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Ten games played between the New Zealand franchises for three wins, while the flag ship Australian and South African teams look potent indeed.
Naturally, it is too early in the season to make any doomsday auguries for the five kiwi teams, four of whom were talked up as potential title threats. Or for New Zealand rugby itself.
Horror injury and player absenteeism has dramatically hurt the New Zealand sides so early in the season, and as the year progresses, the issue of player welfare will need to be addressed by the powers that rule in the NZRU’s corridors of power.
Amongst all of the sudden excitement of the Super 14 and, of course, the continuing Northern Hemisphere rugby season (highlighted by the Six Nations) a significant item of New Zealand rugby news has gone largely unnoticed: the 2009 draw of the Air New Zealand Cup.
Most notably, the split pool system that was met with mixed opinion last year has been shelved. This year’s hybrid will see a genuine round robin competition employed.
But with the New Zealand rugby union moving to keep the competition at 14 teams, after issues of financial un-sustainability by some unions, this will require roughly four months of rugby action, with the tournament slated to run from July to November.
It will be a year of domestic competition that will have to be monitored very carefully, with crowd numbers and general interest decreasing last year. Add to this a global financial crisis, and factors will need to be employed to keep interest, and revenue, high.
Probably the most obvious factor in this is who will be playing in the Air New Zealand Cup.
Take 30 All Blacks out of the equation, give or take another few players from injury, and will the provinces, in desperate need of gate revenue, suffer more in 2009?
Does a Wellington, Auckland or Canterbury team without their superstar players hold as much appeal for their adoring fans?
Surely this is the key factor now that the spotlight has fallen on a congested calendar season.
From a national team perspective, I believe the re-introduction of the rotation system will need to occur. Graham Henry had an almost exclusive Test match fifteen last year, unlike earlier years under his reign.
Wouldn’t rotation allow for greater rest and recuperation for players? This would also funnel growth at the top level with up-and-coming players, something that has been stymied with not only the player exodus of 2007, but with the lack of rotation in 2008.
There is only one way to truly tackle this, which would satisfy both Graham Henry, the players, the NZRU and the general public.
A specific squad could be used for the home and Tri Nations campaign: one picked largely on Super 14 form, and of course, a reliance on the national incumbents (providing they are not drastically out of form).
Then, with the exception of key players or those who are unhindered by any injury or fatigue, the Test squad would be disbanded at the conclusion of the Tri Nations (mid September).
Those key players – for arguments sake, six men – would be rested for selection on the end of year tour. This would give them a near two month break.
However, the rest of these players would then filter back into the Air New Zealand Cup, ensuring that the domestic competition has marquee players back.
The end of year Test squad would then consist of the form performers of the Air New Zealand Cup, minus the returning Tri Nations All Blacks, and the rested six Test players from the midyear tour.
This would ensure that when the final of the domestic championship is played on November 7, all unselected mid-year All Blacks would then have well over two months of full rest.
This would ensure two or three months per year off for top level players.
This would mean continued development in the traditional playing base strength of New Zealand rugby; it would ensure top level rugby names are playing in the domestic competition; it will ensure healthy competition for places in the squad as seen in 2005-2006.
And it will, with one planned move, ensure that New Zealand rugby can remain on top of the summit in 2009.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.