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'Guinness Pro 14' announcement appears imminent

The Cheetahs (Getty Images)

In an ironic twist of fate, within a few hours Southern Kings and Cheetahs will face off in a fixture that will be both sides Super Rugby swan song. And as the curtain begins to close, an announcement has yet to be made on what will become of Super Rugby’s outcasts.

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There appears little doubt however, that both teams will be competing in a re-invented Guiness Pro 12 format from September onwards. Cheetahs CEO Harold Verster all but confirmed what many have presumed when speaking to Bloemfontein based radio station OFM.

“We have opted to accept a settlement with SA Rugby, rather than fight the issue in court because we have a contract to play Super Rugby until 2020.

“We have negotiated an amicable solution and there is a wonderful opportunity for us up north, for the Cheetahs and Kings. It will be easier to travel and so on, so we’re excited about the new venture.”

The fixtures for the upcoming Pro 12 season have yet to be released, by comparison the Aviva Premiership fixtures were released almost a week ago. The reason for the uncertainty and delay in making a formal statement appears to be due to the Pro 12 board wishing to make the announcement themselves.

“Unfortunately they have opted to make the release themselves once everything is in place,” said Verster.

“That will be around about the 15th of July, once their board is in place. It’s a company and SA Rugby will be joining and be a part of the company as shareholders.

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“Once those things have settled they will make the big announcement as to exactly where, when and how it will work.

The Pro 12 in its current format, just about squeezes into an already chaotic Northern Hemisphere schedule. The addition of two new teams will be no small feat when attempting to take player welfare into account.

A re-imagined structure could see the league split into two conferences, seven teams in each and an expanded play-off system. Whatever structure they roll out by July the 15th, it’s apparent that sticking with the status quo would not be in the best interest of the players.

 

 

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Nickers 29 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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