SA going north could see game go Down Under
Southern hemisphere domination of RWC expected to weaken
SA’s entry into Europe’s PRO Rugby competition may erode the southern hemisphere’s stranglehold on the Rugby World Cup (RWC).
Former Wallabies and Crusaders coach Robbie Deans argues SA exiting Super Rugby and forging stronger ties with the north will weaken the game in the south while steeling the countries involved in PRO Rugby.
Southern hemisphere teams have won eight of the nine instalments of the RWC with England bucking the trend in 2003, but Deans said he is anxious that the game this side of the equator was heading south.
A bit anxious
“If I look to the south then I’m a bit anxious,” said Deans, who coaches the Panasonic Wild Knights just outside Tokyo.
“The rugby component is still competitive I guess when you look at the history of nations of the south winning World Cups. SA playing in the north may very well start changing those numbers, which is another reason to be anxious when you come from the south.”
Former Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said while playing in Europe presents an exciting new beginning, SA and New Zealand will be poorer for it with Super Rugby consigned to the scrapheap.
“SA teams will miss out too because there is nothing like playing the Kiwi sides in New Zealand. Man, it’s tough!
“It was almost sad, leaving Super Rugby. Playing in Europe will be exciting for the SA teams,” said Ludeke, who coaches the Kubota Spears also just outside Tokyo. “The conditions will be challenging because you are going to have to adapt from playing in really hot conditions to playing in freezing cold.
“It might actually suit the SA teams with their mauls and kicking game. I know the Bulls are already looking at the tactical kicking game of the European sides.”
Deans, a coaching high priest who took the Crusaders to five Super Rugby titles, said rugby bosses need to determine their priorities, adding television and media rights “are king” and that the number of eyes attending matches aren’t as important as it used to be. “There are some challenging decisions to be made for those in governance. They have to think of both ends.”
He pointed out that administrators in the north are under less pressure as they can commit blunder after blunder and the game will survive, but stressed their colleagues in the south don’t have that luxury.
Though the global calendar is already bulging at the seams Deans said pitting the best teams of the hemispheres may find appeal.
Global club champion
“There is an appetite for a cross hemisphere component. Maybe get a global club champion,” he said.
Former All Blacks and Crusaders lock Todd Blackadder also advocated the introduction of a “best of the best” format.
Though adding to the global calendar won't necessarily serve that purpose, Deans lamented the slow rate at which player welfare in the sport is being addressed. “When are we going to get some serious leadership around the game?”
Blackadder and Ludeke concur player safety has to be paramount, but that the game’s laws around dangerous play need to be reviewed.
They argue that players guilty of dangerous play need to be dealt with decisively but that the sanction should not completely draw the sting from the contest. Deans suggested replacing the player permanently with a teammate from the bench.
“I think we should be even more punitive, but we also need to care for the game. We need to adapt the consequence. At the moment all the scrutiny is on the referee. They feel that heat and it is not their responsibility.
“When the public pay and enter the ground they should be confident they will be able to watch a good 15 on 15 contest.”
Blackadder, who has tabled a proposal on the impact of red and yellow cards with World Rugby, is confident that changes are afoot.
He said when red cards are issued they are usually deserving but that grey areas are more likely to crop up when referees reach for yellow. “Player safety starts on the training field across all levels. We have a great responsibility to coach players’ welfare and safety first.”
By way of example, Blackadder said players should wear mouth guards, even in training.
Ludeke said players should be educated so that they make “good decisions”.
“It is a dynamic game and things change within seconds. When law changes are made it takes time for players, coaches and referees to adjust to them. Of course, disciplined teams will make that adjustment quicker,” he said.