How Many Tests Should Countries Play A Year?

[Ali's Choice]

The ABs have annnounced their test schedule for 2012 and beyond. They will be playing 14 tests per season. This will be comprised of 3 June tests, 6 Four Nations tests, a 3rd Bledisloe and 4 EOYT tests. I believe this is too many and devalues test rugby and the All Black brand. Fourteen tests is overkill, and takes away some of the mystique of test match rugby.

I realise that there are strong financial reasons for the NZRU to play so many games. Test matches provide a large chunk of the NZRU's revenue stream. But I am worried that we are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. By devaluing All Black test matches, we are sacrificing the longterm viability and value of the All Black brand for short term financial gain.

We are also devaluing Super Rugby at the very time when we should be trying to strengthen this vital competition. With such a long test program, many of our top ABs head into the S15 season with no off-season conditioning base. This impacts on their performances and increases their chances of injury. Many top ABs are being granted 'in season' rest periods during the Super Rugby season which sends a very poor message to supporters. Why should supporters pay top dollar to attend Super Rugby games when some of the top players will be resting in the stands? So by scheduling 14 test matches per season the NZRU is devaluing its most important brand, the ABs, and devaluing Super Rugby, the lifeblood of SANZAR rugby.

 

[DPK]

I think the International season should consist of:

- Two June Tests, against either touring NH teams or PI teams.
- 4 Nations should consist of only home-away tests (although I believe this will be the case anyway).
- No fucking cash cow Bledisloe, I don't care how good the Hong Kong test was.
- Maximum 4 game EOYT. (Not including Barbarians games)

 

[Ali's Choice]

I think the International season should consist of:

- Two June Tests, against either touring NH teams or PI teams.
- 4 Nations should consist of only home-away tests (although I believe this will be the case anyway).
- No fucking cash cow Bledisloe, I don't care how good the Hong Kong test was.
- Maximum 4 game EOYT. (Not including Barbarians games)

I'd like ten tests max. Six 4N tests (home and away), two June tests and at most two EOYT tests. I don't like the fact that the ABs seem to play 'meaningless' tests against the Home Nations ever November. That's overkill, and it's killing the brand and mystique of test match rugby. Its also devaluing Super Rugby for the reasons outlined in the first post.

 

[Scotty]

I like the third bledisloe. Keep it. Sloes do not devalue test rugby. What devalues test rugby is nh teams sending 2nd and 3rd strength and getting smashed. Happy to decrease the June test but offset this with tour games vs nh and pi nations (Maori or oz a etc)

I can't see any less than 12 or 13 tests per year.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think 14 is the absolute maximum per season. If we went with two inbound tests from a touring team, six SH tests (i.e. home and away against each 4N team) and four EOYT tests, that would just about cover it. I don't mind the third Bledisloe, but that's optional. I also like the idea of at least one game against a PI team per season, but that could be in the June tour window (and hopefully allow PI teams to be at full strength).

 

[ChargerWA]

I'll take as many tests as I can get. I agree that playing more tests does hurt the "mystique" factor, but everytime a test team turns up to play each other you know it is going to be a cracking match (especially the SH teams). If it gets to the stage where they start turning up and treating it as just another match then I would look at reducing the number of games, but I have seen no evidence of that so far.

 

[Ali's Choice]

I'll take as many tests as I can get. I agree that playing more tests does hurt the "mystique" factor, but everytime a test team turns up to play each other you know it is going to be a cracking match (especially the SH teams). If it gets to the stage where they start turning up and treating it as just another match then I would look at reducing the number of games, but I have seen no evidence of that so far.

I would argue that we have already seen teams "turning up and treating it as just another match" for years now. Every time the NH nations send vastly understrength squads down south for their June tours, they are devaluing test rugby. When Graham Henry was playing completely different starting XVs for consecutive tests back in the mid 00s, he was devaluing test rugby. When the All Blacks play the Home Nations every year in what amounts to essentially meaningless revenue raising excercises, the NZRU is devaluing test rugby. Four mach Bledisloe Cup series??? Please...that's clearly devaluing test rugby.

 

[ChargerWA]

I was more referring to the 3N and Bledisloe games, i'll take as many of those as we can get, but I also want to see us play the NH teams, as the international flavour is our point of difference with other codes, and even if the NH do send understrength teams, that point of difference is worth maintaining.

You also make it sound like every NH team is always an easybeat, the Poms knocked off the Wobs last year and the French did the same to the AB's in 09. It is not as one sided as you make it out.

 

[Ali's Choice]

I was more referring to the 3N and Bledisloe games, i'll take as many of those as we can get.

So with this comment, I assume you were a fan of last year's 3N format, where teams played each other three times each in the 3N and the bledisloe was played over four games? Personally, I wasn't. I felt that format was overkill and devalued the traditional rivalries between the SANZAR nations.

 

[Richo]

The 4N system seems like a good plan and I love the idea of the 3rd Bledisloe, but it should of course be in Aus or NZ.

Just a thought -- should SH teams only go to the NH every second year? Obviously money plays against this, but I'm curious if people think that would be better.

 

[ChargerWA]

So with this comment, I assume you were a fan of last year's 3N format, where teams played each other three times each in the 3N and the bledisloe was played over four games? Personally, I wasn't. I felt that format was overkill and devalued the traditional rivalries between the SANZAR nations.

I was, I love 3 nations/Bled games. As long as the Rugby is good, I can see the value in it. It also gives more fans the chance to see live test rugby. Perth doesn't have a Wobs game this year due to the shortened format.

I'm not up with NH Rugby like some blokes on here. How many games a year do the top NH play, including Henieken, 6N, Test etc. We moan about our players getting injured and playing too much rugby, but I think I have seen it mentioned that the NH players, play more games. Are we being too precious about this? The simple fact is that in the modern proffesional game, the game needs to pay for it's self. If more tests mean more revenue and being able to play our payers more to prevent them being lured north, I just can't see the big disadvantage.

 

[Ali's Choice]

I was, I love 3 nations/Bled games. As long as the Rugby is good, I can see the value in it. It also gives more fans the chance to see live test rugby. Perth doesn't have a Wobs game this year due to the shortened format.

I'm not up with NH Rugby like some blokes on here. How many games a year do the top NH play, including Henieken, 6N, Test etc. We moan about our players getting injured and playing too much rugby, but I think I have seen it mentioned that the NH players, play more games. Are we being too precious about this? The simple fact is that in the modern proffesional game, the game needs to pay for it's self. If more tests mean more revenue and being able to play our payers more to prevent them being lured north, I just can't see the big disadvantage.

I'm not worried about the workload on the players per se, I'm worried about too many mickey mouse tests devaluing the mystique and quality of the All Black brand.

 

[ChargerWA]

I'm worried about devaluing the mystique and quality of the All Black brand.

I'm not

 

[cyclopath]

I'm not worried about the workload on the players per se, I'm worried about too many mickey mouse tests devaluing the mystique and quality of the All Black brand.

AC, I generally love your contributions, and look forward to many more, but pray tell what is this mystique of which you speak? Be they wizards or spell-casters?

 

[Cutter]

Slightly off topic, but I'd pay a lot of cash to see a Bledisloe at Twickers. I think they'd get a massive crowd of mostly Australians and Kiwis.

Countries shouldn't be able to send second string touring teams. The ABs are in a unique position of being able to switch XVs and still win. I don't begrudge them that.