Rebuilding is a myth ... just look at the young Crusaders

1 Take rugby to the people

The Chiefs have done quite a brilliant thing recently, by playing a home game in the Pacific Islands once a season. It may seem like a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about returning rugby to its roots. Kiwi rugby is so largely dependent on its Island contingent, and the crowds, with their huge smiles, party atmosphere, and love of the game, appreciate and deserve the repayment of rugby in their backyard.

It is something South Africa should do a lot more of. There are token attempts to spread the game to previously disenfranchised areas, but they are nominal. Super Rugby sides should be embracing the whole province they represent, not just the rich epicentre. Dwindling crowds are a huge problem, but I assure you, take the Bulls to Mamelodi and watch the people come … watch the game explode.

2 The Kings don’t deserve SA Rugby, and SA Rugby don’t deserve the Kings

When the axe does eventually falls on two South African Super Rugby teams, it is almost certainly going to land squarely on the neck of the Kings. It is a sickening thought, especially after recent events. South African Rugby, in a misguided attempt to grow the game in the region, threw a corrupt and struggling Union totally unprepared into the Super Rugby deep-end, they spluttered and floundered with SA Rugby just pulling their head up to breathe at critical moments. Shame on South African Rugby for building this area of latent potential up only to strike it down and take huge steps backwards in its own transformation goals. Shame.

3 Inexcusable to blunder with slow-motion replays

Officiating in rugby goes through peaks and troughs in terms of its accuracy and professionalism. It is understandable, they are human after all. However, it becomes inexcusable and almost unfathomable when a Television Match Official (TMO) gets it wrong – on a number of occasions. Shaun Veldsman, the man behind the screens for the Stormers game at Newlands, has a lot to answer for after adjudicating on an incident involving a Shaun Treeby tackle.

The centre hit Blues flyhalf Piers Francis with a swinging arm that left the Englishman knocked-out, it was deemed nothing more serious than a penalty by referee Jaco van Heerden, after asking Veldsman for his opinion. What has made it even more shocking is that the citing commissioner, with the same footage Veldsman had, has deemed it a red card offence and banned Treeby for three weeks.

4 The Bulls are rotten down to the core

After the Bulls suffered another humiliating defeat, this time to the Lions, the calls for the coach’s head reached a crescendo, and perhaps, those calls will be heeded. But it won’t be enough. There are rumblings from those in the know that the whole Bulls management structure is rotten, and it is causing a lot of unhappiness and uncertainty in the ranks. A bit like at the Springboks, the Bulls need a total overhaul that goes deeper than the coach; they also need a man with a plan. The men from Pretoria have admitted they are beat, and are calling for the cavalry, but will that be enough?

5 Rebuilding is a myth

Let’s agree, as a rugby loving nation, that we will no longer accept “rebuilding” as an excuse for poor performances from our teams. The Crusaders, with 12 wins from 12 games, would be considered to be at the very beginning of their regrowth, and yet, look at them. They lost McCaw and Carter, as well as their long serving coach, and Crusaders man, Todd Blackadder, who called it a day. They have put their faith in some unheard of youngsters and they are unstoppable. They are rebuilding.

The Sharks have used that line for a while now, as have the Bulls. It is an easy cop out, but it is also an indictment on the South African system of making plans on the fly, rather than planning for the future.