Saffas going?
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Has been talked about for years, now with the 2 SA teams playing in Europe it has given them a bit of an indicator as to how it might work.
Still be surprised if it happens, more so them being allowed in rather than them not wanting to join.
Would detract from the travelling fans they get currently.
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If SA did wander off to play within their timezone, NZ would be stuck propping up Australian rugby hoping like hell they had another golden period...
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@taniwharugby One very important factor that the article doesn't mention is the travel factor for the European teams. It's clear that the travel factor would be more attractive to SA, but - assuming South Africa would play at least three "7/6 Nations" tests at home - three European teams would have to travel much further than they're used to in the current 6 Nations format. That won't be popular; not among the players, and also not among their fans. Quite a lot (relatively speaking) of fans follow their national teams to 6N away games; that will be near impossible if they play in South Africa.
Also, a move to 6 Nations would also imply the end of South Africa's participation in Super Rugby, unless they play their SR games with depleted teams, because even after next year's SR format change, the 6 Nations and SR will overlap.
Will South Africa be able to employ all their best pro players in teams that participate in Pro 14, which presumably has to expand? Or Premiership? Which, again, has huge implications for travel, both of SA teams and the other teams in those competitions.
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@Nepia said in Saffas going?:
I guess if they did try to do this we’ll see whether WR truly have the game at heart. There’s no way they would let this happen if they wanted to retain two strong ‘hemispheres’ of rugby.
Their wet dream would be the All Blacks being put back in their place.
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They can bugger off as far as I am concerned and take their super rugby teams back with ..first phone call would be to Andrew Twiggy Forrest ..Nau Mai Haere Mai e hoa..!, Nau Mai Haere Mai ki te Western Force..Gee we missed you old friend...!
Would be bloody exciting to have a Pacific Nations Championship..which included Japan,Fiji,Tonga ,Samoa and Argentina ..and Super rugby teams from that are currently in NZ and Australia plus Western Force and our old friends the Sunwolves ,Jaguaries, and maybe one from Fiji and an America’s team out of Hawaii ..would love to see a draft system ,and a loan system operated ...
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@Steven-Harris said in Saffas going?:
They can bugger off as far as I am concerned and take their super rugby teams back with ..first phone call would be to Andrew Twiggy Forrest
Invite the fox into the hen house...
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@antipodean most foxes just pilfere, this Fox has some serious cash..!
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Sooooo much water to go under the bridge before this happens. But also, you show me a South African supporter who doesn't see the All Blacks as their biggest rival. Even in winning the RWC they acknowledged their litmus test would be against us H&A this year.
For me, I think we need to piss off the SA super teams and Argentina (sadly) - we should focus on a Super Pacific Rugby something-a-rather. If AFL & NRL can survive, we can get this going.
I also think we should go to the broadcasters, and just get a Pacific 8 nations going. The four we got + Japan, Fiji, Tonga & Samoa. Two pools, top 2 in each play semis & finals. And boomski. We can still add on a test vs SA & one vs Australia too.
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@Steven-Harris not anywhere near serious enough too cover the broadcasting loss that SA leaving would. A Pacific Nations cup is already there, and the money is not. If that harkens ABs will be going north in droves, there's no money here for it.
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@Steven-Harris said in Saffas going?:
@antipodean most foxes just pilfere, this Fox has some serious cash..!
Didn't do anything to help the Western Force...
Twiggy runs a very good PR line. Benefits of philanthropy include tax deductions, PR from your own foundation etc.
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Stuff playing the Pacific Islands, Japan, Argentina and whatever is left of Australia every year.
If the Saffas leave I can't see it being good for NZ.
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The best way to remove NZ as a world power is to make them a non-entity.
Argentina is competitive but the other nations are anything but. Australia is about to be booted by Foxtel and it doesn't take a genius to figure out someone at Fox probably heard about the SA defection. The game here is effectively dead at grassroots and I can not see things getting any better.
We would be better off leaving the Super format and returning to a strengthened NPC. But retaining players would be bloody hard without the TV money the Saffas were bringing in.
I would imagine Test rugby as we know it for NZ would be over, post 2023. We would be playing a shitty post Super tourny against Argentina, Aussie and maybe Japan.
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South Africa to join the Six Nations after next World Cup
I find it hard to believe ...
