Ex Supersport
The prevailing perception among South Africans is that unbelievable double standards have existed for a long time as far as Sanzar’s judicial process is concerned. (PLEASE ADD IN THE INCREDIBLY BENT REFFING THAT ALSO GOES ON MAKE AFAIR CONTEST NOT EVEN REMOTELY POSSIBLY IN MANY CASES) Whether Frans Steyn is guilty or innocent is not the issue. South African supporters find the process problematic. (YOU BET WE DO - VENTER IS TALKING ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN SUPPORTERS - NOT OU ROOITWIT/ASS)
The overriding sense is that there are a different set of rules for South Africa and New Zealand. The standard ban for a New Zealander seems to be one week but for a South African, the standard ban is between four and five weeks. (EXACTLY SO)
Steyn, who was originally cleared of a tip tackle, has been handed a five-week ban on appeal – an unprecedented move – while Hika Elliot was suspended for only a week for a shoulder charge (NO TWO CHARGES) in the Sharks-Chiefs match. Meanwhile, Liam Messam was soon cleared after being cited for a chokehold tackle. (WHAT ABOUT MARSHALL PUTTING HIS KNEE INTO REINACH'S BACK?)
Many South Africans are of the opinion that Sanzar is not run as a three-way partnership but rather as a purely one-sided affair, with Australia and New Zealand’s best interests at heart. (HEAR HEAR THE GET THE JARPIE SYNDROME!!)
Moreover, they are questioning whether there is an underlying conflict between the three parties, and if the relationships are as healthy as they should be. Now that the Sanzar deal has been signed, has the fear of SA breaking away and joining up with the north dissipated?
The irony is that Australia and New Zealand need South Africa far more than South Africa needs them. The general feeling among South African rugby supporters is that maybe the moment has arrived to move on and experience competition in Europe.(HEAR HEAR IF ITS AT ALL POSSIBLE LETS MOVE!!!)
For one, the time zones and reduced travel would benefit SA sides. To offer an example, I have flown the overnight flight to London many times, and you can literally play a match two days later. On the flipside, when playing in Australasia, it takes a whole week to acclimatise to an eight-hour time difference and the journey to the Antipodes is far more taxing on the players.
OUR FUTURE LIES IN THE NORTH
South African teams playing up north in top-level tournaments is without a doubt something that is going to happen in the future. The reality is that everything today is about television rights, and it’s just much better viewing when we don’t have to get up at six in the morning to catch a game.
What people really want is to watch rugby from five in the afternoon until seven at night. As much as we can sit and debate it, that is just the honest truth. It serves as one of the primary reasons why I believe the Super Rugby product has become rather stale.
Moreover, dwindling crowd numbers at matches in New Zealand must be an unbelievable worry to the men in suits. In stark contrast, Saracens played Harlequins this past Saturday at Wembley in front of a record crowd for a club match – 84 068. Meanwhile, the England-France Six Nations match was viewed by a record-breaking TV audience of 9.63 million.
The above statistics prove that rugby is growing and going somewhere in Europe. In stark contrast, I don’t think the oval game is going anywhere in Australasia. In Australia, there are a host of competing sports and in New Zealand hardly anyone goes to watch rugby games any more.
We are almost sick and tired of playing the same adversaries each and every year. As such, I believe that SA sides playing in Europe would be brilliant, different and very interesting for the viewing public. (AGREE)
Our players like testing themselves up north, and, crucially, they could play that competition in the summer (our winter), which would strengthen our local competition as well. If you play in the months of March, April, May, June, July, August and September, in my opinion, you’d have a magnificent competition that makes so much sense. (CAN ANYBODY EXPLAIN THIS PLEASE)
The solution I would propose is to allow New Zealand and Australia to continue to compete against each other, owing to their proximity and similar time zones, and then look to include the likes of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga to form a five-team competition in South Africa’s absence. (GREAT IDEA!!!)
There are so many accompanying advantages in South Africa joining Europe, the question I would ask is, why would we want to remain tied to a competition with dwindling numbers? (WHY INDEED)
Well said Brendon!
The other big plusses of going north is the money. It would mean a huge injection of funds and enable us to keep our players - this is huge.
Also very very important I believe we would get a far fairer deal when it comes to adjudication. The present loaded set up is intolerable to any self respecting South African rugby fan.
Its time to get going on making the transition. If the timetable can workand the NH wants us its a no brainer really.
We will have to leave the Ozzies and kbbs eeking out a meagre living. Hahhahahahahahaha.
Look if we could get a fair adjudication process on and off the field and if we could have enough cash to keep our players then yes we could stay but to me these two factors end any debate.
