sharkbok
Captain23,234 posts
sharkbokCaptain23,234 posts
06 Sept 2020, 20:17#6
Looks like the end of the 4 nations as well. The Bledisloe Cup is crap, now that Australia is no longer the team they used to be. The word is they plan to become a touch rugby tournament.
New Zealand does not have the forward pack to deal with South Africa, especially the tight 5.
Without exposure to physical packs, New Zealand could slip further down.
More teams will work out how to beat them. Stop Beauden Barratt and Retallick - and you stop New Zealand. The forward pack lacks mongrel and ball carriers, giving poor possession to the backs.
New Zealand has been in decline for a few years now. Their pack seems to be going the way of Australia, and if Retalick is not in form - they are average at best. A pack of fetchers lacking the power to dominate the advantage line. Some of the recent tests, the All Blacks have been clinical (or cinnical) and stopped the Bok momentum, but it was only a matter of time before the dam wall burst.
Now that the All Blacks are our bitches, they have run for the hills. Our beer fetchers....
They want to rebuild their forward pack before trying again. When the shoe is on the other hoof, the Kiwis could not maintain it ba, ba, ha.
It is unclear how SA will participate in these tournaments.
Will the Boks have to base themselves in Europe for all of the 6/8 nations. Seems a bit of a disadvantage with no home ground advantage.
Also, is the # nations going to be moved a bit further back to say March, instead of the mud bath of February? Even with artificial grass, it is still very windy, cold and not conducive to a high skills game.
SA tours in Pro 14 will be longer, with an extra 2 SA teams. This might actually work out better as it will provide a chance to play 2 games in SA, justifying the flight to SA. (or even 4 - depending on how that schedule is decided).
The Springbok outside backs are small but they score lots of tries, especially with a dominant forward pack. The world cup final showed the Boks have the best finishers in world rugby. The passing and overall skills of the outside backs are good. The passing skills of the new black players coming through the ranks are world-class, certainly better than some of the one-dimensional kicking and crash balls backline players. This has given the Boks and extra dimension in scoring backline tries.
The biggest losers are Argentina. They do not seem to be invited to the 6 nations, or Pro14. Not worth the travel for one team.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
07 Sept 2020, 18:53#10
Agreed Moz losing the RC and Super rugby is a HUGE loss for SA rugby and world rugby as a whole.
The current structure of the super rugby competition is flawed but at least they recognised this and were on track to change it back to the format of all sides playing eachother not that stupid conference system that had local sides playing eachother home and away.
Our super sides playing in the Pro 14 is a huge downgrade in standard. With no English or French clubs involved, the low standard is blatantly obvious, coupled with the fact that the Irish and Welsh sides often play their reserve sides in the competition
