OK, so the Cheetahs and the Lions has both shown that they simply cannot cut it in the Super 14. Every year, at the end of the competition, there are one or two surprise results, then all of their fans jump back into the fray, proclaiming some sort of an upward curve, just so they are destroyed from the word go in the following year’s competition.
This is becoming a tired exercise, and South African rugby are made to look a spectacle. What can we do to alleviate the problem?
The only logical answer is one that many of the above two teams’ supporters shudder at hearing, one word, four letters….CATS!
OK, it’s a stupid name, but it’s only that, a name, and it can be changed whichever way you like it. But think of the possibilities a united franchise brings to the table.
Step one, select an interim board to do duty during the Super 15 competition, delegates from both unions, and maybe one or two from SARU itself, just to keep the peace. If the Springboks can play together for the sake of National honour, then surely the Lions and the Cheetahs can make do with playing together, in the interest of sponsorship and financial gain. Just get someone from Pretoria to do the contracts.
Step Two, appoint a Director of Rugby, and a Team Manager, not aligned with either of the unions, think someone like Jake White, with the head coaches of each team, doing duty as assistant coaches, to promote fluency. This DOR reports directly to the Interim Board, and is not an employee of either the two unions, as such, with the exception of the assistant coaches, the DOR will employ his own management team, either from the unions or from elsewhere.
Step Three, appoint a selection panel, consisting of the two provincial team managers, and then two other members, identified by the board, from outside the two unions, to maintain a level understanding of the whole situation.
Step Four, enter the new Franchise, let’s call them the STAMPEDE for argument’s sake, a truly serious contender, which then also leaves room for the Southern Kings, the new wooden spoonists, but more importantly, 4 Competitive teams from South Africa.
I cannot see, in professional rugby, why this blueprint cannot be successful. Logistic wise, use Coca-Cola Park as headquarters for the actual competition, this is purely business, as Coca-Cola Park have more seats, more people and, as such, a greater income that can be split between the unions.
Vodacom Park can host all pre-season activities and matches, again, this is from a business point only, one has to go where the feet are, and Jo’Burg has lots of feet, feet that are hungry for winning rugby, while not even Test Rugby can fill up Vodacom Park. Also, a team actually capable of winning, might just be a better bet for prospective sponsors.
Think of the teams you could push into the field:
1. Heinke van der Merwe / Wian du Preez
2. Adriaan Strauss / Hans van Dijk / Hannes Franklin
3. WP Nel / JC Janse van Rensburg
4. Nico Breedt / Barend Pieterse / Waltie Vermeulen
5. Franco van der Merwe / Nico Luus / Willem Stoltz
6. Baywatch Grobbelaar / Heinrich Brussouw / Henro Scholtz
7. Juan Smith / Tod Clever / Frans Viljoen
8. Wikus van Heerden / Derick Minnie / Ashley Johnson
9. Jano Vermaak / Tewis de Bruyn / Coetzee
10. Carlos Spencer / Herkie Kruger / Naas Olivier
11. Lionel Mapoe / Jongi Nokwe / Thandile Mjekewu
12. Meyer Bosman / Doppie le Grange / Walter Venter
13. Corne Uys / Robert Ebersohn / Marius Delport
14. Michael Killian / Tonderai Chavanga / Wilson Pekeur
15. Hennie Daniller / Riaan Viloen / Earl Rose
Enough talent to at least compete at the same level, and this is just off the top of my head. Maybe even lure some foreign based players home. Because apart, we might never see any one of these two teams achieve anything…ever.
GBS lol you silly man 🙂
My afrikaans is getting so good, i might not understand word for word, but get the gist of it most of the time.
#26 Blouste
Dan kan hulle daai gebroeders Dr Jannie en Birthmark ook da onnerie Haaie uithaal. Tree sallit natuurlik nou nie laaikie, but hey wot goes around comes around… 😉
11: dankie vir daardie stukkie geskiedenis. Engelse het ons Boere lekker uitgevang, in plaas van dat ons hulle pakslae gee, het ons mekaar begin pakslae gee. Eish, ja ! 😉
Blouste GBS has a Handbriekie that will briek me, so only the handshake 😆
Tree…
You should just hire another machine to throw it in the hole and cover it…
Hour or so and your finished…
32: Hello me. Green Peace Movement, hoe are jy doing vandag ?
So what about what i said about the financial commitments for a team that might get relegated or whatever ????????????
#30 Tree, but based on your last posting its clearly at the expense of your English, my dear! 😉
And don’t confuse my language above with Afrikaans; its called AfriKaaps and I’m in the process of completing its first dictionary so hold tight, hehe!!
@ 35
Ja, rather steer clear hey 😛
Can be taken over from other unions I suppose…
Should it become a regular thing, might even be a clause written in the contract from a relegation perspective…
#34 bdb
Plesier! Dit was anyway ‘n lekker gesoek…… 😉
bdb hello man that wont speak english to me 🙂
Blouste he moved most of it, but i am fussy and did not want him to destroy any more of the vegetation, he is very heavey handed, nearly had a codenser when when i heard the first smash as it wasnt supposed to happen, i ran up there faster than Habanna ever dreamed of running, nearly kept up with the hub. Was slowed down cos i was screaming cut the fence cut the fecking fence, else the guy would would have hooked it ripping the whole line out.
Ok guys and lady…
I’ve got to run, chat again soon… 😉
42; fender, waar kan ek daardie gedig kry van “Alles alles net Engels” ?
Hiho Fender, dont give me a hard time, am knackered, but wanted to go online quickly before i started feeding the animals and cooking dinner, nobody pick on me 👿
43@ Boomninny – A Condenser???
Hahahaha
Probably mean a “Cadenza”
GBS you right 😆 better log off am makeing my name total toti, i even looked at the word and thought is that right and decided it was 😆
as if test rugga cold fill up ellis park this year i say again let one of the kings teams win the cc then they can contend there are 14 teams in the comp and one will end at the to and one at the bottom they can never all end ip pos 1
i wonder if the sharks wil merge if they ended last the lions and cheetahs have judt as much right to be in the super 14 than the bull stormers and sharks. or do these teams have some devine right to be there
The idea has great merit. Unfortunately (IMO) the incompetent amateurs currently at Coca-Cola Park would see this as a slight to their collective ego’s and kick against it.
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