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Cape Town - Disastrous and pathetic.
Just two of the words to sum up the five South African Vodacom Super Rugby teams' combined performances in this year's tournament.
Granted, it must be said up front that the Sharks are the one flickering light at present, but that only partly masks the embarrassing fare dished up by the other four - Bulls, Lions, Cheetahs and Stormers.
Best way to demonstrate just how awful this year has been for South Africa?
Through STATS!
Matches played per Conference:
Australia - 52
New Zealand - 53
South Africa - 57
So, the five SA team have played 4 matches more than their Kiwi counterparts and a full 5 more than their Australian foes.
One would naturally then expect them to have won more matches and picked up more points...
But NO!
Matches won per Conference:
Australia - 27
New Zealand - 30
South Africa - 22
Log points per Conference:
Australia - 128
New Zealand - 151
South Africa - 113
South African teams have long been criticised for their lack of try-scoring abilities and that's perfectly displayed in the try scoring charts - and bonus points for scoring four or more tries in matches.
Tries scored per Conference:
Australia - 123
New Zealand - 155
South Africa - 103
Try-scoring bonus points per Conference:
Australia - 11
New Zealand - 18
South Africa - 8
Scarily, the Sharks (18), Bulls (18) and Lions (16) - who are the leading three teams in the SA Conference, are the three BOTTOM teams in the try-scoring charts!
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer must be a worried man. No make that a VERY worried man.
Although, thanks to SARU decision to allow the selection of overseas-based players for the Green and Gold, we may well end up with a case of those abroad bailing out those who haven't cut it at Super Rugby this year.
And all the while SARU has pushed for a SIXTH team in Super Rugby - which will become an eventuality in 2016.
In a word, do SA deserve another side?
No.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you agree this has been SA's worst ever Super Rugby season? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
Just two of the words to sum up the five South African Vodacom Super Rugby teams' combined performances in this year's tournament.
Granted, it must be said up front that the Sharks are the one flickering light at present, but that only partly masks the embarrassing fare dished up by the other four - Bulls, Lions, Cheetahs and Stormers.
Best way to demonstrate just how awful this year has been for South Africa?
Through STATS!
Matches played per Conference:
Australia - 52
New Zealand - 53
South Africa - 57
So, the five SA team have played 4 matches more than their Kiwi counterparts and a full 5 more than their Australian foes.
One would naturally then expect them to have won more matches and picked up more points...
But NO!
Matches won per Conference:
Australia - 27
New Zealand - 30
South Africa - 22
Log points per Conference:
Australia - 128
New Zealand - 151
South Africa - 113
South African teams have long been criticised for their lack of try-scoring abilities and that's perfectly displayed in the try scoring charts - and bonus points for scoring four or more tries in matches.
Tries scored per Conference:
Australia - 123
New Zealand - 155
South Africa - 103
Try-scoring bonus points per Conference:
Australia - 11
New Zealand - 18
South Africa - 8
Scarily, the Sharks (18), Bulls (18) and Lions (16) - who are the leading three teams in the SA Conference, are the three BOTTOM teams in the try-scoring charts!
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer must be a worried man. No make that a VERY worried man.
Although, thanks to SARU decision to allow the selection of overseas-based players for the Green and Gold, we may well end up with a case of those abroad bailing out those who haven't cut it at Super Rugby this year.
And all the while SARU has pushed for a SIXTH team in Super Rugby - which will become an eventuality in 2016.
In a word, do SA deserve another side?
No.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you agree this has been SA's worst ever Super Rugby season? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
