Good final can’t hide Super Rugby flaws: White
Former Springboks coach Jake White says Super Rugby is ‘‘flawed’’ and South Africa must decide whether it wants to change the competition or leave it.
White, a World Cup-winning coach who now operates in Japan, was impressed with the Crusaders’ victory but not happy with the competition or the quality of their final opponents, the Lions.
‘‘Don’t let a good Super Rugby final blind you to the fact that the competition is still flawed. Even though Super Rugby administrators will be cock-a-hoop after a successful final, the reality of their product is very different,’’ White wrote for AllOutRugby.com yesterday.
White’s comments come on the back of severe criticism of Super Rugby by outspoken English critic Stephen Jones who said the competition had spread itself too thinly.
White argued the final should have been an all-New Zealand affair, believing the Hurricanes and Chiefs were better than the Lions who benefited too heavily from the controversial conference system used by the competition.
‘‘As brave as the Lions were in trying to achieve a miracle, it was Mission: Impossible. That side was never going to beat a New Zealand team in New Zealand. And, if we’re honest, it was probably an unfair final because it should have featured two Kiwi sides. There’s no way the two best teams played for the trophy,’’ White said.
‘‘From a marketing and audience point of view, Sanzaar will feel like the final ticked all the right boxes. From a rugby point of view, it can’t be right. The Chiefs and Canes – who won more matches and logged more points than the Lions, despite playing in the same conference as the Crusaders and Highlanders, must feel aggrieved that they didn’t get a fair crack at the title.
‘‘Around the world, people follow sport because they want to be there for that moment when there’s a big upset.
‘‘There’s no way the two best teams played for the trophy.’’ Jake White
‘‘Pundits like to talk about great upsets and great comebacks, and that gets lost in a predictable Super Rugby competition. The competition is like a train that runs on schedule.’’
White believes South Africa faced ‘‘some big calls’’ about its competition preference.
‘‘Rugby is moving north and South Africa has to decide whether Super Rugby is something we want to leave or something we want to change,’’ White wrote. McGrath Foundation Stadium, Sydney
Kickoff: 7.30pm Saturday
Referees: Chris Sutton, Tim Roby
TAB odds: Sea Eagles $1.65, Bulldogs $2.15