PaarlBok is a regular South African contributor in the G&GR forum
Doc Craven use to quote that you should never just check the scoreboard. Much better to concentrate on the things you did wrong and try and fix that. We are talking about rugby here and I think we should do what is important for rugby first and foremost to try and fix this.
The fact is that the three southern nations need each other and all three contributed over the years to help each other stay at the top. So we don’t need to ‘fix this’, but we need to look at what the three countries needs are to make us even better.
Unlike in Doc’s days, it’s money is the most important thing in the modern game. So this is what should drive Super Rugby. Each country has their own idea on the way it should go forward and the farts at the top should compromise. If me and Biffo (Aussie in the G&GR forum) can do this, surely the they can do the same.
We do have to get the fixture list right at the same time. The one stumbling block is the season start, so lets fix the most important one, that is the 3 Nation. That one should be last. So start with the lowest level and that is the CC & NPC. Australia dont have this so we can start the CC/NPC in January for all that matters. Then play Super Rugby and 3 Nation last. Fix the 3 Nation timeframe and let the rest fall in. The big benefit for all three countries is that their top players can be manage better within their province at the lowest level and lower their workload.
The only way I see Super Rugby go is to cut the number of teams, rather then to make them more. Make it a Super12 again and let each country have four participants..
SA/Aus/NZ can decide on their own the amount of teams in their local provincial competitions and let the top 4 teams qualify for Super Rugby. If Aus want to include Japan or the PI let them play in their local competition. IF SA want the Vikings or whatever team let them qaulify through the CC.
To get a fairer end result divide the 12 teams in two sections (2 SA, 2 NZ , 2 Aus)and let them play home and away. The two top teams in the sections can play semis and final to get to the winner.
Or play the S12 like we did in the past.
Myself, I think its very important to have a strong rugby structure. That’s the one that bring the young ones through. That’s the most important one for the quality and the future of rugby.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="1990 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=1990">11 Comments
Good work Bokkie.
I approach it from the other direction. I’m sick of the Tri-Nations.
Who can name which country holds the current tri-nations trophy? No googleing!!
Did the All-Blacks beat the Bokkies last year?
Sth African games in Aust aren’t a big deal anymore.
Lets ditch the Tri-nations and go back to proper tours…the Lions is the only real tour anymore and each Sth Hem country only sees it once every 12 years.
The NPC and CC are great comps, the Tri-nations is not anymore. The ARU, if they are fair-dinkum, need to come up with a solution rather than relying on other countries to bail them out of the dilemma.
Every two years there is a tri-nations. In the off years there are proper 8 week tours between the SA, NZ, Aust and the Argie teams, this is my dream. Involve Japan and PI in the warm-up games for each country.
Less is more, make the Tri-nations something to wait for rather than something to set your watch by.
Thanks for the post mate.
All Blacks?
Yes, twice?
South African games are more important in NZ than Aus in the same country [anecdotal evidence], even with the Deans factor
Only positive about Air NZ Cup I see is it’s draw, and short length. Other than that, it’s just like WGTN, Auck, Waik, Cantb, then HB and BoP stomping all over the other unions. It’s not like the NPC of old where King Country could beat those teams, Counties-Manukau was a force to be reckoned with, etc. Now the big unions have the money, and subsequently get the players. The WRFU seems the only union which is happy to allow Taranaki, Manuwatu and HB to keep their prized assets!
Naly D’s last blog post..Who is the funniest commentator/analyst in the country?
I agree, remove the trinations.
This way we could invite more/less countries in some similar home and away comp every year. So the Argies could be in it when their stars aren’t busy fleecing European billionaires. But not necessarily every year, also some Euro teams, especially if they’re coming out here and we’re going over there in the same off season.
This would also deter them from sending inferior sides.
Pedro’s last blog post..Breciano’s Lucky goal Away to Bahrain
I think we’ve reached agreement.
Make the internationals count for more by having less of them. Tour matches also give opportunities for less experienced players.
Good luck convincing JO’N
Gagger’s last blog post..My super rugby solution
Or we could have more Internationals in places further away. Who wouldn’t get excited about a Bledisloe in Siberia or taking on the Scottish in Lagos?
It’d grow the game and that’ll stimulate the economy which is good for jobs.
Moses’s last blog post..1994
Scottish in lagos….. that’s got promise…
Gagger’s last blog post..My super rugby solution
Paarlbok…..I’d have to say what a very nice place Paarl is….if that’s where you’re from. Actually, believe it or not, I met Doc Craven. Twice in fact – in 1983. Long story but I was on a tour of the republic and ended up in the SARB box in Newlands for a couple of games v a composite international touring side. Had a great time etc and what a nice bloke he was too.
You’re right – a consensus is the only way to achieve a result as all three countries have their own particular interests. I just wonder why can’t we start the Super 14 in February – but schedule away games in NZ or SA for all the Australian sides for the first few weeks. That’ll solve the heat issue. And then schedule some mid-week matches later in the tournament to reduce the time frame by a few weeks. That should just about get all the matches into an acceptable working window for all parties.
I’m also sick of the Tri-Nations format. We need a Four Nations tournament (incl. Argies)annually but only playing one game against each team. I know the current format is a bit of a cash cow but it’s getting tired and stale. Three games against the ABs each year is bloody ridiculous. We need more international touring sides and more games against regional teams. I’d love to see the Bokkies tour and play our Super 14 teams, Australia A, maybe an U23 side, A Country Australian team, composite Vic/SA/WA etc.
I’m sure it’ll be all too difficult for them…….
Lance: Yep stay now 10 years in Paarl. Must say pretty close to heaven in my books. Not only the place but a really rugby mad town and having the kids in Paarl Gym sure is the Springbok rugby factory over the years.
Must have been a big pleasure meeting Doc Craven , everytime I drive through Stellenbosch (have a daughter at Maties) and see his Statute at the Coetzenburg Clubhouse, i do get goose bumps.
I do agree with most of your lots replies. Wont get a bigger lover for tours like this man. Grew up with them and not only the money they can generate also the good old rugby values we lost in the professional era.
The way I understand from the wise lot is that the 3 Nations is the biggest money spinner, so they wont change that. Maybe they should just cut back to home and away games.
This argument seems similar to the reason we got rid of the annual triangular one day cricket in Australia (b&h world series).
Also did anyone hear talk of matches between the probables and possibles, ie australia vs australia a at the end of this season? Like selection trials?
Pedro’s last blog post..Breciano’s Lucky goal Away to Bahrain
I agree with Juan’s idea about including tours. Won’t repeat all the reasons u all put forward, but I was just thinking that this is pretty much exactly what CA has done recently. Cricket was getting extraordinarily stale with all 3nation cups (can’t remember what they were called). But then they got rid of the dry 3 way one-dayers and brought in proper tours.
This revatilised cricket for me and I think it would do the same for Rugby.
However it could be also easily argued that the Trinations could be revived through adding more nations. Obviously including Argies and perhaps a Pacific nations side. The 6nations is still very popular so why can’t the trinations do the same.
You promised you wouldn’t repeat things, you promised!!!