Boland to replace the Kings in Super rugby?

[unrated]

So we know that EP rugby is spectacularly crashing and that they wont contest the [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]liquidation order which means there is a strong likely-hood that somebody has to take their place. After reading that Boland has the best feeder system with the most clubs (219) and players (19000) of any rugby team in SA one cant help but wonder what such a team would do with the funding of super rugby maybe even with some help from SARU like they helped the Kings. They wont financially be able to compete with the big 3 in SA but im pretty sure they will be able to develop a strong team. Boland should be able to keep together a decent number of their players with the Super rugby income.
[/FONT]But regardless if Boland takes the place of the kings what we do know is that the rest of South Africa's Super rugby franchises will be able to stock up their depth options with the expected Kings exodus.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Columnists/TankLanning/time-to-be-bold-with-boland-20160728

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I don't know whether the Kings' potential exit will translate to increased depth for the other sides, at least not depth in quality. I like Marutlule and Hall but that's about it.

As for Boland... its a difficult one. Even though the Kings' inclusion was/is a joke mostly because of the administrative failings of the EP union, the province does have a lot of potential if the finances and administration could get right. But if they can't make it so be it. If I were the Pumas I'd be a tad miffed at the Boland getting a crack ahead of me though. That said the Boland has made massive strides. Clearing out the top structures and getting away from under the poorly administrated WPRU has done them a world of good and there's no question of their potential. They have the three biggest 'rugby' schools right in their heart. If they can keep up the good wrok administratively and get hold of some funding..

The question is what will that mean for the WPRU and the Stormers? I know a lot of people who'd be more inclined to associate with Boland rather than WP, myself included. I suppose the same could be said for EP and the inclusion of the Kings didn't harm the WP/Stormers from what I can gather. The question is more how will the junior talent be divided but even there the WP aren't currently holding on to those lads so I can't see much changing in any case.

I just wonder what 'identity' the Boland would/could take on in SR!? The Cavaliers in Black and gold? That horrible pink? The maroon of Maties, Paarl Gym and Paul Roos Gym and of red wine? the latter would probably be my hope mostly because I don't think we can pull of a Stade Francais and the Cavaliers? What link does the Boland have with cavaliers?

Its certainly an interesting opinion piece from Lanning, maybe because it hits so close to home for me but TBH I can't see anything come of it. WPRU will go in guns blazing to keep Maties and the big Boland schools in their clasps and can you imagine the stink from dropping the Kings even if they don't actually exist or are backed by anything of substance anymore (not that they ever were TBH!).

I love the Boland and see its potential but it'd to a certain extent be to the detriment of an existing franchize and if we are looking past the potential and potential in isolation of the EP district then the Pumas and Griquas have been more competitive for longer than the Boland even if I wouldn't back their potential as being more than that of either Boland or EP.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Ah, Once again Mr. Lanning jumping the gun and showing his obvious bias in favour of the Western Cape.

I didn't even have to read the whole article to get that bitter taste in my mouth. But I think it's way too early to make this call. Boland should prove themselves like the Pumas did the 3 years prior to this year. It wasn't that long ago we were all saying that the Pumas should replace the Kings, and now Mr. Lanning has completely forgotten about the lowvelders! He's also forgetting that Boland has now signed a deal with the Blue Bulls, and that their players will fall in the Bulls pool for Super Rugby duty.

 

[unrated]

The bulls will simply have too much depth to choose from.

 

[TRF_heineken]

The bulls will simply have too much depth to choose from.

True, but there is still a chance of the Bulls selecting core Boland members to join their wider pool of players. It won't hurt the Bulls so much, but it will be devastating for Boland. The other question is, if the Boland is now achieving because of their affiliation with the Bulls and seperating from the cancer that seems to lurk in the Stormers hallways...

 

[nickdnz]

Would be very happy to see a second Argentine franchise. South Africa simply doesn't have the depth for six franchises - and the situation isn't improving.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

In 10 years maybe. We do not have the players nor the resources now.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Would be very happy to see a second Argentine franchise. South Africa simply doesn't have the depth for six franchises - and the situation isn't improving.

I think we do have the depth for 6 franchises. It's the outside interference which is the current problem.

But I'm optimistic for the future. Afriforum has their meeting with the UN next week regarding the quota system in South African sport, and next week wednesday is our Municipal elections, And I have a suspicion after the elections, a lot of things will change.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I think we do have the depth for 6 franchises. It's the outside interference which is the current problem.

But I'm optimistic for the future. Afriforum has their meeting with the UN next week regarding the quota system in South African sport, and next week wednesday is our Municipal elections, And I have a suspicion after the elections, a lot of things will change.

Thats one of the issues. I too am hoping for the quta issue to die down (at least till the next election or RWC). The other is money. That one will be more difficult to address. I don't like the Top Leagues stints. Its just too much rugby for our guys. I am hoping for SARU to sell off the SR franchizes to the private sector.

As for depth, I feel we have enought to at least have 6 competitive starting XVs. Our youth can be our depth. As is we are relying on our young guys to step up and even though some of them do so its not ideal.

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]S Kitshoff[/TD]
[TD]T Mtawarira[/TD]
[TD]G Steenkamp[/TD]
[TD]T du Toit[/TD]
[TD]T Nyakane[/TD]
[TD]O Kebble / H Vd Merwe[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]B du Plessis[/TD]
[TD]M Marx[/TD]
[TD]A Strauss[/TD]
[TD]A Vd Merwe[/TD]
[TD]C Burden[/TD]
[TD]A Johnson / S Brits / S Ntubeni / E Marutlule / K Cooper[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]F Malherbe[/TD]
[TD]V Koch[/TD]
[TD]J Redelinghuys[/TD]
[TD]M Van Dyk[/TD]
[TD]J du Plessis[/TD]
[TD]J Adriaanse/ C Oosthuizen / P du Plessis / WP Nel / M Vd Merwe[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]E Etzebeth[/TD]
[TD]F Vd Merwe[/TD]
[TD]G Mostert[/TD]
[TD]L De Jager[/TD]
[TD]F Vd Merwe[/TD]
[TD]P Willemse / E Oosthuizen / J Marais[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]PS Du Toit[/TD]
[TD]F Mostert[/TD]
[TD]J Kruger[/TD]
[TD]A Bekker[/TD]
[TD]F Vd Merwe[/TD]
[TD]J Du Plessis / S Lewies / RG Snyman[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]H Brussow[/TD]
[TD]J Kriel[/TD]
[TD]M Coetzee[/TD]
[TD]F Louw[/TD]
[TD]S Kolisi[/TD]
[TD]B Prinsloo / R Ackerman[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]W Alberts[/TD]
[TD]S Burger[/TD]
[TD]J Smith[/TD]
[TD]B Le Roux[/TD]
[TD]JL Du Preez[/TD]
[TD]J Kirsten / W Tecklenburg / S Notshe[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]D Vermeulen[/TD]
[TD]P Spies[/TD]
[TD]N Carr[/TD]
[TD]D Du Preez[/TD]
[TD]CJ Stander[/TD]
[TD]A Botha / J Strauss / W Liebenberg / H Liebenberg[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]F De Klerk[/TD]
[TD]R Pienaar[/TD]
[TD]F Hougaard[/TD]
[TD]R Kockott[/TD]
[TD]R Cronje[/TD]
[TD]N Groom / P Van Zyl / C McLeod / R Page[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]H Pollard[/TD]
[TD]E Jantjies[/TD]
[TD]P Lambie[/TD]
[TD]J Goosen[/TD]
[TD]M Steyn[/TD]
[TD]R Du Preez / JL Du Plessis / G April[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]B Habana[/TD]
[TD]L Mvovo[/TD]
[TD]S Senatla[/TD]
[TD]C Skosan[/TD]
[TD]S Petersen[/TD]
[TD]L Zas[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]F Steyn[/TD]
[TD]D De Allende[/TD]
[TD]R Ebersohn[/TD]
[TD]R Jv Rensburg[/TD]
[TD]J Serfontein[/TD]
[TD]A Esterhuizen / B Odendaal[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]J Kriel[/TD]
[TD]L Mapoe[/TD]
[TD]P Jordaan[/TD]
[TD]F Venter[/TD]
[TD]H Vorster[/TD]
[TD]W Olivier[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]JP Petersen[/TD]
[TD]R Combrinck[/TD]
[TD]G Aplon[/TD]
[TD]C Hendricks[/TD]
[TD]R Rhule[/TD]
[TD]D Lleyds[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]L Ludik[/TD]
[TD]W Le Roux[/TD]
[TD]A Coetzee[/TD]
[TD]S Spedding[/TD]
[TD]W Gelant[/TD]
[TD]C Kolbe / J Taute / SP Marais / R Viljoen / Z Kirchner / S Ebersohn[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]


Just a quick run down off the top of my head.

The backs are typically dropping in quality but we could field 9 world class packs.

 

[CocoPampas]

Would be very happy to see a second Argentine franchise. South Africa simply doesn't have the depth for six franchises - and the situation isn't improving.

In 10 years maybe. We do not have the players nor the resources now.

If we wait 10 year to get a second Super Rugby team, it will be a big problem for the Pumas.
I think/hope the UAR's plan is to add the second team in 2020.

 

[Gena_ZA]

I would replace the Kings with a Islanders team, get money into that area, they need and deserve it to keep and grow their players

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I would replace the Kings with a Islanders team, get money into that area, they need and deserve it to keep and grow their players

That would make the conferences esier to handle as well. Simply have 3 conferences with Argentina joining SA, Japan with Aus and an PI invitational XV with NZ. Much easier to generate a format that isn't as lopsided around equally sized conferences. Pointless trying to get it perfect though; NZers will ***** and moan no matter what the chip on their collective shoulder (apart from a rare few who at least try to be reasonable) now comes in plural form and with fish. Its impossible for some to get it in their minds that an inter-continental tournament where each country differs so vastly won't be 'perfectly symmetrical' but they were more than happy to have SA bare the brunt of it for S10 till now. Now all of a sudden travel becomes a factor when the Crusaders and Highlanders are made to look ordinary at Ellis Park.