Africa-Press – South-Africa. While some Europeans might begrudge South Africa’s involvement in northern hemisphere competitions, former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad believes it’s “manna from heaven” for the country but could see the United Rugby Championship (URC) being the best place to play rugby.
During a URC media roundtable, Skinstad responded to a question regarding former Wales and British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton’s comments that the URC “doesn’t make sense”.
“There’s no doubting their ability. Fantastic rugby nation. League just doesn’t make sense and looks a random mix and match of clubs,” Warburton, who previously criticised the PRO14 for involving South African teams, tweeted this week.
Skinstad, however, saw the URC as possibly setting the standard for blended competitions, predicting that it “will be the best place to play rugby”.
“It’s manna from heaven for the South African rugby fans and the future of South African rugby,” said Skinstad.
“South African rugby went from being incredibly competitive in the Super 8, 10, 12 and 14. As it became a not-so-super multitude of teams, it became long, difficult tours across to games that weren’t even played in watchable time zones.
“South African rugby never benefitted nearly as much as the Australian and New Zealand teams for staying in and around their time zones for longer.
“This tournament allows the historically best teams in South Africa to play the historically best teams in places like Wales, Scotland, Ireland and potentially all across Europe, if you look at Champions Cup participation.
“This is a lifeline in terms of forcing South African rugby into a direction that has more traction for the national union and the provinces to care about having a season that complements each other.
“Sometimes things have to look haphazard before they get straightened out.
“The URC and its format are going to start putting more pressure on domestic only leagues in this sport in Europe. I think this (URC) will be the best place to play rugby.”
The other massive advantage for South African teams is seeing the country’s best players squaring off head-on with South African-based players on a frequent basis.
In the past, players competing for the same position but played in different hemispheres might have never clashed at all before a Springbok side is decided.
This weekend, though, will see Bok No 8 incumbent Duane Vermeulen collide with Stormers pretender Evan Roos when the Stormers host Ulster in the URC semi-finals in Cape Town on Saturday (15:00).
This will be amplified when the Sharks, Bulls and Stormers play in the Champions Cup next year and the Lions and Cheetahs in the Challenge Cup.
“You’ve got players that are playing in the same timelines as other players you might have lost to a European competition or team,” said Skinstad.
“Now they are playing against each other. In the Champions Cup, we could have every available South African loose-forward facing each other in the tournament or playoffs.
“I was at a function this week with Jasper Wiese, who has been playing Premiership and will not have played with or against any of his South African contemporaries except the guys in his own team.
“However, if Leicester Tigers reach the heights they look promising enough to reach, he could be playing in the Heineken Cup against the other South African loose-forwards.
“I think that’s outstanding for the national coach to see that, which is a view the national coaches of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have been able to do for the last 10 years but South Africa haven’t.
“It’s very healthy for South African rugby.”
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