Skinstad: All Blacks miss ‘being tackled by a South African’
South Africa pulled out of a long-time Super Rugby partnership with New Zealand and Australia in 2020 and the Vodacom Bulls, Lions, Sharks and DHL Stormers made their Vodacom URC debut in 2021.
Over the past five seasons, the All Blacks have lost their grip on top spot on the world rankings, while the Wallabies tumbled as low as eighth.
“I say this in a caveated format because I absolutely love New Zealand,” Skinstad told Planet Rugby. “I love New Zealand rugby, I love what it stands for, I love what they’ve done for world rugby etc.
“But in Super Rugby times they had it cushy because everyone had to go to them. I think South Africa actually watered that garden for them.
“I think they realise that now. In conversation with a lot of my contemporaries at the World Cup who were playing at that time… they were all very disappointed they didn’t have the challenge of the South African teams.
“Just to sharpen the knife, so to speak. Because you get to a World Cup and you haven’t been tackled by a South African for 11 months.
“It’s different.”
Turning his attention to South Africa’s move to the Champions and Challenge Cup, Skinstad praised the Republic’s contribution to the quality of the competitions.
“We punch way above our weight,” he said. “We’ve got fewer rugby players than are available in England, definitely less economic firepower in terms of being able to hold the players, and more – and more difficult – travel to do than anyone else.
“Yet we are consistently at the top of the URC, we won the Challenge Cup last year through the Sharks, and we’ve only just arrived.”
