Big problems for small unions

Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse believes the smaller provincial unions are not getting a fair deal from SARU or from referees.

Frank and forthright in his opinions after Western Province - reinforced by six Springboks returning from the World Cup - had beaten the Pumas 43-18 at Newlands on Saturday, Stonehouse went on record with his conviction that referees' calls tend to go against the smaller unions and SA Rugby was not committed to looking after these unions.

Commenting on his team's Currie Cup defeat to Western Province, the coach said: "The score was not a true reflection.

"You can't dominate in the scrums and concede 13 penalties in the scrums. The second try was a knock-on. Schalk Burger didn't use his arms [in a tackle].

"This is out in the open but no-one notices it. But if you tackle high... I'm incredibly critical of things like this."

Stonehouse was adamant this wasn't a one-off situation, adding: "It feels all the time like it's happening to the small unions. I said it two weeks ago and today [Saturday] was precisely the same thing."

He was convinced that the game may have turned out differently had a few decisions gone the other way.

He was happy with his team's season, especially in the light of the talent of the opposition they faced.

"It was an amazing season for us but if you take off Jean de Villiers and you put on Jaque Fourie... I take off Jaco Bouwer, who do I put on?"

The Pumas faced a similar scenario against the Sharks, Lions and Bulls.

The season in general had gone well, Stonehouse believed, despite the log points not reflecting this. What the Pumas had brought to the table was really good. They had played good rugby and had been competitive.

"I think my team is playing amazing rugby. I think there's a lot of guts. We'll be back next year."

However, with the Currie Cup being reduced from eight teams to six next year, the Pumas now are now faced with what amounted to a guillotine, Stonehouse believed. The future was uncertain and being dropped out of the Currie Cup meant the union would lose their sponsors.

"I hope SA Rugby will be prepared to give us the money we stand to lose, because that is what kills rugby."

Stonehouse felt that the Pumas were being relegated to the First Division through no fault of their own. Losing their sponsors because they had been dropped out of the Currie Cup would be a severe setback for the province.

"We've got a group of 43 players but 13 will have to leave because we can't keep them. Where will we find the money?" he asked.

There was also the problem of losing players to the big unions who had the resources to buy their players.

Stonehouse also aimed a sharp jab at the EP Kings, who were thrashed 43-12 by the Boland Cavaliers in the First Division Final on Friday.

"If you can't win your own division, I don't know how you can play in the Super 15," said an indignant Stonehouse.

By Len Kaplan at Newlands