Expense of success
With the Super 14 entering its final fortnight, rugby365 columnist, Ebrahim Moerat, takes a look at which of the SANZAR nations stand to benefit most from Super 14 success.
The Bulls and the Chiefs host their respective Super 14 semi-finals this weekend as South Africa and New Zealand glow in the aftermath of having representation in the playoffs.
Australia on the other hand, have no teams in the playoffs but Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will have a luxury that All Blacks coach Graham Henry and Bok coach Pieter de Villiers does not, as he can now freshen up his players for the international season.
With just two weeks between the Super 14 final on May 30, and the first match of the international season, Henry and De Villiers will be hoping that none of their key internationals get crocked in the playoffs.
The Chiefs, Hurricanes and Crusaders provide the bulk of the All Blacks so it will be a worrying time for Henry, while the Bulls also has a significant contingent of core Springboks.
Deans will name his Wallabies squad this week for upcoming Tests against Italy, which gives him plenty of time to prepare for two relatively ‘easy’ Tests. The Wallabies will also face the Barbarians on June 6.
The Boks face the British and Irish Lions on June 20 while the All Blacks take on France on June 13 as they kick-off the international seasons.
SANZAR’s (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) top players are exposed to the rigours and intensity of the Super 14 and Test rugby throughout the year. And this explains why so many franchises were heavily hit with injuries during the opening rounds of this year’s tournament and is why they could face a similar situation in 2010.
Apart from having his players fresh for the international season, Deans will also be well aware that Super 14 disappointment will not necessarily transfer into the Test arena.
Australia ended the Super season with two teams in the top half of the final standings while the Force ended eighth and the Reds twelfth.
South Africa ended with the Bulls in pole position while the latter part of the standings is dominated by the Stormers, Lions and Cheetahs. New Zealand has three teams in the top four while the Blues and the Highlanders ended in the bottom half of the standings.
New Zealand and South Africa will have to wait until after the semifinal to announce their squads and they will only be able to prepare properly after the final on May 30, which gives the All Blacks under two weeks to prepare for France while the Boks have about three weeks to prepare for the Lions.
Of the three SANZAR nations it seems that Australia has the easiest run-in to the international season but it has come at the expense of not having any teams in contention for the Super 14 title.
New Zealand and South Africa will sweat it out for Super 14 glory over the next two weeks but whether or not their southern hemisphere success will actually benefit the national team for the upcoming Test season remains to be seen.
By Ebrahim Moerat
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