World Cup-winning former Springboks skipper John Smit says all the doubters of the Vodacom URC have been proved wrong, as he explains just why it has become so popular in his homeland.
It’s now into the third season of the big four South African franchises competing in the cross-country league and attendances have hit a new high there, while three of the sides are currently sitting in top eight play-off spots.
Smit, who captained the ‘Boks to World Cup glory in 2007, said:
“There was a lot of scepticism at the beginning, but this tournament has really convinced all the doubters.
“I do think the rise of Vodacom URC has been phenomenal.
“I have been a promoter of us moving north for quite some time, even when I played.
“I really thought the best scenario for us – both commercially and rugby-wise – was to play across the same time-zone against the northern hemisphere.
“That view was probably created by my stints at Clermont Auvergne in France and Saracens in England, in terms of the rugby experience I had at those two clubs.
“When we didn’t have a lot of contact with the northern hemisphere, we all thought Super Rugby was this thing that sat on a pedestal.
“But in my first season with Clermont, playing in the Heineken Cup, I realised just what a competitive international tournament that was.”
Former hooker Smit continued: “I feel we are better placed in this current scenario because we are having to play different types of rugby.
“We are having to adapt, evolve and innovate more than when we were in Super Rugby where there was only really one style that everybody had to play to gain the most success.
“In the Vodacom URC, all teams have to be able to play more than one style and to be able to adapt to the weather and the different types of pitches.
“You encounter very different climates. European teams have to travel to the heat of South Africa in December, January, February and we’ve got to go to the cold at the same time.
“There’s a difference in the kind of rugby that’s played because of the contrasting conditions.
“I do think that is helping us at an international level and the same goes for all the countries involved, in terms of being able to adapt for Test matches.
“The cool thing about the Vodacom URC is it’s provided something really different for all of us, especially for us here in South Africa.
“We have always just been in Super Rugby. Having a competition now that’s got such an international flavour, with players from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, England, is amazing for us.
“I have interest in teams in the north that have players from South Africa that I recognise. There are a lot more touch points.”
Speaking at a URC media round table, the 111-cap Smit added: “I just find it so refreshing and it’s great to see that the log is so jammed. It’s phenomenally competitive.
“I would say the South African players weren’t sure what to expect to start with, but I think they are pretty happy. They definitely don’t miss those five week tours to New Zealand and Australia.
“We have also got a chance of winning most of the games that we play – probably 70 per cent of the fixtures.
“If you look back to Super Rugby, if you are away to the Crusaders and you haven’t beaten them in ten years, the self belief is not exactly brimming over.
“The other factor with a fixture like that is are people going to wake up at 2 o’clock in the morning to watch us get smashed in Christchurch? Probably not.
“The time zone plays a big role in the growth and popularity of the Vodacom URC across all the supporters of all of these teams,
“We are all sleeping at the same time and waking up at the same time.
“Those are the things that make a difference to the growth of the Vodacom URC.”
Running the rule over the four South African sides, former Sharks star Smit said: “We have two franchises that have contracted in a great fashion and have delivered in the Stormers and the Bulls.
“They have been competitive for the last two or three years.
“Then you look at the Lions’ level of performance and their ability to beat teams with sometimes more than double the player bill and you realise they really are a great unit. They are a difficult team to beat as we saw last weekend (winning away at Connacht).
“The Sharks have a magnificent looking team, but are at the bottom end. It’s like walking through a parking lot and seeing a Ferrari and then as you peer through the window there is no gear box. That’s the reality.
“Being down the bottom of the log with that squad, it does beg for answers that all of us desperately want.
“I wish I had them because that’s a big part of my life and that Sharks badge sits ingrained into my soul.
“To watch them struggle is difficult, so the win last weekend (against Edinburgh) was magic. It’s wonderful to see them win again.”
As for who will win the title, Smit believes it will be one of the two sides taking part in Friday’s top-of-the-table clash in Dublin.
“I do think it’s going to be between Leinster and the Bulls this year,” he said.
“That’s why this weekend is that much more interesting.
“I think it’s important that Leinster shows them who is boss at home.
“I see the title-winner coming from the two teams at the top of the log at the moment. One of those takes the tournament.”
Sloth
Sport Trivia: Ghana boycotted the Olympic Games in 1976, in protest at the participation of which country? Answer: New Zealand – The 1976 Games were held in Montreal, Canada. The Ghanaian team, along with almost 30 other African nations, joined in a boycott of the Games to protest at New Zealand\’s All Blacks rugby team having toured South Africa under apartheid.
Deano
Sunil Gavaskar was out off the first ball of a Test match thrice in his career – Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs and he ended his career scoring 34 Test centuries. But did you know he was out three times off the first ball of a Test? The bowlers to dismiss him were: Geoff Arnold (Edgbaston, 1974), Malcolm Marshall (Kolkata, 1984) and Imran Khan (Jaipur, 1987).