With the Lions doomed to extinction, there seems to be a sad reality on the horizon.  Forget for a second about the Lions itself, what it represented over the years, forget about the Kings, or EP.

The root of the problem one can say is twofold.  Well that’s what I believe and I will stand by it.  Firstly before I begin, I am well aware that many post in the next few coming days will emerge about the Lions, but this I think offers not just perspective but also my opinion, based on what I think is the right thing to do.  OK so here goes, and stay with me.

Super Rugby:

When SANZAR started with the Super Series, and especially since 1996 when rugby as a sport turned professional, South Africa has had reasonable success.  This came after we won the 1995 World Cup and strong showings by the Bulls and Sharks in 2007 laid the platform for another World Cup trophy.  But what started out as a great partnership is slowly turning into a Two way show, with South Africa nowhere to be found.  We have found ourselves in the situation where we cannot even speak for ourselves, instead letting our counterparts speak on our behalf..yes Oregan I am talking to you.  What this “extended” Super Series is causing is the slow timely demise of the DAME of Rugby, the Currie Cup.  The question I think people should ask, especially those that watched the Currie Cup whilst growing up is, “do we really want to destroy our proud tournament?”

Solution:

Break away from SANZAR.  Face it, without South Africa in the Rugby Championship, viewership drop (we have the most watched games), attendance will drop (we have the better stadiums and attendance) and lots of money will be lost.  Without us, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina will either have to find another partner and I cannot for the life of me see them choose Tonga, Samoa, Canada or USA for that matter.  What Oregan and his bunch of Jelly Fish (dankie Uysh) don’t realize is that they are being bullied around and always want to seem smart when they are not.  During the duration of the normal period for Super Rugby, instead host a Super 6.  This will comprise of the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs, Lions and Kings.  Play until early May and prepare for the June Test Window.  But the June Test Window will now be like the old Incoming Tours of Late.  Start the Currie Cup afterwards and end it in October.  This will give the players ample time to recover from what ever niggles they may have picked up.  This will also mean a Currie Cup with Springboks playing in them!  This will also give players some rest afterwards in time for the End of Year Tours.

Outcome:

SARU and the bunch of Jelly fish will continue to play second fiddle to Australia, a country that doesn’t even have a domestic rugby competition, and the All Blacks that seems to be favored by everyone working for the IRB.  Soon the Super 15 will become the Super 18 and before you know it, the Currie Cup will be reduced to even less.  But not to fear because she is a stubborn old bitch that just won’t give up without a fight.

Jelly Fish:

Oregan and co are a selfish brand of idiots.  The situation was handled so badly that it’s no wonder that people from Transvaal will now take off their Dart board pictures of Jacob Zuma and Malema and replace them with Oregan Hoskins.  Those that think that the Kings deserve a spot, tell me this: WHY??

According to Cheeky Watson, they have gold fields with players coming through.  Good sir, but please tell me why you want to buy other players?  Does this not defeat the purpose of starting this whole project?  Yes, I know the Ndungane Twins, Lwazi Mvovo and host of other “black” players are from the region.  And the reason i say “black” instead of black is that I was not aware that we still worry about a player’s skin color?  But what they don’t realize is that not only “black” players are from the region, you have guys like Ryan Kankowski, Jacques Potgieter, Tim Whitehead, Steven Sykes and host of others more or less from the region.  And do you think that they would move back now?

Solution:

Give the public the right to vote in rugby matters.  Have a election and see how we elect people that actually carry rugby’s priorities at heart.

Outcome:

Hoskins to run for 3rd term and broker a deal that will include an addition 3 Japanese sides, forgetting the existence of the Lions.

I really feel for the Golden Lions.  Ya, they cost us a valuable 5 points in SR, they klapped us in the Currie Cup(a competition that has not seen EP for more then a decade), but no one deserves to go out like this.  They have some really good players in their team and up and coming players through their ranks.  I wonder how the likes of Hennie Le Roux, Kobus Wiese, AJ Venter, Hannes Strydom, Balie Swart, Japie Mulder and Gavin Johnson must feel now….Kitch Christie is probably turning in his grave, as his former blogging hero Rugby Guru….how I miss those wise words now.

PS:  This post is a dedication to all Lions Supporters.  As a supporter of MY Second team in SA, to all those before us that was enthralled by Transvaal.