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South Africa cannot support six rugby franchises, so why is Mark Alexander trying?

South Africa Rugby President Mark Alexander wants all six franchises to survive in one competition or another

SA Rugby is in talks with organisers of ‘international competitions’ in a bid to keep all six major rugby franchises. James Harrington argues the plan is doomed to fail.

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Did you hear the one about the South African Super Rugby rejects who decided to play in another tournament?

That is not the opening line to a joke, even a bad one. At least, not intentionally.

SA Rugby President Mark Alexander has claimed that the two as-yet officially undetermined franchises that are to be axed from Super Rugby could join other competitions from 2018.

He said: “We do not want to condemn them [the two axed Super Rugby teams] to the wilderness. So, if all goes well, all [six] teams will participate in an international tournament.”

Alexander was coy about where, he hoped, the axed sides would end up playing – he said that talks were ongoing with the organisers of two competitions. But the favourite among the ‘other competitions’ to open its arms to a couple of stray South African sides would be the ambitious four-nation Pro 12 – which is reportedly also looking at expansion opportunities in USA and Canada.

However, concerns over stadia and potential support means looking across the Atlantic to America offers only uncertainty – especially given the PRO Rugby league’s first-season… ahem… problems.

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There would be no such trouble with South Africa. No one has to build rugby from scratch in the Rainbow Nation and hope fans will come.

But that misses the point. Or, more accurately, it misses several points – not least the fact that the fans actually may not come to see a competition they have no particular relationship with. 

There would, for example, be problems with player recruitment. The SANZAAR broadcast deal says that SA Rugby must ensure that the best players based in South Africa play in Super Rugby.

To honour that agreement would leave the Pro 12 – or the other international competition – picking up the leftovers. Which wouldn’t go down well. Besides, players would have to choose their competition – Super Rugby or the other one. It would be an unenviable situation. And it would be unbalanced.

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Some commentators in the southern hemisphere believe that the Pro 12 is Europe’s third domestic competition behind the English Premiership and French Top 14, both of which are self-contained national tournaments. That’s tough on a league that supplied three of the eight Champions Cup quarter-finalists; and the same number of last-eight teams in the Challenge Cup. 

Then, there’s the small matter of timing. Pro 12 rugby runs from September to May. Which is incompatible with both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup. North is north, and south is south and never the rugby twain shall meet, and all that.

Neither the Pro 12 or SA Rugby are likely to give ground on their competition schedules. And neither side will be happy with weakened sides playing in their tournament to appease the other. Nor would, understandably, the fans – who, it appears, may be expected to pay to watch sub-par rugby.

Then, there’s the whole geography thing. The Pro 12 is a neatly encased four-nation, three-hour flight maximum competition. Sides can easily play an away match one week and at home the next. The competition is not set up for the distances involved in incorporating sides from South Africa.

Clearly, Alexander hadn’t read the memo from CEO Jurie Roux – who only last month said that rugby in South Africa lacked the strength and quality to justify six franchises.

He said, then: “We are now at a time where the economic reality of this country, the rugby economic reality of this country, says we cannot sustain six franchises.”

That’s the inconvenient truth Alexander, rather like King Canute of old English history, is trying to hold back by force of post-truth denial alone. Unlike King Canute – who was proving a point to an over-creepy lackey when he failed to stop the tide from coming in – Alexander may even believe his platitudes. 

Because that’s about all they can be. If South Africa cannot afford six Super Rugby franchises, it cannot afford four Super Rugby franchises and two Pro 12 ones.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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