Marshall and Michalak differ on the merits of the Heineken and Super 14 competions. Who do you agree with?

Question

Justin Marshall is an advocate of the Heinken Cup," its a far superior comp - its tougher, and offers more variety that is missing in the Super 14", same old same old, Marshall reckons.

Compare this to the differing view of Michalak French Rugby great and playing Flyhalf for the Sharks in the Super 14.

"The Super 14 is superior to the Heineken Cup because its like an international game every week. The ball and the players are much quicker in the Heineken Cup." It has the best players in the world because it has all the best players in the world.

Michalak is enjoying the pace of the game, along with the experimental laws.

Is Marshall correct about the the Heineken and its merits or Michalak with his support of the Super 14.

Answer 1

player wise rugby in new zealand is a third rate sport. we have more playing soccer/basketball...but because we are one of if not the best at it we tend to watch/support it more than other sports.

Answer 2

I would agree with Michalak in saying the super 14 is tougher generally because it has more youthful talent and strength from all the different areas of the southern hemisphere mainly being from the New Zealand/pacific island realm and the South African realm.In both arenas rugby is law and bible first and foremost with the exception of Australia even tho they are still a superpower on the global stage it is very much a secondary sport just like it is in most northern hemisphere country's .The fact is obvious that players from the super 14 who have maybe crossed the halfway mark of their playing careers then opt to go and play in the Heineken cup suggests that even tho they still posses the natural talent they obviously regard their  futures as being closer to retirement then before ,thus beefing up the Heineken cup making it a more experienced comp but it still lacks the brawn of the super 14 .Maybe in Marshalls declining years things appear harder then they used to????????????

Answer 3

They're both right.

Both players got bored with their own competitions. There are only 14 teams in the Super 14, and when you've played as long as Marshall did then you've played against them all several times. Moreover, he's an intelligent player who succeeds out-think his opponents.Michelak would see a similar thing - same old teams, same old players. The Super 14 is faster, with a more "try it and see" attitude, and for a Northern hemisphere player, that new perspective would be refreshing and exciting.

Answer 4

Hey Marshall, you got so much from N.Z Rugby and all you have done since leaving N.Z is try and throw cheap shots at us now your playing in the Northern Hemisphere. Super 14 is far better than the Heineken Cup end of story!!! Now get ya hand off it and go put your England shirt on!!

Answer 5

Justin was commenting on the boredom of playing the same teams year-in-year-out while he was still playing in NZ , and after playing 9-10 years at that level , I can understand that.

So he's off enjoying it and good on him.

Whatever Michalak's reasons are , he's enjoying it to.

I live down south so I've got the S14 to follow .... happy with that.

Answer 6

I don't watch the tri nations or the super 12, because frankly 97% of the fun in watching rugby (for me anyway) is being emotionally envolved in it...So NH rugby is in my opinion 97% better.

Answer 7

I think they may have both grown stale of the comps they were in, and are enjoying being in new systems and a new compitition.

Personally, i can't watch European Rugby.