Coach stays on despite series loss Kings may receive bonanza if Super axe falls

GUY Noves will stay on as France coach despite the team’s 3-0 whitewash by the Springboks, the French Rugby Federation said.

Saturday’s 35-12 loss at Ellis Park was the 11th defeat in 18 games for Noves in charge of the French side, who play world champions New Zealand on November 11 in Paris.

“Guy Noves has my support but I cannot accept that we are now ranked as the eighth-best rugby nation in the world,” said French rugby president Bernard Laporte yesterday.

“Our objective must now be clear, to win three of our four Tests in November,” he said.

France also host South Africa [November 18] and Japan [November 25] , while a second clash in November with the All Blacks is being arranged but not yet made official.

Noves insisted there had been progress made on the three-week trip to South Africa, where France were also beaten in Tests in Pretoria (37-14) and Durban (37-15).

“There was clear progress between the first two matches and in the third we were only seven down at half-time but then they scored a try that was too easy and it killed all our strategy,” the coach said after Saturday’s loss.

“You learn that this level that the slightest mistake is expensive. What is certain is that at halftime, we are still in the game. We are at the end of our season and there was a difference in the physical condition and freshness.

“We will leave with the suitcases full of points we need to work on, but it is obvious the players need a holiday. But we will look at the positive elements and I don’t think the gap is too big. I think that in November, with the work we did here in SA, that we will progress a little bit.” — Reuters A MASSIVE cash windfall of about R22million will flow into the coffers of the Southern Kings if they are booted out of Super Rugby and play in an enlarged European Pro12 tournament.

Insiders say the Eastern Cape franchise can expect the cash bonanza from TV rights for the tournament, which includes teams like Munster, Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff Blues and Edinburgh.

Though a formal decision has yet to be made, the exit from Super Rugby of the Kings and Cheetahs appears to be a formality, and will be made official on July 7 at a special general meeting of SA Rugby bosses.

SA Rugby have already said that two teams will be cut from Super Rugby, and it will be a major surprise if the axe does not fall on the Kings and Cheetahs.

Apart from SA representation in the Pro12, there is now talk that the Pumas and Griquas could be playing in the Anglo-Welsh Cup next season.

The future of the Kings, Cheetahs, Pumas and Griquas was apparently discussed at meetings held last week.

The European competition kicks off in September and ends in March, which means the Kings would have to scramble to assemble a team.

Last week, the Kings’ axing from Super Rugby appeared to move a step closer when the Australian Rugby Union confirmed they would be cutting one of their teams, either the Western Force or the Rebels, from the competition, which is returning to 15 teams after expanding to 18.