With the start of the new Super Rugby season, we find ourselves embroiled in the annual argument of north versus south.
In one corner we have the fast, open game full of tricks, flicks, offloads and tries. In the other, a more turgid affair littered with errors and re-set scrums played out on stodgy quagmires.
Or so they’d have you believe.
It’s a lazy cliché trotted out by those south of the equator who seem to think the north is inhabited by philistines, desperately harking back to the ball up the jumper era.
Let’s get something straight; South African and Australian club rugby is distinctly average, in the main, while the Kiwi sides are playing a brand of rugby more akin to rugby league but without the six-tackle rule.
The northern hemisphere is by no-means perfect, but it’s not quite on the defibrillator just yet, and this weekend’s Six Nations was the perfect example of that.
Attacking, open play is being complimented by solid forward work, strong set piece and a good battle on the floor.
One of the issues we face however, is always thinking the grass is greener on the other side, particularly when it comes to New Zealand rugby.
We are seeing the employment of width, the flicks, and incisive running lines in the north – just maybe not at the same regularity.
Just @Rieko_Ioane, Matt Duffie, and @SonnyBWilliams doing their best Sonny Bill Williams impressions... It's raining offloads in #HIGvBLU, live on SS Action now. 24-31 with half an hour left to play. #SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/yjSclwWXox
— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) February 23, 2018
Here is a crazy thought though – traditional rugby union can be wildly entertaining and can be the downfall of the southern hemisphere – we are already seeing it with Australia.
Competitive scrummaging, mauling, and dogged work on the ground has always been the cornerstone of the game – and something that appears to be less and less important in the south.
And this is where the north can steal a march – by excelling in these elements, coupled with the development of a more expansive style there is potential to surpass those who only want to play highlight reel rugby.
Getting left behind? Far from it.
