I don’t think it’s news to anyone that there’s a pandemic going on right now.
The spread of the previously unheard-of and now well-known coronavirus has shaken the way things were done across the globe. Rugby and sport more widely has seen its immediate plans wiped off the table.
The good news is that we seem to have found ourselves with a unique opportunity to still have a reasonably full Super Rugby tournament this year. Both Australia and New Zealand have managed to get in eight-week competitions. We don’t have to think too far back to remember that this was the way it was done under the old system in Super Rugby, with two rounds of local derbies.
This leads us down a fairly obvious path. Complete the home-and-away season and then get the bubbles inflated to play the five rounds of trans-Tasman matches. Scrap the semi-finals and have just one final. Having only two countries lets you do that.
Naming rights for the trophy are still to be decided, but I would accept the honour if asked.
At the very least it will give the Brumbies something to play for and will also keep teams finishing down from first more reason to play in the latter stages of the season. I’d love to see how Crusaders would handle the style of the Reds or Rebels and whether their refusal to catch the ball would force the New Zealanders out of their comfort zone, for example.
Whether we realise it or not, when all the balls and bubbles have been deflated, we may find ourselves having a trans-Tasman champion for 2020. Given there’s likely to be very little other rugby for a while anywhere, you’d imagine a fair bit of interest could be generated for a six-week series to find a champion. An extra broadcast deal can be arranged. Australia will probably win it.
This is a format that could serve both countries well for seasons. I’m not sure if there’s anyone in charge at Rugby Australia at the moment, but if there is, it seems like this would be a simple content and financial winner. We can only hope that the people in charge can see the possibilities.
Conor
Roar Rookie
Premier Rugby is already streamed by the QRU, so they would just have to purchase the rights.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately things have moved on and NZ dont want us that much.. they want to cherry pick a couple of teams and that's it. The only solution we have left to us given our inept management is to give away our professional competition to some wealthy people who can burn a few $M for 8 years or so. The positive is that to make the comp financially viable they will have to make many rule changes to restore continuity to the game.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Sorry mate, are you a member of a club? Check out many of the videos on the Roar, amateur. For $25 on Kayo you can get NZ comp, NRC and watch every game your clubs play for. This is not media consumer NRL, rugby supporters have different needs.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Sorry mate but I dont think anyone would be interested in paying for the poor quality video done by coaches. The products has to be of good quality and that ain’t it
Muglair
Roar Rookie
There are an unlimited number of alternative ideas, not so many options. I can't understand how people are not understanding the financially precarious situation RA is in. Part of the COVID torpor I guess.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
For more details check out the Joe Rokocoko and Inoke Afeaki interviews on the Breakdown this week (from minute 5, free on YouTube.) I’d also be interested in an Aussie perspective on the Twiggy interview towards the end of the show.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Hi OB, what I'd like to see after quarantine is Argentina and South Africa to start at opposite ends of the country and tour the provinces to get their warm up matches and build up excitement. A great experience for the players and their opponents and a treat for the local fans. Almost like an old fashioned tour. Europe don't just have the 6n, they also have the Heineken Cup, we could do something similar in future after our domestic comps.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Now that I could get behind.
jeznez
Roar Guru
That makes more sense from a travel perspective
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Hi Jeznez, word is that the team will actually play most of their home games in South Auckland. Biggest Polynesian population in the world.
soapit
Roar Guru
well they took out the use of the word 'uncouthly' was the big one. was happy to find a reason to use that one.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Soapit, nothing to stop you posting those nuggets below the line!
Paul
Roar Guru
Yep, that works.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I suggested using the club's footage. Probably every coach in the country now videos their games. Some have great vantage points, some don't. Those that don't would need to find one. My view is that the average supporter for example might go to none, one or two home games a year, or once at the venue close to their home. Keen rugby people may even have started to support their local club because of distance and be keen to reconnect with their own. If they are lucky their team might be on the match of the day twice. Therefore being able to watch every game with just crowd noise becomes infinitely better than nothing. Plus once they become engaged they will start to watch other teams as well; next week's opponents, a team they like to watch, certain players they like to watch. Plus they will attend a few more games in person, because suddenly they recall the value of that as well. Production is a huge undertaking. After seven years NRL Digital is at the point where going on their own was viable. I suspect the burden of becoming TV producers was too big a risk. Support for this would be required as well. One key issue would be team lists and notifications of changes. Some level of background commentary can be provided at the start. Or maybe just amateur stuff like the blogs on here. We can all see what is happening, we just need enough info to make sense of it as well. Equally suspect that taking on production was a big issue for Optus too. Once we get through the current cycle and COVID finds its place in society they will probably have another crack at it. The problem here is that this is a small problem for small dollars multiplied. RA sole focus has been on tracking a couple of accessible pots of big dollars. Meets managements need for remuneration to be affordable, for minimum effort. They even promised big dollars to a couple of consultants to do it for them, and paid them even though they did not succeed. Roarers are underpaid geniuses in comparison.
Jacko
Guest
I like "The Soapit Cup" personally
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Great idea but the cost of setting up tv coverage for all these games would be phenomenal and who is going to pay for that?
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Probably one of the better ideas I’ve heard and to makes more sense than 4 Bledisloe cup games. Mind you the way the COVID soles are going here there is every likelihood that there will be no international travel so it may all be moot
soapit
Roar Guru
id pass on that option if i were RA.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
It won't actually work like that though. Say Eastwood is one club. They will end up with their NCC team plus 4 grades plus colts that play in the Sydney Premiership. No doubt it will even piss off a lot of Eastwood supporters whose main interest is the local sides. They will resent 'fly by nights' coming to the club to advance themselves at the club's expense and pushing out local favourites. NCC is just a dumb idea. They have made no effort to make what they have work.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Looks great to me, what else can NZ possibly do, they are looking to drive their standard to the next level. Maybe we get lucky with 3A+5NZ+2PI but I think that won't give them the standard they need. 2 SR teams with the best 60 players. Sets us up for a high quality NRC. 3 SR teams may impact the quality of the NRC. The calendar has to be fixed but NRC played on Sundays with the current 8 teams during the season. Why wouldn't you be handing out discount vouchers for the Sunday home game to club crowds and players on Saturday afternoon? You would think the standard will be up around the Reds/Force game I am watching.