Cockerill wants Boks in Six Nations
● Edinburgh coach believes Cheetahs and Kings added another dimension to Guinness Pro14
Edinburgh coach Richard Cock er ill believes that South African teams could still have a future in Europe, including the potential involvement of the world champion Springboks joining the Six Nations, despite ye st erday’s news that both the Cheetahs and Southern Kings will play no par t in the Guinness Pro14 for the rest of this year.
Pro 14 has confirmed neither the cash-strapped Kings nor the Cheetahs will begin the 2020 -21 season scheduled to star t on the opening weekend of October “due to on-going travel restrictions enforced by the South African government against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic”. The 12 from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Italy will begin the new campaign.
Cockerill, who has led his side to a Pro14 semi-final against Ulster at B TM urray field a week on Saturday, said of the South African experiment, which started in 2017: “I think it’s been a success to a point. If moving for ward as has been suggested we have the other four [South African] Super Rugby franchises join a Pro16 or Pro18 that would be strong.
“If that does happen with the Pro14 you can see South Africa joining the Six or Seven Nations and how good would that be?”
Edinburgh coach Richard Cock er ill believes the Guinness Pro 14, or Pro 12 as it will be at the delayed star t of the 2020-21 season, remains strong and believes South Africa may yet be a rich vein to mine in the future.
The financially- st rugg ling Southern Kings have announced they won’t play any rugby for the rest of the year and the travel restrictions due to the serious Covid 19 battle going on in South Africa means the Cheetahs won’t be able to compete overseas until 2021.
Cockerill remains convinced the experiment to reach out to South Africa was worth doing and said: “Cheetahs have been very strong when they have played in the competition and pushed teams hard and been in play-offs. For Kings it’s been difficult. It’s hard when you are the sixth franchise in South Africa. When you haven’t got that much money then it’ s always going to be difficult.”
Cockerill still has the remainder of this current season firmly at the forefront of his mind, with a home semi-final against Ulster a tB T Murray field a week on Saturday to look for ward to after this Friday’s dead rubber against Glasgow for which 700 fans will be in attendance at the national stadium in a first for Scottish
sport and British rugby since the coronavirus shutdown.
Looking to the future he believes there can still be a place for South African involvement, with the intro - duction of the four stronger Super Rugby franchises and, potentially, the Springboks joining the Six Nations.
“It’s disappointment really,” he said about the news regarding Kings and Cheetahs. “You want all teams to be viable. It was a good competition having the South African sides in. It’s for the league to decide and they’re the guys in charge and know better than me.
“I think the South African sides have brought a good slant on the competition, good to go and travel there and play at different venues. Obviously it’s been mooted that there maybe other South African teams joining the competition .”
Looking ahead to Glasgow on Friday night, Cock er ill said: “We’ll pick a good team but one that’s right for us really. You don’t want to risk too many front line guys who would in certain positions be a disaster if they were injured
for the semi-final. I think we’ve made ten changes for Friday. Some of our younger guys will get an opportunity.”
The coach revealed that wing Darcy Graham and back-rower Ma gnus Bradbury are available again after injury, while lock Grant Gilchrist would definitely be one of those rested for the Ulster showdown.
“I’ m happy to get it confirmed,” Co ckerill said. “We knew it was going to be Ulster but to get it confirmed on Saturday night that it wasn’t down to points difference games won[ over Munster] and to know we would be at home was pleasing. Knowing we can manage and look after our squad this week and be fresh on Monday for a full week’s training to make sure we’re ready for a semi-final.”
He is also looking for ward
to welcoming a select of Edinburgh season ticket holders back to cheer the team on after Saturday’ s behind-closeddoors resumption.
“I think it’s nice to get a bit of noise in there. It was a little bit echoey on Saturday,” he said. “It’s good to get supporters in, the start of that and showing that Murrayfield can host supporters and do it safely and make sure we pilot that well. Hopefully we’ll do the same the week after and start to build crowds little by little so that for us we can maybe get to seven or 8,000 and hope - fully for the autumn and Six Nations we’re getting 30,000 plus in there.
“I think it’s a good start and it will be great to have a bit of support. It will be nice that they’ll all be Edinburgh supporters.”
“I think the South African sides have brought a good slant on the competition, good to go and travel there and play at different venues” RICHARD COCKERILL