Unrest in Europe: The battle lines have been drawn
This week we will mostly be concerning ourselves with tumult in Europe, unrest in South Africa, a new perspective on referee complaints and a week of tragic losses.
This week in South Africa: The coach apparently called up an aged lock from France as an emergency measure after the first-choice lock was banned for head-butting, only for that call to be denied by the French club and then the existence of any call-up denied. One of the country's brightest players spoke publicly of his irritation at not getting any game time. Another of the country's better back-row talents exited in disgust at both his lack of chances in the national team and his Super Rugby team having the rug pulled from under its feet. He says he is now gunning to play for Scotland. The national side stumbled to another defeat, with another ridiculous loss of discipline costing them at a crucial moment and the same weak links in the side costing them the rest of the time.
It's a tough time to be a South African rugby fan right now, even more so to be the national coach. But two things we will say for Heyneke Meyer: he appears to be significantly better at handling criticism - deflecting is probably the better word - than his predecessor, and the game-plan so lambasted from every corner does have its merits at times; had the Boks beaten the All Blacks on Saturday, few would have been able to say they hadn't earned it.
Yet - and we have said this before - it was the lack of elite skills that looked the most costly. A dreadful pass from Zane Kirchner to an even worse flat-positioned Bryan Habana. A similar pass direct to touch later on, the pass delivered with twice as much power as required and less than half the accuracy. Two tries gone begging, both of which would have seen the Boks hit the front long before Habana's moment of magic. They can blame the ball all they want for missed kicks, but had the Boks just been able to play when required, they would have won. No game-plan is going to make up for that aspect this year.
It's been touched on elsewhere, so we're not going to ramble on too much about it, but the BT deal with Premier Rugby is nothing short of a revolution. It's whipped up a frenzy in all European rugby's offices, sent hordes of officials into dark filing cabinets and contractual clauses to find out just exactly who has rights to what, from and until when and who the best people to align with are.
And nobody knows right now. Premier Rugby (PRL) appear to have all this money promised, but for a tournament which doesn't actually exist yet. ERC also have a lot of money coming from BSkyB, also for a tournament which is now threatened with serious devaluation should the English clubs not participate.
It's ironic that the French - often the lone mavericks sparking such situations - are the ones sitting back and looking to choose their allies - on the one side England, fighting for a fairer future in terms of European qualification and structure, but on the other the Celtic Nations and ERC's stability - and the French are financially independent enough to more than survive under any circumstance. Meanwhile, Welsh, Scots, Irish and Italians are all now carrying on as best they can but labouring under a deeply uncertain top-end competition future over which they have little control. It was a wobbly future anyway, but the way PRL has gone about this business has enraged most of the other parties.
What is significant is how bold this move is by PRL, how much conviction it carries. They've had hissy fits before: strikes and threats and posturing, but to put pen to paper over so much money, to destabilise their European relations so thoroughly, is a real statement, one strong enough even to make the RFU make a comment.
European rugby now really does stand on the brink, but so might PRL. If the French decide that the possibility of losing matches like Clermont v Leinster is too much of a risk, they may side with the Pro12 clubs, leaving England alone. What happens to English rugby then? No European competition? Catastrophe...
PRL have taken a massive risk with this move, the risk factor shown in the rumbles of discontent from some club owners in England, not sure if it was a risk worth taking. Meanwhile, the French are asking lengthy and valid questions of PRL and the Celts are manning the battle stations. Once again, European rugby is drawn into discussion in a hostile and reactive atmosphere rather than a pro-active one.
Tuesday's ERC meeting is going to be a watershed moment. For some more than others.
There were plenty of disparaging comments on George Clancy's officiating on Saturday, which is par for the course these days. Elite referees just don't get a break.
But here's a perspective: in America at the moment, the NFL officials are on strike over certain conditions of their contract. That's a lot of officials too - you're talking about 150 plus.
In their place are 'replacement' officials, pulled up from amateur or semi-professional ranks and thrust into cauldrons all over the country. While their endeavours are earnest, their performances are at times almost comical in their ineptitude. One - four weeks ago just another NFL-mad American - was pulled from the roster for a game this weekend after it was revealed his Facebook timeline contained pics of him wearing fan gear of the team he was supposed to be officiating!
The highest level of the sport just moves at a different pace and with a whole host of different tricks. Elite referees know how to handle it way better than anyone else, even if they don't always get it right.
Can you imagine how rugby would be if that happened? Aside from your team winning more, obviously...
Outside of all the politicking, it's been a rough week for the fraternity all over the place.
In Ulster, the squad and community are still reeling from the dreadful loss of Nevin Spence to a bizarre farm accident over the weekend, while Perpignan's big day out - and big win - in Barcelona were tainted by the loss to a sudden heart attack of team bus driver Paul Okesene. In South Africa, the almost as sudden loss of former Springbok analyst Malome Peter Maimane has left many saddened.
Our condolences to all. Kind of makes all the unnecessary politics taste a little sour doesn't it?
Loose Pass compiled by Richard Anderson
Comments
jaycee_111 says...
davodiablo
what's unfair about the HC qualification process is that the PRL are not allowed to tell other leagues how they should run their qualification process or treat their players. The proof that this is unfair is that English and French clubs are not winning the HC when it is their divine right to do so. It has nothing what so ever to do with any other cause or the lack of skill of their teams to say so is just pure fantasy.
Hope that answers your question.
Posted 20:43 17th September 2012
jaycee_111 says...
Sandal says
So our elite referees don't show their allegiances?
Wayne Barnes was reported on television to have given a triumphant fist clench when France scored their try in the World Cup final.
That's something more than fair-minded, even-handed applause.
I am friends with an ex international Irish referee long since retired who regularly cheered when England lost when he was a ref. I have been to tournaments with a ex top Welsh international referee who hated with a passion English people. Neither of then was ever accused of bias when they refereed England and I watched them closely and I can tell you they were not and I can assure you neither is Wayne Barnes. One perceived error which was actually the TJs and a whole nation hates him do you wonder he likes to watch them lose? Top referees are not biased in anyway when they get on the pitch it is difficult to actually do without being noticed, try it when you are out on Saturday. I did once at a charity game for a laugh and it was very difficult or don't you have a clue about refereeing?
Posted 20:20 17th September 2012
Rosbif says...
@davodiablo. hehehe. assuming you're serious, here goes with the French side of the story:
French clubs have massive budgets cos of massive TV figures and attendances at grounds, plus billionaire club owners. So they can and do buy lots of foreign stars (although % limits and salary caps are in place). And bash each other up relentlessly for money. 80%+ of their revenue comes from their domestic club competition. Top 14 its called. That's 26 games + 3 knock-out games for the winner. Virtually every team in T14 is packed full of stars. No easy games. Bottom clubs get relegated every year. Top ones are allowed to play HCup. Simple. Clubs begrudgingly allow French players 4 days off before test matches during the autumn and 6N etc. But they just don't see the point in letting them play HCup games anymore since there's virtually no money in it (relatively speaking), and the Celtic nations are waiting to ambush them with fresh players who don't have a tough league week-in week-out.
I'll leave it to the Brits and Celts to put forward their respective points of view.
Posted 19:40 17th September 2012
crunchfit says...
@melkdave
No, I'm not. Besides, you said you posted cold hard facts / truths. Edinburgh are being used as an example to suggest that any team can and would just abandon the Pro12. Perhaps a team could, but they wouldn't. Edinburgh didn't. Regardless, only 4 clubs could and only 2 of those would have a chance of being competitive, let alone making it to the pool stages or winning. They are professional teams. Nobody would or has willingly abandoned their league, Celtic Nation or otherwise. The HC and Celtic League / Pro12 have been around for a while I am not aware of any team to do so. That wasn't what broke the camel's back - it has always been that way.
Anyway, the point of the HC is to improve European rugby. The French and English were happy to allow certain teams to auto-qualify when the competition began and right up until now. If you find it biased and unfair, perhaps that point should have been made when you agreed to join the competition. It could also have been made soon after the competition began, during the period where the French dominated, during the period where the English dominated or just after that. That's a long time not to complain considering how big this issue is being made out to be. It's strange that it also coincides with the dominance of nations other than the French or English.
Concerns weren't ignored. This is a very recent issue and already, it seems that a lot is about to be done. I think Scottish and Italian clubs should auto-qualify still but if the qualification were to be changed to the proposed system to keep the HC alive, I would accept that. Also, the Irish teams wouldn't be greatly affected either so strictly from a fan's point of view, that wold also be OK.
And just out of interest, where do you get your statistics regarding income for French and English cubs?
Posted 18:11 17th September 2012
davodiablo says...
I've yet to actually read what is thought to be unfair about the HC qualification system . Could someone please explain ?
Posted 17:30 17th September 2012
Willy says...
@StunTheMullet
Maybe the SH teams just need to learn to play within the laws of the game???
Posted 17:29 17th September 2012
LondonWasp says...
it will be just my luck if London Wasps actually for the HC for the first time in many seasons and then it all stops... bummer
oh and before all the typical english bashing starts, it is the old farts in offices who will be making the decision, not the average england rugby fan/player, so take your hate to the boring corporate people instead please, not us.
i dont have much of an opinion on the whole HC mess, as like i said, Wasps havn't been in it since2007/8 i think, although a third tier competition with Romanian, georgian, and russian teams sounds pretty good. strengthen Europe as a whole, and boost rugby fanbase worldwide is no bad thing...
anyway, its a long time away, and completely irrelevent, but i am BUZZING about the next 6nations..... thought i would sneak that in there.... not sure why...... but i think it will definately be awesome!
Posted 16:17 17th September 2012
Tombomb says...
Provyd I couldn't have said it better myself.
Posted 15:44 17th September 2012
StunTheMullet says...
NH referees should be banned from the Rugby Championship as the whistle happy fare served up this year has destroyed a fair few games.
Exhibit A - Clown prince George Clancy whistling up 11 penalties against NZ and 14 against SA where many were marginal.
At about 1-2 minutes per penalty (optimistic shots at goal from 50 metres, kicking down field for lineouts etc.) then thats maybe 30-40 minutes all up of nothing happening...
Though George came second to his countryman Allain Rollands butchering of the Australia vs All Blacks game in Sydney with 27 penalties.
Maybe next time eh George?
Posted 15:25 17th September 2012
melkdave says...
@Crunchfit
Again you are missing the point at issue,the simple fact that Edinburgh could abandon their league campaign with no consequences is the issue.They are auto qualified no matter what .What is to stop any other club ,doing exactly the same.Thats a gamble that no english or french club could even contemplate ,as 80% of their income comes from their league games.It was the straw that broke the camels back,so to speak The qualification critea is unfair and biasided against those clubs ,not funded by their unions ,but standing on their on feet.and before you suggest it ,just why should the RFU or FFR fund their clubs,thats not their job.Their remit is to run the game in their countries fairly ,and to IRB regulations ,and support the national teams at international leval.Now unfortunatly the PRL has decided to start again on a european leval,you can only ignore peoples concerns for so long ,before they do something about it ,and 5-6 yrs min ,i think is long enough dont you.
Posted 15:23 17th September 2012
JayStarr says...
Thanks for going lighter on the South Africans this week Anderson, that was a bit more measured and agreeable. May I just point out regarding the kicking: Morné Steyn totally screwed up very kickable kicks, while Francois Steyn and Johan Goosen missed by a fraction kicks that few other international kickers would've even attempted. So don't brush them with the same comb.
Posted 15:15 17th September 2012
kid_diablo says...
@melkdave: just on your point that ap clubs don't need hc money, it's not that they don't need it it's that they need more. only 4 ap clubs made a profit last year so they are all desperate to get more money regardless of the damage they do to european rugby as a whole.
Posted 14:40 17th September 2012
crunchfit says...
It looks to me like sour grapes for certain posters rather than having an issue with qualification for the HC. I understand why an English / French person might want the qualification process changed, although this is contrary to the reason why the HC was introduced.
The Irish clubs would have had the same success under the current qualification system or the one proposed. Look at their placements in the league table over the last few seasons. As for Edinburgh, they did not completely abandon the Pro12. They used pretty much the same team leading during the Pro12, leading up to the HC stages and during them. There were no complaints before they beat Toulouse. As I said, I can understand wanting to change the qualification process but comments like these are really just people trying to hind their whining behind the actual issue.
Posted 14:23 17th September 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
The Spence thing brings a little perspective to all of the other nonsense doesn't it
Posted 12:22 17th September 2012
melkdave says...
Well ill start with whats going on in SA this week,that SARU have created a big mess concerning S15 partisapation is a given.That players from the Lions and Kings are angry and ,uncertain of their futures ect is also a given,and just shows that politics has no place in sport.I personnally feel replacing the Lions with the Kings was a mistake,merging the Lions with the Cheetahs was the way to go,but then giving the Kings just one season to prove themselves in S15 was also a mistake.No team is going to do well 1st season in S15 ,and the Kings are odds on to finish 15th and bottom,and not add anything to the competion at all..As to lack of oppotunity in the national team ,well atm that does look to be true,Hopefully HM will change his gameplan ,and start playing those players who can expand on it soon,myself i feel not before the aurtum internationals though.
As to the PRL deal with BT Vision,ive posted on the revalent thread .where it seems im not to popular with our celtic posters.All ive done is post cold hard facts /truths.That having had no discussion on qualification on merit for 5-6 years at least,and please note that predates the irish clubs present successes in the HEC,its no wonder the PRL and i expect the french LNR got frustrated,of course the final straw was Edinburghs total adbandonment of their league campaign for HEC success.PRL then decided to look at other options ,and on the face of it found a good one for them.Ill also say that along with the french clubs english clubs atm ,dont need the money ,as the HEC brings in just 10% of income maxs .Personnally i would have liked it solved with in the present set up.Unfortunatly thats not going to happen now ,the ERC and HEC atm are dead .
I also send my condolenseces to all Ulster fans /players and N.Spencers family a tragic loss to them and irish rugby,and to all those others affected today by tragady
Posted 12:19 17th September 2012
sandal says...
So our elite referees don't show their allegiances?
Wayne Barnes was reported on television to have given a triumphant fist clench when France scored their try in the World Cup final.
That's something more than fair-minded, even-handed applause.
Posted 11:55 17th September 2012
APV1 says...
I'm looking forward to the England-bashing comments, which are sure to follow.
Despite some Saffa's insistence, it's quite obvious that everything that is wrong in world rugby stems from the arrogant, whinging, boring English RFU and the AP clubs.
@ PR - I couldn't agree more with your final paragraph. Everything is suddenly thrust into perspective and everything else doesn't seem to matter quite as much.
Posted 11:54 17th September 2012
provyd says...
"on the one side England, fighting for a fairer future in terms of European qualification and structure"
They just don't get it, do they? The qualification process for English clubs is decided by the RFU, not the ERC. As such it can be changed by the RFU and PRL, if only they were capable of talking to each other, without threatening the entire future of the HC.
As to the "fair structure" argument, PRL deliberately misinterprets the HC structure. The HC is not a competition of domestic leagues: it is a competition of clubs from different nations. Just because the Celtic nations and Italy have decided to work together is not a reason to diminish their involvement in the HC.
The PRL is demonstrably incapable of working together with anyone: it can see only as far as its own self-importance, and has proved to be a divisive force both within England and in Europe.
Incidentally, it may surprise the PRL to learn that the HC was set up to strengthen the whole of European rugby, not to fill the coffers of English clubs.
Posted 11:23 17th September 2012
Scrumpoacher says...
Love the idea of a third European comp that's been suggested to consist of '2nd tier' club teams from Georgia Romania etc I agree that the celts have an unfair advantage though in the H Cup...
Posted 11:20 17th September 2012