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[2019 Super Rugby] Semi Finals (29 June 2019)
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<blockquote data-quote="smartcooky" data-source="post: 948122" data-attributes="member: 20605"><p>I don't buy wholeheartedly into the travel argument. Yeah, its difficult, but its not impossible to overcome and it affects every team to some degree. Super Rugby has been going for 24 years now and the medical and fitness staff have created systems to manage the jet lag, for example, travelling early to maximise acclimatization time, the use of light early training runs building to the weekend, the use of compression garments during flight, and the administering melatonin supplements post flight. Additionally, all the players fly business class, and any traveller who has travelled cattle class and business class will know what a huge difference that makes.</p><p></p><p>I often hear this argument that South African teams are at a much greater disadvantage because of the eastward travel having a greater impact on the players. While this argument, which involves the advancing (rather than the less impactful retarding) of circadian rhythms is scientifically accurate, the effect actually balances out.... NZ and Australian teams, having become accustomed to South African time zones for two weeks, now have to travel eastwards when they come home to face their opponents. </p><p></p><p>For mine, a bigger problem with the current format is the local derbies. Yes, they are a big money-spinner, but they are also quite a disadvantage for NZ and South African teams because all their sides are top level and having them play each other twice in a season takes a severe physical toll on the players. I have to say I'm looking forward to Super Rugby going back to a single round robin where local derbies only happen once per season, though I'd like to see another Argentinian team to make up to 15 so that every team has the same number of home and away matches.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="smartcooky, post: 948122, member: 20605"] I don't buy wholeheartedly into the travel argument. Yeah, its difficult, but its not impossible to overcome and it affects every team to some degree. Super Rugby has been going for 24 years now and the medical and fitness staff have created systems to manage the jet lag, for example, travelling early to maximise acclimatization time, the use of light early training runs building to the weekend, the use of compression garments during flight, and the administering melatonin supplements post flight. Additionally, all the players fly business class, and any traveller who has travelled cattle class and business class will know what a huge difference that makes. I often hear this argument that South African teams are at a much greater disadvantage because of the eastward travel having a greater impact on the players. While this argument, which involves the advancing (rather than the less impactful retarding) of circadian rhythms is scientifically accurate, the effect actually balances out.... NZ and Australian teams, having become accustomed to South African time zones for two weeks, now have to travel eastwards when they come home to face their opponents. For mine, a bigger problem with the current format is the local derbies. Yes, they are a big money-spinner, but they are also quite a disadvantage for NZ and South African teams because all their sides are top level and having them play each other twice in a season takes a severe physical toll on the players. I have to say I'm looking forward to Super Rugby going back to a single round robin where local derbies only happen once per season, though I'd like to see another Argentinian team to make up to 15 so that every team has the same number of home and away matches. [/QUOTE]
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[2019 Super Rugby] Semi Finals (29 June 2019)
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