The Spears followed agreement to the letter

BEFORE answering the letters from John Finlayson, D E Aldendorff and Derek Bouwer (“Spears should play in Vodacom Cup”, The Herald, April 4), it is absolutely imperative to understand how the Spears came about, and especially to understand that the Spears are the creation of SA Rugby, in fact all of SA Rugby, and then they were abandoned and deserted in 2005.

Now, 10 months later, there is an effort to take a new deal off the table.

In January, 2005, SA Rugby called for bids to own a Super 14 rugby franchise. On April 6, bids were submitted by six franchises, the SEC (Southern and Eastern Cape) Super 14 (now the Spears) included, and the Spears bid had a guaranteed R50-million sponsorship for five years from Vodacom (on condition that they were in the 2006 Super 14). On April 15 the franchise was awarded to the Spears by the SA Rugby adjudication panel, which led to an enormous outcry from the Cheetahs and Blue Bulls.

A second proposal was then tabled and accepted. It guaranteed that the Spears play in the 2006 Currie Cup, and were entrenched in the 2007 and 2008 Super 14 competitions.

This new deal effectively took the R50-million off the table and the bid went to the Cheetahs, who were assured a place in the 2006 Super 14 Series. However, SA Rugby obligated themselves to support the Spears financially for 2006 as well as to raise sponsors for the Spears for 2006.

The relegation and promotion system is actually fantastic for South African rugby.

Here’s how:

The Spears are not responsible for the appalling performances of the Cats and the Stormers in 2006. This has been their own doing or undoing.

The Cats, for example, have won only four games out of 41 in their last outings, and the Stormers have struggled in each outing and are known to lose on their overseas campaigns.

I have suggested that the relegation and promotion commencing in December, 2007 comprise a tri-game series (home, away and neutral ground).

The Spears’ players will play in the 2006 Vodacom Cup, but for their unions, play in the 2006 Currie Cup and 2007 Super 14 series.

There are no affirmative action pressures or wishful thinking, as Aldendorff suggests.

The deal struck was the one above, and the Spears have complied with everything asked by SA Rugby, the President’s Council and the SA Rugby board.

However, the Spears have fast-tracked transformation and development in spite of more than 30 of 150 players in the 2006 Super 14 series coming from our region.

Bouwer is getting the drift. SA Rugby created this, established the rules and the Spears abided by all that was asked of them, except that no-one from SA Rugby, except Mike Stofile, has ever seen the Spears play in six months.

Finally, we have to stick to the deals made last year between SA Rugby and the six franchises and especially to our sponsors. The Spears are doing just that.

Let the battle begin!

Tony McKeever, CEO, The Southern Spears

You’ve got a good point Ig, but I think sa rugby journo’s need to clean their own house first.

It will be great to get more stats like the ones mentioned in the article and have some surety regarding their accuracy. But we can’t just ask coaches to speak out why they did what, etc.

Simply, against a good side we will be found wanting, we are just not good enough, that is why Eloff,this is a good FRENCH side

Why cant S.A. sides maul properly — we are a joke in this area of play, we get mauled gainst and battle to keep the maul from rolling on, but when we try it, no matter what team [ MAYBE the BULLS are the exception] we fail badly — WHY?

If every coach in SA could coach with enthusiasm and style of rugby he had, nobody could touch us!

Either way it still ends up that the wrong person is being blamed.

Also, dont believe players should be indivudually picked out and criticised in public, it undermines their confidence, expecially with the fickle SA public. Take them aside and show them the error of their ways, if they continue to underperform drop them, but one of JW’s major strengths is his unwavering support for his players who repay him for that on the field.

pompies, the criticism levelled at the Bulls is positive criticism meant to improve their game and hopefully help them win the S14. Yes they are currently the best outfit in SA(as little as that means), but if they don’t overcome their obvious deficiencies they will never win the S14.

First let the journalists learn how to report without bias and with fact. When they do that they will earn the respect of the coaches who, in turn, will give more information.

Secondly, teach the journo’s to ask the correct questions about the game and to stop looking for the sensationalism. I can remember some complaints from muppits outlining the fact that during the “live” interviews their relevant rugby related questions where never answered/put forward to the interviewee.

also, its quite a lot of fun to see people speculate and bullsh*t.

I suggest you all read the post again – starting with the first word ! bliksem – you make the same mistake repeatedly – you have to be a rocket scientist – keep that sugar coming !