Saru’s Super Rugby solution not set in stone
23 Aug 2012
GARETH DUNCAN says while most of South Africa bemoaned Saru’s decision-making in accommodating the Southern Kings next season, many missed the fine print.
On Thursday last week, Saru announced that the Lions would be relegated from the South African Super Rugby conference in order to make way for the Kings. This was the decision voted by majority of the 14 unions at the annual general meeting, after no other suitable solution could be drawn up after months and months of negotiations and emergency meetings.
Saru also announced its promotion-relegation initiative, which will allow the Lions to compete for a Super Rugby place in 2014 as they’ll face next year’s last placed South African franchise in a play-off.
Many pundits see this as a lose-lose situation. And they are right.
Let’s look at the Kings.
It’s ridiculous to expect them to escape the wooden spoon in their debut season (well, at least in the South African conference which was the strongest group in this year’s competition). Super Rugby trends have proven that the newbies don’t do well during their early years. The Melbourne Rebels and Western Force finished last in their debut campaigns and still feature in the bottom half of the table every season, despite the odd upset victory. The Lions and Cheetahs haven’t fared much better since splitting from the Cats initiative in 2006.
The Kings will also struggle to recruit the necessary player base to be competitive at Super Rugby level. High-profile names will be hesitant to sign a one-year contract as the Eastern Cape franchise can’t guarantee tournament participation in 2014.
Saru’s answer to the media’s question of the Kings not being given enough time to carry out the necessary plans to ensure they will be competitive in 2013 was that the confirmation on their exclusion was made ‘several months ago’.
If this is so, the national administrators handled the situation poorly.
There were several stories that speculated the Kings were going to be dropped at the last minute. This including the report from the Weekend Argus in July that Saru offered the Eastern Cape franchise R40 million to stall their Super Rugby ambitions until 2016. If this was false, why didn’t Saru come out publicly and denounce these rumours?
This did the Kings no favours.
Kings boss Cheeky Watson has complained that they’re not happy with being given only one season to prove themselves. But Saru CEO Jurie Roux has revealed a way for them to extend their stay.
While most of the media focused on lamenting Saru’s decision, Roux confirmed that if the Kings received the majority vote to have an extended stay in Super Rugby at the next annual general meeting, and if this was passed by Saru’s executive council, then it would be granted.
Roux did, however, add that this is unlikely.
When it comes to the Lions, they’re in a very tricky situation.
While they’re in the Super Rugby wilderness, they’re also in trouble financially as reported on keo.co.za on Wednesday.
Saru confirmed that they are in negotiations with powers up north to see if the Lions could compete in any European competitions in 2013, but this is unlikely to happen as the European season starts in a couple of weeks.
However, Roux revealed a way for the Lions to feature in Super Rugby next season. He said the South African franchises are ‘businesses’ and they are allowed to run their ‘businesses’ as they’re pleased. So if the Lions were to amalgamate with another South African franchise, this would be allowed.
The only issue is, who would want to merge with a franchise in financial turmoil? The Lions have shot themselves in the foot (maybe even the chest) in the way they’ve run their business.
Saru’s Super Rugby solution is not set in stone. The Lions and Kings are likely to appeal its current terms, but the national union is unlikely to budge. If possible, the franchises should look at the fine print to solve their woes, more so the Kings.
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623 Comments
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23 Aug 2012, 16:29 pm
@Saffa down under-342: NO. If HM reads keo he will be depressed and will seriously doubt himself. He has NO chance of keeping the Cape happy. No matter who he choses, what he does. Which gameplan he choses. The only way is to win enough games (pick conservatively) while slowly developing a well rounded Springbok gameplan and to introduce the youngsters for the future gradually. In 10 years’ time the Cape media/ supporters may be happy with him.
23 Aug 2012, 16:29 pm
@Tacitus-334: Where would teams like the Reds and Chiefs draw their “advantage” sans a Currie Cup?
23 Aug 2012, 16:30 pm
@David-337:
i hear you, but i just want to make the point to transie is that the strength of the blue bulls union and its bulls franchise has been good for sa rugby over the past 5 or 6 years. in much the same way caterbury and its crusaders franchise has for nz.
yes, its not quite the same by example but there are similarities there.
23 Aug 2012, 16:31 pm
@Transformation-352:
Why should we deny our sides an advantage that those teams don’t have?
Use every advantage we have.
What you’re saying is just because the Chiefs don’t have this advantage, we should deny it to ourselves as well.
Wise up, Trannie.
23 Aug 2012, 16:32 pm
@Horings-351:
No, then they will still be unhappy because he proved them wrong!
23 Aug 2012, 16:32 pm
Super rugby was best when it was fewer sides..the quality has really dropped with these makeshift sides such as Rebels etc.
Kings vs Crusaders
Kings vs Cheifs
These will be heavy defeats.
23 Aug 2012, 16:32 pm
@Saffa down under-342: which team does SARU want?
23 Aug 2012, 16:33 pm
@TooMuchRugby-350: BTW when last did we not have one Shark in the team. In the 2007 World Cup against England we had no WP players, and I am sure in 2001 we had no Bulls players at some stage. Probably whenever Joost was injured.
23 Aug 2012, 16:33 pm
@greatest13gerber-356: so how did the rebels beat the crusaders this year?
23 Aug 2012, 16:34 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-343:
No, just one of them.
23 Aug 2012, 16:34 pm
@Horings-351:
Meyer couldnt care less about CT opinion. His focus is on winning each test.
Dont think he is focus to far ahead yet.
small steps..but working on special projects..eg Goosen, Serfontein..Vermeulen
23 Aug 2012, 16:35 pm
@greatest13gerber-356: And the Stormers will even struggle to get a 4 try bonus point against the Kings at Newlands.
23 Aug 2012, 16:36 pm
@Transformation-359:
Crusaders had an offday
seriously – cant see Kings measuringup. Especially if they pack their side with ordinary black players for pure cosmetics
23 Aug 2012, 16:36 pm
@greatest13gerber-356:
the scorlines in those examples are less meaningless under this conference format because the crusaders and chiefs will only play the kings once whereas the sa sides will play them twice.
no matter the amount of tries there’s only a max of 5 points on offer to the anzacs but to our ‘advantage’ there’s 10 on offer to the ‘other 4 unions’.
i understand your concern regarding qualitiy though.
23 Aug 2012, 16:37 pm
@greatest13gerber-363:
The issue is not the Kings. They are of no importance whatsoever.
The issue is which of the Bulls, Sharks or Stormers can mount a serious charge to try and win the cup next year.
This side tracking on the Kings is a waste of time.
23 Aug 2012, 16:38 pm
@Horings-362:
yes..WP have lose their tryscoring ability ….and WP will struggle as they all do and choke when it matters.
23 Aug 2012, 16:40 pm
@Tacitus-365:
I agree with that. We need to look at the Cheifs and Crusaders models to seriously(exception WP) challenge next year.
Depth, Squad management are key.
23 Aug 2012, 16:40 pm
@Dusky-349: @Dusky-349:
I was talking about the Sharks buying up the top players from their franchise partners to effectively create a single Sharks/Coastal Sharks team, and get the benefit of SARUs salary compensation to subsidise the players.
23 Aug 2012, 16:41 pm
@greatest13gerber-361: He has already introduced Coetzee, Etzebeth and Coenie. Later on in the Tri Nations it will be Goosen. Year end tour it will be Taute, Kitchoff and a surprise pick with Serfontein. Next year it will be Rhule, etc. Before we know it we will have 15 players that is physically up to it, have the passing skills of backs and the poaching skills of a Pocock. Yes!!! and then WP supporter will moan, because they are not North, but South.
23 Aug 2012, 16:41 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-364:
Thank you for that. This conference format IMO is not ideal. Best is round ribbon.
And more fair too!
23 Aug 2012, 16:42 pm
@greatest13gerber-363: they probably won’t like the Bulls didn’t a number of years back…
23 Aug 2012, 16:44 pm
@Horings-351: That it? HM will walk the same path and be subject to all the scrutiny all Bok coaches before had to endure. Please don’t talk about the future. We don’t live in la la land. Only speak about what Heyneke has achieved thus far as Bok coach.
23 Aug 2012, 16:45 pm
@pompies2-372: An unbeaten record!
23 Aug 2012, 16:45 pm
@Horings-369:
mention for Arno Botha, Frans Venter…
Aussies have three great poachers ta moment..Pocock, Hooper, Gill
I would like see Brussouw back in mix as well.
Meyer is doing well with development side. This is Morne Steyn last year in Bok jersey IMO. Same for jannie duP…Coenie and CIlliers the future.
23 Aug 2012, 16:46 pm
@Horings-369: Heyneke doesn’t want poaching skills. He’s looking for vokmaarvoort skills. I thought you knew what Heyeke wanted.
23 Aug 2012, 16:46 pm
@Tacitus-354: i don’t recall saying we should not have the currie cup…i asked you where do you think the chiefs derive “advantage” sans a currie cup?
meyer’s “way” is not gospel, jy weet?
23 Aug 2012, 16:48 pm
@pompies2-372: Difference between Heyneke, Jake and Snor is you could not make a connection between a single province and the coach without 100% certainty. With Provincialism being as strong it is a huge difference.
23 Aug 2012, 16:48 pm
@Horings-373: Correct. He’s an unbeaten bok coach thus far.
23 Aug 2012, 16:48 pm
@Transformation-371:
Saru will never find a solution please everyone especially politicians
Color should not be an issue in Sports..simple… but in SA it never is.
23 Aug 2012, 16:48 pm
in a weirdly ironic way the lions have actually done sa rugby a huge favour, through its sacrificial demise they have given:
a minimum 10 point guarantee for the four sa super teams.
a host of players who could boost the ranks of the title contenders.
lessened the injury burden on the super teams.
yet will keep a number of their parasitic administrators gainfully troughed (idle hands…)
the mtn / golden lions may have saved all of sa rugby folks.
23 Aug 2012, 16:50 pm
@Horings-377: huh? rephrase.
23 Aug 2012, 16:52 pm
@greatest13gerber-374: Who made the most steals for the ABs against the Wallabies? Not McCaw! Oosthuizen probably made more steals than Brussow for the Cheetahs. Our vision should be to have numerous players having the skill to steal balls on the ground. Players in the front row, in the centres as well as flankers should all have the skill.
I agree on Brussow as Oosthuizen and Bismark is not available.
23 Aug 2012, 16:52 pm
@Horings-377:
Provincialism is what SA rugby has being build on.
In my family it always was Province over country..this was passion for the game.
23 Aug 2012, 16:54 pm
@pompies2-381: Jake and Snor were national coaches before being picked to coach the Boks. No one on this site said they were pro this province or that province. Heyneke is blou bedonnerd. We all know that and it makes it difficult for some supporters to accept it.
23 Aug 2012, 16:55 pm
@Horings-382:
“Players in the front row, in the centres as well as flankers should all have the skill.”
I agree with that. But We will see the effect of Specialist poachers this weekend with Abs vs Wallabies…3 of the best in world will be on show.
Coenie is best poaching Prop around IMO.
23 Aug 2012, 16:56 pm
This is something the SARU doos’s should be saying to the convicts.
“McCafferty said he was not prepared to do anything to damage the Aviva Premiership in order to change the qualification system for the Heineken Cup, as the Premiership accounts for 80% of revenues compared to 20% from Europe.
‘ERC should know that we are serious and while the issue has to be resolved, everyone has to realise we cannot carry on as we are,’ he said.
‘If it is not, we would go to an Anglo-French competition and if others wanted to join us, fair enough.”
23 Aug 2012, 16:57 pm
@greatest13gerber-383: I agree. It makes us as strong as we are. Sometimes it is also not good for the game in our country.
23 Aug 2012, 16:59 pm
@greatest13gerber-379: SARU have all the money and mechanisms to do anything they like to make the game flourish in an equitable manner but their structure where PARTISAN unions vote on every single decision, selfish interests like the ones displayed by Tac on this thread will always curtail any aspirations.
23 Aug 2012, 17:01 pm
@Transformation-376:
The main reason for the decline of the CC is the Tri Nations that take out the Boks until the last few games. The Conference system doesn’t help by adding another two rounds of the same teams playing each other, but it’s the Tri Nations and now Championship that has reduced the interest.
23 Aug 2012, 17:03 pm
@greatest13gerber-383: you grew up in a time where there was NO country to be passionate about!
23 Aug 2012, 17:05 pm
@RL-386: “as the Premiership accounts for 80% of revenues compared to 20% from Europe.” – well if Currie Cup accounted for 80% of SARU’s revenue then they’d have a leg to stand on…
23 Aug 2012, 17:12 pm
@Horings-384: that’s not the ONLY reason people will question, discuss and ultimately criticise heyneke meyer’s decisions with the Boks.
23 Aug 2012, 17:24 pm
@Transformation-390:
Not everyone grew up with a signed Cheeky Watson poster on their bedroom wall
23 Aug 2012, 17:27 pm
@victoriabok-393: i agree, i didn’t either
23 Aug 2012, 17:29 pm
@Transformation-391: I was thinking in terms of superrugby revenue – surley the biggest revenue stream 70% comes from the republic. Why does there have to be an even split of revenue and teams for superrugby – doesn’t matter cause kortbroek Roux is in for an oniel shagging soon.
23 Aug 2012, 17:29 pm
@Transformation-394:
Pamela Anderson?
Scope centrefolds with stars?
23 Aug 2012, 17:33 pm
@RL-395:
They should look at both revenue and viewership, lots more SA viewers
After all it’s about broadcasting it on cable networks and selling cable tv/advertising not full stadiums
23 Aug 2012, 17:58 pm
Mshini wam…mshini wam…
23 Aug 2012, 18:02 pm
@David-389: I think they should get realistic and combine the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup into one tournament and then just accept that this tournament will be played with players available after the Bok selectors have taken their dues.
23 Aug 2012, 18:28 pm
@Tacitus-306:
Quite the opposite I think.
Your insular views makes it simply impossible to see that one decision made, and some more decisions to come, will directly affect the very thing you are trying to protect, your beloved Bulls.
What is required is a solution to a very obvious problem, not a decision which only benefits 1 or a few – it is for that reason we sit with this Kings situation in the first place – the decision wasn’t a solution to a problem for SA Rugby, it was a cop out.
And I told you before, today its the Lions, tomorrow its the Bulls.
Your seeming willingness or mission to rid SA Rugby of smaller unions for the benefit of a few on top has far reaching consequences.
In fact, your hypocrisy in now even classing the Lions, current CC champions as one of these small, useless unions for benefit of the Bulls shows me more than I need to see of your angle.
I have tried to explain, to death, that it has become clear that the Lions are unable to sustain a Super Rugby franchise in SA Rugby. They had their chance to make it work from 2006 and even with administrative changes, and plenty of coaching changes, continued to fail.
The solution is obviously a single franchise license for the Gauteng region – or at least, in my mind it is.
This region however represents 5 unions. The unions currently under the Lions franchise, will get divided into other franchises, bet your *** on it – that is how it works.
But the point here is for me where you see 5 unions as a stumbling block for the success, financial or otherwise for the Bulls, in my mind is actually a massive positive.
No other franchise in this competition will have these type of resources available to them. You want a SUPER Super rugby franchise, Gauteng can produce just that and be unbeatable.
So rather than cast the Lions, and their ex-partner unions aside, the Bulls to my mind would be fools not to engage De Klerk and the Lions and see if they can absorb them into their current structures.
Another point about all 14 of our unions.
Do you know how many unions NZ (not even a 3rd our size) has that all play in their version of the Currie Cup? Are you aware how many of them are absorbed into their 5 franchises?
Wonder why we have been so poor in comparison through this competition’s history and at test levels against them?
Not such a mystery to me really.
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