Pienaar against Super Rugby expansion in 2016

Pienaar against Super Rugby expansion in 2016 1995 Rugby World Cup winning Captain Francois Pienaar
South Africa's Rugby World Cup winning captain Francois Pienaar says that there is too much Super Rugby and rather than expanding the tournament he would prefer to see it down-sized.

Pienaar said that he felt that there is too much rugby being played currently and rather than expanding Super Rugby and the Currie Cup he would rather see them reduced in size.

"I haven't quite applied my mind yet when it comes to the Currie Cup. I would like to see less (Super Rugby), not more," Pienaar told Business Day.

"If I can use Varsity Cup as an example, it is so short and compact - therein lies the success. If you make it longer it will fizzle."

"It (Super Rugby) is just too much. The guys are playing too much rugby; there is too much rugby to watch."

The South African Rugby Union recently announced plans to increase the Currie Cup to six teams and Pienaar said however that having eight teams in the top tier of the Currie Cup and the same number in the same number in the First Division, with promotion-relegation play-offs, would be a good idea.

The 1995 Rugby World Cup winning captain said he had enjoyed watching how he South African sides had performed in this year's Super Rugby tournament, particularly his former team, the Lions.

"The surprise element for me, a wonderful team to watch, is the Lions. Everybody thought they would be the whipping boys and they are playing superb rugby," Pienaar said.

Pienaar did however caution that it was still too early in the season for Lions fans to get too excited.

"It was a great start from the Lions - a real Cinderella story. They played some phenomenal rugby. The Sharks have been very strong. The other three teams (Bulls, Cheetahs and Stormers) are finding their feet.

"It's still too early to say (how they will finish). It's a long competition and everyone will be jostling for positions. The conference will heat up later on. Normally, it is always a slow start."

Pienaar also praised his former team-mate and now Lions coach Johan Ackermann by saying, "I was privileged enough to be his captain on tour to New Zealand in 1996. He's done a phenomenal job."

"The entire team and staff at the Lions, the revival is amazing. I really hope they go from strength to strength."

some wise words from matt damon (lolz invictus), :oP

would have liked to read his thoughts about what spXV should be downsized to, spXII is the most popular format according to what ive read when ever this topic is brought up.

IMO spXV is the just the right format, all three SANZAR countries need 5 teams to tick of various needs their countries represents.
and if they cut out the play everyone in their conference twice, it would cut down the number of games by two weeks. a win win IMO.

pop quiz,,,
can anyone else remember the movie where matt dam on was also seen playing rugby???

Pienaar is of course spot on regarding too much rugby. But money talks. Look at SARU adding two extra tests for this year to generate revenue for the World Cup.
Until the rugby players union gets itself organized and establishes itself as a real authority to be negotiated with before changes are made, then no decision will be in the players' best interests which is ultimately rugby's best interest. Unfortunately, the only way the players union will be able to make the administrators and rugby unions stand up and take notice that they should be consulted in the decision making process is through a strike.

Rugby is a big fat mess. Too much corruption and greed, simples. Super rugby, as the Super 12 was perfect in my opinion. The SH is too stale and boring.

 I tend to agree with the S15 being to long.
I do think that the Currie Cup should be expanded to get the youngsters into first class action and encourage local talent.