Is the Rugby Championship skewed to help the Wallabies?

It's rather unfortunate that they make it harder for nz teams to podium finish... It shows we are the a formidable force in union when they have to tailor the format to ensure a "fair play" scheme is set so they don't tune out in other countries. They lose far to much money when NZ has all the horses in the gates and no SA or AU punters... Currie Cup, ITM, Prems and 1st XV is the only legit formats hahaha World Cup formats are lame... They mix them up in pools once every four years and say that it's for the good of the code to mix experience! When SA paste Portugal once in four years I don't think they learn anything from it??? It should be on IRB rating and form so the best of best play each other not just ooooohh yay we get a sweet deal and will meet NZ in the knock outs and if we beat them once in 4 years yay we're better!!! Not!! Lol This is a rant, I'm happy about most things footywise just sucks there's not enough days in the season to please everyone while looking after players and the code. Done. Up the landers'!!!!!!! Ben Smith for mayor of Dunedin!!!

Gotta give'm something i s'pose!

Agree 100% biltongbek! Complete waste of time for all concerned.

And Wardad, nobody is laying at the feet of the SA people, the springbok team or the coach. The fact is the Bok won and more power to them. I don't even think this should be a discussion point, because it takes the gloss off the win and I don't think that is fair. My only point was that several of the AB's were genuinely ill and this certainly impacted their ability on the day. It is Vic's complete denial of that which is the issue. The reason some NZers have feelings about this is that this was an almost unstoppable AB side. Certainly one of the best I have seen since 87. They did get stopped and it wasn't entirely on the rugby ground that it happened. I don't care if it was some dodgy backroom dealings which led to it or just an unfortunate occurrence. It was what it was and the Springbok came out, played a good game, won fair and square and that is that.

The way I see it the Republic were the beneficiaries of some evil doings not of their making . Luyt didnt help matters either but thats to do with his own flawed personality . Fact is we lost and nothing will change that even though the ABS were definately crook but I wouldnt lay that at the foot of the SA people .

I think if you win on the road it should be a full point bonus, so you get three for an away win instead of two. These bonus points for tries scored are a waste of time as well. You win or lose, end of story.

I agree with that OJ. The SA's have been getting the rough end of the pineapple for a while now with the draw in my view.

Is that how you truly see it Vic. No room to acknowledge players were ill. So all these guys Eric Rush, Sean Fitzpatrick, Frank Bunce are all lying in your book Vic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5iQBLgndTU Whatever stories you tell yourself, as Taylorrman says I don't think there is any denying a large number of the players were ill. Also I don't know any other game in the RWC that a movie has been made of. Maybe it is only in hindsight that winning this game became important. I personally credit guys like Louis Leyt and others with a bit more appreciation of how important winning this game on their home turf was to South African rugby. Finally, far be it for anyone to suggest a SA sports person or administrator would ever cheat or resort to such tactics, because it has never happened before :-) But as everyone knows the Bok won and were the better team on the park that day and in 100 years time that is all that will be remembered. Even now it appears from comments like your that that is all some folk now remember and more power to them. Anyway all this is the past and I am more interested in what the next world cup holds and how Handre, Eben, Vermeulen etc. perform in this one and how the AB's go without a strong front row, decent maul or response to it.

They were ill vic, that is a fact. Some of the players hid if because they did not want to miss the game of their lives. From the players comments since the match turns out five or six should not have taken the field. That they did was their own decision, fault whatever, No denying the Boks didn't deserve the win, as that had nothing to do with them, but there's also no denying the ABs that took the field that day were not 100%. Take or leave that as you will, but please don't preach from your high horse.

@pet "ok apologise to kiwis assuming you were a kiwi," Pet, your apology is accepted. I apologize to kiwis thinking you're an Ozzie. Chur

Argentina should make aneffort and put the best possible team out there and try to win this one. Naither NZ! SA! or Aus will risk their best players in the RCH , because they aim to RWC title, something that Argentina has no chance to get. So why not give it all in this edition of the RCH? The draw is not the best for Pumas, but if they get a win at home and 2 bonus point when playing away it might happens.

Does anyone in Oz know our final of our elite comp is on. Sad really

Absolutely rubbish re people in the Republic being willing to "help in any way possible" . It's only in retrospect that the political impact became visible - prior to that there was little if no importance given to that. If you think South Africans would be happy to win that way you have no knowledge of how we function. If you just can't believe that the AB's can lose, that says something about how you operate. If they were really decimated by illness, it was irresponsible of their team doctor and management to allow them to play. It is physically dangerous to play sport, let alone such a demanding game if you are dehydrated and have a viral or bacterial disease. And it's irresponsible to play a contact sport where you will infect others. Gastro - enteritis is a reportable disease in the Republic - was it reported to the health authorities, were samples collected and tested, and were players examined and treated by any one? Was the source of the infection/ contamination sought or found? I wager the answer to all these questions would be no. Therefor, no infection, no contamination, no poison. Poor excuse, and inexcusable accusation.

Nick, I'm not sure what your comments mean... you could have just said, so what life isn't fair, because outside that I don't think you have an argument. Firstly, the Pumas aren't the highlanders and they have never once won a game against the AB's as an example. The highlanders may not have been favourites at the beginning of this season, but they have beaten every team in the competition and had done so before this year kicked off... so quite frankly the analogy you make is nonsense. On the other hand, insults aside, I too am not comfortable with articles which are belittling or condescending other teams and think this article could have been written without being disrespectful to the Pumas, simply by not including them in the analysis. So on that front I think your criticism of this article is fair. The Pumas are definitely a quality side who in my view are a welcome addition to the TRC as are their fans. Not only do the Pumas add colour, but as rugby fans we are fortunate enough to see them play and how they improve over time. Finally, this draw does favour the Wallabies and that is undeniable. For example the AB's are definitely harder to beat on Eden park than they are in Sydney. That goes without saying. Maybe this a chance for the Wallabies to win their second TRC and good for them if they do. I still can't see it :-).

Crikey what a debate the Roar is a great forum to vent however for the pre school kids it's time to get blankly and have a nap before the GF Super 15s once I have picked up all the toys that came out of the cot will crack open a pinot noir from South Island great red and if not to tired from cleaning up the kindergarten should be able to stay awake for the Match up between 2 great attacking Teams from NZ and for the record I'm welsh exile living in OZ with Irish grandparents and Australiam wife so think I'm a well balanced rugby Daddy lol

In the last 3 years the Wallabies have 0 from 9 against the ABs in last 3 years. Does that means the Wallabies are less competitive against AB’s than the Boks against the ABs?. Afterall the Boks have had a win.

I thought the draw was to give the cash stricken only reason the public will watch turn up ARU a. Cash and b. Some sense of achievement for their empty trophy cupboard. Maybe I was wrong didn't the 2011 Tri N also reflect that?

New Zealand have had a favourable draw ever since they stopped rotating the schedule. They should start in SA every other year, but the ARU signed a long term deal for their Bledisloe Cup weekend.

Richie McDraw

Connor, given that Nobody threatened to take his team of the park mid-match in the 99 Final unless the ref did something to stop the eye-gouging and other foul play from France, I think NZ complaints about how the French competed in tight in that RWC may have had some credibility. I don't particularly doubt tales of dark deeds in the Republic either, since that 95 RWC meant so much to their nation at a crucial moment in their history that many would have been tempted to help in any way possible. The story may or may not be true, but it is believable. Like you say, let's see how they handle the pressure this time in England.