Enjoy top level Aussie rugby while it lasts

 
James Mortimer Roar Pro

By James Mortimer, 24 Apr 2009 James Mortimer is a Roar Pro

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Australian Adam Ashleigh Cooper (centre) is tackled by New Zealand's Jimmy Cowan (right) and Ali Williams (left) during the Tri Nations final between the Australian Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. The All Blacks beat the Wallabies 28-24. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Australian Adam Ashleigh Cooper (centre) is tackled by New Zealand's Jimmy Cowan (right) and Ali Williams (left) during the Tri Nations final between the Australian Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. The All Blacks beat the Wallabies 28-24. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

As the Super 14 enters its final month, the harsh reality is that beyond the Wallabies, top level rugby in Australia is about to end.

John O’Neill has been his typical vocal self in stating his and Australia’s requirements for Super 14 expansion. He is pushing for a fifth team and advocating a backup plan if the South Africans do not come to the table.

It has been suggested that the NZRU are backing up O’Neill, but this is only being made obvious by the Australian CEO himself.

New Zealand chairman Jack Hobbs and chief executive Steve Tew have remained impartial to the ongoing conflict within the SANZAR ranks that still sees us no closer to actually knowing what will occur with our premier competitions – Super rugby and the Tri-Nations – from 2011.

Add to this the documented falling crowd levels and television viewing audience, and this will affect the commercial and financial viability of the re-negotiations.

Only one country holds a relative trump card in all of this: South Africa. Ironic. It is the country of some 44 million that boasts the lion’s share of both stadia based audiences and television numbers.

And in this, there is one aspect of the South African proposal that will not be compromised: that of their premier domestic competition, the Currie Cup.

They also believe that they should receive a sixth franchise, based not only on their wish not to have their own tournament infringed upon, but also on the evidence that they wield the largest pure rugby market.

Irrespective of the above, it is hard to agree that South Africa warrant a sixth team, such as the Eastern Cape “Southern Kings” or a hybrid team of the mistreated Southern Spears. Especially with two or three of South Africa’s five teams consistently bringing up the rear of the Super rugby table.

As former Southern Spears CEO Tony Mckeever stated some time ago: “It is not fair that South African rugby rewards mediocrity”.

Essentially, the original agreement with the Spear’s and the SARU was that they would replace the worst performing South African franchise.

This did not eventuate, and legal battles and existing franchises’ stubborn stances caused ugly rifts in the South African rugby landscapes.

It is here that O’Neill is missing the point.

He talks of a lack compromise by South Africa, and vehemently states that Australia has made a concession in their negotiations.

But in what?

The reality is that it will be South Africa (with the Currie Cup) and New Zealand (with the Air New Zealand Cup) that will be making the compromises.

Australia made theirs a long time ago, which had nothing to do with their fellow SANZAR partners.

When O’Neill came on board for his second term as Australian boss in June 2007, he said the rugby landscape was in “deep ****”.

In 2007, the ARU was in deficit to a horrific tune of $8.48 million.

In the financial report of 2008, they had announced a stunning $9.19 million turnaround; recording a surplus of $712,000. Expenditure was cut by eight per cent, a formidable display of O’Neill’s vaunted administrative capabilities.

But it came at a cost which will only be felt this year.

There is no more Australian Rugby Championship, which was a complete fiscal disaster, posting a near $5 million dollar loss after administrators ran it more than $2 million over budget.

But also, the Australia A program, essentially the Wallabies B team, was scrapped.

While there is a significant Wallabies program this year, with a six match Tri-Nations and likely Grand Slam tour, that is it.

As O’Neill said: “We (Australia) don’t have a Currie Cup or an (New Zealand) NPC but at the end of the day our driving force of our success for 13 or 14 years has been Super rugby or Tri-Nations. We can’t forget that.

“The other stuff makes up the numbers but the revenue, if you ask Fox Sports what they pay the big money for, they pay the big money for Super rugby and Tri-Nations.”

But the foundation of South African and New Zealand rugby power is the success and history of their respective national competitions, and O’Neill must remember this.

For all of the talk of a Plan B, if South Africa is not included in Australia’s and O’Neill’s grand scheme, then the Super 14 as we know it ends – as does the Tri Nations, possibly the world’s premier international tournament.

Australia is not compromising in their proposals for SANZAR as South Africa and New Zealand will need to with the Currie and Air New Zealand Cups.

Thanks to O’Neill, they have already done that.

And it is the Australian rugby public, and quite possibly eventually Australian rugby, that will be poorer for it.

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