Phil van Biljon
@philvb.bsky.social
Wouldn’t mind giving Dec/Jan back to cricket and using the later champs cup slots for the URC SA derbies.
Or my crazier idea: If we’re committing to rugby now, use the champs cup weekends for Currie cup
Or my crazier idea: If we’re committing to rugby now, use the champs cup weekends for Currie cup
December 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Wouldn’t mind giving Dec/Jan back to cricket and using the later champs cup slots for the URC SA derbies.
Or my crazier idea: If we’re committing to rugby now, use the champs cup weekends for Currie cup
Or my crazier idea: If we’re committing to rugby now, use the champs cup weekends for Currie cup
December 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Wouldn’t mind giving Dec/Jan back to cricket and using the later champs cup slots for the URC SA derbies.
Or my crazier idea: If we’re committing to rugby now, use the champs cup weekends for Currie cup
Or my crazier idea: If we’re committing to rugby now, use the champs cup weekends for Currie cup
Also doesn’t help that SA fans are still adjusting to festive rugby and barely know the non-URC teams.
(Although if tomorrow’s game’s good can we officially declare Stormers-La Rochelle a historic rivalry?)
(Although if tomorrow’s game’s good can we officially declare Stormers-La Rochelle a historic rivalry?)
December 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Also doesn’t help that SA fans are still adjusting to festive rugby and barely know the non-URC teams.
(Although if tomorrow’s game’s good can we officially declare Stormers-La Rochelle a historic rivalry?)
(Although if tomorrow’s game’s good can we officially declare Stormers-La Rochelle a historic rivalry?)
As you say, SA sides aren’t the only issue but unless you can shift (and increase) the game weeks (and let’s be honest T14 won’t allow this), the competition is probably better without SA sides.
(Selfishly also think SA sides could do with time off)
(Selfishly also think SA sides could do with time off)
December 12, 2025 at 2:33 PM
As you say, SA sides aren’t the only issue but unless you can shift (and increase) the game weeks (and let’s be honest T14 won’t allow this), the competition is probably better without SA sides.
(Selfishly also think SA sides could do with time off)
(Selfishly also think SA sides could do with time off)
Yeah last minute flights to SA in Dec/Jan (and even April/Easter for that matter) make this unworkable unfortunately
December 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Yeah last minute flights to SA in Dec/Jan (and even April/Easter for that matter) make this unworkable unfortunately
Discounted tickets if you enter before the women’s game would be great but it won’t happen
December 5, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Discounted tickets if you enter before the women’s game would be great but it won’t happen
Rugby’s insistence on giving every competition variations of the same name also meant I had to read this a couple times to fully understand it
December 3, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Rugby’s insistence on giving every competition variations of the same name also meant I had to read this a couple times to fully understand it
Full TRC in ‘27 too - we’re going to be so sick of this fixture by then
December 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Full TRC in ‘27 too - we’re going to be so sick of this fixture by then
Let alone Georgia, I still want Italy to get their long-awaited knockout
December 2, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Let alone Georgia, I still want Italy to get their long-awaited knockout
I’m still unsure if rugby’s ready for a RO16,
My 2027 take:
The excitement of new teams far outweighs any issues with drubbings we might see because of 4 extra teams.
BUT… I’m not sure if potentially uncompetitive knockout games benefits anyone
My 2027 take:
The excitement of new teams far outweighs any issues with drubbings we might see because of 4 extra teams.
BUT… I’m not sure if potentially uncompetitive knockout games benefits anyone
December 2, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I’m still unsure if rugby’s ready for a RO16,
My 2027 take:
The excitement of new teams far outweighs any issues with drubbings we might see because of 4 extra teams.
BUT… I’m not sure if potentially uncompetitive knockout games benefits anyone
My 2027 take:
The excitement of new teams far outweighs any issues with drubbings we might see because of 4 extra teams.
BUT… I’m not sure if potentially uncompetitive knockout games benefits anyone
4 pools vs 6 also means more competitive games.
On current rankings you could get France and SA in same pool.
(More importantly?) This also benefits the bottom teams, Canada’s best-case draw tomorrow are WC-stalwarts Tonga - with 4 pools it’s Portugal
On current rankings you could get France and SA in same pool.
(More importantly?) This also benefits the bottom teams, Canada’s best-case draw tomorrow are WC-stalwarts Tonga - with 4 pools it’s Portugal
December 2, 2025 at 10:05 AM
4 pools vs 6 also means more competitive games.
On current rankings you could get France and SA in same pool.
(More importantly?) This also benefits the bottom teams, Canada’s best-case draw tomorrow are WC-stalwarts Tonga - with 4 pools it’s Portugal
On current rankings you could get France and SA in same pool.
(More importantly?) This also benefits the bottom teams, Canada’s best-case draw tomorrow are WC-stalwarts Tonga - with 4 pools it’s Portugal
Luckily South African fans are always reasonable when opaque World Rugby processes (justifiably) don’t go our way… 🙃
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Luckily South African fans are always reasonable when opaque World Rugby processes (justifiably) don’t go our way… 🙃
Assuming it’s Nov-Oct, then Willemse and Sacha missing EOY tests counts against them. And England weren’t great then either
November 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Assuming it’s Nov-Oct, then Willemse and Sacha missing EOY tests counts against them. And England weren’t great then either
Agree with the overall point but as an aside, ironically the NZ tour at least means 1 or 2 less games in the year for the Boks (and with less travel)
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Agree with the overall point but as an aside, ironically the NZ tour at least means 1 or 2 less games in the year for the Boks (and with less travel)
It feels like post ‘23 is a never ending series of last dances for the 2019 guys
September 6, 2025 at 9:05 AM
It feels like post ‘23 is a never ending series of last dances for the 2019 guys
I just wonder if Rassie’s willing to properly commit to new combos and potentially sacrifice The Greatest Rivalry Tour™…
September 6, 2025 at 9:04 AM
I just wonder if Rassie’s willing to properly commit to new combos and potentially sacrifice The Greatest Rivalry Tour™…
Wonder when last both teams in a 1 v 2 showdown have looked so shaky going in
August 23, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Wonder when last both teams in a 1 v 2 showdown have looked so shaky going in
And you’ll never guess how Leinster’s season starts. He had those extra weeks booked off ages ago
August 2, 2025 at 10:54 PM
And you’ll never guess how Leinster’s season starts. He had those extra weeks booked off ages ago