Arbitration? Really? SANZAR is a farce

The arbitration decision on Melbourne v Southern kings is expected within 2 weeks. See http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26273490-5015651,00.html

So reds fan they argued money last time and look whats happened. Thats right not much to look at because nothings happened the situation has got worse, so where's all that moolah going? If I was an Australian rugby fan I would be demanding answers! I see some people obviously don't learn from their mistakes.

Lee, I am South African and while LAS is wrong about this particular issue and it is very clear SARU has to follow this path to show they did all they could, I think he has the South Africa Psyche pretty much spot on. It was built from Afrikaner arrogance but it also includes the much more sinister element of ANC "backs against the wall" victim syndrome (see Caster Semanya) - it definitely exists.

Rubbish. The extra local derbies in conference system will add viewers in SA in the short term, but will be awful for the Currie Cup in the longterm. That can't be good for SA rugby. And the reason why SANZAR did not decide which team would go into the Aussie conference at the previous meeting, was that the ARU completely won every other issue and as a sop to Saru allowed them to go back to their constituency and claim that they still had a chance at the extra team. Saru did not want: The conference system, the later start date, the later finish, just to name a few. O'Neill completely cleaned their clocks at the negotians.

Two of the existing Saffer sides are a joke. Most of the Academey sides could give them a run for their money and would beat the Kings hands down. They simply would not be competitive. Its just a joke.

Junior Rugby in Perth has exploded since the arrival of the Force. There are lots of talented youngsters who will start appearing in the Force in the next few years.

Why WA? The force beat all three of the other Australian teams last year?

No worries.

WCR - sorry those questions were meant for MC...

There are several who originate from Melbourne. One such is our new Wallaby captain. Yes, he left when he was only young. But Elsom is an example. Ioane and Leilafano are other's. As for WA. I can't think of any regular starters. However both Haylett Petty and Longbottom from the Force have both played Super Rugby. Plus there is a young bloke by the name of Kyle Godwin who featured for the Aus Schoolboys this year in the pipeline at the Force. They aren't there yet but the WA Rugby player's are coming.

Digby Ionne, Christian Lealafino, Rex Tapuai, john Unugia, Lloyd Johnason, Tamati Horua, David Fitter, David Palavi are just some recent ones. Most of the talent moves to Sydney or overseas,(club level) why wouldnt they, as the vic comp is not strong enough for them to stay. 4 players selcted in Australian Schoolboys this year. Regular good performances at u16 and schoolboys level. Imagine the extra growth when the team is won by MEL. and then the talent stays, and then the club comp gets better, and then more stars are produced, the snowball grows.

You forget that the conference system benefits everyone and SANZAR want it. How that means everyone is bending over backwards to help us I am not sure...

Dots on a map? Sounds like the AFL, lets runs with it!!!

Do you know any VIC players paying S14? And can you name any from Perth? Cheers :)

And SA really need 4 teams in the bottom half of the table do they?

Brett, appointment of an arbitrator when the parties can't agree is unusual, but easily dealt with. I don't think Smith understands the process. You go to the arbitrator body agreed to under your joint venture agreement (which they named) and ask them to appoint one that has relevant experience. That isn't arbitration. I think Smith just wanted a catchy headline. The only down side is you usually waste time arguing about the arbitrator, so they could waste a week or two back and forth before they can say they have been unable to agree.

As a South African I would feel very, very uncomfortable with a 6th Super team in a Australian conference. As a layperson it does not make sense and can only cause a massive amount of resistance in Aus. I cannot see how arbitration would go against Melbourne as it is..er...in Australia and Port Elizabeth is not. As someone has said previously, this is political posturing from SARFU to appease the SA government and nothing personal against the SANZAR partners . Please see it that way if you can.

Take the Crusaders out and it looks pretty even, I know a simplistic view but....................

Oh i realise it alright. But as I posted to you elsewhere... we talk "rugby" SANZAR talk "money". We will never make sense of their decisions. I can't argue the rugby side of the decision because it doesnt make sense when the governing body is talking money. It makes our arguments irrelevant. I hope that makes some sense.

Hardly on the brink of collapse but it is was struggling financially I think you will find this years figures markedly different. What I have been saying all along is Australian rugby needs to pull its head out of the clouds and create a competition for Australians the Super format is not the place to develop players. What I and many others have been saying to you all along is that your club competition is no different to the club comp here in NZ. Australia is missing that vital link between club and state/super rugby. As is the standard of Australian rugby has slipped considerably since the last expansion, something that I'm not sure you realise or are choosing simply to ignore. ARU have a bigger slice of the pie yet are doing worse than ever go figure????