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.
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
614 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 13 » Show All
18 Sep 2012, 13:48 pm
@cane-99: Ok but just because they started a year later does not automatically mean they would have made the team in 86. Also wasn’t there a bit of a clean out after the cavaliers (hence the term baby blacks) which would mean some cavaliers player where first choice players. Why do you consider the cavaliers scum?
18 Sep 2012, 13:52 pm
And if it were not for Andy Dalton’s soft jaw, exposed well and truly by the sweetest punch yet to be seen on a rugby field, Fitzpatrick may never have even seen the light of day as an AB hooker for a good few years after 87 yet…
18 Sep 2012, 13:54 pm
Nope, the Cavaliers would have fcked up the 87 team any day of the week. The 86 Boks would have too… Beyond a shadow of a doubt…
The real WC final was actually played a year before 87… In SA.
18 Sep 2012, 14:02 pm
@cane-99:
dalton?
at least you’re honest abot it cane.
its a history kiwis conveniently try to pr spin as the 87 team being void of any cavaliers ho hum heard poppa and bp try that line before.
just remember it forever reflects in history that the 86 boks farked the 87 rwc up six love.
18 Sep 2012, 14:05 pm
@Heavens Game-100:
One position at a time:
“FB… Cavaliers Kieran Crowley, Robbie Deans… Hardly inferior to Gallagher
WRONG…………………………………………Robbie and Kieran were not fit to polish the boots of 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.
Are any of those suckers now Sir Clampie or Sir Greenie.
I think not.
“Centre… Pokere was an 18 test AB. Warwick Taylor and a certain Wayne Smith were no slouches… ”
Well lets just say Wayne was a 10.
Loveridge was indeed a great player.
but so was Capt Kirk.
One great advantage these new AB’s had of course was “NEUTRAL REFEERES”.
And my,
how that facet of The Game changed SA fortunes.
Would you now like to move onto the forwards HG?
18 Sep 2012, 14:09 pm
@cane-105: Nobody is going to win this one….just one point though Cane, your comment on refs applies to 1981 as well, the Boks we properly robbbed by Clive Norling so it’s kinda swings and roundabouts isn’t it?
18 Sep 2012, 14:16 pm
@cane-105: Move to the forwards you farken ignorant git… Go for it.
For every Michael Jones there is a Cowboy Shaw…
18 Sep 2012, 14:16 pm
@Skeppie-101:
Skeepie:
I never watched a Boks/AB game from 1970 until reintroduction of the Boks into mainstream International Rugby.
I have never watched a Cavaliers game. Never will.
They were a Team brought and paid for by the regime in power in SA at the time. (under the auspices of some newspaper if memory serves me correctly).
If I had my way………………………none of the fukkers would ever have played rugby again.
18 Sep 2012, 14:19 pm
@cane-105: Still laughing at your endorsement of the Pom, Gallagher… Born Lewisham, England… Who went on to play Rugby League…
Yet he isn’t a “filthy money grabber”?
You confused Kiwi fuckwit… Honestly
18 Sep 2012, 14:22 pm
@Skeppie-106:
No……………………………………………….NZ won fair and square with Clive.
He was the first Ref to Officiate with a digital watch.
And so Alan Hewson kicked a legitimate penalty to win the game.
One of the great referees of all time.
DIGITAL.
18 Sep 2012, 14:24 pm
@cane-108: The reason I ask is I see them as AB’s desperate to test themselves aginst their old rival who they never got a chance to play because of political reasons.
18 Sep 2012, 14:25 pm
@cane-108:
Yellow Pages was the sponsor, a branch of Telkom a government parastatal.
18 Sep 2012, 14:25 pm
@cane-108: Self righteous, ignorant, arrogant cnut… All in a nutshell in this post…
Those Cavaliers were the best team New Zealand produced until the 95/96 team…
Yet you would see Meads, Kirkpatrick, Crowley, Deans, Smith etc to have been banished to oblivion…
Bang, there would have gone half your coaching expertise of this era… half your playing expertise of the last era… and bobs your uncle you would have been just another coconut rugby playing Pacific Island nation…
How farken apt.
18 Sep 2012, 14:25 pm
@cane-110: Nah Cane you are wrong there, Norling played something like 12 mins of extra time. Clearly he was influenced byt he political landscape. In 1981 the Boks were robbed and should have won the series.
18 Sep 2012, 14:29 pm
@cane-108: Come on, caner. If the cavaliers had won the series you’d be claiming them as beloved sons of your very own bosom here. But a 3-1 series loss kind of changes things, innit.
18 Sep 2012, 14:31 pm
@Heavens Game-109:
He (Gallagher) came to NZ as a Policeman. Was one of 5 Policemen in the Wellington Team of the time.
But whatever…………………………………..he was a truely great player.
The League Scouts rang up…………………………….So he said………….. “make me an offer I truely cannot refuse”.
So they did……………………….and he became rugby’s first million dollar man.
Gallagher became a millionaire,.
and you HG became an arse-whole.
18 Sep 2012, 14:32 pm
@katman-115:
I think NOT Katman.
18 Sep 2012, 14:33 pm
@cane-117: Therefore you are NOT, caner.
18 Sep 2012, 14:35 pm
The Currie Cup has been absolutely wonderful to watch .Some spectacular tries scored by the soon to be relegated LIons and other teams.How much more entertaining some of these games are with players running from everywhere rather than the crash ball S15 comp with suffocating rugby league type defences . if this is a poor standard , a third level comp Ryan , I say GIVE ME MORE OF IT. Perhaps if the Boks came to CC and saw how to run and attack they might learn something.Australia has nothing like this . The ARFU would give anything to have a comp like this .They tried a few years ago and it died in the bum.So preserve it, nurture it , respect it and it will serve SA rugby well.
18 Sep 2012, 14:35 pm
@Skeppie-114: .
believe what you will Skeppie.
I have told you the truth.
I can do no more.
18 Sep 2012, 14:37 pm
@katman-118:
To Not
or not to Not.
This is the question.
18 Sep 2012, 14:39 pm
@cane-116: A money grubbing millionaire… obviously… But nor really a successful millionaire at League…
Now a teacher… In England… Once a Pom, always one… And heralded as a great FB over true Kiwis who’s only sin was to want to test themselves against the best in the World circa 86…
A real hypocrite… But why am I not surprised… You are a Kiwi after all.
18 Sep 2012, 14:40 pm
How did Jebb Sinclair get off without even a one weeks ban after that punch on Deysel? Holmes gets one week ban. Who is the citing commissioner? What does that say to the rest of the rugby players, that you can punch and get away with it? Unbelievable really.
18 Sep 2012, 14:43 pm
@Puma-123: Laughable… Okes musn’t complain when the next Bulls or WP player gets sent off in a test match… Leniency like this feeds the filthy beast of “traditional powers” that be.
WHen last did a team land up with 3 players short due to filthy play? Disgraceful really…
18 Sep 2012, 14:45 pm
@cane-120: Ok Caner, let’s agree to disagree even you you are wrong and I am right. Is that fair?
18 Sep 2012, 14:46 pm
@Heavens Game-113:
“Self righteous, ignorant, arrogant cnut……………………”
LOL.
I would have refused those fukkers re-entry into NZ if I had my way HG.
You could have had them then. Along with Mitch and Carlos.
Would have been good for SA.
Because let’s face it…………………………you are slipping down the ladder sunshine.
18 Sep 2012, 14:47 pm
I don’t advocate violence on a rugby field,but Deysel deserved that fully.He tried it on with Sinclair and got beat fair and square.
18 Sep 2012, 14:48 pm
@Skeppie-125:
lol.
In real life we could get along Skeppie.
18 Sep 2012, 14:50 pm
@Heavens Game-124: Exactly. The mind just boggles how Sinclair was let off. Who the bloody hell was the citing commissioner? What a idiot whoever it is. Both should have copped a 2 week ban. This says it is okay to be a bloody thug. Disgraceful outcome really.
18 Sep 2012, 14:52 pm
you’re a poor mans poppa, cane.
have you been drinking?
18 Sep 2012, 14:52 pm
@cane-128: I agree! Don’t tell anyone but you seem like a proper rugby man. I would share a beer with you anyday….and then proceed to explain how far superior the boks are (smiley)
18 Sep 2012, 14:53 pm
@cane-126: Good… Nicely arrogant… Especially about a 2 bit invitational team who won a 2 bit invitational tournament masquerading as a World Cup… And nicely arrogant about winning a rigged comp last year…
Nevertheless that win last year finally gives you the privilege to call yourselves World Champs… after 24 yrs of waiting…
Enjoy it while it lasts…
Until another 24 pass and maybe you can earn that right again… This time try win away without the largesse of Paddy and Bryce to see you home…
18 Sep 2012, 14:54 pm
@Heavens Game-122: \
So Gallagher was of English heritage.
Where is the crime in that. Why does that make him less worthy of the TITLE “great’.
You xenophobic hypocrite.
Live with us,
play with us,
you are one of us.
18 Sep 2012, 14:56 pm
@Skeppie-114: We were robbed. In that last game that last penalty the ABs got should never have been.
That was a series we could have won, or it should have been drawn not lost.
18 Sep 2012, 14:59 pm
@Heavens Game-132:
Try this instead;
Nicely arrogant… Especially about a 2 bit invitational team (Cavaliers) who lost won a 2 bit invitational tournament masquerading as a test series.… And nicely arrogant about winning a rigged comp in 86.…
Go Phucck yourself HG.
loser.
18 Sep 2012, 15:00 pm
@Heavens Game-102: how unusual that Hg would think a kinghit from behind is a beauty of a punch..
what a gutless coward you and he are..
18 Sep 2012, 15:00 pm
@wnbb-127: He never tried it on Sinclair. I watched that game again last night. Deysel shoved Jebb that was it and then he got punched to the ground. Jebb should have got a 2 week ban and he got off totally except for the red card. Whoever the citing commissioner is must be a complete idiot. Is there not rules for punching? Thought a punch gets you two weeks. No way should a player get off for punching. We not back in the 70′s pal.
18 Sep 2012, 15:01 pm
@cane-133: Xenophobic hypocrite… Me? I have no problem with Gallagher being English… I just have a laugh at your hypocrisy regarding the superiority of Kiwi stock wrt rugby, especially when one of “your” greats of 87, wasn’t a Kiwi…
Maybe you, like all other arrogant Kiwis, got to open your Haka obsessed eyes and see that there is more to rugby than a black shirt with three white stripes on it.
Gallagher,a Pom, played for the ABs… Rawlinson, a Saffa, played for the ABs too…
Now whoosa hypocrite?
Yes, you Cane… And not a particularly silver tongued one either…
Kiwis…Everytime a coconut… Luv blogshagging you little sheepshaggers.
18 Sep 2012, 15:02 pm
@Puma-134:
No you were not robbed.
You lost. Under trying conditions for sure. But you lost, simple as.
18 Sep 2012, 15:03 pm
@cane-110: I know, imagine how much game time was lost in that test when a player was felled by a flour bomb? to think a ref would allow injury time to reflect a similar length of time back in play is absurd isnt it?
but its good to see Saffas still whinge about it, what is that, a 30 year ref whinge? puts our Barnes whinge to considerable shame
18 Sep 2012, 15:04 pm
@poppa69-136: HG is an ardent sharks supporter so clearly an upstanding citizen but I must agree with you Pops, that was the mother of all cheap shots
18 Sep 2012, 15:04 pm
@Puma-137: No,he tried to slap Jebb like a girly and ,rightly,got punished for that poor attempt.
18 Sep 2012, 15:05 pm
@poppa69-140: Ok so according to you guys the cavaliers were robbed by bias saffa refs but the 1981 boks were not robbed at all?
18 Sep 2012, 15:05 pm
@Heavens Game-138:
You mean like The Beast is one of yours?
You sad sad sad delusioned arse-whole.
18 Sep 2012, 15:07 pm
@Heavens Game-124: You know I can’t remember when last I saw 2 red cards and a yellow card given to a team. 3 players all off together…haha.
Had to laugh at the 5 man scrum against our 8. Everytime a penalty against them, we just said scrum……….hahaha. In the mud and dam like conditions..hahaha. They must have been moeg for sure.
Ag, think the boys all went for a beer after, but still think those that copped a red card should have had a two week ban. Homes picked up one week ban.
18 Sep 2012, 15:07 pm
@cane-135: @poppa69-136: Oh dear… the Natives getting a bit restless again
Ag, why dont you go do your little jig, otherwise known as a haka, to get rid of that dumbfck frustration where you obviously cant express yourselves properly otherwise…
Coward is as coward does… Cavaliers had ballas to defy everyone for their love of rugby to come take on the best at the time… They lost… But they had courage…
Cowards were the team of 87… Who ran scared of the team that beat their better brethren and at least half of them just the year before…
Thats a definition of cowardice… The “greats” of 87…
18 Sep 2012, 15:07 pm
@cane-139: notice in all these Worled cup discussions before SA were given the rigged world cup of 95, that hardly any mention is ever made of the 91 cup?
could that be because NZ lost? surely, if they are that upset about their own failings causing them to miss both tournaments, that there would be derision at both?
but its seemingly not the case…gots to love our Saffa brothers, they must save a fortune at the opthamologists, what with only having to buy monocles
18 Sep 2012, 15:09 pm
@Skeppie-143: I didnt see the cavalier series, it wasnt shown in NZ …like cane I would refuse to watch it even now
( and not because they lost)… the 81 series I was not a fan of either, for obvious reasons..
18 Sep 2012, 15:09 pm
Nobody gets robbed in a rugby game!You either win because you are good or lose because you are simply not good enough on that particular day.South Africans should just accept the fact that the Kiwis are their masters most of the time.
18 Sep 2012, 15:10 pm
@Puma-137: what was deysel’s hand doing in jebb’s face?
i loved how he fell like a sack of potatoes
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 13 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.