Another season and another failed European campaign.
For all the bravado about South Africa’s entry into Europe, our local franchises are not matching the bluster with results, and to be honest, there is no way we can call our entry into Europe a success until we achieve some lasting results in the Investec Champions’ Cup.
Yes, the Stormers had bad calls against them and the Bulls got close - pretty much how my colleague Gavin Rich summed it up in his wrap on Monday morning.
But the naked truth about winning in Europe is that South African franchises need to be a whole lot better if they are to make any mark in the continental competition.
The Vodacom United Rugby Championship is a marathon that suits our sides, and despite mixed success, the entry into this competition has been largely successful for local teams, although there are always parts that can be improved on.
CHALLENGES
But when it comes to Europe, and the jumbled format that poses significant challenges to South African franchises, our sides still fall way short.
In the past we could fault the fact that South Africa wasn’t a full member of the EPCR, and for the first three years had to play all their playoff games away from home. But that changed this season, and the performances of our sides didn’t.
It is understandable to hear the complaints of some of the pundits up north. We have added significant travel to the competition and the format change has taken away something that was special to Europe - the travelling fan element.
The pool clashes meant that teams could plan better and fans would give their sides a boost away from home. If anything, the prevailing world conditions and the rising oil prices across the world are a major threat to not only the URC but the Champions’ Cup as well.
But South Africa can’t help being situated at the tip of Africa, and we are full members of the EPCR right now. So what can we do to better the situation?
WIN HOME GAMES MOST IMPORTANT
The first point is simple - win your home games. The Bulls put themselves in an unenviable position by losing to Bordeaux and Bristol at Loftus this season, and lost to Northampton last season at home. Those are all good sides, but that is the quality in this competition.
A trip to Loftus, or Durban, or Cape Town stadium should be seen as a mental challenge, just as it is to win in France. Local fans haven’t adopted the Champions’ Cup as they should as well, and that leaves teams at a disadvantage.
There is a whole separate argument for this, and part of it comes from the insistence of local administrators in turning rugby stadiums into discos where you can hardly hear yourself speak most of the time. When teams head to France, the fans are there for the rugby, and the whole experience is to create an intimidating atmosphere.
Remember back in Super Rugby when Australians voted Loftus Versfeld the most intimidating ground in Super Rugby? That wasn’t because a deejay was asking fans to wave their phones in the air to Coldplay? Or sing Sweet Caroline until they drop. It was because rugby was the main thing.
INTIMIDATION FACTOR IS GONE
Loftus nowadays is more in tune to try and lure non-rugby fans than turn it into a fan fortress where opposition teams will be scared to play. The intimidation factor is gone. Ditto King’s Park and its focus on winning the social media war and its Sharksfest success - where a concert is used to lure fans.
There is a reason the Springboks draw massive crowds wherever they go. For one it is success, and then it is patriotism. But it's the aura as well, the sense that you are watching something special.
Go to a full Aviva Stadium, or Stade Mayol, or Stade Ernest-Wallon and it is special. Even the Scotstoun on a windy and rainy night has its charm. There is music, but nobody would think it is the main thing.
Bath has a special fan walk where the locals line-up and the teams walk through the tunnel as they enter the stadium. It’s unique and special. It isn’t the deejay’s club hits from his six CD changer in his car.
But let’s leave that there.
Winning your home games is the first option and the Bulls didn’t do that and put themselves at an immediate disadvantage and even their most die-hard fans will admit they were lucky to sneak into the Round of 16 with just one win away from home.
STORMERS UNLUCKY
The Sharks and Stormers won both their home games, and the Stormers won one game away. For the Sharks their away performances and the competitiveness of their pool meant they lost out because they didn’t win away from home, while the Stormers did, and then lost out on a better seeding because of a lack of bonus points.
But while the Stormers are the anomaly, and can’t be faulted for their campaign this year - including the incredible crowds they keep on pulling to Cape Town stadium, they fell short thanks to a tough draw at Toulon and some dodgy refereeing calls.
Fair enough, those will always be there - as Ospreys and Cardiff also found out in the Challenge Cup this weekend, but at least the Stormers gave themselves a chance.
There will always be questions why a top flyhalf like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu didn’t use the drop goal option, but that's water under the bridge now.
BONUS POINTS KEY
The formula going forward needs to be solid - win your home games, and then target at least one away game for bonus points, and hopefully a win.
But if we are really honest, you need to have the same attitude as Bordeaux when it comes to winning the European competition. Win everything. That’s all that counts.
Too often coaches in SA are so worried about the top eight that they treat the Champions Cup as a “nice to have” rather than a necessity.
And if Super Rugby taught us anything, it is that home advantage is everything in this competition. Whether Auckland or Bordeaux, that counts just as much.
So until SA teams make their home a fortress that is feared by the world’s best, and until they target an away game for five points, nothing will change.
And until there is success in Europe, SA franchises won’t be judged positively by the rest of the competition.