“Clickbait”: Bernard Jackman Rubbishes ‘Low Level’ URC Claims Made By World Cup Winner Saying…

Former World Cup winner and ex-All Black Stephen Donald ruffled his share of feathers this side of the equator on Tuesday when he rubbished the standards of the URC and claimed he’d drop Jordie Barrett from the All Blacks starting XV after his stint in Leinster.

The former outhalf, who won the 2011 Webb Ellis trophy with New Zealand, was discussing Jordie Barrett’s stint in Leinster when he made the claims, and demeaned the ‘very, very low’ standard of the URC in comparison to that of it’s Southern Hemisphere counterpart.

“The URC competition is probably a low, a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby, the Champions Cup stuff certainly would be [of the same level],” said Donald.

“Would I pick him in the squad? Yes, of course, he’s the vice-captain, remember. Would I start him? Not necessarily, and nothing to do with his form, but more of a reward for the boys who have been in Super Rugby and played well all year.”

Unsurprisingly, the comments caused their fair share of controversy, with South African and Irish fans quick to point out that a faltering Super Rugby competition is not the beacon of rugby excellence that it was during Donald’s time playing rugby.

Similarly, the addition of the South African clubs to what was once the Celtic League has improved the URC’s quality exponentially, and it now sits as one of the most competitive tournaments in World Rugby, albeit still some ways behind the Top 14.

Bernard Jackman launches ardent defence of the URC

Discussing that prospect, Bernard Jackman made it no known in no uncertain terms that the current standard in the URC is particularly high, suggesting that Donald was either ill-informed or trying to create ‘clickbait’.

The Leinster legend turned pundit was speaking on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast, when he defended the URC and said that Donald’s comments were ‘inaccurate’.

“Not at all. In actual fact the defensive systems in URC would actually be more rigid, more set in stone than Super Rugby. Super Rugby is a great product, great skill, plenty of talent but set piece wise and defensively and that tactical element is far and above (in the URC).

First hand, I’ve seen coaches come over from Super Rugby and be shocked at the level of tactical knowledge, the systems they need to put in place for teams to compete in a Northern Hemisphere competition

So Stephen Donald, he either doesn’t know much about it, or he’s just trying to make clickbait, but he’s totally innacurate there.

Jackman, who is well regarded for his knowledge on all things world rugby, also cited the concerns held within New Zealand and Australia about Super Rugby’s falling standards and explained that, thanks to their superior tactics, the Northern Hemisphere’s competitions are more ‘advanced’.

‘That’s not knocking Super Rugby, it’s a good competition in its own right, but the URC would compete in that and people in New Zealand and Australia who are working in Super Rugby feel that it’s gone backwards since the South African’s pulled away.

There’s lots of talented players in there, but in terms of actual detail, the Northern Hemisphere and the URC and Champions Cup in particular are more advanced, and that makes it very comparable.

Regardless, such is the strength of Leinster’s depth that Jordie Barrett has only appeared in the URC on three occasions since he joined Leinster last December. He earned his six other caps for the province in the Champions Cup, although that will likely even out in the coming weeks as Leinster approach the knockout stages of the league.