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, 15:56 pm
@Skeppie-247: Etzebeth gave Bissie a nice glance too when he walked past him!
30 Jul 2012, 15:58 pm
@Skeppie-247: i didn’t see Broken Harris laughing Bissy, i myself was still shocked at watching bissy FLAT on his backside
30 Jul 2012, 15:58 pm
@nama1-250: I agree – poor people should be encouraged to have s e x – not discouraged. Come on KZN – fix this ! It’s unconstitutional !!!!
30 Jul 2012, 15:59 pm
@Sasuke-251: Etsebeth will still get his chance. Everyone falls hard once or comes off second best once in a while.
30 Jul 2012, 16:00 pm
How do I post without getting that feckin message &(^%(&^%&*(%^)*&^)(
@Skeppie-216: I’m not supporting the Chiefs. I’m just not actively rah rahing for the Sharks either. The game will not be won or lost by the number of Saffas who actively go out and screech for the Sharks.
For me this isn’t about SA and NZ, it’s about 2 provincial franchises that just happen to be in NZ and SA. Backing the Sharks like one of their hysterical groupies will have no effect on the Boks/AB games coming up.
The Sharks will either win or lose, but a win won’t have the effect most seem to be hoping it will have on the Boks. 2010 kills that theory.
The AB’s already know JPP is in some smoking form, the Sharks don’t suddenly need fanatical support and Super rugby title to drive that message home……
I trust that whoever wins will deserve to on the day, that’s all. If it’s the Sharks – cool. If it’s the Chiefs – cool.
30 Jul 2012, 16:00 pm
@nama1-250: so where does keo boning ladies of the night fit in nama?
30 Jul 2012, 16:01 pm
My team is in the Final and that is all that matters.
30 Jul 2012, 16:01 pm
@numba4lock-248: Think that should be the way we go from here on. Top 2 on the log can rest while the rest play in the play-offs. Then after the semi another weeks break. That way it will be more fair to both teams. Especially if there is a huge amount of travel for one team.
I like the idea of the team that tops the log to hold all of the play-offs, semi and final. Whether they drop out in the semi or not. At least they bring some cash in to their union for ending top of the log, by holding those games at their stadium in their city. Also far, far less travel for all teams. So the top of the log team gets rewarded to hold the whole bang shoot at the end. Anyhow something has to be done as this can’t happen again with the mind boggling travel. Some may say it was up to the team to end in a semi. But there will always be 4 teams in the play offs. So time to think about changing this system.
30 Jul 2012, 16:02 pm
@Transformation-252:
Reading your comments lately I could swear that you’re developing a soft spot for the Sharks!
30 Jul 2012, 16:02 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-255: Pfoooweee….its going to take the Stormers fans some time to get over this…..sour….sour grapes….sourest vinegar in the land coming out of Stormers fans at the moment. Poor things.
I hear the team had a good old cry session in the changeroom afterwards. I got great satisfaction from reading that.
30 Jul 2012, 16:03 pm
@pokkel-259: He is undergoing ‘transformation’ or, he might have forgotten for a second which name he logged in with. He has about 3 or 4 nics on this blog – did you know that ?
30 Jul 2012, 16:03 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-244:
Man van Intersek
@numba4lock-248:
Did not ZANZAR copy the conference system from the Americans? So, you comment is very appropriate.
Why did the fools at SANZAR not introduce the two week break also then?
Although your point about a neutral venue to reduce travel, I can’t agree with. A neutral venue would be one in Aus, right? How much help would that have been for the Sharks?
30 Jul 2012, 16:04 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-255: No problem there, back who you want to back, be ambivalent if you wish, my only point in all of this is that in my mind I don’t understand it but that’s not to say my mind is correct….each to his own. Some guys blogging here though as so anti the Sharks this weekend it clearly comes across as sour grapes.
30 Jul 2012, 16:04 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-255: the chiefs will be no match for the BOK-laden Sharks, so rest easy that starting from about 10 o’clock saturday morning, you have to live with the guppys rubbing their title in your face every time FRANCHISE achievements are raised – now i don’t know who you feel about cheering for them
30 Jul 2012, 16:06 pm
@pokkel-259:
:devil:
30 Jul 2012, 16:06 pm
@Transformation-264:
Transie….is that you?
How’s your Dad by the way? Tough Saturday for him?
30 Jul 2012, 16:07 pm
@pokkel-259: Ok course he is…..he is only human
30 Jul 2012, 16:09 pm
As Final’s day gets nearer see how the number of Stormerchiefs increases. Note also that they are definitely not the same as Capecrusaders/chiefs/canes.
30 Jul 2012, 16:09 pm
@Skeppie-267:
hehehehehe…..he was just waiting for a SA team to start off-loading and now he’s hooked.
30 Jul 2012, 16:12 pm
@Transformation-256:
He’s not doing it in the veld, is he?
Probably rent a room. So, he is absolved.
@Dusky-261:
What are the other nics that Transie blogs under?
30 Jul 2012, 16:14 pm
@Dusky-260: Well you certainly had more than one escape clause ready, didn’t you BamBam? “If the Sharks don’t win, the Stormers deserve it, as I really like Jean de Villiers blah blah blah” and now you are celebrating his pain with as much glee as you would usually reserve for an unexpected hand job from a Hungarian car guard…..
All class, all in.
@Skeppie-263: In the same way that many Sharks fans would be supporting anyone but the Stormers if the Stormers made it to the final (and they would be pretty vocal about it as well
I just have no emotionally vested interest in the game, whatever way I think about it. I just don’t favour either team either way.
@Transformation-264: If they win it, it would be huge, and deserved. If they lose – they will have choked in their 5th final.
30 Jul 2012, 16:15 pm
@nama1-270: One is Rosso Nero or whatever. The other is nama1.
30 Jul 2012, 16:16 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-271: Jean was the only one I felt for. The rest, including all those doing free advertising for DHL in the stands – all deserved it. 100 times over.
30 Jul 2012, 16:17 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-271: Suurgat jong….
30 Jul 2012, 16:17 pm
@Dusky-273:
And perhaps Aplon.
30 Jul 2012, 16:18 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-271: That’s ok, no need to justify it…..we can’t all be the same. I however think you guys under the mountain have an inferiority complex, a lot more people from other provinces would support you than you think.
30 Jul 2012, 16:20 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-255:
I find this feigned insouciance highly suspicious.
It’s the kind of vibe hot chicks pull when I’m throwing out my moves.
I’m not buying it.
30 Jul 2012, 16:20 pm
@pokkel-275: It’s weird, there is no-one indivually in that Stormers team that I dislike…Brok is not on my christmas list but there is no-one there that I think deserves his nose rubbed in it.
30 Jul 2012, 16:27 pm
This Keo Monday is noted for the absence of those big Stormerbrekers who favoured “defensive rugby is Finals rugby” except once again they never make those Finals and those who made 10s appearances.
Do not forget those who argue long and hard now the exact opposite side of the coin after the event.
Siestog!
The Stormer split personality is a thing to behold and marvel at.
30 Jul 2012, 16:27 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-277: Are you presuming that Mad Eye isn’t smoking?
30 Jul 2012, 16:28 pm
@pokkel-266: @pokkel-266: yes this is me, don’t mind the resident backyard breker Dusky…
i tried to prep my old man HOURS before the game started by introducing facts about bonus points, the 2 losses the stormers suffered and how they seem not to be able to chase games successfully.
all of that prepping didn’t help when the horror of losing came crashing though.
30 Jul 2012, 16:29 pm
@Dusky-274: Your croc got stuck as you back peddled there….
@the artist formerly known as gunther-277: Time for your Crying Game moment
I see the anarchist wine makers made a huge impression…
30 Jul 2012, 16:36 pm
@pokkel-275: Ja – I like Gio. Actually I must be honest. There aren’t many players in the Stormers side that I neccessarily dislike. Brok Harris and his low class scum buddy Tiaan Liebenberg deserve whatever pain life brings them. The rest I dont mind.
I also think Habana is a money chasing rugby *****.
30 Jul 2012, 16:37 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-282: The only thing that back peddled was the Stormers scrum.
30 Jul 2012, 16:38 pm
@pokkel-266: Transie is Transie….he just has 3 other nics on here as well.
30 Jul 2012, 16:39 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-277:
HG has the key to that. He is now too gracious and far too much jelly-baby. Now I suffer briefs spells of honesty. What can I do but?
He said above I was “backtracking” when really I was just being snobbish sometimes and ‘gerbilling’ like most Stormmers up my/our own backsides or “channel tunnels”.
30 Jul 2012, 16:44 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions-286: Gaylord – Are you honestly on here whining about being treated badly by Sharks fans ? You of all people ?
Did the 48 kg IT nerd give you hell ? I hope so.
30 Jul 2012, 16:46 pm
@Dusky-285: hahaha now that you’ve realised that your keyboard warrior act doesn’t work with me – prolly because i will f.cuk you up
you’ve resorted to propaganda – a tactic many have tried and failed at…knock yourself out my faux-Nordic friend 
30 Jul 2012, 16:47 pm
Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it.
Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion.
Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare.
Impossible is potential.
Impossible is temporary.
Impossible is nothing.
30 Jul 2012, 16:49 pm
@Transformation-288:
prolly because i will f.cuk you up
This must suggest it is working, Dummy.
30 Jul 2012, 16:50 pm
@Sasuke-251: And that’s some glare…that kid is a flippin beastman
30 Jul 2012, 16:51 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions-290: Mad Eye, if Dusky is calling you a Gaylord does that make you a Lesbian?
30 Jul 2012, 16:53 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions-290: have you forgotten that you’ve stolen someone’s nic Dusky? HAHAHAHAHA
not to clever our Dusky, the Norwegians have been duped, well better for us as our IQ ratio goes up and theirs drops significantly with Dusky getting permant residence.
30 Jul 2012, 16:58 pm
Dusky, you’ve just outed yourself as a nic stealer!
how daft.
30 Jul 2012, 17:01 pm
@Transformation-288: You’re delusional kleinboy.
30 Jul 2012, 17:05 pm
@Dusky-295: nic stealer,
30 Jul 2012, 17:07 pm
anyway…gym calls
how dom is this Dusky…Roy is looking into your shenanigans
30 Jul 2012, 17:08 pm
Rule of thumb.
If someone says something reasonably intelligent it’s legit.
If not then its Capo or Dusky in mufti.
30 Jul 2012, 17:09 pm
“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.”
I could have sworn it was Stormers who were whipped last year.
Otherwise, I agree, too much travelling, too much games.
30 Jul 2012, 17:12 pm
@Transformation-293:
The reason he’s only a 47kg IT nerd is because he’s still a skinny teenager with delusions that his postings make him an adult.
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