SA’s ailing asset
18 Sep 2012
RYAN VREDE writes the Currie Cup has completely lost its prestige and is now no more than a platform for some young players to stake a claim for a Super Rugby contract.
I’ve watched every round of the tournament and have been completely uninspired. Certainly there are a handful of promising young players emerging, but overall the standard is decidedly mediocre for what used to be South Africa’s showpiece tournament. This of course has been the case for some time, but the quality on offer in 2012 is the lowest it has been in years, even with the current six-team format.
South Africans often boast of their bountiful player resources. This country is undoubtedly blessed in that regard, by quantity doesn’t translate to quality if the Currie Cup is an indication.
The quality will rise in the closing rounds of the league phase when the Springboks return and reach its climax in the playoffs. This is what South Africans will have to become used to – two and a half months of mediocrity followed by an injection of quality for a couple of weeks.
An extended Super Rugby tournament has contributed in part to this. The wizards at the South African Rugby Union who negotiated the Super Rugby deal did so at the expense of the world’s oldest domestic competition. This made financial sense to them, of course, as there was more cash to be made from broadcasting revenue and commercial opportunities that arose from Super Rugby than there were for the Currie Cup. Australia, with no domestic competition to rival South Africa or New Zealand, shafted their partners in the negotiation and emerged as the big winner, with more Australia derbies and a guaranteed team in the play-offs despite having the weakest conference.
More teams will be accommodated in Super Rugby in 2015, which is likely to mean the tournament cutting deeper into August. Where will that leave the Currie Cup? Will we see a one-round, five match league phase followed by semi-finals and a final? It would certainly heighten the stakes and make for more entertaining viewing, albeit not because of the quality of the product. Some club-standard players will continue to give their mates reason to toast with their TV cameos, when those players should have been watching from their couches. But this is what the Currie Cup has become – the playground of the ordinary.
There is no immediate solution on the horizon. There is no way Sanzar will trim Super Rugby to pit only the very best teams against each other and in so doing reducing the time it takes to complete the tournament. In an ideal world I’d have a Super 10 that starts in early February and finishes 11 weeks later, with a one-round, six-team Currie Cup commencing thereafter. If, for example, Western Province host the Sharks in 2012, they will travel to Kings Park in 2013.
This would allow Springboks players to compete in the Currie Cup before the June Tests. The game’s most important assets – the players and supporters – win, with a higher quality product and roughly the same amount of game time.
This is a pipe dream. The tournament that was once the pride of a nation is being reduced to rubble, serving as no more than an opportunity for aspirant young bucks to impress their coaches. So sad.
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614 Comments
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18 Sep 2012, 11:17 am
@Heavens Game-47:
Waving your arms in the air and shouting about tradition does not improve the quality of the game being played.
But that aside, where have I dismissed the Currie Cup as being unimportant or irrelevant, or non deserving of continued passion by their respective teams supporters.
Your accusation of me being myopic is a disgraceful, glass houses my friend, glass houses.
Read my bloody posts in full before responding.
18 Sep 2012, 11:17 am
@Brads-49:
Please read #35 again.
I said if SA franchises wasn’t involved in the Super Rugby tournament and just focused on our domestic competitions as well as the current international ones, this would improve Bok rugby.
18 Sep 2012, 11:21 am
@Brads-51: Not worthy of a response because clearly you have no idea what you are talking about when pontificating from NZ about the Currie Cup.
18 Sep 2012, 11:24 am
@PissAnt-34: any news ony the possible NH comp to replace superrugby – that will really get our kiwis rattled.
18 Sep 2012, 11:27 am
@Jeraldjay-52:
Well I will ignore he hyperbole of a tenfold improvement, but I get your drift and agree I interpreted your post incorrectly.
But really, you suggest the Currie Cup alone, in isolation of any other SH competition, will produce a better Bokke team to challenge for the RC.
18 Sep 2012, 11:28 am
@Heavens Game-53:
Not worthy of a response, but yet you still did.
18 Sep 2012, 11:35 am
@RL-54:
It is not going to happen, well not soon anycase.
There is massive amounts of money being thrown around in broadcasting deals in Europe at the moment around which competition structures are currently discussed. Unfortunately SA is not part of those discussions at all.
The England Clubs have threatened the ERC that they are going to pull out of the Heineken Cup, and it looks very likely this will happen. If SA is looking to get into NH competitions they should be talking to the English clubs right now. But they are not.
18 Sep 2012, 11:35 am
@Brads-55:
(1). Less player fatigue (but the intensity will still be at its optimum level)
(2). We will be able to understand our gameplan i.e. what works and what doesn’t cause the format is more focused.
(3). Each game is essentially a trial so the best players will be selected.
18 Sep 2012, 11:44 am
@Jeraldjay-58:
Can not agree less.
The AB’s circa 1987 were the best team NZ had produced since the glory days of the mid 1960′s.
The less than impressive outfit that fronted the Bokke on Saturday would still put that team away by 30 points plus.
Why? Because the game has moved on, pure and simple.
To compete with the pack you need to be running with the pack.
Which is half the reason why the NH game is so weak at Test level.
18 Sep 2012, 11:53 am
@Brads-59:
We would still be running with the pack by playing in the RC.
But this debate is futile ’cause Super Rugby is SA Rugby’s bread and butter in terms of TV rights.
Was just playing Devil’s advocate.
18 Sep 2012, 12:04 pm
@PissAnt-57: well then kiss the CC goodbye – 2016 it ends.
18 Sep 2012, 12:08 pm
Brads
dont worry about the fckwit that is HG
He is old school, and his attitudes still reflect those of someone pining for the isolation years, whereby all they had was the CC, so of course it is important to the drunk old tjoppie..
he belittles our national comp on what basis? because it is his huge ego that is still firmly entrenched in the superiority aspect that has plagued SA society for so long…
both comps have huge history and tradition, we renamed ours because we dont have the same market size as them, simple economics…
the ITM cup is the comp that consistently provides the world with players that form a team that maintains an 80% win ratio, a team that has almost since its inception, held the number one ranking.. it is also the comp that has provided the players who have won 11 of 16 super titles, so let him continue with his belief that CC rugby is any more important than the ITM cup..
results speak for themselves..
18 Sep 2012, 12:10 pm
i will not kiss anything goodbye
18 Sep 2012, 12:20 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-63: Bakkies I notice you blowing kisses at players all the time – what is that about.
18 Sep 2012, 12:22 pm
@poppa69-62: What is old school?
I “belittled” your ITM, where?
Fuckoff with your lies and exaggerations, you farken poor git.
18 Sep 2012, 12:26 pm
@Heavens Game-65: If by old school you mean that I remember when Kiwi supporters were knowledgeable about the game past the myopic AB’s are all there is to rugby… When Kiwi supporters were excellent craic at a game unlike the modern day yobbos and football hooligan lite of today…
Then hell yeah… I’m old school.
18 Sep 2012, 12:29 pm
@Brads-59:
87 AB’s were an awesome Team Brads.
I agree, Teams from the Professional Era would generally cream any from the Amateur Era.
But what the AB’s of 87 did in the WC and the following few years make them one of the best AB sides of all time.
Many of the players have gone onto greater things in business, admin and coaching.
18 Sep 2012, 12:30 pm
There are times when I actually reckon Kiwi’s dont even like the game of rugby… With the constant need to change the game coming from ANZAC, and past the cult of the AB’s and their Haka, I reckon Kiwis deep down actually prefer other sports… like yachting.
18 Sep 2012, 12:34 pm
@Heavens Game-66:
You deride us every chance you get ………………………..then some.
Go Pontificate yourself.
18 Sep 2012, 12:37 pm
@cane-67: It’s a pity us saffa’s were not exposed to them more, I reckon the late 80′s and early nineties would have been very interesting in terms of Boks v AB’s. Just a pity the politcal climate did not allow it.
18 Sep 2012, 12:40 pm
@Heavens Game-68:
Oh we like sailing all right HG.
Also Cycling, Athletics, Rowing, Rugby League, Equestrian, Netball, Canoeing,………………………………………………………..even BMX.
And we have The Medals to prove it.
We are doers.
Not Pontificators. Like yourself.
18 Sep 2012, 12:44 pm
@cane-67:
The Boks also had a great team in 1987 Cane.
But lets not get into the could’ve, would’ve or should’ve.
18 Sep 2012, 12:46 pm
Brads
never tries to stir, he is giving his honest opinion, I would not dismit it at all – interesting observations from nz.
18 Sep 2012, 12:46 pm
@Skeppie-70:
They could have been “the best of times” for the rivalry Skeepie.
Starting from 87………………………………….NZ went 24 Tests without a loss.
18 Sep 2012, 12:49 pm
@Jeraldjay-72:
I never said you didn’t have a good team Jerry.
I only said we had an awesome team.
18 Sep 2012, 12:50 pm
@cab-73:
Brads is a straight shooter cab.
You got that right.
18 Sep 2012, 12:52 pm
@RL-64:
my love for the cc runs deep.
18 Sep 2012, 12:53 pm
@cane-74: Yup….we will claim victory over the cavaliers and you guys will claim early victories in 92/93…neither are 100% fair. Anyway we will never know but it would have been good to watch!
18 Sep 2012, 12:53 pm
@cane-75:
I know we discussed this before Cane but how many players from the Cavalier Tour played in the ’87 RWC.
Kirwan and Kirk didn’t tour but who else.
18 Sep 2012, 12:56 pm
@cane-69: @cane-71: I deride because you arrogant farkers deserve it and because I also see through the traditional rivalry claptrap… The rivalry is of yesteryear not the present…
And yes you do well in other sports like Saffas do… But my goodness Saffas generally appreciate rugby in a larger sense than Kiwis and their Adidas marketing gimmick called the ABs and there little unchallengeable “challenge”…
That is why Saffas still have a passion and rivalry in the CC unsurpassed by any domestic comp on the planet.
The Boks are important to all Saffa rugby supporters but their Province and the Currie Cup is important too…
Saffas generally also appreciate rugby in other countries and not just write it off as inferior…
Fark that, you fools are becoming more arrogant by the day on that self installed pedestal of yours… Every post reeks of it. One day soon someone gonna knock you straight off that infallible little AB/Haka is the be all and end all of rugby myopic perch…
18 Sep 2012, 13:00 pm
for me…..
Damn I want Stormers to win superrugby….
My Holy Grail now….
18 Sep 2012, 13:01 pm
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that that ’87 didn’t count
Everybody knows the Boks weren’t there
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The home team won, the ref got rich
That’s how it goes
Everybody knows
18 Sep 2012, 13:03 pm
The greatest AB team of the World Cup era, post 87, is beyond doubt the team of 95/96… They lost a World Cup yet went on a 17 game unbeaten run only equalled by the Mallets Boks…
That AB team would wipe the floor of any team today, including the current ABs and any team of 87, except the Boks of course, who farked up that AB class of 87 just the year before…
You farken Kiwis… What you actually dont know about rugger heritage past the current AB cult and Haka obsession is scary…
Disappointing actually.
18 Sep 2012, 13:09 pm
@grant10-81: Mark this post now… The Sharks, 5 time beaten Super rugby finalists, the best team never to have won Super Rugby will win the competition in 2013…
The trophy gonna come home to Kings Park and that is where it will visit for a few years this decade after the first final breakthrough…
Like 1990 onwards, the Johnny Come Latelies might get there late, but when they get there they gonna be there to stay…
18 Sep 2012, 13:12 pm
The Sharks are like Colin Montgomerie the Scot.
He was the best golfer never to win a Major.
18 Sep 2012, 13:14 pm
@Jeraldjay-85: And miserable and arrogant. So yes.
18 Sep 2012, 13:19 pm
@Heavens Game-80:
” I deride because you arrogant farkers deserve it ………..”
.
…
.
.
No HG.
You deride because you are an arse-whole.
A silver tongued eloquent arse-whole.
but an arse-whole just the same.
“One day soon someone gonna knock you …………………”.
Know doubt about that. But WTF. live for today.
18 Sep 2012, 13:20 pm
@katman-86:
Nick Faldo was just as miserable.
Happy to see McIlroy is changing the face of British golf.
18 Sep 2012, 13:21 pm
@Heavens Game-84: At it could be a double… Holders of CC and Super Rugby… At the same time.
Dynamite.
BOOM!
@Jeraldjay-85: Naah, prefer to think of them as the Super Rugby Buffalo Bills…
Non winners, chokers even at the highest level especially in 2007 when they were expected to win, dominated the game totally but lost, however an iconic Super rugby team nevertheless.
18 Sep 2012, 13:22 pm
@cane-87: Farken ignorant git.
18 Sep 2012, 13:22 pm
@Jeraldjay-88: Indeed, Faldo was a sour git as a player. He’s marginally better as a commentator.
I really enjoy watching McIlroy though, particularly when you puts Tiger in his place.
18 Sep 2012, 13:24 pm
@Heavens Game-89:
How different the SA Rugby landscape would have been if Frans slotted that kick.
I don’t even think HM would’ve been Bok coach today.
18 Sep 2012, 13:27 pm
@Jeraldjay-92: Sheezus… lets not go there. For all we know tricky dicky Muir might have ended up as Bok coach instead… Fark me, now that is a thought not worth thinking…
18 Sep 2012, 13:31 pm
hehe
kiwis taking it in shifts to defend their coutry’s honour on the interwebs
how cute
18 Sep 2012, 13:32 pm
@Jeraldjay-79:
Jerry, these players played in the 87 WC final. And were not Cavaliers:
John Gallagher. FB.
John Kirwin. wing.
Joe Stanley. Centre three quarter.
Capt. Kirk.
Micheal Jones. Flanker.
John Drake. Prop.
Sean Fitspatrick. Hooker.
Each of those 7 players would be a contender for the AB’s best Team EVER.
18 Sep 2012, 13:36 pm
@cane-95: Hmm cane but I don;t think they would all have started. Jones, Kirwin and Fitzpatrick were very young and not automatic choices….
18 Sep 2012, 13:38 pm
@Heavens Game-90:
” Farken ignorant git”.
You got that part right HG.
But at least I know it.
And here is the good part:
One day you will wake up and realise that I was right.
……………………………You are an Arse-whole.
18 Sep 2012, 13:41 pm
@cane-95:
Thanks Cane.
So these players missed out on an early retirement but had the honour of being World Cup Winners, which was a rare Kiwi achievement before 2011.
18 Sep 2012, 13:44 pm
@Skeppie-96:
They all started against France in the 87 WC final.
Along with the following money grabbing scum called The Cavaliers.
Craig Green.
W. Taylor.
G.Fox.
Buck Selford.
Gary and his Brother Whetton.
Murray Pierce.
and Steve McDowell.
18 Sep 2012, 13:48 pm
@cane-95: Lets look at your bullshit closely.
Cavaliers
FB… Cavaliers Kieran Crowley, Robbie Deans… Hardly inferior to Gallagher
Wing… Green was a 39 test AB… Fraser the Fijian Kiwi and Clamp… yes, Kirwan is a bit of an icon but the Cavalier wings were hardly light touches.
Centre… Pokere was an 18 test AB. Warwick Talor and a certain Wayne Smith were no slouches…
At half back, Kirk played 2nd fiddle to Loveridge who up till the Cavaliers tour was thought of as the best half back on the planet.
Actually many of the Cavaliers were no doubt superior to many of the players selected in 87…
Dont come with your lies and revisionism here…
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