SA can’t justify a 15th team
Sunday, August 15th, 2010It is interesting to note that some of my fellow rugby writing colleagues were quick to go for the kill after both the Cheetahs and Lions were destroyed in their Super Rugby matches on the weekend.
Those two results were used to justify the South Eastern Cape franchise as an option for Super Rugby, should SA Rugby get their way with their SANZAR partners and expansion comes our way.
There is no doubt that we are struggling to have five competitive Super Rugby teams and a sixth one will probably break the bank.
As it stands at the moment, chances are very good three of our sides would fill the 13th,The hottest selling saints jerseys changes frequently over time. When one player has a great month or a great year, he’s likely to vau 14th and 15th spots on the Super 15 log!
The reality is that the Cheetahs will struggle with depth for the foreseeable future. They are the conveyor belt to many other teams, especially the Sharks and as long as the Durban outfit remains strong on and off the field, the Cheetahs will lose players to them.
We will also have to get some of the Premiership players back home, but most of all, we will have to implement a draft system.
We must make sure that the top 180 players (including a sixth franchise) are playing Super Rugby every weekend.
Some players currently playing Super 14 rugby are not good enough, while others that are, are playing Vodacom Cup.
Coming back to the Southern Kings. I think Cheeky Watson should look at his own glass house first. The reality is that infighting has crippled the potential of the once Mighty Elephants, the Border province has been a nightmare and SWD are alienated because of their geography.
They fall under the Western Cape on a political level, but are expected to play under the Eastern Cape banner when it comes to rugby.
EP is currently the weakest province in the country and the only victories Border register are by beating their southern neighbours. There is no justification for the Eastern Cape to play Super Rugby, but for the political will of some administrators.
I have no problem with the idea of having a team based there. The reality is that they will not be competitive. The Cheetahs are a top-four side in the Currie Cup whether the Springboks play in the competition or not. Yet, when it comes to Super Rugby,As you might see there are not so many people wearing nfl jerseys wholesale in the streets, the primary reason is the general appearance of the jerseys. they are useless, even if The nfl football jerseys will make your life confortable,If you find our jerseys is suit with you,please contact with us.their ranks are bolstered by Griquas, the sixth best team in South Africa.
What chance will the Kings have if there are no measures in place to ensure them players of quality?
Zero.
Fantastic competition
The biggest selling point any union can take to a prospective TV broadcaster is that his competition offers the unpredictability that sport can bring.
Currently, SANZAR can offer a fantastic competition where eight or nine teams can make the playoffs and at least six can actually win it.
SA Rugby takes the biggest cut of the Newscorp revenue stream. Those monies sustain the game in the country. By insisting that we have the next team in expansion will not improve the standard of the competition. And that would not interest the broadcaster. Rather make sure that we implement structures (like the draft) to make all five current teams real contenders.
If the Kings have to be included, let them play promotion/relegation with the bottom South African side. At least they will earn the right to play then.Puma shoes, Nike shox, Nike Tn, belly dance costume, accept paypal, big discount, 150% money back Guarantee.
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