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In a year where rugby fans can expect one of the most competitive World Cups ever, New Zealand rugby finds itself approaching a precipice that has been built through erosion over a long period.
There is an old adage that “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” but time brings change and what worked back then may not work so well now. To apply a Kiwi-ism; there is a need to wipe down the ol’ No. 8 wire and bring that thinking to the table again.
Southern Hemisphere professional rugby is engulfed in a climate crisis of its own. New Zealand has been burdened by the needs of its neighbours, South Africa is chasing the Euro and Australia is struggling to find relevancy, never mind competence! Here’s my Kiwi-oriented take on what Super Rugby may need to do to remain part of the chasing pack instead of falling behind.
In 1995, as Rupert Murdoch chased rugby league content to feed his pay television network, it was obvious to many that long-term professional rugby would pose all sorts of existential threats to the game and the source of it was equally clear; Europe. That threat is now manifesting itself.
As an outsider to New Zealand rugby, I have been at times surprised by the dominance of their teams over the others. I had expected the Australians, and more so the South African sides to dominate at some point in the 2000s; that did not prove to be the case.
In the early years of Super Rugby, South Africa had wider issues to deal with, while Australian rugby was on a golden roll. For me, something clicked when I watched the All Blacks clinch their first series win in South Africa. To me, that ‘click’ has resonated and kept Kiwi rugby a step ahead ever since.
I think for me it was the realisation that the All Blacks went to South Africa that year fitter than any team before. They realised they had to step their game up and they did. In a sense, they’ve never stepped down since, yet others raised their levels.
Now, with a new Super Rugby season upon us, South African rugby has all but left the fold and Australian rugby is on the verge of imploding, just as the Pacific Island unions have somewhat belatedly been allowed to join the party and the Japanese look on with interest.
What is New Zealand to do? Well, let’s start with the mess that is Rugby Australia.
New Zealand needs Australia, make no bones about that, especially after the South Africans left for the European competition. As it turns out, New Zealand has been subsidising Aussie teams for the last few seasons and have stepped up with another important $8 million.
I believe the New Zealand board would be hoping that the Australians muzzle Hamish McLennan or replace him. I wonder what the Japanese officials would be making of all this? McLennan talks the talk but he’s not walking the talking. No-one has explained to me the thinking behind his slagging of New Zealand rugby one day, holding a hand out for Kiwi money the next and openly floating a trans-Tasman team the third!
To my mind, the Kiwis may be feeling miffed by the behaviour of McLennan considering the help they feel they have given Australian rugby. Take a look at the current Wallabies training squad; three of the players have come through the Crusaders’ training system – Nick Frost, Pete Samu and Charlie Gamble.
Additionally, the Aussie Super W teams have moved to include Kiwi women in their squads; three in the case of the Reds.
The men’s and women’s competitions probably has to move to a full Trans Tasman player draft, especially if RA wants to expand its Super Rugby team numbers. RA at present has given NZ Rugby very little reason to agree to that proposal, which Andy Marino presented at the same time HM was slagging the Kiwis for saying Australia did not have player depth. I wonder if NZ and Japanese Rugby have any cause for confidence in RA sorting its act out.
Andrew Forrest needs to come to the RA party which means the Force’s presence is non-negotiable going forward. That is entirely acceptable to me. Melbourne needs to remain involved; that’s a given. Australia can have the Drua as well for their six teams and NZ keeps Moana Pasifika. Even-numbers teams in two conferences works well.
Japanese involvement would require even-numbered teams to be shared across both conferences; you can even have their teams floating across the conferences!
As I argued before, the number of local derbies will probably have to reduce. A desirable option for me is to bring Japan and Hawaii into an expanded competition together; allow Hawaii to sign who they will from Europe and elsewhere while fostering local development by seeding their players in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, UK and France.
On a non-SR level, NZ Rugby may need to open its NPC doors to Australian teams but not necessarily NSW or Qld (or even ACT); bring Perth/WA (obvious), Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia into it; two teams in two levels of the NPC. This would be problematic but achievable and it would very definitely be a Plan B or even Plan C. Financial planning and a strategic vision would be mandatory for such a plan.
Perhaps NPC teams can play more preseason games in Australia; play at Wollongong, Geelong, Gladstone et al and raise awareness while tapping into the ex-pat Kiwi market.
While I lived in Gosford, Auckland’s NPC team played a pre-season game against NSW at the stadium there. In the middle of the working week, raining, with no pre-match marketing and none of the big stars (both sides) playing, the game still drew a 7000-strong crowd to a 22,000-seat stadium. (I remember going into the Gosford Leagues Club after the game and the staff were startled to see what was obviously a post-game crowd rock up; their hopes for an early night had been somewhat dashed!)
Under all these nice plans remains the one constant. Money. It’s needed and a lot of it. Andrew Forrest has that; RA needs to bring him into the game. I’m sure the Kiwis and the Japanese will be glad to see him step up.
And I promise to stop using the words “step up” as much as possible going forward!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.