Co-captains extol South Africa

The Highlanders co-captains have spoken of the charms of South Africa and questioned whether a heavily New Zealand-based Super Rugby competition would be sustainable.

New Zealand Rugby announced last week it was looking an an eight or 10-team Super Rugby competition next season which would include the five New Zealand sides, some Australian teams and possibly a team from the Pacific Islands.

That leaves the South Africans and Argentines out in the cold although they may be involved in some sort of playoffs.

Highlanders halfback and co-captain Aaron Smith said last week he always enjoyed travelling to South Africa and it was good for New Zealand players.

"You have big stadiums, dry ball, they play it at the right time, at 4-5pm, so you finish the game and it is getting dark. It is easy to play rugby in South Africa when it is 21degC in the winter," Smith said.

"I’m a kid from a small town and going to South Africa and seeing lions and elephants and a beautiful country like that it is new. Obviously, New Zealand is very beautiful but over there — it is just different," he said.

"You get to travel and tour as a group and the tightness you get as a group is great. Going to Australia is good but is very similar to New Zealand. South Africa is a great place to tour. I’ve been there plenty of times and enjoy it every time."

Smith, who had an outstanding game for the Highlanders in the side’s win over the Chiefs last Sunday, admitted Super Rugby Aotearoa was bashing his body around and it was taking a while to recover.

Highlanders co-captain Ash Dixon told Country Sport radio yesterday he enjoyed touring South Africa and not just on the rugby field.

"As a young fella who has toured there ... it's a great way to get a lot of gratitude ... the way they live their lives and the way we do is completely different," Dixon said.

"Obviously, it is not an easy place to win — I'd love to see the Africans still there.

"[Super Rugby Aotearoa] is pretty hard ... if we did have semis and finals it would be who is left to play. I know after our game we've got a few banged up bodies. This bye week has come at a good time for us."

Other players have talked of the gruelling nature of the Aotearoa competition and how hard it is both physically and mentally to be up for every game.

The Highlanders have the bye this week and the team is taking the week off and will come back to start training on July 28.