Former Springbok and Griquas coach Andre Markgraaff has asked that the SA Rugby Football Union reinstate the old Currie Cup system or come up with a more balanced alternative to the new Top Eight format.

Markgraaff told a newspaper that anyone who thinks "it's good for SA rugby that the Blue Bulls are out of the Currie Cup contest needs his head read".

He has called for a fairer system where teams compete on equal footing. For example, one failing of the new system is the fact that Western Province, who carried over 14 points into the Top Eight, have benefited from playing in the much weaker Section Y.

This puts the teams who competed in the stronger Section X, the Lions, Sharks, Boland Kavaliers and Cheetahs, at a disadvantage. It's much easier for WP, who play the Lions on Saturday, to secure a home semifinal.

Markgraaff said: "I realise Sarfu had the best of intentions to come up with a format where you have strength versus strength. I know there has been a complaint from the bigger unions about the financial losses they suffer when hosting smaller unions.

"But while the new format is interesting, it's not necessarily a success."

According to Markgraaff, a team shouldn't be able to qualify for the Top Eight after only one season. He says the benchmark should be a team's performances over a couple of seasons, the talent within the union, its development potential and the potential risk it runs to lose a major sponsor by not qualifying for the Top Eight.

"Griquas are an example of a union who have worked hard the last six years to play Currie Cup rugby, just like Border and the Falcons. It would have been tragic if Griquas hadn't qualified considering their recent achievements.

"It's also a pity that the Bulldogs and Falcons aren't competing for the Currie Cup anymore," Markgraaff said.