Super Rugby News
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Super 14 all over again? SANZAAR mull radical overhaul (Sydney Morning Herald)
The Super Rugby nations are considering cutting the competition back to 14 teams and doing away with the unpopular conference system from 2021. Not for the first time, Japan's Sunwolves are in the firing line as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina battle to agree on a format that suits all unions.The Herald understands the 14-team competition was one of a small handful of models discussed by the SANZAAR unions after the World Rugby meetings in Dublin three weeks ago. The format would do away with the conference system, drop one team and implement a variation on an all-play-all model, or round robin. The Sunwolves appear to be the team most at risk, unless another South African team follows in the footsteps of the Cheetahs and Kings and joins the Pro 14. Rumours persist that all four teams, including last year's runners-up the Lions, are eyeing off a move to the more timezone-friendly European competition. But the Herald has been told that with two teams already playing there, SA Rugby would be keen to keep their Super Rugby contingent stable at four teams and potentially put two more into the Pro 14 in coming years.The Jaguares, from Argentina, finished seventh last season and have helped fuel steady improvement in the Pumas' fortunes at Test level, with a quarter-final berth in the 2015 World Cup and Test victories against South Africa, Australia, France and Italy since then. But as a full member of the SANZAAR alliance and Argentina now considered a Rugby Championship staple, it appears the Jaguares are staying put for the time being. The formation this year of Rugby Americas is the only caveat to that. The Sunwolves are entering their fourth season of Super Rugby. They finished bottom of the table in 2018 with three wins from 16 matches, compared to four wins from the 14th-placed Blues and six wins from the Reds, Bulls and Stormers. Constraining the decision-making is the need to keep the competition to a 22-week duration. A full round-robin format, in which every team plays every other team on a home-and-away basis, would be impossible to fit into that window, regardless of whether there were 14 or 15 teams involved. A modified round robin, similar to the NRL's format, would be the only way for it to work."What we've got to realise is that Super Rugby was established originally in order to slip that one level below Test matches and the yield that it's given is being able to deliver three and now four countries that are seriously competitive on the international stage and have dominated the World Cup since its formation," Marinos said. "That value can't be underestimated as a breeding ground for international rugby, which does drive a fair portion of revenue in the game. "The essence of the product is very strong and we still get the best players in the world playing in that comp. Our big challenge is to get the right mix together to use it as a platform to drive forward." -
Super 14 all over again? SANZAAR mull radical overhaul (Sydney Morning Herald)
The Super Rugby nations are considering cutting the competition back to 14 teams and doing away with the unpopular conference system from 2021. Not for the first time, Japan's Sunwolves are in the firing line as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina battle to agree on a format that suits all unions.The Herald understands the 14-team competition was one of a small handful of models discussed by the SANZAAR unions after the World Rugby meetings in Dublin three weeks ago. The format would do away with the conference system, drop one team and implement a variation on an all-play-all model, or round robin. The Sunwolves appear to be the team most at risk, unless another South African team follows in the footsteps of the Cheetahs and Kings and joins the Pro 14. Rumours persist that all four teams, including last year's runners-up the Lions, are eyeing off a move to the more timezone-friendly European competition. But the Herald has been told that with two teams already playing there, SA Rugby would be keen to keep their Super Rugby contingent stable at four teams and potentially put two more into the Pro 14 in coming years.The Jaguares, from Argentina, finished seventh last season and have helped fuel steady improvement in the Pumas' fortunes at Test level, with a quarter-final berth in the 2015 World Cup and Test victories against South Africa, Australia, France and Italy since then. But as a full member of the SANZAAR alliance and Argentina now considered a Rugby Championship staple, it appears the Jaguares are staying put for the time being. The formation this year of Rugby Americas is the only caveat to that. The Sunwolves are entering their fourth season of Super Rugby. They finished bottom of the table in 2018 with three wins from 16 matches, compared to four wins from the 14th-placed Blues and six wins from the Reds, Bulls and Stormers. Constraining the decision-making is the need to keep the competition to a 22-week duration. A full round-robin format, in which every team plays every other team on a home-and-away basis, would be impossible to fit into that window, regardless of whether there were 14 or 15 teams involved. A modified round robin, similar to the NRL's format, would be the only way for it to work."What we've got to realise is that Super Rugby was established originally in order to slip that one level below Test matches and the yield that it's given is being able to deliver three and now four countries that are seriously competitive on the international stage and have dominated the World Cup since its formation," Marinos said. "That value can't be underestimated as a breeding ground for international rugby, which does drive a fair portion of revenue in the game. "The essence of the product is very strong and we still get the best players in the world playing in that comp. Our big challenge is to get the right mix together to use it as a platform to drive forward."@stargazer said in Super Rugby News:
The Jaguares, from Argentina, finished seventh last season and have helped fuel steady improvement in the Pumas' fortunes at Test level,
haha ok, solid reporting there.
I wonder if Super rugby has in fact done the opposite while the Argies are trying to play a different style, they are slowly adapting at Super level but currently unable to adjust to the different style in Test rugby.
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A step in the right direction
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@tim said in Super Rugby News:
So, how does this fit with the Crusaders' much vaunted culture?
Crusaders spokesperson explained this:
"Only the Crusaders culture can turn Reece into a functioning member of society. We definitely didn't need another winger."
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@machpants said in Super Rugby News:
What the flagnod?
1st April?
Hasn't the NRL already tried this?
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@tim said in Super Rugby News:
So, how does this fit with the Crusaders' much vaunted culture?
Crusaders spokesperson explained this:
"Only the Crusaders culture can turn Reece into a functioning member of society. We definitely didn't need another winger."
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@machpants said in Super Rugby News:
What the flagnod?
1st April?
Hasn't the NRL already tried this?
@cyclops said in Super Rugby News:
@machpants said in Super Rugby News:
What the flagnod?
1st April?
Hasn't the NRL already tried this?
yea, and it led to this beauty of a comment from Nate Myles
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@cyclops said in Super Rugby News:
@machpants said in Super Rugby News:
What the flagnod?
1st April?
Hasn't the NRL already tried this?
yea, and it led to this beauty of a comment from Nate Myles
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby News:
@cyclops said in Super Rugby News:
@machpants said in Super Rugby News:
What the flagnod?
1st April?
Hasn't the NRL already tried this?
yea, and it led to this beauty of a comment from Nate Myles
I couldnt hear it. Must be going deaf.. whats the gist?
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@mariner4life said in Super Rugby News:
@cyclops said in Super Rugby News:
@machpants said in Super Rugby News:
What the flagnod?
1st April?
Hasn't the NRL already tried this?
yea, and it led to this beauty of a comment from Nate Myles
I couldnt hear it. Must be going deaf.. whats the gist?
@baron-silas-greenback said in Super Rugby News:
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby News:
@cyclops said in Super Rugby News:
@machpants said in Super Rugby News:
What the flagnod?
1st April?
Hasn't the NRL already tried this?
yea, and it led to this beauty of a comment from Nate Myles
I couldnt hear it. Must be going deaf.. whats the gist?
Ashton Sims looks like Thor in those Cowboys jerseys. There had been a bit of a stink, and Nate Myles was joking to the ref that it wasn't their fault, 'cause he looks like Thor "he's got a hammer"
Look, it's not bad for an in-game joke from a player
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@baron-silas-greenback said in Super Rugby News:
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby News:
@cyclops said in Super Rugby News:
@machpants said in Super Rugby News:
What the flagnod?
1st April?
Hasn't the NRL already tried this?
yea, and it led to this beauty of a comment from Nate Myles
I couldnt hear it. Must be going deaf.. whats the gist?
Ashton Sims looks like Thor in those Cowboys jerseys. There had been a bit of a stink, and Nate Myles was joking to the ref that it wasn't their fault, 'cause he looks like Thor "he's got a hammer"
Look, it's not bad for an in-game joke from a player
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby News:
@baron-silas-greenback said in Super Rugby News:
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby News:
@cyclops said in Super Rugby News:
@machpants said in Super Rugby News:
What the flagnod?
1st April?
Hasn't the NRL already tried this?
yea, and it led to this beauty of a comment from Nate Myles
I couldnt hear it. Must be going deaf.. whats the gist?
Ashton Sims looks like Thor in those Cowboys jerseys. There had been a bit of a stink, and Nate Myles was joking to the ref that it wasn't their fault, 'cause he looks like Thor "he's got a hammer"
Look, it's not bad for an in-game joke from a player
I think that sort of thing is great, I love deadpan humour in a serious situation. The way he kept his face straight, went right over the refs head and his mate only realised a second later.
It is also smart ref management.
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New Zealand under-20s lock John Akau'ola-Laula has been brought in to train with the team. The Aucklander, with a mop of blond hair and standing at 1.99m tall, can't be missed. He played for Ta$man during the Mitre 10 Cup.
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I thought he just had an extended break?
@antipodean said in Super Rugby News:
I thought he just had an extended break?
I got the feeling that Read came back at 95% last year and tried to play at 100%. The S&C guys will know all the numbers and will have planned out a way for him to get back to peak a couple of times next year. Same for Whitelock and Taylor who were running on empty.
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Total minutes in 2018 (SR & Test)
Ben Smith 2,120
Scott Barrett 2,107
Rieko Ioane 1,992
Beauden Barrett 1,946
Sam Whitelock 1,905
Codie Taylor 1,754
Aaron Smith 1,571So yeah Scott Barrett was firing all season in a similar role to Sam, did well.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12168081
