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Super 14 down to usual suspects
22/11/2007 09:11 - (SA)
JJ Harmse
It is hard to believe that the next edition of the Super 14 is almost upon us.
I can still remember the dramatic final in Durban even if six months has passed since that glorious day for the Bulls. There cannot be any doubt that the performances and subsequent confidence from the two top South African sides in the Super 14 has helped the Springboks. It was no coincidence that 22 members of the Rugby World Cup squad came from the Bulls and Sharks.
Looking at the recent preliminary squads announced in Cape Town and Bloemfontein during the week, I am afraid that one will have to look at the Bulls and Sharks again for some comfort next year.
The Stormers side does not inspire at all and the central franchise has just lost too much experience in vital positions to be a serious contender in the most demanding competition in the world.
Having watched some Heineken Cup action over the last couple of weeks, there is no doubt in my mind that the standard of rugby dished out by the European clubs is not the same as we see in Super 14, but I believe the Stormers and Cheetahs would even battle to be competitive in that competition.
Nice payday
It will be interesting to see how the Bulls will perform against Wasps when they play in late January. The English side will have home advantage and the luxury of regular play. The Bulls are notoriously slow starters in the Super 14 and it could be even more so in 2008 as the squad adjusts to a new coach.
The Heineken champions should be the favourites, but a result in that game will not really prove anything. It is a nice payday for both outfits though and we should see an interesting clash of styles.
By the way, how poor is the standard of refereeing in the Heineken Cup!
It is hard to believe those guys are going to be in charge of Springbok matches in the next couple of years. There is simply no consistency in decisions. Some referees allow the quick tap to be taken in a big radius from the original spot while others stop play because the quick tap was not taken on the exact place indicated.
During the whole of 2007, referees only had one thing on their minds - the World Cup - and what they needed to do to get there. They followed the letter of the law and did everything they thought was needed to impress Paddy O'Brien and the relevant assessor. Looking at the current bunch in the Heineken Cup, they clearly do not have that same attitude.
Responsible and mature
However, going back to the Stormers side, it is hard to see how they will be able to be a force in next year's competition. The fact of the matter is that they only had Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger away during the Currie Cup and still failed to make the playoffs in the Currie Cup. Their new signings hardly inspire anyone and it may be wishful thinking to expect Rassie Erasmus to turn the ship around in six months.
The issue surrounding the captaincy is far more serious than it looks on the surface. Erasmus will need all the wisdom he has to solve the Luke Watson issue. Watson certainly would need to become more of a team player if he wants to add value to the Stormers campaign next year. If it means he has to step away from being captain, he must be responsible and mature enough to do so. The Stormers will have to play as a team if they want to be contenders and something has to give.
Watson certainly has managed to build a huge profile in the game, but unfortunately, there does not seem to be any middle ground on his road. People either love him or hate him and Erasmus will be in one of those camps. Which one, I would rather not guess!
Erasmus did not impress as Cheetahs coach in Super 14, so the expectations of Naka Drotske improving on that will not be that huge.
Keep improving
Unfortunately, one gets the impression that the Cheetahs mindset is geared towards success in domestic competitions, rather than success in Super 14. Drotske's biggest challenge will be to replace the likes of Corniel van Zyl, Willem de Waal and Michael Claassens, not to mention Jannie du Plessis and Os du Randt.
The Lions have not released their preliminary squad at this stage, but one can expect the Johannesburg side to keep improving under the guidance of Eugene Eloff.
With so many New Zealand sides seemingly rebuilding at present, it might work in the South Africa's favour. But then again they are already hard at work in their pre-season in New Zealand and we still have 26 guys in Cardiff which could have an impact in the early stages of the competition.
In hindsight, the Springbok tour was a silly idea, but the pounds coming back to South Africa will go a long way to covering expenses for the 2008 Super 14 effort. So SA Rugby is damned if they do, damned if they don't.
Read JJ every Sunday in Rapport.
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