Fitzpatrick dead right about the Bok future

All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick believes it will be a “sad day” for rugby if the Springboks were to leave the Rugby Championship for the Six Nations.

South Africa have committed to the Rugby Championship until 2025 but not further than that, with speculation rife that a possible move to the northern hemisphere was on the cards.

Fitzpatrick hopes that the Springboks will remain part of the competition beyond that deal, saying it would be “devastating” to lose them.

Costly for the Rugby Championship

“In terms of the southern hemisphere, it will be devastating to the Championship if we lost South Africa out of that competition. So, no, I would not like seeing that happen,” Laureus Sports Awards chairman Fitzpatrick told the media.

“I think there’s a bigger question in terms of what competitions do we want? The Six Nations is arguably the best competition in world rugby at the moment, outside of the World Cup. 

“I think we’ve seen that in the first three rounds that it’s compelling viewing. Why look at something and adding something to it when it’s not broken, without question?”

The 58-year-old values tradition in the game and this also motivates his opinion.

I don’t personally like having a southern-hemisphere team in the Six Nations, because the history of the competition is northern hemisphere, basically,” said Fitzpatrick.

“That’s not a great reason not to change it, I just like the Six Nations as it is.

“If the Springboks were to join, it would be a Seven Nations because Italy can’t just be ejected, they have a right of veto. So starting a new competition would add a pretty big new international window. It would be a sad day for rugby.”

Fitzpatrick also believes that Super Rugby misses the South African influence.

“Super Rugby has not turned out to be the competition it should be. Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2020 was fantastic, everyone loved it, coming back to New Zealand, it was very tribal,” said Fitzpatrick.

“But last year was different and we’ve missed South Africa. Super 12 was such a good product, but they got greedy going to 14, 16, 18 teams and it blew out because it was unsustainable.

I agree with everything Fitz says…I have been making these points myself. We are the rugby playing country we are because of whom we play….playing NZ regularly has inoculated us against big Island backs. We know how the disarm our biggest rival.

Play the Wallies or the Frogs instead and I think our standards will inevitably drop to their level. NH teams have won 1 WC. SH teams have won 8.

His points about the greedy destruction of the S12 are also spot on.

Fitzy is one of the great men of rugby, a very likeable man and understands the game fully from all directions.

One can take this viewpoint as from the best source, no question.

I see the kiwis are wailing already. hahahahahaha

Well Fritzy how about you as a master cheat set about ridding NZ of referee cheats for starters. Set a cheat to catch a cheat stuff.

Then lets talk finance. How about South Africa getting a fair deal. 

If you feel these demands are not acceptable I see no harm in us spending a few seasons in the 7 nations or whatever it will be. They have certainly inproved alot in recent years.  I say a few years as Fritzy and the boys will soon come to their senses. 

Yes despite what these down under mampra's have to say about our rugby, their get the Jarpie agenda etc, they need us desperately.

The 7 nations would be the premier rugby competition in the world by some distance. Travel is better and pay would be hugely better allowing us to keep our players given also other NH comps we could play in.

NZ could play in a second tier comp with OZ, Argentina and Japan and a Pacific Island team?  Not ideal of course but you take what you can get.

Face facts guys we cant keep our players at home. Our currency is very weak and the PAY is relatively speaking very poor.  Our rugby at Super Rugby level has crumbled as we cannot select anything near our best squads. Even top young players are leaving these days.

Beeno ever the realist. 

Totally agree with him. 

Nice to see him speaking out about it.