- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
If, heaven forbid, Argentina wins the Test match this weekend, what happens? The reaction to recent results have generated reactions nothing short of apoplectic, one can only imagine what losing to Argentina would be like on the back of the Wallabies’ recent form.
In light of recent losses, there has been much soul-searching; about playing styles, organisation, national squad members, etc.
Perhaps the biggest issue of them all that would arise if the Wallabies lose, however, is the nature of professional competition in Australia, based on the Super Rugby model.
The Pumas and the Wallabies are teams in a similar position in terms of the issues they face to organise a team, issues that South Africa and New Zealand don’t seem to have.
South Africa and New Zealand have large development structures underneath that:
a) keep a larger number of players active in the sport and keep them fit and competitive for a national squad call up; and
b) promote local engagement by basing teams not just in the largest cities.
Argentina can’t (or at least don’t) keep their test-level players in country, who instead play abroad.
One has to imagine this makes the locals a bit apathetic about local games, hence the emphasis they place on the national squad.
Australia only has Super Rugby. This means there are five squads’ worth of players, and five teams that can engage with residents of some of Australia’s largest cities.
A model like the ITM Cup and Currie Cup is a virtuous circle; large numbers of players and a wider range of communities represented promote more public engagement and therefore more potential players in the next generation.
Australia is stuck in a vicious circle – localised centres of rugby are causing dwindling interest outside of the home bases of the franchises, which means less potential players and poor on-field results that turn off fans even in the home city by the next generation.
To retain the Super Rugby model is to limit the player base and popular connection of Australian and Argentinian rugby.
And to South Africa and New Zealand, it’s all just an expensive distraction from their local competitions which seem to be doing just fine without having to fly players halfway across the world and back repeatedly.
One has to imagine that eventually there’s going to come a time when New Zealand and South African administrators realise that they don’t need Super Rugby as much as Australia needs it.
The ARU has thankfully seen the writing on the wall and appears to have set Australia on a path to have a more diverse local competition ready if Super Rugby goes belly up.
By allowing Super Rugby teams to dictate where their players play club rugby, and by limiting across the board how much clubs can pay players, it is hoped a national balancing of talent at club level will occur.
After that, some kind of Champions League system will be set up so that the best of the individual club competitions will meet and contest a national title.
Once that’s in place, I can’t see a reason why any of the SANZAR countries would be willing to stay in Super Rugby.
All of the participating countries would have more affordable and more sustainable competitions that would promote community involvement across more regions.
There would still be scope for each of the champions to come together annually.
As with many things, it comes down to money. Argentina would have to start allowing Campeonato Argentino representative sides to pay players.
A few years with at least two Super Rugby sides would probably make this transition much easier on them.
ITM Cup and Currie Cup teams as well as clubs in this new Australian scheme would probably see some costs rise due to salaries but would likely also see revenues rise with new TV contracts, etc.
Likely all countries would probably have to adopt centralised contracting to keep Test level players in country, at least in the interim.
But I can’t imagine long-term how it would be worse than sticking with a competition that has an uncompetitive format, unwieldy travel schedule, restricts community engagement, and limits player development.
Especially when the stark contrast between the state of Australian and Argentinian rugby and that of New Zealand and South Africa is laid bare, as I expect it will be, either this weekend or after the dust settles from this years Rugby Championship.
A loss to the Pumas would send the alarm bells off at ARU headquarters and convince the suits that something has to change. Even a mess win might only buy Super Rugby some time.
The straw that breaks the donkey’s back might not be too far off.
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.