http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/07/05/change-for-rugby-world-cup-draw/ Your Sports Opinion Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:23:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/07/05/change-for-rugby-world-cup-draw/comment-page-1/#comment-52230 Sluggy Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:23:29 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=8098#comment-52230 In theory the NH should have sent proper teams on this wnter's tours to try to pick up the away win ratings points. The system has already failed, and the NH clubs will no doubt refuse release of any PI players whenever it matters to try and stop the PI teams overaking the fading 6N sides in the rankings. In theory the NH should have sent proper teams on this wnter’s tours to try to pick up the away win ratings points. The system has already failed, and the NH clubs will no doubt refuse release of any PI players whenever it matters to try and stop the PI teams overaking the fading 6N sides in the rankings.

]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/07/05/change-for-rugby-world-cup-draw/comment-page-1/#comment-52193 Justin Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:04:17 +0000 http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=8098#comment-52193 Typical IRB. They get it half right. The concept of earning a seed is excellent as it can help you progress favorably through tournament but why should the seeds be decided just over 12 months after the finish of the last RWC? Ridiculous - I would go 2 steps further and make the cut off date Nov 30 2009 (ideally it would be later but this at least gives the IRB time to set locations for teams and ticketing arrangements must be taken into consideration). Also I would look at having only the top 4 automatically qualify. This would ensure (I would like to think) that pathetic c grade teams do not tour internationally in the qualifying period and give us some of the farcical matches we endure in the SH in June. Test matches should be just that, a real Test. I think pride would be a major motivator for countries to not miss a top 4 spot. Typical IRB. They get it half right. The concept of earning a seed is excellent as it can help you progress favorably through tournament but why should the seeds be decided just over 12 months after the finish of the last RWC? Ridiculous – I would go 2 steps further and make the cut off date Nov 30 2009 (ideally it would be later but this at least gives the IRB time to set locations for teams and ticketing arrangements must be taken into consideration). Also I would look at having only the top 4 automatically qualify. This would ensure (I would like to think) that pathetic c grade teams do not tour internationally in the qualifying period and give us some of the farcical matches we endure in the SH in June. Test matches should be just that, a real Test. I think pride would be a major motivator for countries to not miss a top 4 spot.

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