SA sides getting rough end of the stick

The Super Rugby playing fields are not level despite Sanzaar reducing the number of teams to 15.

South African teams still have to go on longer tours with the Bulls and the Stormers having had to play three Down Under while the Sharks and the Lions have to play four each.

Without making too much waves about the situation, Lions coach Swys de Bruin (right) said it is tough on the SA franchises.

“Our tour is four weeks and they come over for two which is interesting, but that’s the way the cards have been dealt and we play it that way,” said De Bruin.

“We don’t want to focus on the added pressure, but it’s like when we went to Loftus Versfeld or with the SA derbies, we just want to play between those four white lines.”

After the Reds game this weekend the Lions still have to go to New Zealand to play the Hurricanes and Highlanders which is regarded as the tougher part of their journey.

“To mention other teams, the Sharks played extremely well in their last two matches on tour, they could have beaten the Hurricanes,” said De Bruin.

“The Bulls played well, they were up 14-3 (against the Reds) and 28-14 (against the Chiefs) and started well, but I must admit it is tougher over there.”

The Lions’ win against the Waratahs last weekend was only the second SA triumph on Australasian soil in 11 matches this year after the Sharks had earlier beaten the Blues in Auckland.