Super Rugby 2024
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I think it stems from a few things...
1/ There's a large group of people who believe that South African teams don't belong in the 'Euro' Cup (largely French and English supporters).
2/ Those same people get frustrated when their teams lose to the South African sides, especially if they have to travel to South Africa to play them.
3/ The Bulls sent a second-string side to play in their knock-out match a couple of weeks ago, effectively conceding defeat before the game had even started. This gave ammunition to the critics that they shouldn't be involved in the competition at all.
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@gt12 said in Super Rugby 2024:
ingapore
I hope SA don't return
Why not focus on the new SRP and make the team more even. It can be done esp if Aust drop to 4 (preferably 3) teams. And NZ give more support to MP. Add 1 and later maybe 2 Argie teams if needed
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@MajorRage said in Super Rugby 2024:
Few things about that they are not taking the away games seriously and sending weakened teams.
Truth is that I think the game up here is similar to football in that the local games are attended by the same fans week in, week out which creates great rivalries. Then, the Champions cup (equivalent of Football champions league) is the same but brings in some European flair with passionate European fans.
The SA teams just don't fit this model as the history isn't there.
Be interested in @Dodge view here. I don't follow / watch rugby beneath intl level here, just been reading some commentaries.
I don't pretend to watch the URC, but it seems like Irish sides are also sending second XVs to SA - just highlights the problem.
I've said it before, SA's problem is that they are bloody miles from anyone else who plays rugby, so either they make the ANZAC competitions more difficult or the European ones. Can't comment on URC, but for the European competition, there is a distinct difference between a game in SA at short notice to a game in Toulouse or Dublin. The European competitions are great fun, and fans love to travel. What they don't love is 6 days notice to get to Cape Town or Jo'burg - with the associated costs and logistical issues. As an example, Quins play in Toulouse this weekend and there are about 45 ways to get there, from driving, to trains, to flights to different airports with trains / taxis or buses at the other end - that simply isn't possible when you chuck in a 12 hour flight and transport issues at the other end.
Personally I would prefer a European competition to only include European teams but i can see why it has unfolded how it has. The fact the Bulls sent a weak side for a Euro Quarter Final just reemphasises how stupid the current set up is. European sides broadly prioritise European games as the pinnacle, if SA sides don't want to do that then they shouldn't be in the tournament.
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It's very sadly similar with Ozzie and us, there is a lot of calls to drop the Rebels and bring in Japan or Argentina. One team from those countries means a shit ton of travel costs every round, both means more. No more direct flight to Arg to/from NZ as I understand it. It is a big problem we have down here, and it isn't going away. At least SA has the advantage of rugby being top/almost top sport similar to NZ. Not so in SA or Japan (or USA etc) so support is there already.
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Knowler trolling a bit with his 'Power Rankings'
Crusaders 2nd, Hurricanes 5th
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he might be, but you know there isn't a team at the top of the table that didn't see that result on the weekend, and thought "fuck" as they picture running out in a sudden death final against those jerseys.
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I don't think they played well. Plenty of the same issues there
They may improve but they are a long way away from the level they need to be at
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that's not what i am saying. They won, they won big, and there isn't a player in the comp that hasn't played them and lost in a final, often for teams that would have thought they were the better side leading in.
Rugby is a mental game, and the Crusaders' record is such that some would definitely have thought "here we go" with a big win and some big name troops starting to come back, and finals on the horizon.
Do i realistically think they will go past the first week? no. But that's not my point. Someone is going to have to break a hoodoo to knock them out
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All I said is that Knowler is trolling.
It was a scratchy win in most area's apart from the scrum. A positive step but not much more.
Did you watch it? What did you think?
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no i didn't but you are missing my point.
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No I undetsrand it and don't disagree with it.
I'm just saying Knowler is trolling and the win is being massively overrated by some
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oh he's seriously trolling. And it's not a bad one either really. The wording of the whole Hurricanes portion is delicious
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The main reason I posted it was to bring it to the attention of @Canes4life
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@Machpants it wasn’t that good of a performance. You were very critical of it
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@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants it wasn’t that good of a performance. You were very critical of it
The canes? I didn't watch, I missed it thinking kick off was 7. Or the blues?
