final against the Bulls.
Robbie Flecks’ time in charge saw the Stormers regress even further as their game plan relied almost exclusively on scrum penalties and the player roster was drained without being filled up, due in no small part to the enormous amount of debt the union holds.
And even with a schoolboy catchment area some international teams could only dream of, those youngsters are now looking at plying their trade overseas or other clubs such as the Sharks and Bulls.
Currently, John Dobson is the head coach with a Table Mountain-like climb needed to get some form of identity back into the Stormers club.
It is made all the more difficult when your star player, Siya Kolisi, has moved to the Sharks, Pieter-Steph du Toit will be moving to Japan, and Dobson has all but confirmed his departure.
Their lack of attacking prowess and understanding between forwards and backs is non-existent, even with the precocious talents of Damien Willemse (who did recently re-sign with the club) and Herschelle Janties on their books, they just don’t have the quality around them to truly express their best attributes.
The boardroom also made a complete mockery and their incompetence was the only dim light in their botched attempt to secure much need funds from an American group called MVM Holdings. Cue the departure of Kolisi to Durban along with MVM Holdings and their cash cow, which is now all being funneled into the Sharks.
When the deal fell through for MVM Holdings, the Sharks delivered their due diligence within a few days and the deal was done.
What is considered a cliché and corporate talk of how everything filters from the top down is crystal clear and a painful truth in the contrasting fortunes of the Bulls and the Stormers.
Whilst the Bulls continually move forward in a clear direction of what is best for their club’s long-term interests, the Stormers take two steps back for every one they take forward, and in doing so, still manage to trip over their own feet.
As Dickens attests in his novel, for the Stormers it is the worst of times, it is a season of darkness and will continue into a winter of despair for some time to come.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
You must be kidding about Kings Park CPM? It’s access is the best in SA and the many fields around mean that you can park on a field, have a braai before and after the game as you chat the evening away with mates. Foreigners always comment on the uniqueness of Kings Park’s after game festivities and atmosphere. I used to live 30kms away from the Stadium, and for a 5pm Saturday Super Rugby kickoff I could leave home at 4:30pm and be seated in row F for kickoff, parking on the main northern field. Best. :thumbup:
Machooka
Roar Guru
And Aussie sides too... *cough *cough *cough :unhappy:
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, yes, yes.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Regardless of the politics, compounded by covid-19 I have to say Harry I miss the international franchise clashes between the NZ and SA sides.
CPM
Roar Rookie
No worse than Kings Park, maybe better actuality.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
"CJ Stander may come". Be badly missed in Munster and by Ireland. Had not realised Armand played so much in SA. Harare born, 1988, year we left Zimbabwe for Australia.... but Wiki has schooled in SA, so family probably moved down, as so many did. Sorry to learn things are so bad in the Cape rugbywise.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yes my friend but I'm bailing from this one. Lost my cool and it doesnt feel right......geez if there were easy answers and clear cut solutions we surely would have already found them.... We will have better discussions elsewhere.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
"Not sure this article holds much interest this platform". Probably not, JN, but for me all this is really interesting. Realise how out of touch with SA rugby I am though.
Wayne
Roar Rookie
Don't get me wrong, I love the place but you have to admit that compared to other stadiums access to Ellis Park sucks.
CPM
Roar Rookie
Is that a fact? Then explain why the attendance for the Lions, Bulls and Waratahs is on average 15, 000 per the 2018 figures. And that is for the unwatched and unwanted Super Rugby tournament.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
I don’t recall blaming transformation.. I said that any criticism results in the race card being pulled and administrators accusing those who criticize them of being anti transformation and deflecting said criticism. It’s a tried and tested strategy and I stand fully behind my assessment….
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Ah and of course your name is up in lights for all to see…..yes….good governance in virtually all areas of South Africa is a problem.. Sport including rugby no exception…. You have your opinion, I have mine……….The abandonment of the vast majority of Lions fans of their team is clearly evident.. Wayne puts forward the location of Ellis Park in the slum lands of Doornfontein as a problem but that’s been the case for many years now and is not going to change in our lifetim….Alternatives are still out there. Test matches however still appear to be well supported………my opinion and it’s just that is that the Lions are not a development team and should do as The Bulls and seek to build a winning squad… There are fringe teams like The Pumas and The Valke who can do that for them…. Faf De Klerk one such player who followed that path, And if that means spending money and abandoning the romantic but failed formula of developing from within so be it…… Again my opinion is that the only measure of success of a successful proffessional sports body is the size of its fan base and support..The Golden Lions have failed….The business model has been in place since 2014 as you say.. So can you give me an idea of how long I should wait to have a team worth supporting again.. I live in Jhb South.. Went to school in Jhb.. Was actually at the official opening of Ellis Park way back during Louis Luyts days and I am one of those supporters who has walked away…..possibly I should be heard instead of being dismissed so flippantly as you have just done..
Wayne
Roar Rookie
IMO the upheaval in Cape Town has been brought about by the Private Equity investors who are clearing a path for themselves to come in and take over the Franchise. There are some ingrown weeds that need clearing so it will get a little messy. The future of the Stormers is either a willing takeover by PE and if not then SA Rugby will take over and finalise the deal. Dobson leaving and Damien Willemse staying gives me the impression that the PE is already pulling the strings and the process of recruiting coaching staff and players is under way. Word on the street is that it is the same UAE PE (billionaire members of a Middle East royal family) that pulled out of the French PRO D2 club Béziers deal. They had a crazy list of players they were negotiation with to join Béziers (Dan Biggar, Beauden Barrett, Ma’a Nonu, Courtney Lawes, Semesa Rokodogun, Marika Korobeite, Jordan Taufua and Alex Tulou) so expect something similar if they succeed in Cape Town.
Wayne
Roar Rookie
:shocked: Harry, please edit the last line of your post, we don't want to give people bad ideas like that!!!
Wayne
Roar Rookie
Easy on the Lions there big guy! Fans don't like to go to Ellis Park because its location sucks. It is undoubtedly the best rugby stadium in the world but the access is difficult and no parking available so people don't go unless it's a big match. Now if they were to move to FNB / Soccer City they would massively improve the number of bums on seats on match days!!! If you have ever been to one of the Springbok games held there then you will know that it is an absolute no brainer that they move. Best thing about FNB / Soccer City is that you can have a braai in the parking lot before or after the game.
Blue
Guest
Absolutely spot on. Extremely encouraging. I predict the Bulls will enter a golden run over the next few years. The squad depth Jake is building has me salivating.
Blue
Guest
Goodness gracious you are a whole bucket of fun. This is a rugby forum. The topic is rugby, and money in this instance. Rugby and money are closely aligned topics in Australia as well, in case you hadn't noticed. The Bulls have made all the right moves. Yes yes I know in SA most things are bound to be corrupt but I have on good authority that the way the organization is being run now is actually quite impressive and with extremely tight governance in place. That was also one of the conditions on which Jake joined if my sources are to be believed. None of this has ANYTHING to do with transformation rather than structures put in place with new management and investors, or do you prefer to just paint everything with the catch-all transformation brush? Jake's tenure is closely tied into a transformation recruitment plan which right now seems to separate from the corporate process. This is indeed a first in SA sport and it looks like it could work. The Stormers on the other hand, well, governance seems to be illegal in the Cape.
Mielie
Guest
What I find most encouraging regarding the South African Rugby scenario is the fact that a black business man with his investment in the Bulls, has chosen excellent coaching staff and excellent players, not because of their color, but because of their ability. It is proving to be successful. Hopefully, hopefully in South Africa, this practice will move beyond Rugby.
CPM
Roar Rookie
The Bulls for now are unusual in that some effort at corporate governance is being attempted…. And don’t dare criticize. You think that you can hide behind an anonymous name and accuse some of the most successful business people in the world of bad management, and comparing them to amateurs running the Stormers. Do this Facebook on or some other social media site and you get cancelled! You also assume to know the business model at the Lions, it is to develop players from within and not to buy established player. Their development model seems to be working since 2014. Go ahead post your facts and stop spreading misinformation.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
The Lions? In a city with a broad based population in excess of 17 million people, the economic hub of Africa and in a rugby country they cannot get more than a few thousand fans in the stadium match day…..on field results are average at best and their player and coaching exodus puts The Stormers to shame. If that’s doing a good job I wouldn’t want to see what a bad one is….but let’s give them time.. They may surprise me.. The others too.