The current Super Rugby format doesn’t seem to be working. Four of five New Zealand teams are dominating, while Australian teams still languish, with South African performances in between.
By contrast, Northern Hemisphere rugby competitions are thriving. Rugby is the second most popular sport in France, where tribalism is strong.
What is tribalism anyway? Most seem to agree that it’s a necessary factor for the success of a competition. Tribalism probably means that there is a lively and consistent crowd at home matches, who go there through thick and thin – welded-on supporters who just want to feel they are part of something.
Tribalism means that the supporters can enjoy the matches even if their team is having a rough trot. But before a club can enjoy their supporters’ trust, they must earn it over an extended period. The fans must feel close to the club – have skin in the game.
Format changes and talk of other changes are a major detriment to the development and maintenance of that feeling of tribalism.
The Super Rugby format has changed this year by dropping one Australian team, the Western Force, and two South African teams, the Cheetahs and Southern Kings.
Those two South African teams then grafted themselves on to the UK Pro14 competition, apparently successfully. The closeness of the timezones of South Africa and UK make TV viewing in South Africa more attractive – a clear danger signal for continued participation by South African teams in Super Rugby.
Crowds are poor in Australia, where local teams have not consistently performed at the level fans want to see. Those performances have shown a range of problems, from basic skills, to a failure to recognise when a strategy isn’t working.
An example of that was the continued use of Taqele Naiyaravoro in the midfield by the Waratahs against the Lions, seemingly denying to themselves that he was being gang-tackled, having the ball stripped, or knocking on, resulting in continual turnovers and no gain-line success.
Now, if he was a decoy instead, there would have been a ton of space available for exploitation.
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
Clever players are required to play cleverly. Does that mean that the Waratahs have a lack of cleverness among their ranks? How does the coaching impinge upon what the players do on the field? Are the players unable to think for themselves, or do they feel constrained to doggedly follow the coaching plan?
Crowds in New Zealand are better, but not great by any means, and they have the advantage of strongly performing teams, as well as having five unchanged franchises from the 1996 start of Super Rugby.
The Crusaders have had strong support throughout, and the Hurricanes are building it now on the back of strong success. The Chiefs have generally struggled to get big crowds, and the Highlanders do have rusted on support in the true sense of tribalism. The Blues are doing poorly on and off the field.
Crowds are reasonable in South Africa, with the better-performing teams draw better crowds – again, on-field performances play a big part there.
TV audiences were up a little at the start of the year off a low, probably unsustainable base in Australia, perhaps because a new format invited viewer optimism.
The key to rugby that crowds want to go to and audiences will watch on TV is games where both teams have a good chance of victory.
On the flipside, a confusing format – involving conferences where teams from one conference play each other twice, and play only some teams from the other conferences once – is an audience turn-off.
On this point, SANZAAR seem to think that the local derbies are good for Super Rugby, leading thme to easily gloss over the loss of the competition’s integrity.
The original Super Rugby format – three Australian, four South African and five New Zealand teams – worked well, with teams only playing one full round, and no local derby double-ups. But by trying to milk TV revenue, SANZAAR have damaged the product.
The domination of New Zealand teams is now having a detrimental effect, which started in earnest when the competition started the conference system. Because of the relative strength of New Zealand rugby, their local derbies mean more matches for New Zealand teams against the strongest opposition – other Kiwi teams.
It also aids a faster cross-pollination of ideas between their teams, with more productive experimentation further improving them, with a flow-on to the All Blacks as well.
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That said, Super Rugby is salvageable, but SANZAAR need to go back to the original format, admit that they buggered up and apologise.
They also need to commit to that format for at least ten years without any alteration. If that means that there is less TV revenue, so less cash to pay players, then stars will go to the Northern Hemisphere, but others always step up to take their place, and the supporters will warm to them quickly.
The tribes, once properly established, will stay loyal.
Super Rugby needs a presence on free-to-air TV in Australia, with two live matches per week in the 5pm to 10pm timeslot on Friday or Saturday the minimum. An ‘Extra Time’ package each week, shown maybe at multiple different times, is also mandatory.
But the development of Aussie junior rugby is the most important aspect for the long-term health and viability of the game. If Super Rugby goes belly-up, we need enough organisational skills and paid development officers to get competitions back into public schools, with coordination and affiliations to local clubs for assistance.
The 2016 Shute Shield final – between Northern Suburbs and Sydney University – drew a capacity crowd of about 20,000 and the atmosphere was electric. In 2017 it was nearly as good when Norths played Warringah. That’s where the tribes went. They aren’t lost yet.
To have both a tribal passion for local club rugby and the common tribal passion for its Super Rugby team is the dream – and it can still happen.
Phil
Guest
Yes rugby at super level could become tribal. That would mean having the teams based on home soil. 2 teams based in Sydney and 2 teams based in Brisbane with the lifeboats being their respective metropolitan rugby comps. Why you would want teams based in Perth or Canberra mystifies me. sure they may have produced some talented players but why move the bulk of the team from afar (Sydney/Brisbane) cutting them off from their home and club network support. Perth and Canberra could never stand solely on their own two feet. They only ever got started with a bulk of imports from Sydney and Brisbane. Mahomoud went to the mountain, not the other way round. The ARU has got things arse up.
BeastieBoy
Guest
It can be tribal amongst certain private schools who are represented by the players! However the bulk of the rugby public particularly in Sydney more and more want nothing todo with the ARU led super mess.
ChrisG
Roar Rookie
Good to see a debate about actual Rugby on the Roar, with plenty of good points being made. Here's my $0.02 worth. I like the idea of team names that people can associate with. SANZAAR should take note. A simpler, fairer draw should be a given. To me that means everyone play's everyone. One of the issues facing SANZAAR is the tyranny of distance for SA and Argentina, so a competition based on regional conferences followed by a play off series made up of the top teams where the series rotates country each year addresses this. This also eliminates the time zone issue with the exception of the finals series. The other thing I would like to see is a promotion/relegation system. This means regional 2nd tier competitions. A few random thoughts for further debate.
Mr E
Guest
As far as crowds go I would say Aussie crowds are probably the least enthusiastic. This comes back to where rugby is played in OZ. It is still seen as an elitist sport and their fans are seen as snobs. On top of this is the population. OZ has a population of 25 million spread out on a landmass larger than the North American continent and we also have 3 other professional codes to compete against. Playing in smaller venues would definitely improve the atmosphere. Look at the game at Brookvale oval. The Tahs were rubbish but the atmosphere looked great. If the crowds look rubbish on TV that influences the TV spectators and those watchers who are not rugby people will feel as though the game itself is not of a high level too.
Mr E
Guest
"The domination of New Zealand teams is now having a detrimental effect" - I fail to see how playing the best is detrimental to the game. The only way to improve is to play the best. Look at the Argies since coming into super rugby, look at the Sunwolves. The Sunwolves may not have many W's as yet but they have improved considerably and are playing a very entertaining style of rugby. No doubt from having to play against the best. These franchises have adapted their systems to make the improvements needed for them to be more competitive. The issue with RA is that for whatever reason they refuse to adapt their systems. They still run off the model of heavily supporting the private school rugby systems whilst doing minimal at the junior club rugby level. They are still seen as an elitist sport and the focus on private school rugby and the heavy inclusion over club rugby players at the school boys - U20's representative level continues to promote the elitist mentality. It is also this development of very well structured play that is impeding rugby development and the success of the Aussie franchises. Aussies play great structured rugby. Where they struggle is the physicality and the ability to adapt to what is in front of them. IMO this is the key to the success and dominance of the NZ franchises.
AlsBoyce
Roar Guru
I also think transport to the SFS in Sydney, ticket pricing and generally underwhelming ground catering options are a bit of a turn off for watching the Waratahs. There was a better crowd at Brookvale Oval last round than those previously held at the SFS this year. I think Newcastle would be absolutely perfect to stage Waratahs home matches on occasions .. maybe twice a year, and Wollongong as well. It appears that there is very little real thinking going on in terms of attracting a matchday crowd. There are payment incentives I believe from the SCG Trust (who manage the SFS as well as the SCG) for playing at the SFS, but if the filthy lucre comes at the expense of the long-term health of the game, then the administrators are derelict in their duties to the game and the bigger picture.
AlsBoyce
Roar Guru
Excellent idea! I have always thought that would do some good. At least it is logical and least confusing for supporters and potential supporters particularly.
Intotouch
Roar Rookie
If Super rugby franchises haven't yet built up any tribal loyalties then there's no indication that doing what you suggest will change that. After all you're suggesting returning to the original format which didn't result in this tribal feeling that you want to see. As a small suggestion I think naming a team after a place and not an animal or flower or something might help. You speak about French teams and their followers. Toulouse, Toulon, Clermont, Biarritz are all names of people's cities, regions, places people already feel a loyalty to and identify with. Everyone knows who they represent.
Sterling
Guest
Timbo L, I think you could add JAP Top League to that list and it would still work. All of those comps are played Sep - Nov ish if I remember. First past the post in each comp, then top 2 from each (8 teams all up) play in Champs League Mar - May of next year. Bluffboy, Aren't the Euro champs crowned at the end of May? If so, then you could have a final between the winners of each Champs league for world champs!
Adm Rockcocker
Guest
What I do not get about Oz rugby is that the broadcasters don't pull aside the ARU and tell them, look the people watching you lot do not want to stay up after 1am and they don't want to see our teams play these anonymous teams on the other side of the planet. Maybe Foxtel actually wants less subscribers. Rupert is getting old and senile, so it wouldn't surprise me.
sheek
Guest
The regional teams were designed to suit NZ, it seems to works for them. I don't like it one bit because fans, especially non-hardcore, have no idea where most of the super rugby teams come from. The five NZ regions are basically their five biggest unions anyway - Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury & Otago. It's pretty obvious that the chances of representing the ABs from say Buller or Horowhenua, disappeared about at least 50 years ago. If you come from say Thames Valley or Mid Canterbury & you want to make the big time, you have to move to a bigger union anyway. So the concept of the regions to cater for all, is really quite irrelevant. Anyway, that's my take on it. In Australia, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds & Melbourne Rebels actually means something to its fans. The few remaining that give a toss, that is. I believe it was wrong of the Brumbies to drop the ACT in order to appeal to a wider audience. Who are they fooling? The Brumbies belong to ACT & SNSW. Also, it was journalistic laziness to refer to WA as Western Force. They do exactly the same lazy labelling in Sheffield Shield cricket with the Southern Redbacks & Western Warriors. So where is Western Force? In Western Sydney? Or West Brisbane? Is there an Eastern Force perhaps? It should be WA Force. Simple. If you want tribalism, a good starting point is for the teams to refer to a place that people can identify it with.
Ex force fan
Guest
A merger for 2018-2020 seasons would have worked better than alienating a State and encouraging a competitive competition to,get up.
Pistol Pete
Guest
what do people expect? the stadium to be outside their door and free tickets and food? during the football season in the states, there are millions of people going to the stadiums. every week. so how is that possible? have you ever thought about that just nuance? super rugby "fans" gotta be the cheapest, laziest and most spoiled fans in the world. real princesses.
Pistol Pete
Guest
people like julius are part of the problem. he just can't put 1+1 together. zero capacity to see the big picture. just ignore him and feel safe that the top brass at nzr know all too well that ra needs a helping hand, but they have to move carefully, they can't come in and take over the show at sanzaar or ra right away.
Just Nuisance
Guest
Good article. I would however disagree with the sentiment that SA sides have successfully merged into Pro 14 . My perspective from here is that the competition has completely failed to capture the imagination of local rugby supporters , despite the Cheetahs reaching the knockout stages. Another question I have is how for example does a team like The Lions garner tribalistic support . For starters it is a massively culturally diverse city of more than 10 million people . No one actually knows for sure . Some estimates say in excess of 15 million. Secondly just getting to the game at Ellis Park is a mission. Lets say for example I take my family of 4 to the game . I have to use bus shuttles or The Uber . With tickets and refreshments as well as transport I am in for a whack of cash . Ellis Park is a stones throw away from the violent , crime infested suburbs of Hillbrow, Bertrams and Doornfontein all of which surround the stadium. Do not take a wrong turn getting there. It makes far more sense to take my wife and kids to the local pub , buy a splash out meal , drinks and transport if needed , watch on a big screen and still have change. The Lions need a new stadium . Smaller ...There is no need for a 55000 seater anymore . Clearly The World cup is not coming here anytime soon . It should be rugby specific seating 35000 at best and of course in a safer more accessible area . This will bring the supporters back rather than tribalism .
julius
Guest
I agree with you about going back to the original format. Remember, it was John O'Neill that stamped his feet about getting another team...and then another.
Angus Kennedy
Guest
Hey Julius, watching your teams getting smashed week in, week out is not very interesting. And yes, I am sure NZ rugby could survive just fine without us. But also consider this, Australia's GDP is greater than Argentina, SA and NZ combined. Herein lies the reason why NZ may want to keep in partnership with us. There is a lot of potential in this market if the product can be made more engaging. Economic benefits combined with geographical benefits have been the foundation for much of the investment of labour and assets by NZ in Australia (and vice versa). For the mutual benefit of both countries.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Piru, Spot on. NRC, Mitre 10, Currie. . Would like to see a winners comp at the end,
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Highlanders though - Not everyone fist choice. Blues only because they are underdogs. Canes, Don't like them on principle but I have to respect them they are great to watch.
Malo
Guest
You go to your local school game and there are 5k people at one school game, then next week I go to my local club Shute game and another 7k there. Wtf is ra doing.