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Clive Woodward slams the idea of Springboks 'artificially parachuting' into the Six Nations

(Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Former England coach Clive Woodward has vehemently opposed the idea of the Springboks joining the Six Nations in Europe, questioning the timing of the move and the need for European rugby to accomodate South Africa.

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Woodward’s column in the Daily Mail comes after South Africa has re-committed to playing in the Rugby Championship until 2025, while Six Nations bosses have already shot down any interest in the idea that Italy would be discarded in favour of the Springboks.

Despite committing to SANZAAR, rumours were abound that South Africa would try to join Europe’s crown jewel tournament in 2025 where they might replace Italy, who have struggled to be competitive in recent years.

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      RugbyPass Offload | Episode 21

      We’re joined by England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie this week as the Six Nations squads take a break after two rounds of action. We hear from the Exeter Hooker about his journey with England and the Lions, his relationship with Eddie Jones and of course that volleyball moment in Edinburgh during the Calcutta Cup. Max and Ryan give their thoughts on the weekend battles in Cardiff, Paris and Rome, pick their team of the week and look forward to the rest of the tournament.

      “Are South Africa really prepared to ditch New Zealand and Australia – and indeed Argentina,’’ he wrote, adding that the Los Pumas have been the biggest beneficiary of playing regularly against South Africa.

      “Nobody has helped Pumas rugby more than South Africa. Doesn’t that old friendship count for something?

      “I will be absolutely staggered if such a split didn’t cause huge, needless repercussions worldwide.”

      Woodward believed the Southern Hemisphere has the ingredients for their own six team tournament after the rise of Japan and the impressive performances by Fiji.

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      “Why now? The Springboks have the potential of a six-team tournament, including the four Rugby Championship teams plus Japan and the pre-eminent Pacific island team, probably Fiji. Surely that is a better way forward than artificially parachuting into the Six Nations, which would have such a detrimental effect.”

      South African Rugby welcoming Japan back into the SANZAAR fold would be unlikley based on the suggestions made by Highlanders coach Tony Brown back in 2019 that they ‘never wanted’ Japan involved in Super Rugby and were responsible for the Sunwolves axing.

      “There were so many things that went on and the South Africans were just dead against having the Sunwolves involved,” he said on the Fox Sports Rugby podcast back in 2019.

      Brown suggested there was ‘bad blood’ between the Unions stemming back to the 2023 World Cup hosting vote, where Japan voted for France over South Africa as the host nation.

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      “There’s a bit of resentment from what happened at the World Cup vote a few years ago and it’s a relationship that’s been pretty rough ever since the Sunwolves with Super Rugby.

      “The next World Cup, France beating out South Africa for the hosting rights, I think there’s a little bit of bad blood there and various things like that counted against the Sunwolves.”

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      Comments

      1 Comment
      D
      Dwayne 1247 days ago

      And pigs fly..... no truly they do.... because I'm agreeing with....cough....cough.... Mr Woodward...... there is no way..... I'm say the "S" word......

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      Comments on RugbyPass

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      PL 2 hours ago
      Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

      I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

      Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


      Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


      The officiating of last feet is non existent

      The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

      A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


      Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

      Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


      About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

      Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


      The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


      I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


      The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

      Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

      Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

      My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


      Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


      Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

      Last feet to last feet + 1 m


      When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


      As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


      Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

      25 were scrum for dissent


      Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


      All the s.ite would disappear


      The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


      Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

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