NZ still the envy of the rugby world

Once again New Zealand has become the envy of the rugby world. While the Springboks dethroned the All Blacks as world champions last year and have taken over their title as No 1 team in the world, the Kiwis are the first to return to action since the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the game.

This weekend will see four of New Zealand’s five Super Rugby teams competing in the Aotearoa Super Rugby competition, with their government having taken swift action to contain the virus.

Australia, meanwhile, has not been left far behind, with that nation’s own domestic competition kicking off on 3 July.

Other countries, however, have not been so lucky.

South Africa are still under Level three lockdown, and it’s anybody’s guess as to when restrictions will be lifted further, but it seems we won’t see action locally before August.

SA Rugby has already delivered a 500-page proposal to government in the hope that there will be a return to action within the next couple of months, albeit in empty stadiums.

Local teams also started testing their players this week, with full squad training allowed from 15 June.

But New Zealand’s early return will no doubt give them a head start in preparation for the Rugby Championship, which could take place in September or February next year.

It must be noted that New Zealand only have a population of five million people, compared to SA’s 59 million, which makes the challenges here so much bigger.

But what is a given is that we have seen the last of Super Rugby in its current form, with this year’s competition called off and the teams being cut to 14 next season.

While Japan’s Sunwolves outfit has been sidelined in the new Australasian competitions, Argentina’s Jaguares have also made peace with their squad not seeing any more Super Rugby action this year, and they have encouraged their players to seek European contracts.

In SA, the best local competition that supporters can hope for is an expanded Currie Cup with the four Super Rugby franchises – the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls and Lions – being joined by the Cheetahs, Griquas, Pumas and either Eastern Province or the Leopards.

With SA contractually committed to Sanzaar until 2026, it remains to be seen if the Boks will be able to walk away from the Rugby Championship to join the Six Nations in a shake-up.