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Structural unfairness destroying Super Rugby

26th April, 2015
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Success on the field is all well and good, but sometimes a bit of effort with the fans is even more important.(photo: Glenn Nicholls)
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26th April, 2015
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We all know that the Super Rugby competition has been cobbled together on the run, and the conference system we now have is the result of trying to save money.

But for every competition to have integrity it must do away with factors which advantage one team over another.

The 2007 Rugby World Cup was an example. A team like South Africa had its hardest game against Tonga and beat a team in the final it had thrashed in pool play. But this was luck that gave it a clear run to the Cup, and the inadequacies of the teams that should have challenged it.

The competition was not designed to influence this outcome.

However, there are structural factors in the Super Rugby competition that can lead to unfair advantages. It is technically possible that a team can finish 11th on the points table, but by being the top team in their conference they are guaranteed a spot in the finals.

By winning two home finals they could even host the final. How is that a fair state of affairs?

There is also the strong possibility that some teams will have a much easier run than others. Taking the table as it exists at Anzac weekend, there are three Australian teams in the bottom six and one New Zealand team. Thus the Brumbies and Waratahs get a guaranteed six games against these teams, while the Chiefs and Hurricanes get two.

I have analysed the games that the top two teams from each conference play against the other eight teams in the top nine, and the games they play against the bottom six. The results are below.

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Chiefs: Bottom 6 – 7; Top 9 – 9; Score: – 2
Hurricanes: 6; 10; Score – 4
Brumbies: 8; 8; Score 0
Waratahs: 9; 8; Score + 1
Stormers; 7; 8; Score + 1
Bulls; 8; 8; Score 0

The Chiefs and particularly the Hurricanes have got a mountain to climb, while the Waratahs can coast (relatively) to the finish line.

If an Australian team wins the Super Rugby competition, can the side really say they were the best?

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