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The Tri-Nations needs Argentina. Why? To add some variety to a tired format and include a team that needs regular international competition and is deserving of a place at the SANZAR table.
An even number of teams is a better fit for a tournament than an odd number.
Four teams allows you to schedule double header matches each round, taking advantage of the timezone differences, and give rugby a high profile against other codes.
Four teams allows you to tweak the competition format to three rounds culminating in a final between the two teams with the most points. This means that home and away matches will alternate each year, like the Six Nations tournament.
Each team is guaranteed two home matches one year and only one in the alternating year unless they secure a home final finishing top of the table. You can retain the existing points allocation systems for wins and bonuses.
With two games a weekend, you can schedule a weeks’ rest between each round to offset the travel factor.
As I see it, there are three problems with the expanded Tri Nations format.
With only two teams playing each round, it creates a black hole of interest for the third country not involved. This makes it difficult to sustain any interest for the wider viewing public.
Without a true final to the competition, there is no natural climax for fans or broadcasters unless results and the draw work in their favour – such as last year’s “final” between New Zealand and Australia.
The expanded competition always means one team is disadvantaged with the draw and it takes too long to finish.
So a revamped format along these lines played over seven weeks for 2010 would resemble this:
Round 1
NZ (home) v Australia
SA (home) v Argentina
Round 2
Argentina (home) v NZ
Australia (home) v SA
Round 3
SA (home) v NZ
Argentina (home) v Australia
Final
Top two finishers
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.