Comments on: Super 14: love it while you can

By: The Reiver

The Reiver — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:49:52 +0000

Looking at the Super 14 game from “Way Up North”.
Rather than comments, I have some questions which hopefully will help me understand the issues:

1. Who runs the Super 14 franchise. Is it the joint SANZAR Unions or a private enterprise such as our Premier Rugby PLC (Long may they rot in hell) ?

2. Every time I watch Super 14 (especially derby matches between teams of one country) the crowds seem awesome compared to the gates we get for GP games in England etc. The merchandising must be amazing too. So where does the cash go ?
Surely Super 14 teams have the financial ability to secure their “Franchise” players on long term, lucrative contracts. We ain’t that rich up here.

3. France seems to be the Northern Hemisphere cash cow at the moment, so how come I see Michelak in SA. He’s a French icon on and off the field ? There must be some cash somewhere in Super 14 to tempt him there.

4. Is there a discrepancy between the 3 unions on monies available etc ?

Some help with Super 14 politics and finances would be appreciated. I love the game (even the southern version of it :- D)
I am not a fan of young Southern Hemisphere players heading north, as I feel it retards the development of our own youth.
I am a Sale Sharks fan and still can’t get my head around the fact that we enticed Luke McAlister away from NZ, or why we would want to !!!

By: Have a go.

Have a go. — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:14:07 +0000

Loved the article that started this blog and look forward to seeing more comment. We need a few of these to stir the pot whch has quietened down since everyone seemed to have retired exhausted from the World Cup debates.

By: Tarpo

Tarpo — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:51:24 +0000

Inky, agree with a lot of what you have said, particularly in reference to Yellow cards waiting to happen. The comment is often made that a good big man will beat a good smaller man, whilst this has merit it should be balanced with a good intelligent man will beat a good not so intelligent man.
The key to fixing the breakdown is bring back rucking, not thuggery, just good clean raking, if you are obstructing the ball, you get removed. Nothing to the head, no stomping(yellow card), no kicking(red card). As an old breakaway if I didn’t have a few stripes on me after the game I wasn’t trying hard enough.

By: taya

taya — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:46:25 +0000

wow ! what an article

you have taught me heaps today!

i am not qualified to comment on some of what you have said but i guess money is an essential evil – its just how much you would like to dance with the devil and or are willing to trade !

re the simple game of rugby though – players going overseas is a shame but for some a necessity to make a future for themselves, i think the ELv’s are great for the game, and skills will improve re passing however i am not that keen on rucking back in the game (maybe a chic thing but it did get very nasty though!) and more yellow cards (not sure) ..at the moment i think there are plenty and some are just ridiculus…IMO..should the refs be more consistent than more cards?

i do agree with your comments re keeping aging over paid players for too long is not good (good comment re brumbies bench)…

re the AB – who knows ? lets hope they keep winning until the end of 2011 as the AB brand needs it more than any nation

and re super 14 rugby i would love to see pacific is and argentina in our region ! bring it on

By: TembaVJ

TembaVJ — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:47:34 +0000

Great Article Inky.

By: LeftArmSpinner

LeftArmSpinner — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:01:11 +0000

Dear Inky,

You were doing so well in the first part of your missive. Then, you went all “Communist” on me. Like it or not, cash is king. Embracing this will allow SANZAR, NZ, AUST, SA, Pacific Islands and Asia (Japan and China) to protect its own game by meeting fire with fire, or should I say, cash with cash!

We have been through a 10 year shakedown period of Super Rugby. That has gone very well. Now, growth should be sought in large (and potentially large markets) and narrower time zones. SANZAR needs to look north, becoming JASANZAR and then probably JASANZARPA, (JApan, PAcific Islands) in one or two phases.

The advent of professional players shouldn’t have signaled the end of those wonderful traditions and amateur ethics. The two are not mutually exclusive, just look at golf. We just let the current crop of players to get away with too much.

As for the game:

1. Adopt the ELV’s;
2. Encourage referees to issue yellow cards earlier for repeated infringements;
3. Reduce the bench to 5 and
4. Bring back rucking.

The purpose is to open the game up by encouraging attacking play and fast breakdown ball.