Ready to rumble with the big boys
BROWN FIRED UP BY INFLUX OF SOUTH AFRICAN TEAMS
Glasgow warriors co-captain Fraser Brown believes the introduction of four south african franchises to a revamped league set-up will add a touch of much-needed stardust to the sport this season.
The Bulls, lions, sharks and stormers will join 12 teams from scotland, Ireland, Italy and wales in the United Rugby Championship (URC), which kicks off next Friday when Ulster take on glasgow in Belfast.
Former scotland skipper Brown thinks their inclusion is the shot in the arm the competition needs and he insists it will only serve to drive up standards among the northern hemisphere participants.
‘as far as the league is concerned, the most exciting thing is obviously having the south african participation increase from the last couple of years,’ said the scotland hooker.
‘as the Pro12 and then the Pro14, we’ve always had some of the best teams in Europe compete — leinster, Munster, ourselves and some of the welsh regions — so to now have these south african teams littered with world Cup and lions series winners is exciting for the whole league.
‘To have that level of competition raises the profile and the quality of the rugby every single weekend, and I think it is something we have really needed in the league to try and keep that quality level there week-in and week-out.
‘obviously, we’ve got a tough first three fixtures with Ulster away and then two south african teams coming to scotland, so the proof is always going to be in the pudding. But we’re in a good place and I cant wait to take them on.’
Part of the deal for the four south african teams entering the URC was that the side that accumulated the most points out of the four of them automatically qualified for the European Cup.
That was a controversial move as it lessened the chance of teams from other countries making the top European tournament but is something that Brown believes has to happen for the integrity of the new-look competition.
‘They are in our league, competing against us every week, so why shouldn’t they be able to compete in the best competition in Europe, which is obviously the Champions Cup?’ he said. ‘I feel like it would be almost a cop-out if you said the best teams in the new United Rugby Championship weren’t able to compete in Europe’s best competition.
‘again, that adds to the pressure for the teams that have been in the league before to do well because you are not bringing in four unknowns, you are bringing in top-quality teams who will be expecting to compete at the top of the league.
‘so you’ve got to raise your level, and if you want to be playing in Europe, then you have to be up there every weekend playing winning rugby.’
Brown, who has been capped 54 times for his country, has praised organisers of the new league for scrapping fixtures during the six Nations, which allows clubs to field their strongest sides all season long.
‘There is always going to be a club-versus-country thing, particularly when you are centrally contracted like us at glasgow,’ he said. ‘But from the perspective of a guy who hopes
to be involved with scotland this year, it is great to have these international windows.
‘Now I can give my all knowing that as long as I am fit and playing well, then I can get a run of games and really contribute to my club and then have a nice break. If I am lucky enough to be selected for international honours, then I can go away and give 100 per cent, then come back and reset.
‘so, for us, it is a good thing because it means our scotland players can be fully focused on glasgow for the first five weeks of the season then go away, and the club can refocus when everyone is back and prepare to compete again.’
although Brown concedes that the introduction of the four south african sides will make it tougher to win the league title, he doesn’t think that increases the pressure on his own team.
‘There is always pressure there regardless when you play for glasgow,’ he said. ‘we have a lot of quality, high-profile players here, we have some very good staff and coaches, and we’re a team and a club that expects to be competing for honours.
‘so that should be a welcome pressure for everyone in the squad as we’re certainly not here to make up the numbers.
‘last year presented a pretty unique set of circumstances, certainly not just for ourselves but for every team in the league, and across the entire world, really.
‘although there were a lot of difficulties last year in how we could integrate people and how we operated as a squad, I felt we were getting that right towards the end of last season.
‘we’ve tried to carry that through into this pre-season — so that we use that momentum to help build this year.’