Yeooh k. For such amazing players they never actually play that well, not since TVs were invented anyway
3 Australian teams in the top 6 of the Super 14 this year Jer1cho.
South African doesn't have depth, it has two teams (Bulls and Stormers) who steal every good player from other regions, or anyone without loyalty.
Victor Matfield used to play for the Cats. Steenkamp used to play for the Cats. Zane Kirchner? The list goes on quite a way.
Yeooh k. For such amazing players they never actually play that well, not since TVs were invented anyway
Australia (Brumbies and Reds are buying everybody, although they are slightly more balanced thanks to the Waratahs)
The Stormers are not that good. This year was the first time they actually made it to the Super14 play-offs. They do steal a lot of players from other teams but then again, that happens everywhere. The problem with SA rugby is that there is too much rivalry within the national squad. You can see the different groups during a training-session. Bulls on one side of the field, Stormers/WP on the other side, Sharks somewhere in the middle and there you have it! A national team divided into 3 groups. Whenever I see training sessions of other national teams I see a team, a group of 25 people. They have fun, share a laugh, make a joke.
That's the way it should be. Not teammates treating each other as the opponent just because they play for a different club.
If this is the problem in the current squad I don't see how Mr. White would solve this.
Saying 80% of the All Blacks are Hurricanes or Crusaders is misleading as the Chiefs and Blues also have a decent number of players in the mix but out of favour, injured or knocking on the door and that mix will vary greatly year to year. The one constant obviously has been the Crusaders dominating but when they win every second year its not hard to see why. New Zealand has a much more even spread of players than South Africa and most years atleast 4 competitive teams.New Zealand (Crusaders and Hurricanes have 80% of the All Blacks)
Australia (Brumbies and Reds are buying everybody, although they are slightly more balanced thanks to the Waratahs)
South Africa (Bulls and Stormers buy everyone, as you rightly pointed out, but the Sharks also have a number of SA players in the national squad.)
What I meant was where Australia have a 'star' every once in a while, we seem to produce these guys every year. Francois Hougaard, Patrick Lambie (who, mark my words, is going to be one of the best Springboks ever), Elton Jantjes of The Lions is another definite future Bok. I think it's just because rugby is taken far more seriously here than in Aus, and we have a billion rugby schools and clubs.
Sams got 2 hats
New Zealand has a much more even spread of players than South Africa and most years atleast 4 competitive teams.
Im not so sure about that one Woody, its a hard thing to prove considering South Africa is a bigger country with more registered players than New Zealand. That does not mean your wrong though, I just think its a bold statement.New Zealand has a much more even spread of players than South Africa and most years atleast 4 competitive teams.