Are the EP Kings being made SARU’s scapegoat for their failings regarding transformation and poor administration? Transformation in itself is a term that has been loosely bandied about for many years and every newly appointed administrator swears that they will do more to improve the profile of the black rugby playing South African. Yet nothing progressive is ever done. It is obvious that the Kings and by definition LW, are the poster child for something much deeper and at fault with South African rugby. What separates SA Rugby from Aussie or Kiwi rugby? Why is it, that despite the sheer magnitude of depth that this country has at its disposal, that those 2 countries with so much less seem to do so much more with it?

South African sports as a whole, unfortunately walks hand-in-hand with South African politics. Thankfully sports has no need, use or room for politics. Sports is pure, yet our administrator’s and governors seem to do everything in their power to somehow use sports to make political statements. Sport is uncomplicated. If you run the fastest, you win the race, if you swim the best you get the gold and if you punch the hardest you win the fight. Politics in sport is about as useful as a hole in the head. We all know the history of this great country, and everyone works twice as hard to be accommodating and to do their part to put the ills of our past behind us, yet for all our efforts, there is always something sinister at work that has to remind us that we are different. Of course we are different, imagine how dreary this world would be if we were all the same.

Administrators, Politicians and the general public at large need to realize that people belonging to certain ethnic groups will excel in certain sports that others don’t. Human beings are designed to flourish in their native environments. A perfect example would be the Aborigines in Australia. Their bodies have evolved to allow their body temperatures to raise and lower. This is how they are able to survive with little clothing and shelter in hot days and cold nights. Another great example would be the native tribes in Alaska. Their hands have extra layers of fat on them so that they can use them in the cold air and water without freezing. In both cases their bodies have adapted and evolved to survive in their surroundings. Simply put, it takes all sorts to make this world work. In SA the white male Afrikaner is just built better for forward play rugby, much the same as the black male south african just happens to be faster over 100m. So rather than looking at what makes us different as something negative, why not rather look at what makes us different as positive and work on that and use it to our advantage.

There is definitely too much argument about how white the Springboks are, yet there is no argument that Bafana Bafana are too black. If that isn’t being hypocritical then I don’t know what is. It is a simple fact that young black boys grow up wanting to play football rather than rugby, much the same as young white boys grow up wanting to play rugby. So it is natural that these are the sports that they will gravitate towards and excel at. If the focus is on race in sport, then more should be done by SAFA to promote Football in schools not known to be pro-Football. The simple fact is, while everyone is arguing about race in sport, no-one is focusing on the fact that sports administrators in charge of growing and funding development of sport in South Africa are failing dismally at their task. There doesn’t seem to be any accountability, and when there is accountability, look no further than the fiasco that is Cricket South Africa. There simply isn’t enough *facepalm* in all the world for them.

The EP Kings and their inclusion in Super Rugby is definitely a massive step in the right direction, but they are being held responsible for SARU’s glaring ineptitude and handling of the whole process of their inclusion. If SARU administrators had half a brain they may have considered a quick phone call to SANZAR CEO Greg Peters before opening their big mouths about SA fielding another Super Rugby team in 2013. A phone call that I can only imagine may have gone a little something like this:

Telephone rings. Greg Peters answers.

GP: “Hello, Greg Peters here.”

Jurie Roux (SARU CEO): “Greg, howzit china, it’s Jurie Roux. “

GP: “Oh, Jurie, G’day mate. How’s things going?”

JR: “Ja hey, things are going well. Listen china, we’re busy brainstorming here, I just want to ask you a quick question. Have you got a moment?”

GP: “For you mate, anytime. Go ahead.”

JR: “We’re considering adding another Team to the Super 15. Can this in the current format be done?”

GP: “Nah mate, no can do. Current broadcast rights won’t allow for it and we can’t do anything about it until 2015.”

JR: “Ag nee man, that’s not what I was hoping to hear. Are you sure nothing can be done about it?”

GP: “Nah mate, nothing.”

JR: “Okay, thanks. Go well. Chat soon”

There, I just solved the entire Kings/Lions conundrum in a single phone call, so why couldn’t SARU have done the same. Now instead, many are hoping and sadly more so, looking forward to the Kings being pummeled in the S15 as just retribution of sorts for the Lions having being politically relegated. SARU’s sheer ineptitude in the handling of both Franchises furthermore proves that while the game may have moved into the professional era, administration in South Africa has not. In dealing with the aftermath, SARU made worse a situation that was already terminal by only guaranteeing the Kings inclusion in S15 for a single year (2013).

Without the full backing from SARU, in order for the Kings to really make a go of it, their hand was forced which meant looking for quality players outside of South Africa to give them the best chance at success, because all top SA players are already on contracts. Say what you want about the Kings, but even they know that the jump from Currie Cup 1st Division to Super Rugby without experienced campaigners is going to be tough and as we all know, every new team to the competition takes a beating in their first year.

The Kings are well within their rights to request special allowance to field more than 2 foreigners in their team. Once again SARU’s ineptitude pretty much guarantees the Kings the SA conference wooden spoon and most likely the S15 wooden spoon. They will then play a promotion/relegation match against a Lions team strengthened by the return of their top players and after a 2013 season with one purpose and one purpose only, to smash the Kings at the end of a long and arduous S15 campaign to reclaim their spot among the Southern Hemisphere’s elite franchise teams. This leaves the Kings in the cold and in all likelihood very little chance of gaining promotion to S15 again until 2015 when the competition rules are set to be amended to include a 6th South African Franchise, an action that will further dilute the competition. Click this link on the failings of the Super 15 format to further highlight what I mean.

SARU, will then be in the free and clear, because they will turn around and say that they gave the Kings their shot, and as far as SA Government officials go, they will be satisfied yet again with SARU’s less than mediocre attempt to bringing “equality” to the game of rugby in South Africa. Luke Watson, Kings administrator’s and Cheecky Watson will continue to take abuse and the Kings will be the laughing-stock of SA Rugby. Earlier I asked, what it is about Luke Watson that makes him such a hotbed of conversation? This is all I have to say about the man:

Luke Watson is a brilliant rugby player that in a moment of madness put his foot in his mouth. It can happen to any of us. LW made the mistake that as a player, he mixed sports and politics. This country is undoubtedly “Bok Befok” and any negative utterance about the Green and Gold is bound to be met with some serious consequences. LW goes into this tournament with a massive target painted on his back, yet for all this criticism, he is here, he may be playing in a “lesser” team, but he is still here, raising his hand and making himself heard. It can’t be easy for him, and for that I have alot of respect for the man. I have had many conversations with my friends, be they black, white or coloured, and the name Luke Watson always brings a strong reaction to the table, and while I think he was a bonehead for saying what he did, I get where it comes from, I just don’t think it was his place to mix sport and politics. He is a rugby player and he should do his talking on the field.

As long as LW plays he will remain in the limelight and people will continue to speak about him and the Kings. Perhaps SARU will finally catch a wake up and do what is necessary to bring much-needed positive progressive development to rugby and to an area that desperately needs it. The funny thing about LW, is that he is being heard without saying anything, which just goes to show how important the Kings and their success is, in the broader SA Rugby landscape.

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In 2005 the EP Kings(or Spears as they were known then) were promised entry into Super Rugby in order to heighten the development of the black rugby players in the area. This is a fantastic idea as the are boasts the creation of players like; Michael Killian, Bandise Maku, Odwa Ndungane and Akona Ndungane. The talent is definitely there and with  correct infrastructure in place at grass roots level SA Rugby will flourish. SARU have given funds to the Kings over the last 7 years but no developments have taken place. A team does not become good by entering a high league, they enter a high league because they are good. All the funds that have been given have been used to buy players and staff, including a New Zealand coach. This is directly against the purpose of the Kings.

The Lions are put in a situation where, although they will be receiving the money they would have earned in TV right for Super Rugby, are in financial crisis. They will lose massive amount of money on sponsorship and players will pack their bags and leave, and who can blame them? Within a day, four players have been linked to transfers with the names of Elton Jantjies(Stormers), Alwyn Hollenbach, Jaco Taute(Both Sharks) and Josh Strauss(Italy).

Johannesburg is the biggest market for Super Rugby in the world. Although many rugby fans living in the city do not support the Lions many would go to the stadium when the team they were supporting was in town.  The biggest market definitely should be able to watch the games live, they can hop on the Gautrain to go watch it at Loftus but only the very serious fans will do that, and Loftus doesn’t need help filling up at Super Rugby time.

I think it is a ludicrous decision,’ Watson(Kings manager) said after Saru’s general council meeting in Cape Town. ‘It doesn’t make sense in rugby, not in business, not in the church. It doesn’t make sense in any sector of society that you are sitting with a scenario that you are in Super Rugby for one year and expected to achieve.’ - Said Cheeky Watson in an interview with Ballz Radio.

Lions President, Kevin de Klerk, stated that: “We are extremely disappointed at this result. This is a very unfortunate decision which will result in a team taking part in a competition without needing to qualify on rugby merits. We will take time to consider this decision and then to plan our response that best protects our players, staff, stakeholders and supporters”
“We will not take this lying down!” said De Klerk in an interview on Talk Radio 702.

The accusations are made in De Villiers’s new book Politically Incorrect, released on Friday May 25. In the book, De Villiers claims he had been told the two were behind the sex tape smear which almost derailed his Bok coaching career before it had properly begun.

“The first time I heard about the so-called sex tape was the weekend of the Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks in Cape Town. Chris Hewitt, the South African Rugby Union (Saru) media manager who was later killed in a light aircraft crash, informed me about the existence of the tape. Apparently Cheeky Watson and Cedric Frolick were going to reveal a sex tape they had obtained of me in a compromising position with a woman in a car park during a trip to the Eastern Cape.

“By then Chris had informed me that Cedric, who as an ANC MP was involved with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation, had told him he would rather have a white coach who would listen to him than a black coach who did his own thing.”

The sex tape allegations centre on an incident in April 2008 when the Bok coach was allegedly caught on tape having sex in a car with an unknown woman. Later that year Springbok communications manager Andy Colquhoun was quoted as saying Saru had found “no evidence of a plot and no evidence such a tape exists”.
Watson and Frolick both rubbished De Villiers’s claim on Friday. Watson told Weekend Post: “My only comment is: ‘Shame, I feel sorry for him.’ It’s completely unfounded.”
An equally incensed Frolick said: “As I said initially when the story [about the sex tape] broke in 2008, I do not know anything about it. I don’t get involved in people’s personal business.”
He was surprised this was even mentioned in the book, because De Villiers never raised the issue with him after the incident. “If he had a problem he could have spoken to me about it, but he never did.”
De Villiers’s book has already courted controversy in Eastern Cape rugby circles as it contains assertions about Watson’s son Luke and the fact that the Southern Kings should not be part of the Super Rugby competition next year.
Frolick said De Villiers’s disclosures were a “slap in the face” to the Eastern Cape rugby community.
De Villiers’s criticism of the Southern Kings being included in the tough Super Rugby competition next year also came as a shock to Frolick.
In the book, De Villiers says the Eastern Cape needs rugby to be developed, as 60% of all South Africa’s black players come from the region, but the Kings are not the answer. “If you want to introduce rugby, make every Super 15 team play a game there. If you want to develop talent, let it run its natural course, not by buying players from elsewhere. If they gave black players the chance, they would be the best they could be  …
“We don’t have enough players to justify it. Instead of creating a vehicle to develop and keep the best black rugby players in the country, we’re making a team for the seventh, eighth and ninth best white players who don’t have anything left to give.”
He says the Kings simply would not be competitive in Super Rugby.
Also tackled in the book is the issue of Luke Watson, the current EP Kings captain, and his controversial stint with the Springbok team. In a section of who would captain the team he details his decision not to make Luke skipper.
“Cheeky didn’t expect me to be so strong. Like most South African fathers, he couldn’t take a step back from his child’s sport. Luke is an outstanding player and captain, but he never lived up to my expectations.”

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday, May 26, 2012.

In 2011 the Cheetahs finished 11th in the comibined league and 4th in the South African conference. They won 5 watches, losing 11. They scored 435 points and conceded 437. They had a total of 40 points, and 12 bonus points, 7 due to losing by less then 7.
In 2011 the Lions finished 14th in the combined league and 5th in the South African conference. They won 3 mathes, losing 12 and drawing 1. They scored 351 points and conceded 477. They had a total of 29 points, and 7 bonus points, 5 due to losing by less than 7.

This match also has a lot more to fight for as these two teams are the favourites to be replaces by EP Kings in next years season after SARU promised their inclusion in the 2013 season whilst SANZAR says that the competition will not be extended.

This will be a big fight between to of the most impressive young fly-half of the Currie Cup, Johan Goosen and Elton Jantjies. Jantjies has a lot more experience at Super Rugby level. Johan Goosen proved durng the Warm up again the Bulls that he has the biggest boot in the tournemant.

The Cheetahs ended their Super Rugby campaign in form, but deterioated during the Currie Cup season. They have also lost key player, Sarel Pretorious, who has moved to the Waratahs.
The Lions ended their Super Rugby campaign last year withought acheiving what they had hoped for. They soon went on to win the Currie Cup and will be hoping to mantain their form coming into this all or nothing campaign.

Last year the Lions won the first game between these two teams, 25-20 in Bloemfontein. Later on in nthe season the Cheetahs thumped the Lions 53-19 in Johannesburg, the Lions biggest defeat of the season.

Bet365 have predicted the Lions to win. The odds are:
Lions 4/7
Cheetahs 6/4

Weather
It will be quite hot with a temperatrure of 18 Celcius. There will be a wind of 3km/h SW. Very high humidity of 78% with very little chance of rain.
Weather courtesy of Weather 24 

Match Officials
Referee: Mark Lawrence
AR1: Sindile Mayende
AR2 : Stefan Breytenbach
TMO : Johann Meuwesen

Teams

Lions:  Jaco Taute, Deon van Rensburg, Doppies le Grange, Alwyn Hollenbach, James Kamana, Elton Jantjies, Michael Bondesio, Joshua Strauss (captain), Derick Minnie, Cobus Grobbelaar, Franco van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden/ Hendrik Roodt, Patric Cilliers, Callie Visagie, JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, CJ van der Linde, Hendrik Roodt / Stephan Greeff, Warren Whiteley, Tian Meyer, Butch James, Michael Killian.

Cheetahs : 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Lourens Adriaanse, 17 Hercu Liebenberg, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Willie le Roux.

The 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division will consist of six teams and the 1st division will consist of eight, SARU announced on the 11th of August.

“The General Council accepted by majority vote an Executive Council proposal of an Absa Currie Cup Premier Division which will consist of six teams from next year. Our unions debated this proposal, as well as a counter-proposal, in a robust and mature manner and in the end they made a decision which will ultimately benefit South African rugby,” says SARU president, Regan Hoskins.

According to rumors before the meeting took place, the reason behind the cut of teams is due to the new SuperRugby format. After the many matches played in the SuperRugby tournament earlier in the year are too tiring for the players.

SARU is giving the fans the idea that Currie Cup does not matter any more. This is a statement they should have been fighting with the dwindling amount of spectators at this years tournament.

The Currie Cup is the third longest running provincial rugby tournament in the world. But clearly that does not matter any more for SARU. The tournament was founded in 1889. It is a battle of honor and pride that has been played for over 100 years! Clearly this tradition is not great enough!

The importance of the Currie Cup has diminished ever since the Springboks were aloud back into International matches. Most of the star players are not part of the Currie due to the Tri-Nations being played during the competition and this year the Rugby World Cup. “It has become a battle of depth”. This statement which has become fabricated throughout the country is a complete lie! With the few players that are taken out of the competition due to Springbok duty leaving a few spaces in the teams Roster. This gives those players, that have slipped through the Roster by having a better player ahead of them, a chance to prove themselves good enough move to a team not fortunate enough to have a Springbok (or very good first string) at that position and let the player hope that he will one day be able to prove himself good enough to wear the coveted green and gold.

The teams that will be relegated to the first division are teams that are not good enough to play in the SuperRugby competition. The players are not worrying about playing in a Springbok jersey at that stage, they are trying to get to a SuperRugby team. Their are three teams that would be most likely to get knocked down to the first division and these are: Pumas, Leopards and Griquas. The most likely are Pumas and Leopards as they are sitting at the bottom of the log as it stands. The Bulls would be completely out of question despite their poor performances and being five points off a semi final place and the Griquas. The Griquas, who have fought time and time again, would then be the only team is the Premier Division to not play in SuperRugby. The Griquas are currently  just missing out on a semi-final due to pints difference and can still easily make it!

The EP Kings have been promised over and over again that they can join the SuperRugby. They have fought long and hard to join Currie Cup Premier division. Earlier in this year their dreams of a SuperRugby tournament were crushed for another few years when SANZAR told them they can not add any more teams until 2015 as they have already sold rights. The EP Kings have proved much patience and skill as they recently brought home silver wear from this years IRB Nations Cup but SARU are still pulling them around and having lots of laughs at it. Two dreams crushed in one year for the EP Kings must not be good for their fans or their confidence.

MAJOR new plans have been announced in an urgent bid to bring “big-time” soccer back to Nelson Mandela Bay following the decision last week by Bay United’s owners to relocate their club.

An innovative strategy was announced on Friday by Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium managing director Stefan Pretorius.

“Our long-term aim is to get a top team to relocate to the city and play at the stadium and build up support.”

Although he would not divulge teams that had been approached, it is believed they rank among the bestknown names in the South African game.

“In the short term we will do everything possible to get as many big matches as possible to be played at the stadium,” Pretorius said. “It is very sad Bay United have decided to relocate and the first prize for soccer lovers would have been if they had stayed in the city.”

Pretorius said the stadium wanted two major anchor tenants and that rugby was one of them. “We want soccer to be the other and we are doing everything possible to make that happen.”

Soccer administrator Boya Chetty said he would back any moves to get big-time soccer back. “It is in the interests of the stadium to have major soccer played at their venue and I hope they have success in attracting a top team.

“Because of the way soccer is structured it will be very difficult to get back to the top flight via the route of promotion. We are right at the bottom of the ladder.

“There is tremendous potential for soccer to become a big drawcard in Port Elizabeth. I will back the management at the stadium to the hilt,” Chetty said.

Bay United general manager Lungsi Mooi said the reasons stated by the club’s Limpopo-based owners for relocating were based mainly on the “lack of support received from the metro”.

The location of the city in terms of travel from regions where “quality teams” were based was another factor.

No major soccer has been played at the stadium since last year’s Fifa World Cup and the stadium is now the home of the EP Kings rugby team who are bidding for promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division this season.

But while soccer fans are still reeling from the news that Umlilo are relocating, they can at least look forward to a clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at the stadium in July.

The “Soweto derby by the sea” forms part of the Vodacom Challenge and more than 30000 fans are expected. Stadium management will be keen to see whether soccer still enjoys the tremendous pulling power of previous years when Chiefs play Pirates.