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South African involvement in Pro14 'as significant as launch of Super Rugby'

The Pro14 in SA

The addition of the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings to the Pro14 is as significant a moment for the sport as the launch of Super Rugby, according South African Rugby Union CEO Jurie Roux.

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The Cheetahs and the Kings will join teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in next season’s revamped competition after losing out in a decision to trim Super Rugby from 18 to 15 teams.

But Roux is optimistic about the success of the changes, which he believes are comparable to when the southern hemisphere competition was launched as the Super 12 in 1996.

“This is a momentous day for rugby – as significant as the launch of the Super 12 tournament, 21 years ago,” said Roux.

“We are breaking new ground with a number of global firsts; this is the first cross-hemisphere domestic club competition; the first time we will have played summer rugby in South Africa and the first experiment in aligning a season in the south with that of the north.

“Our eyes are on the bigger picture, which is new horizons and new opportunities for South African rugby and our Pro14 partners.

“I’d like to thank [Pro14 CEO] Martin Anayi and the board of Pro14 Rugby as well as the national unions of Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy for opening the door at short notice and welcoming us through it.

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“We look forward to this adventure and building something special.”

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Nickers 19 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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