Among the problems with the Super Rugby system is the way each of the territories has five teams. A 15-team tournament, an uneven number, means that there can never be a full round with all of the teams playing.
The fact, too, that the South African teams have been granted a dispensation to start the tournament a week earlier than teams in the other two conferences means that at least four South African teams have played a tournament match before teams in Australia and New Zealand.
This advantage was used over the last weekend when the Sharks, with a match and a win already under their belts, played the Hurricanes. The result was a convincing and inevitable 27 -9 victory to the Sharks.
This advantage to the Sharks and disadvantage to the Hurricanes has been accentuated for the Melbourne Rebels, who are playing their first match of the 2014 tournament against the Cheetahs, who are playing their third match.
At least the Rebels are playing at home!
The next Super Rugby tournament will, presumably, include an early start for the South African sides which is a requirement, apparently, to allow an early start to the iconic Currie Cup tournament. And six South African sides will be included.
It is generally asking SANZAR for more than they usually deliver to ask for even numbers for all the conferences, so that non-South African teams are not disadvantaged by the South African-only opening round of the new Super Rugby format.
This pessimistic note is based on reports that SANZAR is contemplating a complicated format that involves two three-team conferences in South Africa, with a team from Argentina and possibly Japan somewhere in the mix.
This all sounds too complicated to me.
It makes sense for Argentina’s national side, the Pumas, to be in The Rugby Championship. And I would include one of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji (in this order) in the annual tournament as well, except for Rugby World Cup years.
But I think an Argentinian team in Super Rugby makes no sense at all.
Where would the team be based? Which province in Argentina would provide the team? Or would it be a composite team, Pumas-lite? And if this is the case who would want to follow it, even in Argentina?
There are four countries in the Americas that have had teams at the Rugby World Cup tournaments: USA, Canada, Argentina and Uruguay. These countries should establish a sort of modified Super Rugby tournament built around the most dominant clubs or provinces for the Americas.
With six South African sides, without the Argentinian side to worry about, the Australian Conference could keep its present five sides and host a Japanese side playing out of North Queensland, where they were extremely popular in the Rugby World Cup 2003 tournament.
In turn, Auckland could host a Pasifika side, including Maori players not picked up by the present five Super Rugby teams, that would play out of Auckland. Auckland is the capital of Polynesia and such a team would be a hit in New Zealand, the other conferences and around the world where Super Rugby gets good coverage and ratings.
Under this plan, the internal home-and-away fixtures would be retained, even though the New Zealand Rugby Union and some of the New Zealand players don’t like them. The fact is, though, the statistics will show that supporters like this feature.
Each team would play a home-and-away against their own conference teams, and then play all the other teams once. They would play three of these matches away and three at home.
This format would provide eight home matches in the round-robin a year for each side.
My guess is that this is all to obvious and straight-forward for the SANZAR planners, who can’t even get the away jerseys of teams right. Apparently the Western Force’s blueish jersey they wore against the Waratahs, which caused confusion for players and spectators, is the sanctioned away jersey for the team.
This away strip clashed with the Waratahs jersey, and if the Force play the Auckland Blues at Eden Park it will clash there as well.
This sort of carelessness indicates a certain indifference to the interests of spectators, and to the players.
I will congratulate SANZAR on what seems to be a worthwhile and overdue change to the rostering of the referees. The refereeing of the first two rounds has been of a high standard, although the Australian referees, rather like the Australian scrums, have not been as good as those from other countries.
The higher standard is due in part in a willingness to run the best referees early in the tournament, especially for inter-conference matches. For the coming round this pattern has been maintained, to a certain extent.
Angus Gardiner, a good young referee who is likely to end up as the top Australian referee, officiates at the Rebels – Cheetahs match at AAMI Park in Melbourne. I think it would have been better to have given him the Force – Brumbies match and a New Zealand referee officiate at Melbourne.
Steve Walsh is doing the honours for the Stormers – Hurricanes. Good.
The Chiefs – Highlanders matches is being refereed by the Australian Rohan Hoffman who had a checkered match, I thought, in the Waratahs – Force encounter.
Glenn Jackson is refereeing the Waratahs – Reds at ANZ Stadium. A New Zealand referee, once a thoughtful and lively player, and now growing into one of the world’s best referees, Jackson should ensure that the ‘slow’ game the Reds are predicting will be quickened up.
Chris Pollock, one of the top New Zealand referees, is officiating, the Bulls – Lions match, a veldt derby.
I hope SANZAR tries to ensure that inter-conference matches, as far as possible, will be refereed by referees from the third conference. This is crucial, obviously, for the finals, although in the past SANZAR has reneged on its promise to have third-conference referees for these encounters.
What we need from SANZAR is the recognition that the Super Rugby tournament is not just a sporting occasion, it is an entertainment occasion as well. More consideration for the interests of the supporters is needed in their deliberations and decision-making.
This means far more openness about why decisions are made and how they are made than in the past.
My predictions on Brett McKay’s forum last week should display why there is a lot of wisdom in my long-time decision to be one of the few non-gambling Greeks living in Bondi Junction.
For what it is worth, though, my picks for the weekend are: Crusaders to beat the Blues at Eden Park; Cheetahs to beat the Rebels at AAMI Park; Stormers to beat the Hurricanes at Newlands; Chiefs to beat the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium: Waratahs to beat the Reds (gulp!) at ANZ Stadium; Brumbies to beat the Western Force at nib Stadium; and the Bulls to beat the Lions at Loftus Versfeld.
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
Whoever starts off will have a slight advantage, granted. I don't believe the Hurricanes' loss was inevitable due to the Sharks already having played a competition match. No matter the situation, every team has to make do with their circumstances. Sometimes you get a lousy draw, sometimes you don't. The Hurricanes' loss rests solely on themselves, likewise for the Bulls, Stormers, Force, Blues, Brumbies & Crusaders. It's a mindset. Losers tend to blame circumstances out of their control...
Jerry
Guest
Well, firstly it's more than an opinion, it's an established fact that they are not called the 'Auckland Blues', 'Wellington Hurricanes' etc. Secondly, it's actually Rugby Union if you wanna be really pedantic.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
The early start isn't enough they now want no travel for 5 weeks for all South African sides.
Kane
Guest
What's the technical term, Regions?
Buk
Guest
Better not tell my mates over in Taranaki (NZ) that.
soapit
Guest
youre welcome to your opinion jerry. hopefully everyone can see that its just an emotional attempt to insult people who refuse to do what you want and not take it too seriously. and for the record its called rugby union. if youre going to be this kind of extreme pedant you might as well start with the name of the game youre talking about.
AndyS
Guest
Sorry, you did say any of the antipodean teams didn't you? Bobby spoke of jet lag and acclimatisation, then specifically raised the deal given the Force. It was you that responded that all that was nothing 'cos they were just flights, not a tour. I was merely continuing his point, not making some sort of separate argument. If I was, I would observe that the Brumbies are in Perth this week, then New Zealand next week, and would suggest that IMO a tour is much preferable to constant travel when it comes to recovery and training stability. I would also observe that, if it is touring that is so tough, then some of the NZ and other Australian teams get the Force as a third week on their SA tour with often an additional two week tour another time. I would have to say I agree with Bobby though. It is certainly never great being away, but having just finished six weeks overseas myself (sadly not playing rugby) I would certainly say I am very glad I did it as one trip rather than flying back and forward every week. Reckon that might have done for me.
So you are comparing one team (the Force) what about the others, or do they not suit your argument?
Jayden
Guest
Curious as to why you think there should be a pacific team at all, let alone one based in NZ...For starters...any player from those nations that is going to get noticed enough to play for the side will have already been picked up by a NZ/Aus side, or will be plying there trade in Europe. Even if they managed to put a competitive team together, how do you expect it would work in Auckland? There is already a side there...the population isn't big enough to warrant another, given the chiefs aren't far down the road in hamilton. As for the future format for the tournament, if they're going to have an extra SA side and a New Argentina side, i'd rather they scrapped the conference crap, and just had everyone play everyone once, that is the fairest way to do things. Not mention as a kiwi i actually get sick of our sides playing each other all the time, i think it's refreshing seeing the south african side play against us.
Jayden
Guest
They play in those places because thats where the population is. Crusaders have always played in Christchurch, but have had numerous players from tasman etc. Just like the Highlanders play most of there games in Dunedin, but have alot of players from Southland. Thus they represent both southland and Otago...
Jayden
Guest
Yup, having a pacific team would be a joke, any player from the pacific who is good enough to play professional rugby is already playing for an Aus/NZ super rugby side or is up in Europe....Not to mention a team based in auckland would never work, if they're going to support a side they will have been supporting the chiefs/blues before now.
AndyS
Guest
More oranges and grapefruit. The SA teams could catch buses for internal away games, the Force will have four 6500km return trips in addition to the two one-off matches in NZ. I suspect they might welcome the relative stability of an actual tour. Now if one of the SA teams had to do the one-off flight to play them in Perth on the other hand...
Harry Jones
Guest
The best team will win Travel and schedule won't decide it
Jerry
Guest
No worries, being wrong about rugby is pretty normal for an Aussie.
Nobrain
Guest
Spiro, first of all, most people are reluctant to changes, but changes is what keeps the world moving. Some changes are bad and some changes are for the good, only time will tell. Second, your opinion of Argentina to play in America SR type of competition is a valid one but with somo issues like seasonability winter/summer, north americas other mature and competitive sports which leaves very little room to place another competitive sport, and the fact that there is not a country with a reputation of the big three from the south or 5 nations to make the tournment interesting enough to be comercialized. Third, only in USA the conference system seems to be working, the round robin is what dominates the rest of the sports. I seems that conferences work well within the same country but dilutes itself when the competition is cross-borders, to confusing for foreigners.The round robin style seems more clear , everybody is interested when Real Madrid plays Barcelona in soccer and they only play twice a year for the league. I think we should focus on a positive way for the future changes and if mistakes are made they will be corrected, we still have Italy in the six nations as an example.Some will argue that was a mistake, but after watching the game with Scottland , the stadium allmost at fullcapacity, and a very well played rugby match, it is hard for me to say it was a mistake.
IvanN
Roar Guru
WHY was this not a problem last year when australian teams were given the advantage ?
Tane Mahuta
Guest
X!!!
soapit
Guest
whatevers easier for you DS. remember, its your decision. though i'm not sure which part of what i wrote is incorrect geographically, i guess you must be talking about a different aussie (or perhaps geography isnt the correct word for you intended meaning?). so...its ok with you if we do whatever we like as well then? if so then i'm glad you've accepted the futility of your position and how choosing to start and continue a battle over an issue like this has been making you look.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Perhaps it's just far easier to accept that Aussies are thick and can't comprehend basic geography ...
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I still call the ITM cup the NPC now and then. Who really cares, we all know what we mean. If it offends some fat bloke with a bulging wallet in his corporate box wiping the caviar from his 5,000 dollar suit then once again, who cares.