The Stormers have a head start in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoff race as the last round of group matches are scheduled to take place over two days.
So says coach Tony Booth, whose Ospreys host the Vodacom Bulls on Friday, 20 May – a win for the travelling team would mean the Bulls overtake the Stormers on the log. The Sharks, who are third, face Ulster in Belfast on the same night.
In fourth spot and chasing a home playoff, the Stormers face Scarlets in Llanelli the next day, and they will consequently know exactly what is required of them before kick-off.
“I can’t understand why it is not [all games] played at the same time,” Booth said. “For the integrity of the competition, surely it has to be at the same time, especially when there is something tangible on it.
“I have come from the Premiership in England where all games finish at the same time [on the last day]. I appreciate things like television picks. But even now, if there are meaningful games with big repercussions, there has to be that integrity of competition, despite the TV picks.
“There are enough quality games so we can fill the schedule. We will be asking the question for sure.”
As for the Scarlets vs Stormers match kicking off a day later, he added: “That is potentially a competitive advantage and can adjust how you approach a game. So, for me that diminishes the integrity of the competition.”
