Season limps to end for SA franchises

THE horror of Super Rugby 2015 is over for South Africans, with the Stormers’ limp playoff elimination courtesy of the Brumbies at Newlands on Saturday.

This has been the worst return for South African sides in 12 years of the competition, even with a system that guarantees one team in the post-season.

It is the first time since 2003 that a South African side failed to make the semifinals and on the basis of results, it was a perfectly justified outcome.

South African teams won a collective 38 games out of 61 clashes in which they were involved (which includes local derbies).

Australia sides have so far won only 35 out of 61 games, largely due to the Force and Reds having even more disastrous seasons than the Cheetahs and Sharks.

New Zealand teams have 48 wins in 61 games so far this year.

Against foreign opponents New Zealand franchises have won 27 of 40 games. South African teams won just 19 of 41 against foreign opponents while the Aussies have so far accounted for a meagre 15 of 41 foreign scalps.

The situation is not vastly different from other seasons in terms of overall wins and of South African teams being slightly more successful than the Australians.

What it does reveal though is that the South African Conference is more evenly matched, as teams like the Cheetahs tend to take points off “better” teams. The Cheetahs beat the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls this season.

Three of the current franchises (Stormers, Sharks and Bulls) are in search of new coaches, while the Southern Kings, who will return to the tournament next year, are also without a head coach.

To compound the problem of filling an extra franchise, top players are heading abroad.

Next year a more convoluted Super Rugby system awaits, with 18 teams in three conferences. The SA Conference is split into two with four teams in each (six South African sides, a team from Argentina and one from Japan).

The South African conferences will not play against New Zealand teams, which has to improve their overall chances.

This season demonstrated the lack of depth, tactical nous and basic skills in South African rugby. Saru is committed to the tournament for the next five years but franchises are going to have to evolve to survive and thrive.