[2016 Super Rugby] Cheetahs vs. Kings (Round 12) 14/05/2016

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Toyota Stadium
Time: 17:05 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Somehow I still feel a NZ team might pitch up and win this fixture

Seriously, those sides have been so dominant and these two in particular so poor. We (SARU and the individual unions themselves) really need to do something about how the game is run in SA. Its embarassing and the Aus teams struggling is no excuse for us to do so as well IMO. I know the guys running the show in SA (rugby-wise) can't do much about the economic and political situation but still.. its embarassing.

 

[Regan]

The Kings are an absolute joke addition, they were first time around and are again. The crowd was pathetic in their last game, probably only 1000 there. Politics for you.

Cheetahs are a lil underrated/ underperforming imo this season. Cheetahs should get the win here.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The Cheetahs are in a difficult place in that they simply can't compete with the other 4 unions ITO cash nevermind the Euro and Japanese clubs so just can't keep a hold of their players. Venter is captain and I think De Jager is only there because he is a 'proper Bloem boy'. They lost all of Nyakane, Strauss, Oosthuizen, Le Roux and Brussow for the season and have a brand new coach. Even before that their player turn-over has been huge, the season before it was Lappies Labuschagne, Philip van der Walt and Rob Ebersohn off the top of my head. I can't see them getting out of that cycle. 2012 too 2013 they managed to keep their players and made the play-offs but I expect we won't see that again.

The Kings on the other hand have a lot of potential on paper. Port Elizabeth and the rest of the Eastern Province is just a bigger (and slightly richer) catchment area and more centralized. The issue there is and has been even before SA were readmitted poor management (or ratehr total mismanagement) of the sport in the area. We are talking about corrupt officials and too many hands pilfering the unions' pockets. The union is currently facing potential liquidation pending court hearings and the players we see playing on TV are playing for food stamps and the chance to be spotted and nothing else. Its a pity as the province has the structures at grass roots but things unravel on the way up and players rather play for other unions. We could've seen players such as Johan Goosen, Elton Jantjies, Jan Serfontein, Siya Kolisi, Jacques and Dewald Potgieter ad plenty more play for their province but for poor management and political interference. The president of EP Rugby has been dodging meetings as reports are going around that the board wants to put in a vote of no confidence. It'll unfortunately get uglier before it gets better but taking a long view the Union does have the fan base, infrastructure and talent to go forward. All it needs is good guidance.

 

[TRF_heineken]

The Kings are an absolute joke addition, they were first time around and are again. The crowd was pathetic in their last game, probably only 1000 there. Politics for you.

Cheetahs are a lil underrated/ underperforming imo this season. Cheetahs should get the win here.

They were a joke addition the first time around, nobody disputes that and there were a lot of outcry about it. But I think their inclusion is somewhat warranted, although, what happened due to mismanagement by the Union, is unfortunate. They are basically a semi-pro team, and they are registered as an amateur team for the upcoming Currie Cup tournament.

But I don't think they are the worst team in the SR, that IMO has to go to the Sunwolves. The Kings under SARU's administration, will only become stronger and better, both on the field and off it.

 

[back2back]

The Kings need to be dropped from the competition, their last home game vs the Blues had literally 50 people attending.