Currie Cup should be highly valued

KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 09: Paul Jordaan of the Sharks during the Absa Currie Cup match between GWK Griquas and Cell C Sharks at GWK Park on August 09, 2014 in Kimberley, South Africa. (Photo by Louis Botha/Gallo Images)

KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 09: Paul Jordaan of the Sharks during the Absa Currie Cup match between GWK Griquas and Cell C Sharks at GWK Park on August 09, 2014 in Kimberley, South Africa. (Photo by Louis Botha/Gallo Images)

Published Sep 18, 2014

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In an ever-changing - and some would say over-saturated - rugby landscape, it really can be no surprise that the Currie Cup competition finds itself in an ongoing battle to assert its own identity in the current environment.

With the Super Rugby tournament having burgeoned into a 15-team, six-month tournament, and the Tri-Nations expanding to include Argentina in a Rugby Championship tournament that runs concurrently with the Currie Cup, there is an overload of action for fans to consume.

The grand old dame of South African rugby has always held a special place in the hearts of supporters, as well as past and present players, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to capture the imagination of a rugby public that is continually feeling the effects of having “too much of a good thing”.

This year, the format of the Currie Cup has changed, with the inclusion of the EP Kings and Pumas leading to a two conference system, while a new Saru stipulation means that none of the contracted Springboks will feature in the domestic tournament this year.

While this was always a big drawcard during the latter stages of the tournament, this season the players that have done the hard yards throughout the competition will now be afforded the opportunity to finish the job.

However, at a time when Super Rugby includes home and away derbies between full-strength South African sides, followed by a Rugby Championship that takes centre stage from August to October, it seems only the real die-hards would still select the Currie Cup as their tournament of choice.

This, though, is such a shame.

What the domestic showpiece may lack in terms of flawless rugby, or pulling power with regards to household names, it makes up for in its ability to continue unearthing the raw gems of South African rugby, while providing the setting for Cinderella stories.

As is the case every year, the conveyer belt of South African rugby talent continues to produce the goods, with Baby Boks such as Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Kobus van Wyk and William Small-Smith receiving the opportunity to perform on the senior stage.

It’s also provided a platform for Sevens speedster Seabelo Senatla to star in the 15-man game, while the Pumas’ promotion has helped bring talented players such as Renaldo Bothma and Rosko Speckman into the spotlight.

Speaking of the Pumas, their outstanding start to the Currie Cup has caught many by surprise, with the unheralded team from Mpumalanga having impressively punched above their weight under the guidance of outstanding coach Jimmy Stonehouse.

The Pumas’ return to the Currie Cup has been a noteworthy story after they won the First Division last year and then gained entry into the Premier Division after winning the promotion-relegation matches against Griquas at the conclusion of last season.

This year’s Currie Cup has also been compelling in the sense that there doesn’t seem to be all that much to choose between the majority of the teams, with very few completely one-sided encounters.

At this stage, though, it is the Lions and Western Province who have established themselves as the pace-setters, and their battle at Ellis Park this past weekend was full of exciting running rugby, and demonstrated all that is good about the Currie Cup.

Perhaps in this ever-changing rugby world, we also need to embrace the fact that the Currie Cup should be about building depth for Super Rugby, and developing players to make the next big step up.

It’s also about enabling young, talented coaches to have the opportunity of managing a campaign, and this should also be seen as good for the game.

When viewed in this context, there is no doubt that the Currie Cup still has massive relevance and value in a jam-packed rugby calendar. - Daily News

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