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JJ Harmse
It 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, 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.
There is a joke among rugby writers about it. "Where do the Sharks stay when they play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein? At their parents, of course!"
You cannot blame the Sharks for poaching players from the central franchise, after all, it is a free market and players go where they find the best opportunity.
New coaching regime
The situation at the Lions seems to be more of an administrative and coaching problem. They certainly have the money, the facilities and the depth to be a force, but they don’t deliver.
It seems that a new coaching regime could be on its way soon after 'Loffie' Eloff indicated that he will step aside if they fail again That could alleviate some of the problems that stand in the way of their results.
But the biggest obstacle to success for the Lions, Cheetahs and the new Southern Kings would be player depth. I believe we can have five teams and even the Kings in a Super competition, but only if we have our best players available to play in the competition.
For Super teams to be competitive, we need to have competitive players. It will mean that the 47 players that are plying their trade in the French Top 14 must come home, or at least a substantial number of 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.
Must be released
At the Bulls, the likes of John Mametsa, Wayne Julies and Ruan Vermeulen certainly have more to offer that say Danwell Demas, Piet van Zyl and Kobus Calldo. To name but a few.
Yes, depth is important for the top teams and the Bulls would probably not be prepared to release any of those mentioned. But if they are going to play Vodacom Cup, surely they must be released for the better of SA Rugby?
The draft system works perfectly in New Zealand and there is no reason why it cannot be implemented here as well.
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, they are useless, even if 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.
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
It 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, 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.
There is a joke among rugby writers about it. "Where do the Sharks stay when they play the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein? At their parents, of course!"
You cannot blame the Sharks for poaching players from the central franchise, after all, it is a free market and players go where they find the best opportunity.
New coaching regime
The situation at the Lions seems to be more of an administrative and coaching problem. They certainly have the money, the facilities and the depth to be a force, but they don’t deliver.
It seems that a new coaching regime could be on its way soon after 'Loffie' Eloff indicated that he will step aside if they fail again That could alleviate some of the problems that stand in the way of their results.
But the biggest obstacle to success for the Lions, Cheetahs and the new Southern Kings would be player depth. I believe we can have five teams and even the Kings in a Super competition, but only if we have our best players available to play in the competition.
For Super teams to be competitive, we need to have competitive players. It will mean that the 47 players that are plying their trade in the French Top 14 must come home, or at least a substantial number of 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.
Must be released
At the Bulls, the likes of John Mametsa, Wayne Julies and Ruan Vermeulen certainly have more to offer that say Danwell Demas, Piet van Zyl and Kobus Calldo. To name but a few.
Yes, depth is important for the top teams and the Bulls would probably not be prepared to release any of those mentioned. But if they are going to play Vodacom Cup, surely they must be released for the better of SA Rugby?
The draft system works perfectly in New Zealand and there is no reason why it cannot be implemented here as well.
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, they are useless, even if 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.
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
