Calls for enlarged Currie Cup Premier Division have merit

Calls for the flawed SA Cup rugby competition to be scrapped in favour of an all-inclusive and more lucrative 14-team Currie Cup Premier Division have considerable merit and should be seriously considered by the game’s decision-makers.

The pleas come hot on the heels of speculation that SA Rugby bosses could be on the verge of pulling their teams out of the Investec Champions Cup.

Many overworked SA players are in action 12 months a year, and this heavy workload is having a negative impact on their well-being.

It’s time for the flawed SA Cup rugby competition to be scrapped and replaced with a better-funded, all-inclusive 14-team Currie Cup, which would also feature the EP Elephants, Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn says. His impassioned plea came after last week’s dramatic clash when the Cheetahs edged Griquas 32-31 to retain their Currie Cup status at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. Because the SA Cup offers four lucrative qualifying berths for the Currie Cup, criticism has been levelled at the lack of technology and the absence of television match officials (TMOs) at matches. “Looking at how the teams have performed this year, you could just as well have one big Currie Cup. That’s my opinion,” Steyn told OFM Sport. “The Valke were good and definitely not pushovers, and the Griffons also showed their quality. If you had one expanded Currie Cup, then maybe this competition [SA Cup] wouldn’t even be necessary. “I’ve said before that the Currie Cup needs to be made bigger and backed properly financially. There are people who still care deeply about the competition [Currie Cup] and with private equity coming into rugby, there’s an opportunity. Put proper prize money on the Currie Cup and make the big unions play their strongest sides to compete for something like R10 million. Then the competition will grow again “Put proper prize money on the Currie Cup and make the big unions play their strongest sides to compete for something like R10m. Then the competition will grow again.” “Look at France. Their rugby unions generate some of the biggest revenues in the world. If you watch their first division, second division or even club rugby, the stadiums are full, the supporters pitch up and the television money is enormous.” A concerned Steyn said missed big moments in games because of the absence of TMOs could have dire financial consequences. “During our game against Griquas there was that kick into the corner that the player took back over the line,” he said. “That was a massive moment. “From the start, my issue with the SA Cup has been the lack of technology. If we had got the scrum there, maybe we score and the whole game changes. “At the end, we almost lost because if he had kicked that ball out, we lose. Those are massive moments in games and I don’t think people always realise how important this competition is. “This competition is bigger than the United Rugby Championship and bigger than a lot of other competitions because teams can genuinely be knocked out. This competition is bigger than the United Rugby Championship and bigger than a lot of other competitions because teams can genuinely be knocked out “What happens to those players and coaches then? It always comes back onto the coaches. You can’t blame the referees because there’s no TMO, but there are definitely things that need to be looked at in the SA Cup.” Steyn’s plea has been backed by Griquas coach Pieter Bergh, who would also like the Currie Cup revamped. “If officials cannot do it [provide TMOs for the SA Cup], we must have a 14-team Currie Cup without qualification,” he said. “Teams like the Valke, SWD and EP are getting better — although there are a few teams still falling short.” Looking ahead to his team’s semifinal against the Pumas in Mbombela on Friday, Steyn said: “We’re working hard on our defence, but I’d really like us to play proper Free State rugby again. “We’re spending a lot more time on attack because that’s also important. “Defence is about heart and attitude. If you’ve got the right mindset and you’re willing to put your body on the line, defence becomes easier. That’s what you saw from us against Griquas.” SA Cup semifinals Friday, 6pm: Pumas v Cheetahs; Saturday, 1pm: Griquas v Boland Kavaliers. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Talk that SA is set to review its competition structure has added fuel to conjecture that the Currie Cup could be beefed up and the SA Cup scrapped.

Leading the chorus for a radical revamp of how provincial rugby is structured in SA are Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn and Griquas’ respected mentor Pieter Bergh.

Because the SA Cup offers four money-spinning qualifying berths for the Currie Cup, criticism has been levelled at organisers about the lack of technology and absence of TMOs (television match officials) at high-stakes matches.

A concerned Steyn said missed big moments by officials in crucial showdowns could have dire financial consequences for unions if they fail to make the top four.

If the struggling EP Elephants want to achieve the level of success their coaches, supporters and management crave, they must recruit high-quality players to boost their squad, Griquas coach Pieter Bergh says. Bergh made the assessment after a second-half try-scoring blitz powered his Currie Cup-winning team to a 52-9 win over EP at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. The Elephants were still in the fight at halftime when they trailed 14-9, but Griquas turned on the after-burners in the second half to stretch their winning SA Cup streak to six matches. “You can see the structures are there with this EP team, and you can see what Allister Coetzee (head coach) and Matt Proudfoot (forwards coach) are trying to do,” Bergh said. “A good coach is not enough. “You need good players and you need to hold onto these players and build a team. “You also need continuity. “What Heyneke Meyer (head coach at the SWD Eagles) has done is to put together a whole new squad in six months that can compete. “EP do lack a bit of quality, but the structure is there “I was very concerned about this game, and the first half showed what EP can do. “You don’t have two or three years to build a team; you have to get it right quickly. “You can see there is progress (at EP), but you need good players as well.” Bergh said EP dominated the kicking game in the first half, which had forced Griquas to change their strategy at halftime. “I thought EP dominated the kicking game in the first half and almost played a Test match type of game where they kicked a lot of contestables and tried to turn us around at every opportunity they got, and we lost the aerial battle. “Griquas did not get any territory so the message at halftime was if can we just start winning those small little kicking battles, and get field position and territory, then we can strangle them “I thought that penalty try just before halftime started to change things for us. “We said we have to break EP down and force some bad kicks and get some counter-attacks going “And that is what happened in the second half. ‘We strangled EP and got scrums, lineout dominance and territory which allowed us to apply pressure." Bergh said Griquas’ ambition is to be the best non-United Rugby Championship side in SA. “There are talks of Griquas playing in an international competition and hopefully something will be announced shortly,” he said. Our ambition is to be the best non-URC team in SA, and that is not just based on performance. It will also be based on our team culture, finances and how the union is run and how we look after our players “I can’t say which tournament yet. “Our ambition is to be the best non-URC team in SA, and that is not just based on performance. “It will also be based on our team culture, finances and how the union is run and how we look after our players. “When the opportunity becomes available to play in an overseas competition, we want to be ready. “Griquas want to show we deserve an opportunity to play at that level. “We don’t look too far ahead, and we need another win to qualify for the Currie Cup Premier Division. “Hopefully we can get that win as soon as possible. “We want to qualify for the Currie Cup and then try and win the SA Cup, and we also want to defend our Currie Cup title. “Griquas are in a good position now, but we have the Pumas this week, which is going to be a really tough game in Kimberley.” Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Bergh correctly points out that if SA Rugby cannot ensure TMOs are in place, it was time to bin the SA Cup and let all 14 unions compete in the Currie Cup Premier Division.

If more money is found to fund an enlarged Currie Cup, some of the new cash would surely trickle down to cash-strapped unions like the EP Elephants and Border Bulldogs, who are unable to boost their squads with quality players.

With teams like the Bulls and Sharks visiting Gqeberha and KuGompo City in an enlarged Currie Cup, interest among the public would soar.

Participation at a higher level would also make EP and the Bulldogs a more attractive proposition for sponsors wanting to get involved in the game.

If pleas for an enlarged and more lucrative Currie Cup fall on deaf ears, the game could stagnate among unions trapped in the lower tiers.

• Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world.

The Herald