Swys de Bruin (Gallo Images)
Cape Town - Lions coach Swys de Bruin has fired back at the perception of New Zealand sides that the Super Rugby format is favoured against them.
The Waratahs and Lions ended the Super Rugby regular season with fewer points yet finished above the Hurricanes and Chiefs in the overall standings due to what the New Zealand media have branded as an unfair system.
But Lions mentor De Bruin hit back, saying that South African sides had to travel much more in comparison to their New Zealand opponents, which he said had been shown to unfairly disadvantage them towards the latter part of their tours.
“That’s their perception,” De Bruin told Reuters.
“All I can tell you is that we never moan about travelling four weeks (to New Zealand and Australia) or blaming that.
“We travel four weeks and they travel two. It makes a hell of a difference. Look at our results week three and four overseas.”
The Lions emerged victorious on just one of four occasions when playing in New Zealand and Australia this season. Many have called for a return to the round-robin format where every team plays each other at least once, something that De Bruin agrees upon.
"They (should) just get on the with the job,” he said.
“We’re a no-moan team. I’m almost feeling sorry that I said it now because it sounds like I’m moaning.
“But sport is an interesting thing, it can’t always be the ref ... or the competition format or injuries. You’ve got to play the hand that was dealt with you.
“But honestly now every time I’ve read something from down there (in New Zealand) it’s just reading that, so I would like to read something else for a change.”''
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The New Zealand forward fetchers would be shipped home black and blue if they had to feel the might of our packs in four home games. I am tired of hearing these excuses myself.
