Jock Tiernan

Thursday, 3 June 2021

Involving Japan requires transforming the Trans-Tasman into a champions league

If the main issue for New Zealand Rugby is increased injuries and player welfare due to the intensity of a straight Super Rugby Aotearoa, then simply follow the European model and play Super Rugby Trans-Tasman throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa on designated weekends.

This would give the New Zealand teams plenty of breaks from playing each other. It would also allow Australia to keep Super Rugby AU while getting continual exposure to the New Zealand teams throughout.

Because there are only 18 weeks or so in which to fit any model between the end of February and the July Tests, Super Rugby Trans-Tasman would be divided into three divisions: Cup, Shield and Plate (for want of better names).

In the Cup division, you would have the top two teams from Super Rugby Aotearoa and the top two from Super Rugby AU. In the Shield division, you would have the next two best teams (third and fourth) from each and in the Plate division, you would have teams placed fifth and sixth from each.

Within each division, you would play everyone not from your own domestic competition twice, home and away, for four games plus a final for five weeks total. And you end up with a Cup, Shield and Plate winner.

The rankings for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman would be based on the previous year’s Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa. If a team wants to move up into a higher division of the champions league, they need to embrace the challenge of improving their position in their respective domestic competition.

Now if the format of Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa is a home-and-away double round-robin with six teams each, including finals, you would need 12 weeks plus five weeks for the champions league plus one bye for 18 weeks. A perfect fit.

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The Super Rugby season would look as follows:

Week 1: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa
Week 2: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa
Week 3: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa
Week 4: Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round 1
Week 5: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa
Week 6: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa
Week 7: Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round 2
Week 8: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa
Week 9: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa (week off for all Test players in camp)

Week 10: Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup (week off for all non-Test players)

Week 11: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa
Week 12: Super Rugby Trans-Tasman round 3
Week 13: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa
Week 14: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa
Week 15: Super Rugby Trans-Tasman round 4

Week 16: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa (semi-final)
Week 17: Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa (final)
Week 18: Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final for each division: Cup, Shield, Plate

However, if we are serious about involving the Japanese teams and creating a revenue-rich, power-house rugby-block in the Asia-Pacific region, then this format easily allows for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman to be transformed into a champions league involving all 12 teams from Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU and the best teams from Japan’s Top League.

In the Cup division, you would simply add the top two teams from the Top League, the next two best teams from the Top League (third and fourth) to the Shield division, and teams placed fifth and sixth in the Top League to the Plate division.

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

No extra weeks would be needed. Within each division, you would play everyone not from your own domestic competition once for four games plus a final for five weeks total. And again, you end up with a Cup, Shield and Plate winner.

Every team would still get a minimum of two home games and two away games each in the champions league.

The season would run similarly. So for example:

Week 1: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League
Week 2: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League
Week 3: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League
Week 4: Champions league Round 1
Week 5: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League
Week 6: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League
Week 7: Champions league Round 2
Week 8: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League
Week 9: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League (week off for all Test players in camp)

Week 10: Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup (week off for all non-Test players)

Week 11: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League
Week 12: Champions league Round 3
Week 13: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League
Week 14: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League
Week 15: Champions league Round 4

Week 16: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League (semi-final)
Week 17: SR AU/Aotearoa/Top League (final)
Week 18: Champions league final for each division: Cup, Shield, Plate

Every team from Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa would be involved in the champions league at some level, and every team would get a minimum of seven home games and seven away games each year.

And again, the New Zealand teams would get plenty of ‘breaks’ throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa with games against Australian and Japanese teams.

While divisions in the champions league are necessary in order to fit within the 18-week window, they also keep the best New Zealand teams only playing the best Australian and Japanese teams, and the lower-ranked Australian and Japanese teams only playing the lower-ranked New Zealand teams. This is important to help make games more competitive with fewer blowout scores (hopefully!).

In any case, the season is only short and the rankings within Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa will change from year to year. Teams will be able to improve and move up divisions in the champions league pretty easily.

So forget the debate about whether we should move to a full-season trans-Tasman in 2022 or keep the current format of Super Rugby AU/Aotearoa followed by Super Rugby trans-Tasman.

Any format for Super Rugby needs to fit with an engaging champions league for fans and spectators from all countries involved in the Asia-Pacific region. That’s where the big money is.

The next step would be to invite Japan to be part of the Rugby Championship.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/05/28/involving-japan-requires-transforming-the-trans-tasman-into-a-champions-league/

https://therugbystore.com.au/involving-japan-requires-transforming-the-trans-tasman-into-a-champions-league/

British and Irish Lions 2021: Touring party vaccinated before South Africa tour

The British and Irish Lions squad receive their first coronavirus vaccinations before the summer tour of South Africa.

Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57261092

https://therugbystore.com.au/british-and-irish-lions-2021-touring-party-vaccinated-before-south-africa-tour/

Wednesday, 2 June 2021

Rugby World Cup 2021: England open campaign against Fiji in New Zealand

England will open their Rugby World Cup campaign next year against debutants Fiji at Eden Park in New Zealand.

Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57273290

https://therugbystore.com.au/rugby-world-cup-2021-england-open-campaign-against-fiji-in-new-zealand/

A full-season Trans-Tasman competition is no better than the current format

With the first two rounds of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman completed, it might be assumed that the problem for the Australian Super Rugby teams is they have been too insular by only playing against themselves in Super Rugby AU, and that the solution is more exposure to the New Zealand teams in a full-season Trans-Tasman competition.

Yes, the Australian teams do need exposure to the New Zealand teams to improve, but it’s worth noting that they would not be playing against the New Zealand teams in a full-season Trans-Tasman anymore than they are this year in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

So, suggesting that the only alternative to embracing a full-season Trans-Tasman is shrinking back to play with your own ball in your own space is a bit of a false dichotomy.

Another option is simply retaining the current format of Super Rugby AU followed by Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

However, the argument can still be made that playing against the New Zealand teams in a full-season Trans-Tasman would be a lot better for rugby in Australia than the current Super Rugby format, which suddenly showcases the gap between Australian and New Zealand teams all at once.

It is said that a full-season Trans-Tasman would help to rectify that because the New Zealand teams would also be playing against each other.

And there is merit in the argument that the current Super Rugby format needs to change – but to what?

While a full-season Trans-Tasman competition might appear advantageous over the current format, it still won’t solve the real problem for the Australian Super Rugby teams. In fact, it will only accentuate it.

The real problem for the Australian teams is insufficient depth. It’s not the only problem, but it has been their main problem since Super Rugby began to expand after 2005. And no amount of exposure to the New Zealand teams over the years has solved that problem.

<img src="https://cdn4.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/McKenzie-and-Swain-handshake-755x515.jpg" alt="Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs shakes the hand of Darcy Swain of the Brumbies." width="755" height="515" class="size-large wp-image-1128747" / (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images) Australia simply doesn’t have the depth (currently) to fill five teams in a competition against New Zealand’s five teams. And no amount of trying hard, embracing the challenge, or coaches' pep talks are going change that. And if there are two to three Australian teams always hovering around the bottom of the ladder in a full-season Trans-Tasman, it is going to have the same effect on rugby in Australia as the old Super Rugby did. Even two Australian teams winning Super Rugby in 2011 and 2014 couldn’t help Super Rugby engage the Australian market. Having insufficient depth means that even if one team improves, another teams declines. The problem is not for the Australian players or coaches. They are ready and willing to embrace the challenge. And the problem is not for Australian rugby fans on forums such as this one. I can imagine most Australian rugby fans on The Roar would continue to watch Super Rugby even if they might continue to call for change.

The problem is for the vast amount of Australian spectators who might otherwise like to watch rugby, even if they primarily follow another code. We saw the potential of the Australian market during Super Rugby AU this year.

I’m not suggesting a way forward in this article. I’m just wanting people who are calling for a full-season Trans-Tasman to stop and appreciate that it won’t solve the real problem for Australia’s Super Rugby teams, and that it could actually make things worse for Australian rugby.

Having said that, I understand Rugby Australia has been thinking about how to increase the depth of the Australian teams.

Some ideas have been mentioned, such as the recruitment of up to three foreign players per team, using private equity to drive significant constitutional reform and establishing a central contracting system like New Zealand, and using private equity to retain players rather than losing them to overseas teams.

If ideas such as these worked to increase the depth and competitiveness of the Australian teams, a full-season Trans-Tasman could work.

Alternatively, retaining the current format of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman following on from Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa could also work.

But until the depth problem is solved for the Australian Super Rugby teams, keeping the current format is probably the better option for Australian rugby.

Not only does the current format still provide the same amount of games against the New Zealand teams, but with Super Rugby AU alongside it, it probably gets more people interested in rugby and playing the game, which then attracts better athletes to the sport rather than them otherwise being drawn to different codes.

And that also would improve Australia’s depth.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/05/27/a-full-season-trans-tasman-competition-is-no-better-than-the-current-format/

https://therugbystore.com.au/a-full-season-trans-tasman-competition-is-no-better-than-the-current-format/

Tuesday, 1 June 2021

Welsh Rugby Union hopes for 10,000 at Canada and Argentina games

WRU chief executive Steve Phillips hopes 10,000 fans can watch each of Wales's three Tests in July at Principality Stadium.

Original source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57244935

https://therugbystore.com.au/welsh-rugby-union-hopes-for-10000-at-canada-and-argentina-games/

Melbourne Rebels stranded in Victoria with doubts over Trans-Tasman clash

Melbourne are relying on the Victorian-New Zealand travel bubble reopening by Saturday or a travel exemption to play their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman match against the Highlanders in Queenstown on Sunday.

The Rebels were set to fly out of Melbourne on Friday morning ahead of their round-three clash but the New Zealand government announced the bubble would be paused for 72 hours from Tuesday 6pm AEST after a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.

Initially told of a later NZ deadline, the club started scrambling to get out of the state on Tuesday night, looking to relocate to Sydney before going on to Queenstown later in the week.

But the Rebels and SANZAAR officials were caught out by the early cut-off and couldn’t find enough seats for all players and staff on a flight departing by 6pm.

Rebels boss Baden Stephenson said they remained hopeful the match would go ahead as planned, with both countries’ prime ministers set to attend.

“We will now fly out on Saturday which is a day later than scheduled but we’re still confident we will be able to play,” Stephenson told AAP.

“If things worsen and the bubble isn’t reinstated then we will look to get some kind of travel exemption … so we will see how the week plays out.”

The Rebels were in Wellington last weekend to take on the Hurricanes but opted to return to Melbourne.

They intended staying on in Queenstown after the Highlanders match ahead of the round-four clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton and wanted to limit the time players were away from home after four months on the road last year due to the pandemic.

Stephenson said it was a feeling of deja vu when they got news they needed to try and get out of Melbourne after being forced to flee to Albury last year with almost no notice.

He said logistically it was too difficult to manage another cross-border dash.

Original source: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/05/26/melbourne-rebels-stranded-in-victoria-with-doubts-over-trans-tasman-clash/

https://therugbystore.com.au/melbourne-rebels-stranded-in-victoria-with-doubts-over-trans-tasman-clash/