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I was in the pub last night and a discussion of the Super 15 draw came up. I had heard that it was going to be broken up into conferences, but would have expected that you would play each team once.
I investigated this morning what the actual planned format was. Suffice to say, I am very disappointed.
For anyone who doesn’t know how the Super 15’s will play out next year, here is a summary sourced from Wikipedia.
Starting with three groups of five teams, these groups will be the Australian Conference, New Zealand Conference and the South African Conference. The new format will consist of four phases:
Phase 1: Each team will play the other four teams in the same group. (ie. Australian teams play each other; Kiwi teams play each other etc)
Phase 2: Each team will play four teams of the other two groups away, and four teams of the other two groups home – thus missing out on two teams (one from each of the other groups).
Phase 3: Each team will play the four teams in the same group as in Phase 1, but this time the venues will switch.
Phase 4: The top team of each group, plus the next top three teams in points, regardless of group, will move on to the finals.
I feel this is a crock.
Whilst it will be good to play each team from your group (country) twice, you may not play against a side from another country until the final, or ever again, should the draw not fall the right way in future years.
It would have been better to have 15 rounds, with one team having a bye each week. I can only see this “new and improved format” weakening the Super Rugby concept. It is turning me off already.
Other than saving on travel costs, and having more local derbys, can anyone tell me how this format is going to be better?
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.