How South Africa Broke Rugby In The Southern Hemisphere...
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- čas přidán 12. 05. 2023
- Reigning World Cup champions South Africa have established global connections, which are slowly turning into a tug-of-war between the Southern and Northern Hemisphere.
With the strength of domestic and schoolboy rugby in South Africa, it's simple to see why everyone wants a piece of South African rugby.
Although, a lot of damage has already been caused to Australia, New Zealand and Argentina, with more possibly on the way.
Hope you enjoy this video. All use of footage is completely transformed to suit alignment with the research essay / analysis and adheres to fair use. If any issues please make contact with me.
As always thanks for watching! & please share with your rugby mates!
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The South African perspective: the reason why we left the Super Rugby Comp was initiated 100% by NZ, who raised various reasons why they thought Super Rugby should change in ways that would entirely be unsuitable for SA Rugby. That this was done without consulting their South African counterparts smacked of arrogance and a willingness by NZ Rugby to get rid of SA Rugby. The sacrifices SA Rugby had to overcome every season to be part of the Super Rugby comp was never acknowledged by NZ or Aus. In fact, it often felt as if they were doing SA a favor to allow us to be part of the comp, notwithstanding the fact that SA provided the lions' share of income. When news arrived our shore of NZ's plans to do away with us, South African Rugby acted swiftly; this was obviously done to keep our own rugby alive. That we were quickly accepted by the Northern rugby organizations validated our contribution to world rugby, something the Southern Nations never did.
Hit the nail on the head. The arrogance of NZ rugby will ultimately lead them to ruin
EDIT: To all the people that have been replying to me over the past couple months telling me I don't know what I'm talking about, so do you finally see it? The bok thrashing at Twickenham a couple weeks ago and the ARROGANT response from some of your pundits? What about last night in the opening game against France? What excuses will you guys have now? The fact of the matter is that New Zealand is no longer the all conquering All Blacks of years gone by, other teams have figured them out. The sooner you guys figure that out and adjust accordingly the sooner you will be back to dominating.
nice fairytale none of it is true though. SA rugby left because they saw dollars in the North, end of story.
@@EpicTyme Not true, but at the end of the day does it really matter.🤷🏼♂️ You guys really miss us, playing against Fiji and Samoa isn’t really the same, you guys miss our South African physicality.🇿🇦
@@EpicTyme We DID follow the money, pounds, not dollars, but only after were shown the door, follow the timeline before posting fairytales
Truth be told SA leaving super rugby was in the mix for as long as I can remember. The pandemic helped with that too. While it did leave a huge gap with the departure of SA teams it no doubt the competitive of the competition has declined. But in saying that it has open up an opportunity for the likes of Japan, the pacific nations and Argentina to step in and step up. I don't think rugby down south has got worse but more so slowly evolving. And soon to follow the competitive nature of the super rugby competition. The way I see it , it a win for SA to go north and a win for southern hemisphere rugby nations.
Im south african and havnt watched domestic club rugby for about 10 years, until now when we joined the URC. It got me back into watching and going to the stadium. Domestic rugby is exciting again.
As an Exeter fan, it was really cool seeing them play both the Stormers and Bulls. I was initially sceptical in having them in the Champions cup but it’s made the entire game up North way more competitive.
glad to hear! I had no idea what to expect and I must say, I'm really exited by how different AND the same the North & South games are. Also nice to touch base with all the saffa players in the various clubs up there, giving a good account of themselves. Only good can come of this
I think it was a good decision.....the Super Rugby competition favoured NZ and Aus teams. SA Rugby shoulx take the next step and play in the Six NTions comp.
@@hofmeyrscholtz1069thank your lucky stars that we went North due to circumstance, now the Northern hemisphere has a chance at winning the world cup, namely Ireland and France
@@douglasholwill1625We can't decouple completely from our rivals NZ, otherwise the southern hemisphere is finished.. us included. Which makes no sense down the long stretch
Hopefully we can get the pacific island teams in there too make it one big national competition
South African non-rugby fan here. Ever since the switch to North with the URC and Heineken Cup. I've started to get interested in Rugby again. I don't know how to explain it but European Rugby just looks more exciting overall. Also, watching Rugby at a reasonable time zone has helped me grow my interest in the sport.
You’ve simply found a level you can regularly compete with. You’re not losing all the time.
@@frankbunce True, we are watching more now that our sides are more competitive. Lost interest in super rugby many years ago, because the entire system favours the NZ and Australia sides, mainly NZ. The on field calls also favoured the kiwi sides. It meant that generally stronger NZ sides in the long run were even more dominant which is what kills sport. There are no perfect solutions but moving to northern hemisphere competition is working well for the players and fans so far.
@@frankbunce SA dont like to play cry baby cheaters anymore.
@@RabbitholeIsrael You're the twats who wear "Justice 4..." armbands. How's that for crybaby?
@DeeZ Nutz good riddens of bad nz rubbish
True, mate. And as far as ticket sales go, we just had under 50k people in Cape Town stadium for the URC semis. It was magical!
Well summarised. Objective and unbiased. As a South African we don’t miss playing Australian teams, who had very little interest in Super Rugby themselves.
We miss playing the NZ teams and will always have a connection hopefully.
I don't see many SA fans bemoaning the move. SR never benefitted SA, NZ media particularly was the worst thing to stomach. After 2025 I don't see a renewed contract, unless a complete overhaul occurs within NZ. John Kerwin,Andrew Mertins and many other pundits ruined the product
i honestly feel this URC is a step-up for us and then the heineken cup - i was amazed at how professional & impressive those teams were in the quarter-finals..really something else
Well said 🤝
@@RicksPhatPharm-vw2lb you don't see it? I've stopped watching rugby in its entirety since we left!
@@lm_b5080 it's crap, I have no interest in URC, I've stopped watching rugby in fact since super rugby stopped, that was the best.
Each country should host Rugby championship where ALL the games are played in that country. So every 4 years your country gets a chance to host
Great idea, a proper Southern championship
Such a good idea my man. It would give me a really great excuse to visit the Republic more often
Brilliant idea. Would be great to include Japan as well.
Great idea.
"As a hotel owner, I agree."
I flew from South Africa to Australia once in my life. It seemed like days just to get there, but I didn't care, because I was so excited, but going home and remembering how long it takes was depressing. Imagine doing that twice a month and rarely win overseas.
The flight from Joberg to Perth is shorter than from there to the UK. The time zone thing is more valid though, along with the money in Europe.
@tallaganda83 I guess you are right. We had to fly via Dubai. 17 hour flight. Eish.
@@tallaganda83 Only one SA team could fly from Joburg direct - the Lions. The rest had to take transits from their respective cities to Joburg, which added an extra three hours commute to the trip in the case of the Cape Town and Durban teams. This is not mentioning the fact that Perth only hosted one Super Rugby team - Western Force, which didn't even compete in 2017-19. Eastern Australia hosted the rest, which added even more time to trips.
yeah that would suck, solution win more, it was always a doomed comp arrogant kiwis, whinging low skilled african teams only one decent ozzie franchise can't be much fun being made to look like schoolboys every time the crusaders came town. Tian Strauss! wouldn't hear that boy crying and whinging like you sooks and he had real ticker
Depressing is living in that shit hole country … explains why a shit load of your saffa compatriots move to Australia
Great analysis Uggy. NZ and AU underestimated RSA's overall contribution to SR. SR in it's current form isn't even recognisable and I even forget it's currently underway. The URC has a different flavour to it and makes for interesting viewership.
As a South African rugby fan I can say you've 100% nailed it why the RSA left Super Rugby. Sadly Super Rugby died a slow and predictable death.
Like the endless titles in the UK event by the same 3 clubs?
@@nzfreeski yet its not "dying a slow and predictable death" in the UK.
@@jacodas3983 But it IS predictable and with some clubs dying up there. I do like the tiny stadiums that hold only 14,000 average attendance in that comp. Our large stadiums Downunder that hold 40-60,000 look employ with 10-14,000 people.
@@nzfreeski Why the Reds didn't just build Ballymore into a boutique 16-18,000 stadium I have no idea!
Australia and New Zealand Rugby League is now the more popular sport Super Rugby doesnt draw a crowd anymore.
I reckon South Africa will join an expanded Six Nations (maybe with Georgia too), and Japan will join up with SAANZAR for financial reasons and to guarantee Japan quality games). So instead of a Northern v Southern hemisphere split, it will become Western v Eastern.
As an Irishman and Leinster fan, I love the fact that the Saffers have joined the URC. It has made the competition for stronger and encouraged new international rivalries.
To be named JAANZAR?. Aus and nz would be the beneficiaries time zone wise ?
As a Saffa I love it too! Cheers!
I can't say an expanded six nations is good right now. Just yet. For rugby as a sport. It's important to make sure that the western sides rugby builds up before South Africa leave. And that starts with first, Argentina and SA being in the same comp. With that, soon hopefully Fiji, Japan, join in the rugby championship. And later on America and Canada if they grow fast enough. Which at that point, if the game closes up, South Africa can go uo north to Europe for good. The southern hemisphere at the moment need money. And have none of it. NZ have a bit, but Rugby is dying in NZ due to many reasons. Rugby as a sport will die worldwide if SA join the six nations. It may be good for South African rugby short term. But long term it's Ludacris and rugby as a sport will die
@@DJ-ce3hq Rugby wont be dying any time in coming decades. It may be weakening in NZ a bit due to the lack of SA teams in Super Rugby but there is no way that it will die there. NZ and Aus made a massive mistake by treating SA the way that they did. SA also had money problems for a few years but with the competitions up north the money is flooding back in again. There is a good chance that Argentina will go the way of SA and start an American competition with the US and Canada and possibly another team. Rugby is growing quite quickly in the US and the US have huge money to fund it as well. It just isn't as big a pro sport as American Football yet. At university level it is growing massively in the US and has been since the 1990s. I predict that in years to come, NZ will generally become a weaker team challenging for 3rd spot in world rankings and I reckon the US will move into the top 6. The biggest threat to rugby as a whole right now are the fat twats sitting in the UK making up rules that make the game more and more like soccer and American football. Eventually you'll be redcarded if you don't massage your opponent's shoulders and kiss him better after a tackle.
@@seanjohnson5893 I disagree. If South Africa move too soon. Rugbt's chances of growing aren't as high. They can move sometime in the future but rugby's growth may be halted and soon die
The move to the URC not only reignited Rugby in the North but I feel its kind of re-energized the game in SA as well and has made the URC more exciting overall because its made Rugby more interconnected as a whole
No it's only made it better in those specific countries. Pacific Islands, NZ, Australia, Argentina, Japan, even though Japan had a recent growth in rugby. It's dying again. Already partly due to Japanese rugby's bosses being awful business people. But rugbt also during in all those other countries. This is a much more complicated issue
Thanks for the video! Good to see SA Rugby is highly valued around the world. Teams/Nations improve when playing against our teams!!
Spot on re all the issues of Super rugby. I also believe SA were frustrated that their player base is so large yet they just couldn't seem to win SR titles. It's a very difficult thing to understand, but the travel and timezone thing must play a major impact on performances. Personally, i think SA rugbys done the right thing for themselves and in doing so, possibly exposed just how reliant NZ and Oz have been on them for almost 30 years
Really well said! To be honest, I’m guilty of underestimating just how important South Africa was to keeping quality in super rugby. Would be interesting to compare finance before & after South Africa’s exit.
This is hillarious. South Africa as a nation has been on the decline and is slowly decaying politically. Another thing that wasnt mentioned in this video is the security concerns Rugby Australia and New Zealand have had due to the massive amounts of crime. Covid was the icing on the cake. South Africa were reliant on NZ and OZ.
South Africa reliant on Aus/NZ? Bwahahaha.... 😂
As a Saffa, it is all about our weak currency. From about 2002 the writing was on the wall but players stayed for the 2007 WC especially because it lead up to the 2009 Lions tour. After that the floodgates opened as the trickle to play in Europe and elsewhere become a flood.
If we had a stable and valuable currency, chances are that things would never have changed.
A big issue was that many of SA's top players played abroad. Half the Bok squad was made up of players playing overseas. Financially the local franchises couldn't afford our own players anymore
Another class video.
Yeah, It was a no brainer in the end for them but you lay the push/pull factors in a really easy to understand way. Thanks Uggy. It adds an extra layer of interest and spice to the Rugby Championship this year.
The crowd sizes at each URC game speaks volumes to the validity of their decision.
Thank you sir! Comment touched my heart. I think Sanzaar is desperate for South Africa not to win the Rugby Championship. Definitely a point to prove. I’m pretty keen to cover everything rugby championship, super rugby’s really unveiled some new talent too!
Who cares what sanzor or who ever says where they should go we want to hear from the south Africa players them self if they should stay in super rugby or go to the northern hemisphere if they won't to go then let it be I don't think for a doubt that new Zealand rugby will fall we just keep getting better if the northern hemisphere and nrl stop stealing ow mighty rugby players
@@uggy You're welcome Uggy. It is going to be a great year. I look forward to more of your content.
@@eugenewharawhara9420what 😂 the arrogance of some of you kiwis is ridiculous. You keep getting better yeah? Is that why you’re team has regularly regressed every year since 2015 and the popularity of the sport is on the decline as well? You don’t realise it yet because you’ve not hit the bottom but new zealand rugby is on the same path as Australian rugby sadly, just 10 years further back
@@jakeclough8090 only that arrogance is you
Good synopsis mate ... yep, as a Kiwi living in Australia I can't blame SA one bit for moving to play in more favourable time zones up north. All that travel was a killer. Great for Northern Hemisphere rugby as well, as you say ... we'll struggle on and hopefully still surprise the big NH guns later in the year.
And if you lose you'll just blame Ian Foster haha
Absolutely Correct. Do the traveling and come play us ??? See what happens
Great video, Uggy!
South African sides have improved in the URC and Stormers' attendances is proof of that while Super Rugby attendances especially in Australia haven't been great and shows on TV.
As for Argentina, I would say underperforming is a tad harsh as they are on a recent bounce with away wins over New Zealand and England in the last year
Did you know about Covid....?
Thanks mate!! & Sorry Argentina brothers ❤️ I literally thought about this while editing and forgot to change what I said 🤦♂️
@@uggy yeah bro its already sad to see south Africa to leave super rugby now leaving for the 6 nations Hart braking bro..
Yes but the Curry Cup has suffered as a result. The crowds at those games struggle to reach 100
That's because Australians are busy watching rugby league and Australia football
Good video. As a South African, I wasn't keen on the idea of leaving Super Rugby and we started seeing the impact it had on the Southern Hemi teams. I didn't mind losing to NZ teams as the competition kept the South strong but with the time zones I barely got to watch the NZ and Pumas games, the league had been changing formats so many times with the additional teams, my team (Stormers) was spiraling and I eventually started losing interest. Covid really played an impact on how much we missed sport once it was all gone, so now many of us don't take it for granted anymore. With us Joining the URC, its sparked a new interest out of curiosity, the teams all looked competitive, the teams have different styles of play and the Rugby became entertaining to watch, suddenly my team ends up in the Finals and wins the damn league in the first season with an all South African Final, insane... The Stormers actually won a major trophy!! That final was not only great for the Stormers fans but for the whole of SA, the stadiums are getting packed, the love for the game is back and that was a big wake up call to the rest of the Northern teams in the league to show that its not a one horse race anymore and there's new healthy competition in the league. Fast forward to the present, and we back with another Stormers finals only this time against Munster and OMG... not only the city of Cape Town but the Country is buzzing, many local rival fans are flying down to watch the game live and It's so good to see that we sold out a 55 000 seat stadium within 3 hours of tickets being released. Would I like to return to Super Rugby? Absolutely, but not anytime soon. Seems like for once, politics actually benefited South Africa 😂
Clearly SA heading north was the best thing for SA Rugby, TBH Super Rugby had had it's day here in NZ before SA left. Big crowds had become a thing of the past and general interest had become casual. The 3 conference format didn't go down well here, the fans didn't like it
For years I have said SA must get out of the Superugby and SANZA.
Moving to northern hemisphere will make rugby more enjoyable for players and spectators.
The demise of All Black rugby started when Paddy O’Brian retired. The bias shown by referees toward the AB in his time made them look far greater than they really were. It has now come to haunt them.
Garbage, where was Paddy O'Brian when the the AB's smashed the boks by 50 in their own backyard, trying to undermine NZ's contribution to Rugby is farcical, 'demise' c'mon, every team has its ups and downs, SA could barely hold off a 14 man AB's team in RWC, win a lot, lose a few, cant ask for more than that.
so paddy obrien referred every single game ? when he wasnt why did sa teams lose ? oh its all a conspiracy lol
@@hamishjames2341 how does it feel like being owned by south africa in finals ?
@@JinxRugby yea not so bad, at least we didnt lose to england or ireland. Losing by one point with 14 men, boys made us proud congrats
@@JamesPeter-gj4gt it was a great game couldnt have asked for a better final..South rules the North can dream lol
As a Saffa, it was great playing the Kiwis & Aussies, but the Super rugby didn't help us at all. The time zone, travel, etc was a killer. It didn't really work for us. RSA made the right choice. Without doubt the north will benefit and have a better rugby game, something we must watch.
Remember the time zone thing was a double-edged sword. I used to set an alarm clock to watch Reds games in SA. Some were 3am. We all had to "suffer".
The time zone thing was over rated. I think it's much worse having 5 or 6 15-hour flights to the North a season in economy class via Doha compared to one 4 or 5 week tour of Australasia.
SA clubs teams are fucked either way with brutal travel schedules and timezones. I don't know what the solution is as you can't do anything about either.
A Saffa may be able to explain this, but wasn't there lots of travel to Europe this season that had to go via Dubai? Only adding more to the geographic and timezones madness.
SA teams could maybe look for a base in Europe for the season, but that isn't exactly good for home supporters. Although at a push I would suggest Germany as it has plenty of excellent stadiums, great transport links and no issues with teams in the tournaments/league's.
The only other place I could see happening would be Dubai. A soulless place, but it is a wash with money for making things like that happen, for better or worse 🤷
@@Cheeeesseee3678 what time zones? SA teams are travelling longitudinally north to south on almost the same meridian. That is far better than latitudinally east to west.
@@wildebeest88 All SA teams weren't on direct SA to Europe flights, were they? I thought they went via Doha. Either way, my main point is just that SA are geographically in a bit of a shit position to compete in either of the two top tier areas of club competition
Bro what a quality video man…
I won’t lie I watched the Breakdown every week and I wish you heard how they complained day in day out about how much it’s a drag playing against South African sides and how much of a logistical nightmare it is. They were borderline saying they’re doing us a favour by keeping us in the tournament, I remember when they axed the cheetahs and kings about lack of competitiveness coming from the respective teams we had to suck it up and accept it, same thing happened to the Force.
When SA and Oz complained about the Blues not competing they simply refused and we had to accept it.
Nz rugby always wanted things to go their way and we had accept it, now that SA rugby left they’ve realized that they made a mistake they were even worried that Oz was going to jump ship and they were negotiating for them to stay…
I hope New Zealand know that they’re not that guy anymore
But thanks for the great video man
Thank you ❤️ made my day! And agree NZRU has had so much pull and sway in the past, will be an interesting landscape in world rugby moving forward!
Great video Uggy.
This is the first time I have watched you and will do from now on .
After this weekend Super Rugby has lost me with the utter rubbish being played. I'm a rugby tragic like millions and have watched the A Bs in 7 countries.
The nen at the top of the NZRFU have had too much to say like the RFU in England.
Now the chickens have come home to roost and our CEO is not up to the job either.
SA have made their decision and good for them.
I have either been a player or spectator for close to 80 years and what is taking place right now worldwide in rugby is a bloody disgrace. UK teams going broke and very soon one will see say 4 teams in the UK, Ireland and Wales and say 8 in France.
Those running rugby have made such a mess as they have done in NZ and Australia.
Club rugby in NZ and Australia has no backup anymore. Super Rugby and the national teams take the cake and very little cream for women's and kids footy .
I say clean out the top and start again folks.
@@rosstuck3927 welcome to the channel sir!
@@uggy Looking forward to your latest blog Uggy...... I am known by Tucky more than Ross... God bless 🙏 you footy tragic
@@rosstuck3927 cheers Tucky! I’ll remember that
Oh, it was definitely because of NZ that SA left. Its been mindboggling how Saru have bowed to NZ demands year in and year out within Sanzar for decades while yet being the undisputed revenue contributor.
Pride comes before destruction and I see nothing but pride from NZRU. There is no doubt that NZ have been the most successful team of all time however they are not bigger or more important than the game or their counterparts. The worst thing we ever did was have Castle run the ARU, and now we get rid of a fantastic Kiwi in Dave Rennie by text message, things are not healthy here.
Stop talking kak bro
SA vs NZ will always be a thing. Rugby's greatest rivalry. It's good that we trying out the clubs of the north - some of them are a massive challenge for the sharks, bulls and stormers.
As a leinster fan the SA teams have made us be more competitive as well as the other 3 irish sides. I think South Africa will stay in rugby championship. I would like 6 nations to include geogia and Romania to give them a boost but money talks unfortunately. Plus now you see SA v france,England in champions Cup
Georgia I could see being promoted to the 6 nations. But I just don't think Romania is there yet. I think they would get destroyed more than Italy often was.
@@Sabundy Yea...I tend to agree. To soon is detrimental to a team/nation. Both in the respect to confidence within and without which can equal funding/sponsorship...growth.
@@Sabundy You're name is self righteous by the way 😂
@@ProLiberate good grief......what a fundamental misunderstanding of what those words mean 🤦🤦🙄🙄
The only people that would take issue with the name are the EXACT people that dont like being called out on their hypocrisy and double standards.
I'm hoping South Africa joins the 6 Nations. Either Italy get kicked out seeing as they're always wayyy out of their depth and they do something with Georgia and Romania. Or it becomes a 7 Nations.
Great video! As a South African rugby support I support the Bokke and local clubs not playing against Aussie/NZ teams in any competitions until the RWC. Let the ABs and Aussie play with each other and leave us playing in European competitions
Thanks sir!!
I’ve worried about the Boks leaving the Rugby Championship for some time myself. Such an event would be the final nail in the coffin of Southern Hemisphere rugby 😔
Thanks for the support brother ❤️❤️
Us Saffa would prefer playing y’all. The 6IX nation cohort is adamant they aren’t considering including the Bokke in the 6IX nations. Georgia IMHO should replaced Italy in the 6IX nations
@@simpslayer7839Georgia should definitely not replace Italy . They’re nowhere near Italy’s class
Call it what you will..
I believe that Aus and Nzl teams became very complacent in the Super rugby francize. I always wondered if they were blissfully unaware of how how they were benefiting from official Bias or if they just went along with it for the accolades.
Solid video, good to see content still coming out
Thanks Buzz! I’m alive haha
This video is a great summary, nails the events leading up to now... As a Saffa living in Australia, it was sad to see SA exit the Super Rugby tournament, my family (I was home sick) was actually at the last game the Sharks played vs Reds in Brisbane, we still have photos of my kids and some of the Sharks players. Little did we know it would be the last time we ever see SA franchises on Australian soil! For the many years prior to 2020, it was awesome watching SA teams play here in Australia or NZ and watch it live in our time zone. But watching many poor results (not only for SA teams) due to travel and time differences was frustrating, although the NZ teams in general seemed to handle the travel factor a bit better? But I digress...
Right now, in my opinion: Union is in trouble in Australia, more than before. Eddie Jones might get Australia to the playoffs at the next World Cup, but his appointment is a great example of Rugby Australia (RA) looking for short-term fixes to a very big problem that requires long term strategies to solve. League, AFL and Soccer is sucking the life out of Union and the political swamp that RA has become on an executive level is clear to see, e.g. in Marinos's axing, after he oversaw a relatively successful financial year for RA. Another example is RA spending millions of $ chasing League players to try hype up the Wallabies, this while many great players have left or are leaving to go overseas and grassroots rugby struggles AND there is no national feeder comp for Super Rugby ala Currie Cup. As for NZ... I believe their incredible depth and obsession with Union as a national sport will carry them only so far, but some kind of deal with Japan (if for $ only) or elsewhere is needed to ensure they can keep their standard high in future. For this year's WC, I still think they are very strong contenders.
All I can say in summary is this past Super Rugby season has been hot and cold, especially some of the Aussie derbies were not that great quality...While URC or European matches almost always delivers great games... Most Aussies won't bother with tuning into European rugby, they will simply change the channel to League...
League is dying in the rest of the world . France have just refused to hold the next world cup.
@@samoday2992 I have never understood what the point of a 2nd rugby form is? I mean....most of the rugby playing world is playing Union.....and that's not changing. So I just don't quite get it.
@@Sabundy its intrenched in certain areas of the world . England for example is primarily rugby union in the SW to south of england. When i was at school it was not played at all in the state schools as it was seen as a sport for the private(public) school toffs . While league is far more working class and played in the two biggest counties (for the most part) Yorkshire and Lancashire and i doubt it will ever change .
@@samoday2992 that's interesting. Thanks for the info. I'm South African and we only play Union. So I've never understood what the hell League is all about 🤷🤷🤷.
Same here, I'm safa and I've always been puzzled by league. We don't touch or talk about it as men here.
URC was a great move. Should stay in Rugby Championship to maintain the best of both worlds for SA. Especially with Japan potentially joining soon
I think Japan should
Staying in the rugby championship long term could be difficult for SA as they will never really get an off season. Its only a matter of time really
I agree but I don't think Japan is going to join the Rugby Championship. They still play in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Very well balanced and reasoned, not was I was expecting from the headline.
But you drew me in so well done. 😀
excellent video, articulated in a way that generates interest, keep grinding, you have created something of substance.
Thank you sir, very motivating!
As a SAFFA, I much prefer the Northern Hemisphere competitions, suddenly each SA team can now have up-to 3 competitive teams focussing on different competitions, creating depth previously unattainable. And honestly, I just find it much more entertaining and accessible. Would love to see SA join the 6 Nations.
Why do you want SA to join the six nations?
@@DJ-ce3hq probably more teams = more rugby
Great unbiased and objective video. SA, NZ and AUS will always have a great history of top clashes on the pitch and for maintaining a high level of competitiveness between the nations. These teams would benefit from the Trinations and SR structures and the World Cups would typically be dominated by teams from the Southern Hemisphere.
Time zones and travel considerations will always be a factor but I’d still like to see the Rugby Championships proceed.
Adding a few more teams to the 6-nations could bloat the season schedule as there could be 6-7 games over the tournament period.
As a South African, I used to love waking up to the 9am or 11am games of SR.
The viewing times were not too favourable for AUS and NZ teams when travelling to SA.
Viewership and sponsorship goes hand in hand and was also a big consideration by Sanzaar.
Thanks brother! Appreciate the kind words, enjoyed the nostalgia in your comment
Agreed, south Africa nearly always played afternoon games which meant 1am kickoff in Australia. If they played at night we could at least wake up early for it.
Great Video ! Keep up the good work 👏 🔥
I have spent the morning checking your other content. You have good content, and analyse different topics then mainstream media. Very refreshing….
Wow I really appreciate this!! Thank you 💪 very motivating
South Africa and Argentina is negotiating with NZ and AUS to move the TRC to Six Nations window in Feb/Mar. This is to do with player welfare to allow a mid year off season. If this can be done SA will stay in the TRC, if not we'll propably go into the Six Nations. NZR is moving closer to Japan with this possible future in mind. As a saffa i would prefer us staying in the rugbg championship.
Bro you're not deciding theses things alone.
I garantee you that SA will NEVER compete in the six nation.
Never is a long time. Ppl said the same about SA being European club lvl comp too.
I agree with the logic of moving the TRC dates because keep in mind the Bokke being accepted into the 6 Nations is not a done deal by a long shot yet, there are many Euros who are flat against it, because, well, the Springboks aren't a Euro team
Same here. It's fine of course that the club teams made the change to Europe over SR. I can certainly see the advantages and case for it. But I too would prefer SA stays in the RC. And I just think we would seem out of place in the 6 nations as we aren't a European country and don't share the history and rivalries that exist within that competition between the European sides at national team level.
Definitely prefer us to stay in TRC, may will be beyond our control though. Hopefully the European nations never allow us into the 6 nations so it's a non starter.
Super Interesting, I am South African and casual rugby fan myself and didn't know many of these reasons. I recently started getting back into watching and was like 'wait, wheres south africa?'
😂😂😂😂💀
Well informed perspective. Best I’ve heard on this topic
Great video mate
As far as I recalled, NZ initaited it. One of the reasons cited was the Time difference between South Africa and NZ. NZ were promoting South America, Ilands around NZ and Posibly the US. It would have resulted in less traveling time, less costs and matches being broadcast in more or less the same times as well as improving the standard of rugby in those areas.
Excellent summary, personally I was always in favour of joining the competitions in the North, especially when the Lions were kicked out of SuperRugby to let the Kings in, it was seriuosly considered but there was not enough support. The following year the Kings and Cheetahs were excluded from Super Rugby and joined the Competitions up north, I guess that paved the way for the other franchises, and the NZ decision was the final push needed. Two big benefits for SA Spectators (1.) Time zones (2) When we play the SANZAR teams it is more exciting because we have not watched the same players pounding each other week after week in the SuperRugby Franchises. Biggest looser seems to be Australia, biggest winners Ireland, the extra game time against the physical SA Teams moved the Irish from very good to great.
Very well said!! Thanks for the kind words too brother
This was good, well done Uggy on a decent summary
Solid content and another solid video, cheers from the States
Thanks mate! All love
It's SO bitter sweet as an SA fan on so many levels. 1: SA won the inaugural URC with two SA sides in the final and have a home final again. 2: Times for watching are so much better. 3: We have so many of our players back 4: It's fresh 5: It seems the teams will eventually be able to make more money in the URC 6: Travel times SHOULD be better for SA teams, though with the Qatar deal it seems like they're traveling a lot anyway, and because we're not sharing URC revenue yet the 2m tall and 1m wide players are travelling economy class. This will change when we start sharing revenue. BUT I really miss the big occasions of playing the big southern teams like Crusaders and the like. I miss knowing the southern players. I won't know half of the Aus/NZ/Arg players in this years RC and WC. There's been a weird class of culture between southern and northern fans on social media. The likes of the Irish fans are fairly touchy when it comes to the more abrasive type of banter we're used to in the south. To be fair, a certain sector of SA fans have gone full swollen head after winning the first year of URC.
@@somenamethatdoesntmatter I get their tones and sarcasm when it's present. It's possible some of our population doesn't. I don't think the Afrikaans are known for their Sarcasm. But that is part of my point. But more so, I think the Southern Hemisphere has gotten used to each other, the player interviews, the commentators, etc. I think we take Rugby more seriously than the English and Irish in SA and NZ. An Irish fan probably doesn't get why some of our supporters are so hard nosed and confrontational about Union while the Kiwis are used to it and that respect between the Boks and Abs, and SA and NZ Super teams had been established already for years. Anyway, I'm sure eventually the Irish and SA fans will get along, but at the moment I think there is some prickly nastiness getting in the way.
@@somenamethatdoesntmatter Socials. Haven't seen any interaction of fans in person. I'd assume it would be much more civil.
This might be part of the reason why the NZRU have struck a deal with Japan, which could possibly broaden cooperation between the two unions and give NZ rugby access to a larger market.
Yeah that was a genius move. Japan is try hard to expedite the development of their players by import loads of foreign coaches & players that work with loads of Japanese players & coaches. 10 years Japan could be a force to be reckoned with
NZRU are desperate to have access to more markets, the truth is NZRU is outside of its remit. In World Rugby terms they’d have to give something to get something with the other regions.
Japan😮 God that wouldn't make good viewing numbers seeing them mauled week in and out... It would simply not feel on the same level as the old clashes of the southern behemoths.
@@fabianklaaste1476 Maybe the Boks would be better playing in Japan. More even matchup and Japan would even win some.
Great video, mate.
VERY INFORMATIVE THANKS !!
I think Saru got tired of being bullied by the aussies and kiwis, when it was SA that was bringing the money through viewership and stadium attendance. Personally, I miss super rugby, but being a stormers fan, I can't complain about the URC. NZ will suffer the most I think because all that is happening now is NZ teams playing a very similar style against each other in very similar conditions. Only time will tell. My only wish is that we don't stop our annual games against the all blacks. It's what rugby is all about. Love from Cape Town
As a saffa i hate the fact that Aus and NZ big dogs refused to co-operate with us so its their loss
Cool video Uggy. Nicely explained too. 😊
I went on a school sports tour to New Zealand for hockey in 2009. Traveling there was exhausting 😮💨 I think the travel was a BIG factor for SA eventually pulling out of Super Rugby. 100s of kilometers and multiple time zones. Good luck functioning at 100% even if you are a top notch athlete.
I lost interest in Super Rugby long ago. The URC has really revived my interest in the league format. I think it's also been great for European nations since they're competing against South Africa's best.
This was very objective and informative. Well done
We will find out in July how the boks look I guess. I miss Super Rugby personally. NZ dominated it throughout but it was always fun waking up early on a Saturday morning to catch the games. I just don't have the same connection to Leinster Munster etc as I did to Crusaders Hurricanes and co
Well, it's always easy to be wise in hindsight, but I would say, looking at Springbok rugby now, as well as our local domestic game, SA Rugby is in remarkably good shape. As a rugby fan I scarcely noticed the loss of Super Rugby, as the UK / Europe games that SA teams play in are such a high standard. Contrast that with Australia now, and the indications also that NZ is apparently struggling to stay at the top. Remember also that South Africa had decades of playing ONLY domestic Rugby. That's one reason our roots in the game go so deep.
Damn straight at least we all South African. 10 New Zealand players are not even from New Zealand in this one team lol
We one Nation . New Zealand is about 5.. lmao
Awesome video 👊🏿
Thank you sir!
Great content mate. I just subscribed.
So many good points in the video. However I feel the greatest catalyst for the decision was the slow destruction of the Super Rugby competition over a number of years. The Super 12 was a tournament that created some of the best SA, NZ and Aussie teams. I remember getting up every Saturday at 6:30 to watch the games. The fact SA teams didn't win the Super 12 didn't seem like an issue as it was so competitive. Then for financial reasons and attempts to spread the game the tournament was diluted and therefore wasn't the pinnacle of domestic rugby. If fact over a few years i stopped watching super rugby almost completely. I feel this was the catalyst for all slow decline of the tournament.Same could be said for the Tri Nations but it must be noted that this did allow Argentina to massively increase their competitiveness over the years. They took a fantastic product and destroyed it. Some of the best Super 12 teams over the years could easily have defeated many international sides.
Well said sir 🤝
Agree
Totally agree, they messed around with the format too much and the fans started turning off on droves. In fact the last format before SA left was ridiculous, 3 conferences played in5 countries across four continents.
I would add that the competition was best when it was S14.
we could have maybe offered the south africa teams more home games to balance the travel burden, but i agree, changing from an intense, compact forumula where every team plays every team, has taken a lot of the interest out of the competition.
South African have to travel from West to East against the earth's movement - which is when jetlag affects you. Not the other way around. We were always at a significant disadvantage in the competition.
exactly and them going east to west was a doddle.
NZ and SA are half way around the world from each other. Both have the option of flying in either direction. Same distance both ways. Complete fiction that it harder one way than the other when both are 12 hours apart. ^ hours maybe a difference for the biological clocks. 12 hours no difference.
Great analysis.
Nice work mate👍
Thanks bro!
As a nz fan I'm pretty hurt by sa leaving super and possibly the sanzar set up. I fully see why it benefits them from watching this video and I think we all knew it would work for the northern hemisphere teams more. Still so sad thu loved the rivalry that we had and it will no doubt die off as we no longer play in super rugby the international season will jst see them as another northern hemisphere team. Unfortunately it hurts the nz game because we don't get to go up against such massive forward packs that south Africa produce. Also the style difference they bring was what made the super rugby championship the best in the world when it was in full bloom. I hope south Africa continues to do better and better. Prolly be the only southern hemisphere team in the future if superrugby falls out.
the rivalry was strong, probably stronger than ever, back in the days when international travel wasn't common & a tour by any foreign team was a big thing. it might go back to that again.
As a South African, I’m in a similar boat. I think the new competition will bring a lot of opportunities and attention to SA rugby, but I’ll always miss those tense sa vs nz matchups.
the northern hemisphere teams were already catching up with the south about a decade before this had happened. ireland rarely beat sa or oz but had started regularly winning by the late 2000s, and their 1st win against nz was 2016. similar upward trend with most northern hemisphere teams
Ireland regulary beating SA? Only in your wet dreams
Except for Scotland and Wales. Both of them are hopeless and will never win a World Cup. Wales are bankrupt and Scotland aren’t that far behind.
Good content and very credible summation.
Thank you! Appreciate the kind words
Good vid mate
At the moment Sa is the only country benefiting from both North and South Rugby. This can make them a formidable force in the near future. They should stay in the TRC.
I really like this comment, and it makes a lot of sense.
Exactly that’s why we Saffas shouldn’t leave The Rugby Championship
Interesting stuff bro. It does seem almost inevitable that SA will leave TRC.... right now their top players don't get much of an off season with TRC kicking off as the northern teams take a break. I know the Bok guys in the URC teams were given a bit of mandated time off over the 6N but that doesn't seem like an ideal long term solution
Thanks for the comment brother! Been watching you for years now. & true I feel a whole restructure is on the cards post World Cup!
@@uggy Yeah man it'll be interesting. Keep up the vids man! Love it!
Too kind!! Means a lot ❤️
Great video brother!
Ive heard rumblings of us (SA) joing the 6 nations instead of The Rugby Championship. However whether its a good thing or not i hope it doesnt happen.
I for one actually miss Super Rugby, most of my weekends as a child were spent glued to the tv no matter who was playing.
Not playing in The Rugby Championship would be so damn sad if it actually eventuates. As a full blown Bok fan there is no better game i want to see than the Boks vs All Blacks. Win or lose that to me represents the highlight of the yearly rugby calendar
Southern Hemisphere teams i also just find easier ro support, if the Boks aint playing you better believe im supporting Aus, NZ or Argentina against any NH opposition
Thanks for the kind words! & really miss super rugby too, it’s hard to watch these days.
Hahaha! 😂
03:11 😘🤌🏻
Nice vid mate. I clicked to assertively defend 🇿🇦 for being builders not breakers, but your vid made all of my points and more.
Good job. 💪🏻
🤣❤️ legend brother!
NZ actually moaned about travel time that Super Rugby had. I was so glad they stuck it to NZ, even though super rugby was one hell of a competition and helped all 4 countries
Saffa here. I have genuine nostalgia for the rugby that was played during the S12 and S14. The moment the competition was enlarged beyond 14 teams, it started losing its attraction. S12 and S14 was truly a breeding ground for excellence, but the money hungry administrators on all 3 sides wanted more and more. They kicked the goose that lay the Golden egg to death.
I for one would be happy for SA to return to a S12 format, but that won't happen for 20 years now. The north is already seeing the benefit of playing against the SA the massive SA teams week in and out. The semi decline (yet still the team to beat in the world) of the All Blacks coincided almost perfectly with the departure of SA from Super rugby.
Kiwi here, I totally agree, the S12, S14 days were when Super Rugby was at it's best. The format was easy to follow for the fans, the Rugby was generally of a good standard and the crowds numbers were reasonable.The last format when SA were in Super Rugby was ridiculous. 3 conferences played in 5 countries across four continents! Fans didn't like it!
Agree with your first comments but NZ decline is nothing more than NZ going through a change of the guard unbelievable players who have retired over the last 8 years have left us wanting yet still difficult to beat we'll be back bigger and stronger count on it.
Thank you for this short video. I've always wondered what made South African rugby teams leave super rugby. And it sounds legit and good on SA Rugby Union for making the move up north!! ❤
I hope the Springboks will join the 6 Nations competition expand that it to 7 Nations!!
Go Springboks! Love from 🇼🇸 ❤
Interesting! Living in AFL mad Adelaide, I had no idea that Super Rugby Pacific even existed in 2023 until prompted to search ‘Super Rugby’ after this video. It’s not on FTA TV or Foxtel and is not reported in the local media. I had assumed that Super Rugby had completely collapsed, with only low profile domestic competitions being played. Far cry from the days of regularly watching a Super 12 game each week on Foxtel when the Crows weren’t playing.
Love your vids dude. Keep it up. Personally I think Super Rugby right now needs to go for quality over quantity in terms of teams. They used to have 14 teams with all the NZL, RSA and AUS talent. Now they have 12 teams with some NZL, AUS, FIJ talent, at least half of which has left to France and Japan. I'd say cut it by two teams. Keep 5 NZ teams, Fijian Drua and 4 australian teams. Fewer, better teams, playing more games (maybe 16 or 18). Will increase quality, maybe even fan interest.
Thanks for the support ❤️ definitely need something with higher quality, & club rugby has more interest then super rugby at the moment.. wonder if they could link club to ‘rep’ / super franchise and this could get the club audience back on board? Just a random idea I had after reading your comment 🤣
Aussie here, I'm glad South Africa are not in the comp... no casual fan can follow games being played past midnight our time... The competition, while it has some serious flaws still, is the most innovative rugby comp in the world. I'd like to see the teams privatised and a player draft introduced so that its a better overall product and less predictable. Also get Japan, USA or Argentina involved in the comp.
Yo guys, I just wanted to say that the old Super 12/14 will always be a time of magic. I think the Blues were undefeated one year. The whole thing captured my imagination. Jonah Lomu, Doug Howlett and so on.
Caught a lot of games here in Durban and bumped into players at nightclubs fairly often. Super Rugby like the world has changed, and funny to look back at how I thought things would always stay the same.
Best of luck my Nzl and Aus brothers. Peace from SA.
All love!!
Absolutely man.
I agree with u bro; I can remember waking up early hours of a saterdag morning to watch that brilliant brumbies team of gregan and larkham v NZ teams; and the reds team of the 90s consisting of tim Horan and John eals also the sharks team v blues was also a rivalry. But sadly the northerns started to buy the best coaches and players of the south because they wanted to compete with SH.
@@ricardomoolman1176I definitely remember that Brumbies team. Think Joe Roff was there, not sure... but definitely remember him for the Wallabies. Classic Super rugby team for sure.
As a Leinster fan I’m delighted sa teams joined the URC, the URC regular season was meaningless before they came and the knockouts were just Leinster vs Ulster or Munster in Dublin and it was terrible. I honestly didn’t care if we won the league or not. Now we have like 7/8 great regular season games and the knockouts are sick, even if we are winning less.
Great video.This is a no brainer.The time zone is super important.If you own a pub/restuarant you make more money because you can show games at a more patron friendly time.Also better for us because we do not have to braai at stupid times,although we do not mind.
I wont lie though, I do miss the early morning kick offs a little bit
Thank you sir!!
Pretty much a new frontier for South Africa who seems to be enjoying the best of both worlds with clubs gone north but the springboks in RC. In turn that means NZR checking out Japan as well for new markets, especially when the JRFU have strong intentions for joining the RC now that they're tier 1.
Samizouza!! Hope you are well brother! Thanks for the comment
I also hope he is well 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Excellent explainer video. From a SA perspective it made all the sense in the world to go north. I foresee the Boks joining the Six Nations in the coming years as you've explained. That then means SA v NZ/Aus/Arg could become July/November Test series.
Also from a TV money point of view, SA was providing the bulk of Super Rugby/Rugby Championship viewers so with the Boks withdrawing that in theory means less TV revenue for NZ and Australia.
Regardless of what happens I think SA and NZ will always produce great rugby players (like Brazil and Argentina in football). I can see Argentina aligning themselves with France (mostly to develop their professional players) but I worry for Australia. Interesting times ahead.
Great point!! Thanks for watching & the comment brother ❤️
@@uggy Always a pleasure bro!
I think South Africa had no other choice but to move its Super Rugby teams to the URC because of finances and player welfare and player retention. I don't however think South Africa should pull the Springboks out of the Sa/NZ/AUS/ARG series. I prefer the current international schedule with the current winter 4 nations competition and then the end of year series in Europe and dont see any reason to change it. I also don't think there's that much support in Europe for South Africa to join the six nations.
@@gordondwyer3641 I personally would also prefer to see SA stay in the Rugby Championship. But I think TV money is going to talk in this case and there's more benefit for the Boks playing in the northern hemisphere.
@@gordondwyer3641 can’t see SA joining the 6 nations. It’s just wildly different as the competition is so culturally engrained, adding in SA would seem weird..
Good video and truest explanation yet
Thanks sir!
Nicely done
Thank you!
As a Kiwi I understand,and you can see how it has benefited their Provinces,meanwhile Super Rugby is in decline, I'm watching URC,Aviva and Top 14...even NRL games rather than Super Rugby,and if the Springboks do leave for 6 Nations,what kind of team will the All Blacks become by sparring the Wallabies and Pumas annually? Definitely not the Premier Rugby Competitions anymore.
R.I.P. Super Rugby.
bro as a saffa ive hated rugby since us leaving super rugby!
As a Saffa I have loved it. Spare a thought for players earning money and timezone travel. The URC is much more like test rugby. Super rugby is too loose.
@@president6645 I think Heineken cup is close to test match rugby. The URC is better for our rugby franchises though.
I am a South African supporter from Zimbabwe. I am not sure New Zealand rugby would necessarily regress. I am old enough to remember days before all super rugby etc. Even before sanctions stopped contact. But that lack of contact made the relatively rare match-ups that much more intriguing. We knew our foe was New Zealand and they knew the same. No win over France or England proved you were the best until you had faced the real foe.
SA is not going to join 6 nations. EU based players don't want it. Money talks in the end, but more games in 6N means less availability for clubs. I'm not sure if there is a will to add SA to 6N at all on club level.
The biggest handicap for South African teams in the Super era was the value of the Rand and the ability to keep players and develop winning teams. The longest a core of players may stay together was 3years players were constantly rotating to Europe or Japan. Now in the URc with experienced talent coming back to share with the youth is great for the teams. The travel is still a big challenge but managing this will add to the competitiveness of the teams. The hectic schedule with the better money situation is also providing opportunities for talent to come through. The local coaches are developing their skill sets beyond what was possible before.
This is great content. Sick of listening rugby pundits blathering ad infinitum. You offer a fresh approach. NZ fan and new sub. Keep it coming!
As a SA rugby fan, I find the game in the Northern Hemisphere to be more exciting to follow.
Because you can finally win some games 😂😂😂😂
@@kurupt7154
3/7=43% vs 3/9=33%
(RWC titles - The *ULTIMATE* rugby achievement!)
.... GUESS who has 3/7 (43%) RWC titles and who has 3/9 (33%) RWC titles!
@@joatmofa0405😂😂😂😂
@@joatmofa0405 And none back to back and being kicked out of two 🤢
@@russellturner1909
Now don't feel sad just coz the Springboks have the best RWC record in the world - I'm sure your team will win a RWC soon ... fingers crossed!
NZ, Aus never showed any love for teams from SA and boks, and the obvious bias with ref's decisions that led to the game becoming boring to watch when we play down under just made the idee of playing in Europe sound like a good one.
Jaguares Argentina finalist ended with everyone's patience
Accurate and dispassionate analysis. The Southern Hemisphere is no longer dominant and world rugby has benefited.
Great video and analysis. Thank you!
I do think South Africa made a smart move. They were loosing way too many players to European clubs and it was the only way forward. AUS and NZ would have made the same decision when placed in a similar position.
Keep up the great videos.
Thanks mate!! Your kind words mean a lot, really appreciate it
I guess as a southern African, I have always viewed New Zealand as our ultimate test.
I would not like to see us exit the southern hemisphere tests.
However, as much good as Super rugby did us, we had the more difficult playing conditions AND we were sidelined in format decisions by New Zealand and Australia.
Nothern hemisphere rugby is working for us
They should have kept it as a super 14 comp. When it expanded into a conference system, fans couldn’t understand it as it was too complicated. Also, the travel/time zone was a killer so once the conference system started it was “see ya later”. All Blacks and Wallabies are going to be humbled in the next few years
Well seems I have to include the Spring Bok along with Rayleighn Castle and Eddie Jones in my big thankyou, Well done guys!
I agree, last year i tried to keep up with super rugby, but it is dominated solely by New Zealand teams, i think the use of 2 island teams to bolster their ranks is good, but they just get dominated every week and the crowds look like they are faultering. Your point on them joining the 6 nations i don't think would work, maybe as a every 2 years the winner plays them, or an exhibition match, much like the football ⚽ club world cup between the rughy championship and 6 nations winner. The reason i don't think them joining the 6 nations would work is because of distance, for a club it is different, but its a European tournament, you can watch every game within a 2 maybe a bit more hour flight, if you then had to add an 10 hour flight i feel like there would be no away crowds and very few people could afford the travel costs to watch all your home games, just my take on it. Other than that i completely agree, European rugby is growing, whilst Super Rugby doesn't look like it is, really exciting to see European teams playing against South African opposition, but even that for me is getting a little extreme, as many fans who could easily support their teams when they did the European competitions, exactly like the 6 nations, now can't as easily as they now have to go to South Africa
Some of the factors I will agree with but I would also say that rugby Australia also pushed, complained, said nasty things that led to more conflict that cause SA rugby to leave Super Rugby.Other aspects were also that Super Rugby did not allow players to earn a higher income as what the European chanpionships provides... just my thoughts and what I have read :)
As a Welshman, I really like the South African teams playing in our league.
as a leinster fan the SA Teams have been brilliant and reignited the URC, 5000 munster fans in Cape Town shows this. there's a lot of wealthy fans (not me!) in Ireland who will travel. one of the best decisions in rugby
Inevitable that we will leave the remaining arrangement and play in the North. I might be uninformed but my feeling is that NZ and Aus rode roughshod over SA for many years whilst coining it due to the pulling power of the Boks.
Irish fan here in Leinster. I think the addition of SA teams in the URC has been fantastic. Its a great competition now, and Ive really enjoyed getting to see the new rivalries grow, e.g., the Munster - Stormers final build up was great and the game itself was real, top-class cup rugby.
The old Pro-16, Celtic Cup etc was a poor tournament dominated by Leinster, and now the URC is a great product and the benfits to the Northern hemisphere are obvious. On the flip side, it seems to me like the NZ/Aus axis has notably declined since the move and NZ isnt the same beast at all anymore, which could intensify going forward.
In my view, it was a dreadful own goal by the Kiwis to let the South Africans go... theyre now stuck with the Aussies, who have little interest anymore, and they arent playing at the same intensity, witj due respect, the Polynesians wont cut it as yearly opposition.
The All Blacks last two games this season will indicate that they’re still very much a dominant force in world rugby you northern teams have one year on top and think the AB’s are done before last year NZ and South Africa were number 1 and 2 on the world rankings.. the north has one year on top and you guys think we are done? Hahaha if history proves me right the all blacks always bounce back you guys need to be consistent spent at lease 4 years on top then I’d believe you! We have a saying in New Zealand “you’re only as good as your last game” the AB’s have codmfortablebly beaten Argentina and South Africa so far which is a good indication heading into the World Cup I’d be worried if I were Ireland and France the all blacks I can see beating France in the opening pool match then we will have Ireland or South Africa in the quarters then we will see if Ireland can make it past the quarters 😂😂😂
@@taraishot100 Look I am all for a good debate and chat and I agree, in real terms you are only as good as your last game. Personally I think the rankings are a bit of a joke - lets be real there are only ever 6/8 teams in the world who are going to be in the running for tournaments and it will always be this way. Its a small game on the international stage. I just dont like the whole tone of your comment, its petty and screams of insecurity. BTW I dont like the stuff Irish fans write in comments either, its a turn off from rugby union for me. Youre all so childish. By all means lets engage and have a discussion and have a bit of a laugh but in the last 2/3 years since Ireland (at least symbolically) have been at the top of the international game Ive seen a very ugly side to NZ fans, SA fans etc and Im losing interest in the whole game as a result. I wouldnt say im alone in that. If it means so much and life cant go on without it, you can take your world cup ahd ram where the sun dont shine, then in 4 years the South Africans can do the same.
NZ are 14-8-1 in their last 23 games.@@taraishot100
@@riangallagher8544I tend to agree with how you feel about many of the fans from different countries. Before social media took over things, being a fan was enjoyable…now it’s a keyboard warrior fight with people blurting out falsehoods, fluffing their chests with bravado, and just real nasty comments. Feel I will start limiting what I engage in now as the enjoyment I did have is fast disappearing
Love your unbiased factual based account chief. Bok supporter. Subscribed !
Thanks brother!!! Appreciate the support
Thanks NZ rugby. You did us a huge favour. Dankie man. #Springboks
Nothing to add, excellent video, totally factual and objective. One observation, I think the Crusaders really miss Cape Town, it was a home away from home for them.