Experienced coaches Jake White and John Plumtree have responded to Stephen Donald’s comments about the quality of the United Rugby Championship (URC).
The former All Blacks fly-half is of the opinion that the URC is a much lower level of rugby when compared to Super Rugby Pacific.
Donald’s comments spark the debate
He said as much when discussing Jordie Barrett’s form for Leinster with an eye to All Blacks selection.
“The URC competition is probably a low, a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby, the Champions Cup stuff certainly would be [of the same level],” Donald told The Breakdown.
Former Crusaders and Hurricanes lock Joe Wheeler agreed with Donald.
“The URC might not be as good as Super Rugby,” he said.
“It’s not going to harden him for Test rugby but this guy is world class there’s no question about it he is in your squad, you’re picking him every day of the week, and I don’t think you start him.”
Ex-Cheetahs coach and current Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith has added his weight to the debate stating that one has to have played in both competitions to make a fair comparison.
Meanwhile, Stormers coach John Dobson was more forthright in his reply and believed that Leinster and the Bulls would beat the best that Super Rugby has to offer.
He added that the URC is closer to international rugby than Super Rugby Pacific.
Franco Smith’s blunt response to Stephen Donald’s criticism of the United Rugby Championship
Experienced coaches respond
White, who has also coached in both tournaments with the Sharks, Bulls and Brumbies, was more diplomatic in response as he acknowledged the intricacies of comparing the two tournaments.
“Super Rugby has changed so many times,” he told the media.
“It used to be Super 8, then Super 10, 12, 14 then it went into conference systems, and now it is Super Rugby without South African sides.
“So, it depends on what Super Rugby you are talking about. It is not a case of which one is stronger or weaker.”
He added: “The Crusaders and Blues in the early 90s were as strong as any international side. But Leinster, with a fully-fledged international team is as difficult as playing one of those Super Rugby sides in those days.
“It would be wrong of me to say he is right or wrong as Super Rugby has changed so significantly in the last 15 or 20 years, it’s not what it used to be.”
Meanwhile, New Zealander Plumtree states that the two competitions are “just different” with Super Rugby being a sprint compared to the marathon that is the URC.
Plumtree has also coached in both tournaments with the Sharks and was in charge of the Hurricanes too.
“Super Rugby has faster games and high skill levels but it’s a sprint,” he said.
“The URC is a longer, more challenging season with international windows interrupting play.”
The former All Blacks assistant was dismissive about Donald’s remarks overall but the URC being a low level.
“Who said that? Honestly, not something that interests me,” he added.
“There are Springboks in URC, in Japan too, it doesn’t mean one league is definitively better.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/jake-white-and-john-plumtree-respond-to-ex-all-blacks-urc-take-as-super-rugby-isnt-what-it-used-to-be
