European sides need to rise to the SA challenge

If you had said after the first six weeks of the competition that the Stormers would be playing the Bulls in the final of the inaugural United Rugby Championship people would have laughed at you. The South African franchises’ early struggles were in part a by-product of how the season was structured but the Stormers found great form and played unbelievable rugby over the latter stages.

If you’re not winning there will always be discontent but the European teams in the competition had as much of an opportunity to do well. If anything, the South African franchises’ success in the competition should spur on and inspire the European teams to now prove that they are still top of the pile. I don’t think the discontent will necessarily come from the teams, and would assume it would rather emanate from administrators and the public in Europe.

I believe the South African presence is a great challenge for the European sides and one that they can take on wholeheartedly. Touring around South Africa and playing against our franchises is something new and fresh for them.

Leinster, who had won four consecutive titles, may have relinquished their crown this season but there is no doubt that they will come back stronger. They have been an unbelievable squad and together for a long time. Irish clubs winning 13 titles and having 13 runners-up proves how dominant they have been and let’s see how next season pans out.

It was a very disrupted tournament owing to Covid-19. Teams were stranded in South Africa and had to be flown back, while fixtures had to be moved around. It was a real haphazard competition for the first half of it at least. With no Welsh sides making the play-offs, and only the Ospreys having qualified for the Champions Cup on account of winning the Welsh Shield, it speaks to

Wales’ recent dip. The four Welsh franchises have since combined and face the daunting challenge of tackling the world champions in their own backyard as the focus shifts to the Test season with the Springboks hosting Wales in a three-Test series kicking off on Saturday. Welsh rugby has been a bit up and down and there is debate around whether they should cut one of their franchises. But by and large, when the national team comes together they are always going to be competitive.

Earlier this week, Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said he expects a “desperate” Welsh side this series and I think he’s 100 per cent correct. Wales pride themselves on being able to front up physically and they have always used the Springboks as a marker. I think they boast the self-belief that if there is a pack in world rugby that can match up to the Bok physicality, it’s them. They have done a good job of that in the past and will be looking to do much of the same.

Wales are an incredibly proud rugby nation and I know they want to be contenders. With two of the three Tests to be played at altitude, Wales have been focusing on altitude training. I bumped into their coaching staff when I was at the airport in Bloemfontein a few months back. It outlines how they have their plans and will put themselves in the best position. They have left no stone unturned and will be well prepared for this trip. Having said that, it’s a really tough gig to come out to South Africa and play the Springboks in a Test series after a long and gruelling season.

However, equally so, the South Africans have had a long season. If you look at the make-up of our squad it’s changed now with the majority of the players having played as much rugby as their Welsh counterparts. On that premise, it’s a level playing field but I reckon the Springboks will have too much firepower.

It’s been a while since they have played together so there might be a bit of rustiness first up and the preparation in the run up to the First Test is critical. But I believe the Boks at home will pose quite a challenge for the Dragons. It’s well stated that Springbok rugby is not for development and Nienaber will pick his best side which is in form and can get him the results. A series win would definitely be in mind and I don’t think they would accept anything other than that.

The expectation is a three-nil whitewash over Wales and once the series has come and gone the Bok coaches will do a wash-up and ask: “Did we achieve what we wanted to and if we didn’t, why not?”

“Leinster may have lost their crown but they will come back stronger”