Roar Pro
Joined July 2014
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South African rugby is in crisis. There is little doubt of this. And as has been extensively discussed, the reasons are numerous. But as…
One of the most emotive issues in South African rugby is the idea of quotas. Specifically, the requirement that a team must contain a…
If you thought the current format for super Rugby finals was unfair, wait until next year. Things are about to get really crazy! After…
We've reached the half way stage of the Super Rugby tournament. The pre-season banter no longer matters and only a few teams are left…
The format of the Super Rugby competition is broken. Every rugby fan knows it. But what are those in charge doing about it? Sadly,…
Keep us updated, potentially very important!
Boks show steel to survive late scare as bonus point puts them in pole position for TRC crown
Hi Harry, are you sure the head to head differential is used before series points differential?
This link suggests otherwise:
https://super.rugby/therugbychampionship/about-trc/
Boks show steel to survive late scare as bonus point puts them in pole position for TRC crown
When asked about how he wasn’t shown respect by Berry, Kolisi replied: “Have you watched the video?
“Watch the video and we can speak about it.
“I didn’t feel I had the same access to the referee.
“Watch the game and you will see yourself.”
'I didn't feel respected': Springboks captain backs Erasmus rant on Aussie ref
Hi Harry. Nice article.
I think the boks major worry, is still the defence in the outside channels. Its been this way since the start of Rassie’s tenure. Not so much the tackling, although sometimes this is the problem, but sticking to the structure. The fact that the boklings are still learning is most evidence by this area of play. The wallabies could/should have exploited this more, and the ABs certainly will try.
Maybe Am, Kolbe, Willie and ? are more up to the task… Certainly once that gap is plugged this will be a very difficult bok side to beat!
Springbok 'learnings' from Ellis Park
Poor white, black and coloured players are being selected
Ireland hammer dreadful South Africa
Jesse Kriel and Ross Cronje were probably the worst two players on the pitch…
Maybe the coach is a quota? But really I don’t see how you can say we are picking non-white players over white players. We are simply picking poor players of all colours…
Would Andries Coetzee, Kriel or Cronje make any other international side?
Ireland hammer dreadful South Africa
Has there been any talk of the axed side joining the Japanese league? Seems this could keep many people happy…
Talks of Brumbies-Rebels takeover re-emerge
Using the ranking calculator here: http://rugby.alfred-wallace.com/
Its easy enough to make some real predictions.
After the first two weeks of RC Its likely Australia and SA will swap ranking places, Aus at 5, SA at 4.
Then in the next two rounds SA and Argentina play in Australia. If Aus win both games they return to 4th (Boks to 5th), but if they lose to SA then the Boks climb to 3rd, and Aus stays at 5th. (I am assuming Aus will beat Arg at home).
However this round does not matter too much, as regardless of how the fixture between SA and Aus plays out in Australia, the match in SA will determine the ranking positions. If SA wins, they go to 3rd, and Aus to 5th. And if Aus wins, they will go to either 4th or 3rd, depending if they also won the home fixture. While SA go to 5th.
In the final round, if Aus lose away to Argentina, they can fall to 5th, 6th, or 7th depending on if they have won both, one, or none of their games vs SA respectively. However if Aus win away against Arg then they cannot fall below 5th in the rankings, and can be as high as 3rd if they beat the Boks in SA.
So prior to the November tour it would require a much improved showing from Argentina to knock the Wallabies lower than 5th on the rankings.
And even on tour, if the wallabies can pick up a single victory from either England, Wales or Scotland then they should maintain their 5th ranking spot.
Interestingly, if SA can beat Ireland on the November tour, then Aus can finish the year 4th despite a win loss record of 7-7 for 2017 [2-1 (June tour); 0-3 (ABs); 1-1 (SA); 2-0 (Arg); 2-2 (Nov tour)]…
Wallabies' world ranking could be set to plummet
Agreed! Super rugby is not the place for Australia to develop rugby. Its the place to develop its elite rugby, but you need structures below that.
In a South African context, rugby needs professional development in the Eastern Cape. But throwing the Kings into Super rugby doesn’t seem very practical, and this has been shown with the string of problems they have faced on and off the field. So they should be developed within the domestic currie cup tournament!
TELL US: Is the new Super Rugby format a change for the better?
I think this is an excellent summation, and good idea… Reading many of the Roar comments it seems that many Australian fans are not interested in a tournament which “crowns the pre-eminent southern hemisphere regional team”…
Fair enough that there is a lot of concern for Australian rugby structures. And this is an Australian site. But to me Super Rugby is not the place where you fix domestic rugby. It should be the champions league of rugby….
TELL US: Is the new Super Rugby format a change for the better?
The new (old) format we will have in 2018 is certainly an improvement on the current format. Despite the loss of teams being a tough pill to swallow.
I think the reason SARU has agreed to this is because of the recent form of the Springboks. They certainly think that fewer super rugby sides will allow for a more streamlined coaching of players, better results from SA sides, and will translate to a better performing national side. Who knows if this is a reality, time will tell.
Likewise I think, providing Australia don’t drop the Force, then there is potential for their national side to be bolstered by this move.
My major gripe with the new format is the finals format. More that half the sides will qualify. That seems pretty odd to me. Maybe a better idea would have been the top two sides automatically qualify for the semis and sides 3 to 6 play off for the remaining two semi-final spots…
Finally, a few people have pointed out that 3 conferences of 6 each might have been more sensible. The major problem I see with that is the travelling SA sides would have to do. The 2018 format is significantly impacted by the desire to minimise SA touring schedule…
TELL US: Is the new Super Rugby format a change for the better?
This game is a great argument for a 2-tier strength vs strength tournament!
Force vs Kings: Super Rugby live scores, blog
1) – Agreed. Instead of COetzee mentoring Stick. We should have had someone like Graham Henry mentoring Coetzee and Ackerman.
2) – Meyer is certainly responsible for a lot of what we are seeing in 2016. These problems began before Coetzee took up the reigns.
3) – I have no inside knowledge on what the story with Rsssie was. But seems a further indication of the mismanagement happening at SARU.
4) – Our coaches seem to lack ability. Coetzee moans about the players being under skilled. But I think its more a problem of coaches in SA being under skilled.
5) – Certainly Coetzee has not shown any adhesion to a certain style this year.
6) – No more playing for the Boks if you aren’t based in the SA.
7) – I find this idea quite appealing. But who knows. Rumours were stronger a few seasons ago.
8) – We have talented players. Need better coaches to get the most out of players.
9) – No idea the consequences. In the past nothing has happened.
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
Totally agree with points (1) and (2). And as you say, there are other things that will need to change also.
Regarding coaches I have no idea. I think ideally the Boks should have a foreign coach. Free of SA baggage. And with a host of new and different ideas… Not sure SARU is willing to go this route though…
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
Yeah, you’re right. I was really referring to the Bok’s 2009 success. Downhill from then…
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
You won’t find Divvy’s management style in any text books, but with the player base SA had at the time it worked out. At least up until the 2011 RWC…
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
Divvy had a pretty open mouth… Although not much of a plan…
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
Thanks Etienne.
You’re right, an international coach needs thicker skin, and more self belief. Maybe in South Africa and England this is even more true than other countries. So, with that in mind, who should be the next coach?
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
Thanks DB. As you say, it does seem that the pressure put on SA coaches to win somehow results in a more conservative game plan. Coetzee selected Morne Steyn for the home game against the WBs. Which is obviously a major backwards step. But the Boks won that match. So he is somehow vindicated… What a shame…
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
Thanks for the comment Fionn. This piece is obviously an opinion. And who knows, maybe that loss made no difference. But it does seem to me that this first failure for Coetzee really set him back…
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
Not sure the SARU board is pushing any style of play. That seems to be up to the coaches. I believe Coetzee wanted the Boks playing differently, but whether because of his own ability as a coach, or as I have suggested here, his lack of conviction, he has failed dramatically to bring anything new to the Boks in 2016.
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
Thanks guys. Yeah, I don’t think the problem is players. Certainly better selections would help. But on the whole SA has the player base for a more expansive game plan.
The moment it all went wrong for Coetzee
Thanks! By kickoff the Boks will know exactly what they need to do. And for Wallabies to top the log they’ll need a BP victory and for the Pumas to beat the Boks.
Amazingingly open final weekend!
Boks show steel to survive late scare as bonus point puts them in pole position for TRC crown