Jeff Probyn: South African link would make Stuart Lancaster happy

Last week I said the Premiership would have to look further afield if they wanted to find a replacement for those they have left behind in Europe – and it may be that they have.
It has been confirmed that the Premiership will not be taking part in next year’s Heineken Cup, which adds weight to the idea circulating that there have been extensive talks with the South African regional teams about a link-up with the Premiership.
I admit I didn’t think that any such link would work, simply because of the distance involved and the response of the Saracens fans when just a single game was touted as a possibility last season.
However, the solution now being seriously discussed as an alternative to the Heineken Cup involves South African teams travelling to the UK on European weekends.
The distance would be less of a problem for the South Africans than when they play in Super Rugby as they are on the same time line as England and so would not have the concern of jetlag.
The number of ex-pat South Africans now residing in England means there could be enough support at the ground but, more importantly, because of the lack of time difference, games could be broadcast live at reasonable kick-off times which means South African television would pay a hefty premium for the  games. It’s also a possibility that BT would honour the European part of the contract they have with the Premiership and possibly even pay a bit more.
Initially, so I am told, it would just be until a new French-led European competition, overseen by a new body (not ERC) that will maximise the commercial interests of the clubs, becomes established.
Of course, any such cross-border competition would require the permission of both Unions involved but that should be easier to obtain than an agreement with the five European Unions left in the Heineken Cup.
The alternate idea proffered of the possible inclusion of the Welsh regions in the Premiership is almost definitely just hot air.
The idea that you could increase the number of teams in the top English club league with the addition of the four Welsh regions just doesn’t make sense.
First, it would need the agreement of the Championship, who would, I am sure, insist that if there were four places available at the top table, they should be given to them.
Then there is the small issue of promotion and relegation. If the Welsh teams finish at the bottom of the league would they be relegated or would it be the lowest-placed English team?
If the Welsh teams were to be guaranteed a place in the Premiership it would give them the same advantage that has been the foundation of the argument for the English teams leaving the Heineken.
That said, if either of these incarnations took place it would take time for all the teams to get up to speed and provide a worthwhile competition.
Just as there is a gulf between the club and international game, there are playing differences in all areas of the game.
If I am honest I can see no advantage to the English in an Anglo-Welsh competition, but it could mean a serious upscale for the Welsh in terms of player improvement that would aid the Welsh national side going forward to 2015.
For that reason I would hope that the RFU would block any extra cross border games with the Welsh, but having thought about it, the possibilities of an Anglo-South African cup is a different matter.
The exposure of the English clubs to the physicality and pace of the South African regions can only help our players adjust to the speed and power of those teams and understand more about the intensity of the Southern Hemisphere game.
From an England point of view the more our players are exposed to the Southern Hemisphere game the better for our national team.
As a player who had never faced a Southern Hemisphere team until I played for England, I can, with some honesty, say that they do play a different style of game that can be challenging in different ways to the teams faced in the Northern Hemisphere.
The South Africans, in particular, offer a physical game that is not matched by any of the other foundation Unions in either hemisphere and a level of skill that will make any of the clubs who face them raise their game or face humiliation.
For that reason, if I were Stuart Lancaster I would be secretly hoping that the Premiership can sort out the logistics of an Anglo-South African cup and get as many of the Premiership teams playing as possible.
The South Africans have always wanted to build a bridge to the north but until now there was no appetite for it and both New Zealand and Australia objected, fearing a switch of allegiance.
If – and it is a big ‘if’ – these games were to go ahead, they could dramatically change the face of world rugby as we know it.