Sharks are victims of a flawed format
30 Jul 2012
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says Saturday’s Super Rugby final will be a farce instead of a real contest the tournament deserves.
Can the Sharks win in Hamilton and claim a first Super Rugby title?
Of course they can.
Are they good enough, individually and as a unit, to beat the home team?
Of course they are.
Will they win it?
Never.
The competition structure in Super Rugby finals has always been flawed because of the need to cram as much as possible into the year calendar, make the various administrations as much money as possible and give the broadcaster as much product as is possible.
A final should be about a contest and the definition of a contest is that the winner should not be predetermined.
Finals in which one team travels more than 19,300km and is given one training run before the season climax are finals only in name.
You play at home, you win. You play away, you lose. Occasionally a very good side wins away from home in another country in Super Rugby. In the history of the tournament, this was the exclusive right of a very talented and special Crusaders squad.
Officials argue that this is to reward consistency and the team placing top of the league gets all the play-off advantages. Cool, then why have a final? Win the league and you should be the champions.
The moment a play-off structure was introduced, which guaranteed each of the three Sanzar countries a play-off spot, it nullified any justification of rewarding league form.
Australia is the weakest conference. The Reds would have placed sixth on league strength. They won the Australian conference and got third on the overall league.
It is all a lie. From the outset, league form is not rewarded.
There should be three titles: a trophy and cash for the respective conference winner. It is a reward. It is an achievement. You, for example the Stormers, are the best South African team in the conference.
Then there’s the overall league winner and a very huge cash incentive and a big trophy. You are consistently the best team of the season, for example, the Stormers this year.
Now, your winners get a heads-up in the six-team play-offs, which is another tournament within a tournament. The heads-up is you get to host a play-off match which puts you in a position to play in the final, which is at a neutral venue and whose only purpose is revenue for the two respective teams and the competition organisers.
And there is a fortnight break between the play-off and the final. Then you have a tournament, in which there is merit, there is reward and there is logic.
Why have a climax to a tournament in which the format determines the winner? We play at home, we win. We play away, we lose. Why bother?
I have heard all the crazy arguments that if a team is that good they win anywhere. Crap.
The Crusaders’ campaign a year ago had a Hollywood script but a real ending, not that which sells to a dummy audience.
The same applies this coming Saturday. The Chiefs have to win because they are rested, at home and well prepared. The Sharks, in Brisbane a fortnight ago, in Cape Town last week and in Hamilton this weekend, have spent more time travelling than on the field.
Greed is the only motivator of the current system. There is no reward to any player, team or supporter.
Invariably the losing team in the final is lambasted by a disappointed supporter, and before there is time for proper analysis it all gets repeated in a league format at a national level.
Why no final here? The draw again influences the final standings.
The Sharks have confirmed their class in beating the Stormers. They were good enough. And they got the result. The Stormers, given the class of player, overachieved in winning the league and hosting a semi-final through consistently winning and they did not choke. A choke is when there is no way a team should lose. There was always a chance that they could lose because of the limitations within the available match 22 and the lack of try-scoring potency in the game plan.
The Chiefs, in New Zealand, were deserving winners and a Crusaders’ victory would merely have added to the illusion of the brilliance of a Crusaders team that relies on the extraordinary talents of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter and a historical dominance that has long not been a reflection of their rugby in the tournament.
The seven-times tournament champions have now lost five successive semi-finals and that is more relevant than the seven titles won by another generation.
We play at home, we win. You play at home, you win.
If it works for you, cool, but then add a bit of perspective to the illusion and see the tournament as a money spinner and not a representation of a team’s ability.
Both semi-finals were great value for New Zealand and SA respectively. Both national squads will be strong. Both will teams be extremely difficult to beat at home.
Don’t confuse national with regional and provincial. No bloke in Canterbury wants the Chiefs to beat the Sharks because the latter are South African. On the contrary. The same applies here. Unite behind the Sharks? Tell that to the Bulls and Lions supporters, as just two examples. Unite behind the Boks yes, but the Sharks are not a representation of Cape Town or Johannesburg.
National is national. Provincial is provincial. League is league. Knockout is knockout. Cash is all that motivates the administration. If it was about the contest, they wouldn’t force one team to spend 48 hours travelling across the world and then make them play 48 hours after touchdown.
The Sharks and Chiefs are bloody good sides. There is little between the two. It should be the dream final.
Instead it is a farce. It was when the Chiefs travelled to Pretoria a few years ago.
Can the Sharks win?
Of course they can.
Will they win?
They’ve won already if you are judging their rugby.
469 Comments
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30 Jul 2012, 11:34 am
@kaksioek-3: Dumb comment.
30 Jul 2012, 11:36 am
Keo for once you have written a good a article and you are right the home town advantage is everything even if it is an all ozzie or an all sa or all kiwi final,the stats do not lie.Provincialism is still rife in sa rugby but that is what keeps our rugby strong,during the dark days of isolation that is what kept the CC strong to win it and be the best team in sa,and it is still the same today the only difference being that we have the super rugby title to play for now as well as cc i can only speak for myself and say when the bulls were knocked out by the crusaders my 100% interest in the competition was over except to see the slaapstaders getting knocked out in their home semi which they duly did AGAIN.As a bulls fan i want the bulls to win every game they play and every competition they play in every year,and i do not think i am different from any other fan in that respect.The sharks face a nearly impossible task to beat the chiefs in a one off game in nz and all i can say is i hope they play good enough to win,but eventually the travelling will start to tell just as it did at newlands on saturday for it was only in the last 20 minutes that the 2nd raters came into the game as the sharkies were knackered and that is a fact.As a bulls fan living in cape town i can always remember in the old days there the wp fans saying if they do not win the CC they do not care who wins it as long as it is not the bulls,and it is still the same today that is why i was glad the 2nd raters got gubbed again.Go sharks.
30 Jul 2012, 11:39 am
four defeats in four finals could be a rugby world record.
30 Jul 2012, 11:41 am
@Robzim-8: How about GreatestGerber who would rather drown his own offspring than see WP win anything. There are tools of this persuasion supporting every side so the fools who think that it will be Stormers fans and only Stormers who might be sour over another teams success are displaying their own small-mindedness loud and clear. Most SA rugby fans will be solidly behind the Sharks this weekend. Who the feck doesn’t want to see the trophy in SA?
30 Jul 2012, 11:42 am
@blueboy-52:
You obviously just hang out in the wrong social circles in Cape Town – try mingling with the non tik using comunity. They can be fun too.
Amongst the supporters of all teams there are narrow minded childish ones and grown up ones who support their own teams but also appreciate and applaud the performances of others.
I am a Stromers supporter (ex CTN now in JHB), but have always been a proud South African when the bulls have done well in the S15.
30 Jul 2012, 11:42 am
@stormerforlife1-53: Nogge dumb comment.
30 Jul 2012, 11:44 am
@stormerforlife1-53:
as opposed to 3 semi final defeats poodleboy?
30 Jul 2012, 11:45 am
“Can the Sharks win in Hamilton and claim a first Super Rugby title?
Of course they can.
Are they good enough, individually and as a unit, to beat the home team?
Of course they are.
Will they win it?
Never.”
It would be nice to know what the Sharks’ record against the Chiefs in Hamilton is, before “blaming” your predicted loss for the Sharks on the traveling they have to do.
30 Jul 2012, 11:46 am
Sorry Keohane,but nobody forced the Sharks to end sixth on the log.All of the teams knew the rules at the start of the super competition….that’s why the Bulls so desperately wanted to end first on the log.
30 Jul 2012, 11:46 am
Some bad comments flying around today…
30 Jul 2012, 11:47 am
@kaksioek-37: Once my 2 teams are out of the tournie, it becomes irrelevant who wins. Chiefs – great. Sharks – great. Doesn’t really bother me. I will watch the game and the rugby for what it is, with no emotional involvement. So you get emotional about every Saffa team you say? And support EACH AND EVERY Saffa team that makes any playoffs by default?
Well then the Currie Cup must be quite a turbulent time for you.
All that cap and jersey changing…..At least you are always a winner by default as well I suppose. Hardenup and stop talking kak about supporting all SA teams – your nose is growing puppet boy P.
30 Jul 2012, 11:53 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-61: So you have two teams, do you? Is your other team the Crusaders?
So you’re one of those!
30 Jul 2012, 11:54 am
I will support the team that plays the best and most expansive rugby and according to Capebull’s reasoning that team is the Chiefs.
30 Jul 2012, 12:00 pm
In the interest of harmony and peace on this blog a Chiefs victory is a must.
30 Jul 2012, 12:00 pm
This is a pointless article. Of course home game is an advantage. It Is rightly awarded to the teams who finish highest. Of course travel is a factor, but what are you going to do about it. Wait for continental drift to bring all three countries closer? Any team could have found themselves with the travel schedule of the Sharkd if the league stage had finished that way. Believe me, if the Stormers had won on Saturday we’dl all be hearing how well the format worked. It’s the way it set up. Every team has the same format to deal with. Good luck Sharks. There is no reason why you can’t do it.
30 Jul 2012, 12:01 pm
@stormerforlife1-63: ****.butter.
30 Jul 2012, 12:02 pm
@kaksioek-62: Nope. I support the Stormers 100%, and I am a huge fan of Auckland rugby in general. In the S15, that means the Blues. Stormers over Blues when it matters though. Blues over everyone else.
That’s it.
Unlike you, who has emotional ties to every team in the Currie Cup and Currie Cup 1st Division. You’re in a win win relationship. When you speak of the Bulls/Cheetahs/Lions/Griquas/Pumas/EP, do you say “we won”.
Sounds a bit like playing poker with yourself IMHO….
30 Jul 2012, 12:05 pm
#55 Mongerel good name just like your team,i had good friends in cape town all wp fans and decent guys but when it came to the bulls they bloody hated them,and it is still the same today.If you are honest with yourself say on this website now who is the team you like to see getting beat most of all,and as a wp fan if you do not say it is the bulls you are just writing absolute SHITE.
30 Jul 2012, 12:06 pm
@stormerforlife1-63: Capebull is choking on the piddled wet denim of his jean pant at the moment.
By his own affirmations, he should support (in the following order):
The Chiefs,
The Hurricanes,
The Rebels, (they too be playing rugby in the Capebull style)
New Zealand,
Samoa,
Fiji,
France
The USA,
Russia,
The Solomon Islands
The Boks – who won a WC defending
The Bulls – who won 3 Super titles playing 10 man rugga.
30 Jul 2012, 12:09 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-67: My mistake, the Blues – same difference. Have you already lost your two front teeth? Did you enjoy all those losses? Ah well, good practice for what happened on Saturday at least.
Of course in the CC I only support the Sharks.
And I never say “we” when talking about a victory I played no part in. I leave that to you, dog food lady. Woof woof.
30 Jul 2012, 12:11 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-69: I understand Japan plays a mean game of rugga also.
30 Jul 2012, 12:13 pm
@blueboy-68: No, not true. Which teams do I like beating most of the other SA teams? Bulls and Sharks of course, because they are quality sides. Just like I enjoy a win over the Crusaders the most of all.
But trust me, when the bulls play and overseas team in a crunch game I get behind them 100%
30 Jul 2012, 12:19 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-69:
what are you talking about?
did you watch the chiefs bulls final?
10 man rugger indeed.
and in 2011 the bulls scored more tires than anybody else in the comp.
no my angel sort yourself out.
30 Jul 2012, 12:20 pm
@stormerforlife1-59: Home ground advantage is overrated – don’t you think? Ask the dik bek Stormers they will tell you.
The only thing that needs to change is an extra week of rest between the semi and finals.
30 Jul 2012, 12:21 pm
@goyougoodthing2-66:
poodle?
30 Jul 2012, 12:25 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-75: almost, Feijoa Butter… it’s a goodthing from New Zealand… but it leaves an odd taste in the mouth
30 Jul 2012, 12:27 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-73: I think the Bulls get labelled a kicking team unfairly sometimes but I mut be honest I think either the coaching staff insist that Morne plays the way he does or he is personally geared to only play that way but whatever the reason I don’t think it’s good for the Bulls. I reckon a more balanced no 10 would flourish at the Bulls.
30 Jul 2012, 12:28 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-73:
Gunther, did they score the majority of the tries in 2011 because they played nice running rugby or because of a very successful kick and chase strategy?
30 Jul 2012, 12:31 pm
@kaksioek-5: Get real and stop talking k@k!!
If the stormers won on Sat you would not be supporting them agaisnt the Chiefs at Newlands.. you would have found some excues as to why you need to back the Chiefs… You might be on this blog sucking up to some bloggers on the whole: “Lets go sa teasm mantra to stroke your own ego” But deep inside you would jump for joy the moment SBW scored against the hopeless JDJ..
So I am 100% with Keo.. there is no SA in Superrugby… it comes back to the argument that I need to support the bulls if they play the chiefs even if it menas that should the chiefs win it helps my teams chances in the conference.. grow up!!
30 Jul 2012, 12:32 pm
@Robzim-78:
well it is said the stormers employ a very successful kick and chase strategy.
how many tries did they score this year?
30 Jul 2012, 12:33 pm
@Keo. Shaddap your face if that’s the best you can do. For starters, you’ve written an entire piece based on how impossible it is for a team to travel 19,300km and win, after the Sharks have done just that 2 weeks running. Sure the odds are stacked against them with every additional week of travel stress, but the fact is they just traveled back from a hard game against the Reds and beat the top-ranked side in the competition in their own home ground. I wouldn’t bet my house on them beating the Chiefs this weekend, but I’d definitely put a beer on the game, and if they do pull off the improbable, they will have written another great chapter into the history of incredible achievements that sports give us from time to time. I also think that the vast majority of SA rugby fans will be watching the final this weekend and shouting for the Sharks. As a Sharks fan, I know I’ve been 100% and loudly behind the Bulls every time they’ve played in a final except for 2007! It doesn’t matter what colours they’re wearing – most of us would get behind any 15 South Africans against any 15 Kiwis.
30 Jul 2012, 12:35 pm
@Skeppie-77: They should have started Louis Fouche, Morne has been off song the whole year.
30 Jul 2012, 12:35 pm
@sonofgun-81: Well said!
30 Jul 2012, 12:37 pm
@Heavens Game-19: You do realise ther eis a CC game in two weeks from now? Sharks vs WP at Newlands??
So When you have won f@kkol this saturday you will need to travel to Newlands again to play at Newlands for the grudge match… cant wait!!
30 Jul 2012, 12:39 pm
Great disappointment on Saturday…..but the Bulls still got Morne Steyn…
30 Jul 2012, 12:40 pm
@Robzim-78:
I’m trying to get PedigreeScrum to tell me about the D’urban Ville wine route.
But she’s ignoring me.
Any pointers?
Which car wash are you using next weekend?
30 Jul 2012, 12:42 pm
@Provvas-84: The Boks won’t be playing ,so it’s going to be a rather damp squib.
30 Jul 2012, 12:46 pm
@stormerforlife1-87: Well the Wp team will be loaded with the same team, as Hm reckon they are not good enough… this is the thing, it will be our pisspoor useless team against their so called B team… lets see how that goes!!
I personally think it is time Ac win the CC as this surely should be the best preparation for knock out rugby??
30 Jul 2012, 12:49 pm
@Provvas-84: Considering the Sharks will have 11-12 people out, it’s hardly worth the crowing about a game in 2 weeks… dont be so sour…
30 Jul 2012, 12:49 pm
@stormer in a teacup-65: Travel will not be the clincher here, but the team they face…
In both their knock out games the sharks were far ahead with 20 minutes to go and needed only to survive… lets see when SBW and Cruden and company put a good 15 points on them if they have real fighting spirit to come from behind?
30 Jul 2012, 12:50 pm
It takes a great side to win an away Super 15 final – are this side a great side ?
30 Jul 2012, 12:51 pm
@goyougoodthing2-89: Well I do not want to hear the excuses already!! We lost Schalk, Duane, Koster, Carr, etc etc and were not allowed to use that as an excuse.. so bring YOUR B team and harden the f@ck up!!
The sharks is the sharks and you play what is in front of you!!
30 Jul 2012, 12:53 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-86: Not much to tell, really. It starts at the Checkers in Tygervalley and ends at the Spur in Voortrekker Road, and covers classics like JC Le Roux, Cinzano Spumante, Chateau Libertas and Autumn Harvest Crackling. Well worth it.
30 Jul 2012, 12:53 pm
@Provvas-79: Yes I would Provvas – in spite of you
30 Jul 2012, 12:54 pm
@nama1-58: cant see it even the Sader side of last year could nt do it , you could see they were physically exhausted in the last twenty …… Will be backing the Sharks though need it for superbru
30 Jul 2012, 12:55 pm
@Provvas-92: and you wonder why people think WP supporters are blow hards… not.worth.the.effort.
pfffffffffft.
yawn
30 Jul 2012, 12:56 pm
@>^..^< katman-93:
I believe the Belleville Spur is code for teazers.
Snaaks those northern suberbs players.
30 Jul 2012, 12:57 pm
@Provvas-90: SBW and Cruden will be all over them like a bad rash.
30 Jul 2012, 12:58 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-86: What do you want to know about wine tasting (downing) the Pampoenkraal way?
30 Jul 2012, 13:01 pm
@>^..^< katman-93:
Don’t talk utter papsak. There is an award winning stable of wine farms on my doorstep. Bellville Spur indeed.
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