Dobson warns about 'destroying SA production line'
This is the view of Western Province coach John Dobson, who reacted to rumours that the Currie Cup could be expanded to a 14-team competition in 2016.
Some reports suggested the Currie Cup competition may replace the Vodacom Cup next year, with a qualifying competition for all 14 teams and the top eight then advancing to the main competition and then next seven playing in the second tier.
However, this format runs the risk of the some of the six Super Rugby franchising failing to qualify for the main competition, as their top 30-odd players will be playing in an expanded 18-team Super Rugby competition and they will be fielding depleted third-tier teams in the Currie Cup qualifying competition.
Dobson, who will continue as coach of WP's Currie Cup side next season and be one of Eddie Jones' assistants in Super Rugby, warned that watering down the country's premier domestic competition could be a mistake.
"This is probably the poorest attended Currie Cup final that I can remember," Dobson said after his team lost 24-32 to the Golden Lions at Ellis Park at the weekend.
"I appreciate that the Springboks and the All Blacks play this [past Saturday] evening, but I think South African rugby need to look very carefully at what we are doing to the Currie Cup," the Province mentor added.
"It's a unique selling prospect," he said of the Currie Cup, adding: "Australia and New Zealand, not even with their NPC Cup [NPC] don't have it.
"With so many guys going overseas, these guys are going so quickly from Currie Cup to Super Rugby and into the Springbok side.
"If we are going to keep watering down the Currie Cup, we are literally going to destroy our own rugby production line.
"I really feel incredibly strongly, we have to look after the Currie Cup."
He also blasted the expansion of Super Rugby to 18 teams.
"The new Super Rugby format, we can invite some professor from MIT or Stanford to work it out and let us know.
"No competition should be judged on teams that don't play each other.
"We must look after our Currie Cup and at the moment we are in danger of watering it down."
Dobson also suggested all South African teams should follow the playing style of the Golden Lions.
"The Lions, over the three months, played the best style of rugby in South Africa," he said.
"Their style of rugby, and them going unbeaten through the season, they absolutely deserved to be champions.
"I think their model, other teams in South Africa need to look at this model and how rugby should be played for the benefit of South African rugby," Dobson added.
