As the All Blacks and Wallabies kick off their tours across the northern hemisphere, fans are preparing themselves for matches against several nations including Japan, England, the USA, Wales and Scotland.
While plenty will tune in to follow the fortunes of their sides, the sad reality is that the spring tour is the poor sister of the Winter International Series and we all know it.
On the plus side, fans get to see their nation compete against a different opponent each week across a month or so with some of the matches having developed into ongoing rivalries like the England v Wallabies clash.
For the touring nation, it’s a great chance to see how they can adjust against a range of different styles and test both their game plan and squad depth. For the home nations they get to go up against most if not all of the big four and try and grab bragging rights over them until the next time.
But there’s something missing from these tours. With the growing global footprint of world rugby, these tours are now including other sides as well as some of the European powerhouses. As an example, on their upcoming tours, the All Blacks will play the USA in Washington D.C.
Growing the game is a good thing, and everyone should see the haka live at some point in their lives. But is anyone really unsure about how the Americans are going to go against New Zealand? The only question to be answered is how many more points the Kiwis will score than the 74 they managed against the USA when they played in Chicago in 2014. Wouldn’t it be better to see the All Blacks take on England at Twickenham?
The Winter International Series – now that’s a very different commodity. There is something so much more entertaining and rewarding about seeing two sides battle it out over a three match series.
Just think back to a few months ago when France came down to play the Wallabies. It was an enthralling series. Having stolen a last minute victory at Suncorp, France then fought back to tie the series in Melbourne and we went into the final match with everything on the line. After 240 minutes of hard fought rugby, only three points ended up separating the sides and fans were almost as emotionally exhausted as the players.
Fans and players from both sides got to know their opponents and it was intriguing to see how each coach adjusted as the series unfolded. Teams learned about each other and came up with new tactics on the fly to try and gain an advantage.
Even on those occasions where there is a dead third rubber, there is still so much for both sides to play for. When England toured Australia in 2016 and were 0-2 up with victory assured, both sides still put on a fantastic final Test in Sydney. The Wallabies desperately wanted to restore some pride and avoid a whitewash whilst England, newly under Eddie Jones, knew how important it was to get back on the plane without a single loss on their report card.
How exciting would it be now if the All Blacks were going to France to play them in a three match series? Seeing Antoine Dupont going up against TJ Perenara match after match. Or the Wallabies seeking revenge on the English for that 2016 tour as Eddie Jones tries to get his England ship back on course.
Some might say that with both styles of tours, we get a nice balance. A little bit from column A and a little bit from column B. But who wants balance?
In fact, if we’re thinking about gorging ourselves then why not add in some good old fashioned club games in there as well. So in the build up to the three matches against England at Twickenham, how about we see the Wallabies warm up against Harlequins, Exeter and Saracens. Now that sounds pretty wonderful doesn’t it?
The spring tour is fine. But the winter internationals are so much more enriching for fans and teams and the quicker we intorduce a northern series the better.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Would love to see the return of the proper tour with the midweek dirt trackers on a cold wed night between tests.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
To me its not the content but rater the small "window" that clubs allow their players to play tests in. For the SH mid year tours we constantly see weakend teams sent down under and Im getting sick of that as the SH fans deserve to see the top players just as much as the NH fans do. I think if we could have bigger test windows and a better revenue sharing model then way more would be possible but with Weakend NH sides not really attracting the SH fans and strong SH sides always touring the NH it just keeps financially favouring the NH sides. Time that was changed. Look at the extra game of Wales V the ABs and Wales will get something like 4-6mil pound but the ABs will get below 2 mil pound for the same thing. Not good enough and yet that test is one of the best results for NZ compared to the 3 tests in the "window"
Hugh_96
Roar Pro
I sort of understand where you are coming from but have been a long term fan of the spring tours. I always look to see if it is going to be a year for a grand slam opportunity. Whilst a 3 Test series would be great, it’s about the $$$ - having the All Blacks/ Wallabies etc go to the UK spreads the $$$ and in this post Covid world it is needed. Rightly or wrongly $$$ are critical, just look at cricket with some of the pointless ODI & T20 games, have to deliver for the broadcaster funds. Agree re the USA/ All Blacks game but again both nations need the $$ - especially the USA which was bankrupt only a couple of years ago. One thing I wish they could do is to somehow bring in is a couple of mid week games.
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
Having a 3 test series with the ABs playing England in the UK or France in France would be awesome. On the other hand it is really important for teams like the ABs to play teams like the USA in the USA, irrespective of the score. In my opinion the Americans will not be discouraged by a cricket score, but treat it as an aspiration to be more competitive. The USA is an incredibly important rugby market for the future. One if we could just include them with Canada into a regular rugby competition would be so beneficial for world rugby. On the other hand Australia is in Asia with two thirds of the world’s population and that should be our rugby focus. So we are starting with Japan. One has to give a bit to get a bit or perhaps in this instance a lot. A good investment.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Would love to see a three match series with a Southern Hemisphere team in a Northern Hemisphere country. For the Northern Hemisphere teams it would be a good way to spread the games to different cities. For example, England play one at Twickenham and play the other 2 in Stadiums like Old Trafford or St James Park. Throw in a couple of club games as well would be awesome. I remember when Munster played the All Blacks in 2008, that was a great occasion. I think one of the reasons it doesn't really happen is the close proximity of the Northern Hemisphere countries together means you can play multiple internationals in consecutive weeks. Also what I like about the current European tours is that it does mimic a World Cup knockout stage in a way especially when you play 3 Tier nations in a row.
Englishbob
Guest
There's nothing like a good best of three but they can serve up some awful spectacles, it relies on the teams being evenly matched and ideally down to a decider, take the last two lions tours of how two very evenly matched teams can serve up wonder or woe. Having said that if you told me that England France Ireland/Wales were playing Australia/NZ/SA were each playing 3 match series I'd be very happy with that.
scrum
Roar Rookie
For me I much prefer the status quo . Always look forward to the Wallabies facing a different NH team each week. And I suspect this is the preferred model for the NH teams.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
NO! The EOÝT offers Test matches. Nothing is better than seeing the Wallabies play 4 Test matches against NH teams.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Yes it's not quite practical unfortunately. Not enough SH teams, midweek games would hinder test preparation, most countries just have one big rugby stadium and still owe millions on it. The best I can come up with is Ireland (who don't have players in England or France) take players out of the URC two weeks early and play a series that finishes in week one of the window. But more likely, the cross hemisphere tests will be structured into a coherent tournament with a final. That's what World Rugby have floated and it is likely to arouse more interest.
WEST
Roar Guru
What?? I’m not sure I get what you’re getting at? Call me old fashioned. But I like how it’s been. We get a Northern Hemisphere team traditionally travel down south for a test series. Italy was scheduled to tour NZ but had to cancel. Luckily France got to Australia.. Sort of. Then the Southern Hemisphere tour up north at this time of the year. We always play England? We have the Hillary Shield we compete for.. pretty much ever year we play them at least once. ABs had a 4 test series in 2014 :silly: . until covid we played them pretty much every single year. South Africa were scheduled.. RWC rematch obviously was far more exciting, and the Wallabies play them. I’m sure we get the poms soon enough. I like the idea of testing multiple teams at this time of the year. We get the series at the start. Finish with a round robin vibe at the end :silly:
Double Agent
Guest
I've always liked the Spring Tours.
JC
Roar Rookie
Fully agree, Oliver. Series are so much more satisfying for everyone. Media narratives can build over the course of the three weeks, which gets people excited. And as you say, there’s the opportunity for fringe players to advance their cause in midweek games — and to travel to the regions. A series against Italy might even offer a chance for Hooper, Slipper etc to stay home and open up more opportunities for the youngsters. It wouldn’t have to be every year but once or twice in a four-year cycle would be wonderful. I’ve proposed exactly this in The Roar earlier in the year, and have written to RA suggesting a Spring Series. We need to keep pushing this idea.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I thought you were planning to abandon the trip north each spring and was ready to shoot the idea down. Instead, you come up with a great idea, which I applaud Oliver. The only downside is we wouldn't see marquee (for me anyway) games like Aus/Eng for 3 years at a time and I'd worry at different times that weaker SH teams might struggle to get buy in from NH unions as they would battle to fill stadiums 3 weeks in a row. I wonder if the NH unions would consider taking the games away from HQ in the event of a three-test series rather than play all of them at Twickenham or Murrayfield etc.
Art3mis
Roar Rookie
Agree. See below. Must have been typing at the same time.
SDHoneymonster
Guest
I personally like the set up we have now - the distances involved in travelling means to me it makes sense that the European sides tour the southern hemisphere nations, and for the southern sides to take advantage of the 6N teams' proximity. The variety of the Autumn games is part of their appeal to me - one week you might be having the stuffing knocked out of you by a pumped up Samoa or Tonga, and the next you've got to contend with crafty Kiwi or Wallaby backs trying to run rings around you. I do agree that it would be great to see the odd tour game though - the thought of New Zealand or South Africa playing at a packed out and jumping Kingsholm or Thomond Park would be proper goosebumps territory.
Art3mis
Roar Rookie
Romantic idea. If the wallabies, ABs, Boks, Pumas ( and Blossom) were to do so each season it would possibly be complete over kill. The European tournaments would come to a grinding halt to accomodate them. Might work if done on a rotational basis with one team doing so each year. However a rotational cycle would then take 25 years to complete. The Southern Hemisphere’s 3 Test series tour is necessary one presumes because of the distances required to travel if it were a mixed tour. But yes, Test series are a joy.
biltong
Guest
Yep, I love three test series, I think the reason why there are no three test series in Europe is down to economics for one. If SA, OZ and NZ do three test series some of the Six Nation teams will lose out. Even if you add an Argentinian side you would still only be able to accommodate four of the Six Nation teams. Which of the SH nations want a three test series vs Italy? I doubt any. Bring in Japan and they would rather play the team left ofer than the Italians.
Aiden
Guest
No. I like the little bit of both. And I do think there is intrigue … can the Wallabies get over 3 or 4 very different teams. We had the RC and the French, that’s plenty. Finally, it’s good for the big teams to play developing teams. Good for the game. It’s only rugby fans that seem obsessed with wanting big games every match. You don’t see soccer fans complaining that they are forced to watch games between countries outside of the top 10. It’s weird and holds our game back.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I agree Oliver… I would love to see a proper tour, 3 Test matches with mid week games against the best club sides from that Country. It would create more interest for fans, and it helps to develop fringe players. Also the fans from those clubs would bulge the stands with their numbers, I remember the good old days watching the packed stadiums of the clubs.