This week we will mostly be concerning ourselves with South Africa’s contracting system, relegation, the U20 Six Nations, and snot…

Desperate times

There can be little doubt now that the rugby world is turning faster and faster, and that the axis is money.

South Africa’s decision to scrap the 30-cap rule, whereby a player could only leave the rainbow nation and still play for the Springboks if he had 30 caps, is a necessary but desperate move and the effects on the Currie Cup, in particular, could be devastating. More pertinently, Super Rugby too. When the head coach of a leading country comes out with things like: “A South African player can earn more from a two-month contract in Japan than he can if he were to win the World Cup with the Springboks this year. That’s the reality we have to face up to,” you know there’s a crucial imbalance that needs addressing.

Australia’s decision not to scrap the Giteau rule in response – whereby a prospective Wallaby has to have 60 caps and have been active for seven Super Rugby seasons – is fortunate for Australia to an extent, but then the Australian dollar has decent purchasing power. New Zealand, blessedly, has its house very much in order when it comes to sub-Super Rugby and talent production, but there is much talk down there of the well of talent running dry at some point. How long either has to last, as CVC’s money gushes through the Premiership, is a moot point. French euros still talk loud too.

South Africa will feel the pinch the most. And, assuming that there is a Bokrush in Europe (Brexit notwithstanding), the production lines in South Africa will be sorely tested.

But while Rassie Erasmus has moved sensibly to protect the Boks – and lest we forget, his job – the risk to local rugby is huge. Once the rule is scrapped, we can foresee a large exodus, up to the point where we can also foresee a Springbok team made up entirely of players based overseas.

Probably a very good team. But not one totally in touch with its home fanbase; how could it be? And nor will the Currie Cup, or even Super Rugby teams, be as attractive to local fans, who are already staying away in droves.

We can only hope that whatever shake-up to rugby’s fixture calendar and competitions is coming, it will go some way to protecting against situations like this. Maintaining the standards of a national team at what looks to be the expense of the local rugby scene is not a scenario that we’d welcome.

While the Six Nations draws breath

Barely a couple of months ago, we were talking about a possible eight-way scrap to avoid relegation from the Premiership. Now we are talking two at the outside. And if Worcester do a job on Newcastle this weekend, that once-fizzing plotline will have fizzled out.

But in similar fashion to the sentiment above, what, exactly, will that do to rugby in England’s north-east? Neither Doncaster nor Yorkshire Carnegie (that’s Leeds, really) are on their way up at the moment. Below them is Rotherham and Darlington Mowden Park, both sitting in mid-table anonymity in National One.

This is one of the arguments for scrapping relegation, and it’s a good one. Not that we are in favour of just doing away with it, but there’s still advocacy here for an expanded, conference-based and ring-fenced Premiership, spanning all regions of England as a matter of principle.

Newcastle’s relegation would help force this hand – right now, all we hear of is new signings from overseas. It would be good if somehow jut some of the CVC money were put to Premiership infrastructural use.

How’s the future doing?

While the Six Nations continues to twist and turn, the U20 version is also conjuring up a close-run tournament.

Ireland’s youngsters remain on course for a Grand Slam, but their two toughest tests remain: at home to world champions France and away at Wales on the final day. The French are doing what the French often do: winning well at home and looking somewhat indifferent away. Wales’ narrow win over England – it was a very good weekend in Wales – has them very much in contention as well, while England’s remaining two games are against the weaker-looking Scots and Italians.

As with the senior version, it still has potential to come down to as four-way showdown on the final day; that rugby weekend could be a classic for the serious viewer.

Bless you…?

A final word on the sorriest of incidents involving Cheetahs centre Nico Lee last week: it was once asked of Loose Pass whether we could conceive of something worse and more provocative than being spat at on the pitch. At the time we could not. Now we can. Lee’s bizarre decision to clap shut one nostril and expunge the contents of the other with not inconsiderable force onto the face of his opponent will remain perhaps one of the most repulsive acts ever witnessed on a rugby pitch.

And while fair do’s to him for a hitherto clean record and being all honest about his guilt and such…we are struggling to see how and why there should be leniency for this one. It’s not an act of retaliation, not a moment of over-physicality in the heat of the moment. It’s just plain revolting. A book thrown, with at least the same force as the nasal extrusion, would have been a more suitable retribution.