NPR

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:27 pm So what are the options to replace South Africa in the tournament?

- Australia A?
- NZ A?
- NZ Maori?
- A Pacific Island team comprised of eligible players from NZ and Aust?
- How quickly can Fiji get together?

Shanky’s mate wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:37 pm

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:27 pm So what are the options to replace South Africa in the tournament?

- Australia A?
- NZ A?
- NZ Maori?
- A Pacific Island team comprised of eligible players from NZ and Aust?
- How quickly can Fiji get together?

This could be the start of that Pacific Rim competition I’ve been dreaming of for years. Harness the madness of the Japanese market, hook a couple of US teams and add the PI national teams. Count the dollars.

For this year? It’s too late. Revert to Trinations and allow momentum to swing towards Argentina being a permanent 3rd partner. Start exploring the world of Argentinian Riojas and asado. Practise your salsa steps. Research Argentinian women and their interesting personalities.

Farewell, warthogs. Hello carnivale.

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:27 pm So what are the options to replace South Africa in the tournament?

- Australia A?
- NZ A?
- NZ Maori?
- A Pacific Island team comprised of eligible players from NZ and Aust?
- How quickly can Fiji get together?

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:51 pm

Shanky’s mate wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:37 pm

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:27 pm So what are the options to replace South Africa in the tournament?

- Australia A?
- NZ A?
- NZ Maori?
- A Pacific Island team comprised of eligible players from NZ and Aust?
- How quickly can Fiji get together?

This could be the start of that Pacific Rim competition I’ve been dreaming of for years. Harness the madness of the Japanese market, hook a couple of US teams and add the PI national teams. Count the dollars.

For this year? It’s too late. Revert to Trinations and allow momentum to swing towards Argentina being a permanent 3rd partner. Start exploring the world of Argentinian Riojas and asado. Practise your salsa steps. Research Argentinian women and their interesting personalities.

Farewell, warthogs. Hello carnivale.

I was just trying to think of a 4th team which would facilitate more product.

I do like the tought of an old fashioned Tri Nations comp with NZ, Aust and Arg, 6 matches everyone playing each other twice. Argentina have always naturally sided towards South Africa but this dog act by the SARU will have changed that permanently.

While all four nations will now take a serious financial hit, Argentina are the nation which will be left seething by South Africa's 11th-hour withdrawal.

Mario Ledesma's squad did not play in any domestic competition in the months after Super Rugby was stopped by Covid-19 but agreed to fly to Australia, quarantine and train in preparation for a six-week tournament.

The Pumas also have their fair share of players plying their trade in Europe but their Argentinian based players will have not played a professional match in more than six months prior to the Rugby Championship.

South Africa's shock withdrawal comes hours after Sanzaar tabled a revised Rugby Championship model which would have appeased the Springboks' request to play 500 minutes of Super Rugby before boarding a flight bound for Australia.

South Africa cited "player welfare" as the driving force behind their decision to not board a flight bound for Australia this weekend.

The Sydney Morning Herald can now reveal the sticking point – driven by Springboks high performance staff – which blindsided Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.

After being granted government approval to leave South Africa and take part in the six-week tournament on September 21, Sanzaar sources have told the SMH the South African Rugby Union moved the goal posts.

The Springboks' high performance staff were adamant 500 minutes of Super Rugby Unlocked – their version of Super Rugby AU – was required to prepare their squad for the Rugby Championship.

The 500-minute request is peculiar given the bulk of the Springboks' World Cup-winning stars play in England and France, where rugby has been played for the last two months. South Africa also staged a trial match between green and gold teams last month.

But the request was granted and would have allowed the world champions to play another month of Super Rugby Unlocked before flying to Australia.

Sanzaar sources thought this would give the South Africans no excuses not to take part in the tournament.

Both Sanzaar and Rugby Australia were on Thursday confident the South Africans would agree to the revised TRC, largely for financial reasons.

Ted. wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 9:31 pm

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:27 pm So what are the options to replace South Africa in the tournament?

- Australia A?
- NZ A?
- NZ Maori?
- A Pacific Island team comprised of eligible players from NZ and Aust?
- How quickly can Fiji get together?

One of those latter two would be ideal.

mrbrownstone wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 11:54 pm
Selfish decision. Sanzaar bent over backwards to grant the Boks their every demand, and it still wasn't good enough. I'm sure at least everyone will see this for what it is - the world champions running scared.

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 1:21 am It is official - the Springboks are out.

Wang wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:30 am Self serving carnts. They always have been. Not sure what happens now with the current SANZAR setup but my vote is to shut SA out and look to Japan and/or the Pacific Islands.
The Tri Nations will be tough for Argentina now not having the easy games against the Boks.

Casey Ryback wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 11:59 pm

Ted. wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 9:31 pm

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:27 pm So what are the options to replace South Africa in the tournament?

- Australia A?
- NZ A?
- NZ Maori?
- A Pacific Island team comprised of eligible players from NZ and Aust?
- How quickly can Fiji get together?

One of those latter two would be ideal.

Baa Baa's team is they way to go, get the best players available and match ready from Oz, NZ, PI's and Japan. Maybe a few NH players if they'll release them?

the cursed wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:12 am theyre counting on the Lions tour next year to make some money? will SA's covid situation be any better at that time? will they be able to have crowds in 21? so many unknowns...for all we know the Lions tour may yet not go ahead, which is looking like a real possibility.

Not_Couch wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:40 am South Africans are a shameful bunch of cretins aren't they?

sorCrer wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:59 am

Not_Couch wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:40 am South Africans are a shameful bunch of cretins aren't they?

South Africans are? F'me. Are you 6 years old?

sorCrer wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:59 am

Not_Couch wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:40 am South Africans are a shameful bunch of cretins aren't they?

South Africans are? F'me. Are you 6 years old?

Green light echo wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:25 am Ban the Cunts again. Cricket and Rugby. Until they learn how to conduct themselves as a civilised nation.

And until they learn what a contract is and the meaning of the word partnership.

Little crocodile brains on them.

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:44 am England coming to South Africa for the cricket? Risky business letting them in during these troubling times.

What is the feeling in South Africa about SARU’s position? Understandable or disappointing? I imagine either way they will be disappointment at not seeing them play.

sorCrer wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:57 am

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:44 am England coming to South Africa for the cricket? Risky business letting them in during these troubling times.

What is the feeling in South Africa about SARU’s position? Understandable or disappointing? I imagine either way they will be disappointment at not seeing them play.

We're in lockdown and life has not returned to anything like normal. There is also 'potential' for a civil war to kick off today (highly unlikely but there is danger). There hasn't been that much talk around rugby.

sorCrer wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:57 am

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:44 am England coming to South Africa for the cricket? Risky business letting them in during these troubling times.

What is the feeling in South Africa about SARU’s position? Understandable or disappointing? I imagine either way they will be disappointment at not seeing them play.

We're in lockdown and life has not returned to anything like normal. There is also 'potential' for a civil war to kick off today (highly unlikely but there is danger). There hasn't been that much talk around rugby.

Shanky’s mate wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 5:17 am

sorCrer wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:57 am

Jb1981 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:44 am England coming to South Africa for the cricket? Risky business letting them in during these troubling times.

What is the feeling in South Africa about SARU’s position? Understandable or disappointing? I imagine either way they will be disappointment at not seeing them play.

We're in lockdown and life has not returned to anything like normal. There is also 'potential' for a civil war to kick off today (highly unlikely but there is danger). There hasn't been that much talk around rugby.

Jesus SorC, civil war? What’s that about?

sorCrer wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 5:28 am

Shanky’s mate wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 5:17 am

sorCrer wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:57 am

We're in lockdown and life has not returned to anything like normal. There is also 'potential' for a civil war to kick off today (highly unlikely but there is danger). There hasn't been that much talk around rugby.

Jesus SorC, civil war? What’s that about?

A young farm manager was brutally murdered by what looks like stock thieves last weekend in a remotish area in the Southern Freestate. There have been multiple farm killings recently, I think 72 this year and farmers are scared and angry. The police arrested 2 black criminals (one had been arrested 16 times previously on various charges). At their initial hearing in a small town called Senekal, the farmers rampaged and shots were fired and a police vehicle set alight. Of course, the far left racist black political group the EFF who command about 10% of the vote and who are lead by Julius Malema dictator style (and in multiple cases of corruption and other violent actions) seized on this as an opportunity to foment more violence and are all travelling to the 2nd hearing today.

It's very dry tinder, mate.

Blake wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 3:45 pm

Sards wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 3:28 pm Is this the first time we have refused to play the ABs or Australia.

We haven't refused shit. We have withdrawn from the 2020 competition given player readiness, health and logistical challenges that couldn't not be overcome in a satisfactory way.

Wang wrote: ↑Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:30 am Self serving carnts. They always have been. Not sure what happens now with the current SANZAR setup but my vote is to shut SA out and look to Japan and/or the Pacific Islands.
The Tri Nations will be tough for Argentina now not having the easy games against the Boks.

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 12:06 pm

Sards wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 12:04 pm Have you seen how poor our local rugby is....we would be humiliated

I couldn't give a shit, this could bankrupt NZR and RA. And the SARU know this.

This is a spiteful move that reeks of revenge because NZR and RA played domestic Rugby this year. I actually hate the SARU right now!

Carter's Choice wrote: ↑Fri Aug 28, 2020 10:22 pm Good riddance to the South African teams I say. They have some great players and fans, but the timezones were terrible and as a partner, the SARU is a terrible organisation to work with.

South African players simply aren’t in a physical state to compete with the All Blacks and Wallabies after six months of lockdown. It’s also a problem because it means the Boks won’t play a Test in 2020 and it’s unlikely they will find a window to play before the British & Irish Lions arrive for the 2021 tour next July.

It’s also a blow for the status of the tournament as the Boks are the reigning Rugby Championship and World Cup champions.

“The on-going complications related to the Covid-19 pandemic and concerns about seriously jeopardising player welfare, made it impossible to commit to Sanzaar that South Africa would be able to compete,” an SA Rugby statement read.

“The South African-based portion of what was a 46-player squad was scheduled to fly from Johannesburg on Sunday. However, government regulations as currently drafted meant it was unclear whether the team would legally be able to depart.”