#superrugby2016

[photoreporterfan-blog]

Agustín Creevy , Capitán del seleccionado Argentino de Rugby Los Pumas & de la franquicia del Súper Rugby Los Jaguares ( hooker ) #sport #rugby #jaguares #pumas #superrugby2016 (en Estadio Vélez Sarsfield)

[gaspafotos]

Hoy se entrenó. Y bien. #vamosjaguares #JaguaresEnSuperRugby #Jaguares #superrugby2016 #superrugby

[gaspafotos]

@jaguaresarg entrena para enfrentar a @blue_bulls_official el sábado a la tarde. #superrugby #superrugby2016 #Jaguares #scrum #primeralinea #rugby @agustincreevy @kikepieretto @nahueltetaz @julimontoya5

[tomwatchingsports-blog]

Super Rugby’s Slow Road to Redemption

To ask where Super Rugby has gone wrong in recent times is a question that poses a multitude of answers, not unlike asking where Batman v Superman went wrong as a piece of cinema. 

The new format is almost totally incomprehensible, many teams are woefully out of their depth, and the idea of the home final and the advantages this brings still makes me cringe. Yet, for all its guffaws, it remains the most exciting and arguably best club rugby competition in the world, and I think Super Rugby can still salvage itself from the peculiar depths it has somehow fallen to.

 Firstly, the recent expansion from 15 to 18 teams has to be lauded. It’s high time Argentina had a franchise in the competition, and the Jaguares have started their campaign valiantly, with a win and a few tight defeats that could have gone either way. I think it would make sense to have two more teams in the tournament as it would round the groups off evenly, as opposed to the currently unfathomable grouping, and that one of these new teams should definitely be another Argentine franchise. The fact that almost their entire national team plays for the Jaguares means the quality of rugby is great, but Super Rugby has varying teams of varying qualities, and it would not hurt the Argentines to field these players evenly over two teams, giving 15 more kids the chance to play every week, further strengthening the depth of talent in the country. Super Rugby has made it clear they seem to be all about ‘development’ with the inclusion of the Sunwolves and Kings, and that it’s more about the long term plan, and it would only benefit Argentinian rugby as a whole to have another franchise. (Note: It goes without saying the Kiwis should have another franchise too, it would continue to drive TV revenues through the roof and they would undoubtedly field a competitive side.)

 The haters will protest and moan that the standard of rugby is dropping as a result of the expansion – the Sunwolves’ and Kings’ recent drubbings will attest to this, but there are success stories that have already come from previous expansion teams, most notably the Reds’ incredible title win back in 2011, and the coming of age of Genia, Cooper et al which greatly aided the Wallabies as a result.

The Lions, similarly, were ridiculed when they first came in, but their recent form is remarkable. After their three-win tour of Australasia last year (the most wins ever by a South African side on the road) they stunned the Chiefs in Waikato in week two leaving the general New Zealand public in shock and horror. They can also be credited as the franchise who gave us the most entertaining game of all time in their 65-72 shootout with the Chiefs in Joburg back in 2010, and they have proven that the expansion teams can be an asset to the competition.

 The Southern Hemisphere’s growing concern in recent years has been the migration of some of its finest players to the Top 14, with the money obviously a huge incentive. The departures of Genia, Cooper (et al) have left the Reds roster in disarray, and other star names like Habana and Louw now apply their club trade exclusively in Europe. 

While the short-term effects of this are a slight dip in standards, I don’t feel this is quite the ‘epidemic’ certain people have made it out to be. Fans of the competition shouldn’t be worrying about whether New Zealand, Australia or South Africa can produce world class young talent, they have proven this for years and this is why they have dominated world rugby for the past decade. If more players decide to leave, Super Rugby franchises will just have to get savvier in terms of drawing fans to the game – take for instance the Reds’ record signing of Ayumu Goromaru and the number of Japanese fans who will be buying tickets because of this.

 The overlying point here is that Super Rugby must be given time to grow, in terms of the competition, teams, and players. The kinks that exist can all be worked out in time, and it will undoubtedly continue to produce super heroes for any country involved.

[tomwatchingsports-blog]

GAMEDAY - Reds 13-15 Waratahs @ Suncorp Stadium