'Super Rugby' 2021

I think if the Rebels were to enjoy any significant success at all, they would capture Melbourne's interest. Why, given the wildly successful Storm never has, you ask? Because the Rebels play (played?) in an internationally recognised competition. Melbournites would get that, and get behind them. They know rugby union is a global sport. I don't think they've got behind the Storm because the Storm have simply won titles in a domestic comp in a global minority sport, and one they all regard as significantly inferior to the AFL in stature. Further, league isn't viewed any differently there to how it is in NZ; a sport for boofheads, thugs and lunatics. Rugby on the other hand can be easily supported by corporates and families.

Not sure I agree with this. If Mebournians had such a fascination with international sport, they'd be less inclined to follow their village sport in the droves that they do. They like international sport, but that means following their country in an international sport like cricket or soccer and, yes, even rugby the the wallabies are in town. But their local teams are their AFL teams and that's not going to change.

junior

@KiwiMurph said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Rapido said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

I also don't get the ARU position.

They have 4 teams, currently, not 5.

Surely, from the 2 CEOs perspective - it's a case of comparing the 2 TV deals. Working out how many teams each can support with that money to create competive squads against each other, and competitive salaries against prospective NH deals.

I'm not thrilled that this is where it is at (still only 5 NZ teams and having to join with Australia). But diluting it with 2 weak Australian teams in expansion cities will be awful.

Honestly. Who can possibly go for war for a team call "Western" with nickname called "Force" who wear the same kit as 2 of the other 9 definites. Get the fuck out you bland fluffybunnies.

I can see why the Aussies want 5 sides.

Their broadcast deal is so low that they want 5 teams to at least keep up a national presence and so they can have content to sell to the broadcaster.

Otherwise they might as well go it alone with their own domestic comp.

Arguably the Force have the best fanbase of all the Aussie teams.

It makes sense from a TV perspective. Playing in Perth, they potentially have something to sell to the Saffas. Plus, I bet they're planning on Twiggy bearing some of the financial load.

antipodean

I had better things to do but still looked and it appears that Australia has consistently had a good team in Super Rugby. Often with another midpack, but almost always with a couple of cellar dwellers. Sometimes 80% in the bottom half.

The bloat in Super Rugby is correlated with this. From a revenue perspective more teams meant more fixtures so the TV revenue was higher. I felt the quality took a dramatic fall after the 2011 RWC and again after 2015. To make new franchises competitive the depth and overall quality of existing teams fell.

Once people stop watching the product is worth less. For me the quality needs to be high to get people viewing again. That excludes the Force and Rebels, neither of which would beat even the Chiefs right now.

Bones

@Nepia said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Snowy said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@mariner4life said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

Starting again would be retarded.

You just called @Nepia and @Bones retards didn't you?

I prefer intellectually challenged!

I'm pretty sure I didn't even tard a first time, so I definitely didn't redo it.

Landers were always my second team, I moved to the other side of the world so wasn't immersed in the capital, Hammett eroded my love of the canes and ditched players I had a real connection to. I found myself enjoying the Landers more and switched naturally...then they go and win a fucken title! How could I go back. Nice to have a connection with the old man on it too. Bonesetta loves her canes though, as does my ma and bro.

To make some family fun we've assigned the chiefs, crusaders and blues to Bonesettas's father, mother and brother.

junior

@Snowy said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Kiwiwomble said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

if RA are so adamant they have five good team then lets run two separate comps and the top 2 teams from each can meet in a playoff series, see how the results and their finances go

That works for me. I won't bother with much of the Aussie comp though.

Probably the three good teams.

This actually makes a lot of sense when you consider what grabs the public's attention and also produced the best rugby - the derby matches. You could effectively run three comps - Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby Australia and then the Super Rugby Champions Cup, which would be like the semis and final for the top 4 teams. If you could squeeze in the Jaapies too, you could have a 6 team Champions Cup and the domestic parts of the competition could be run as the local unions wish. Why does NZ care if the Kings or Force are shit, when none of our teams have to play them or travel there?

Kiwiwomble

@junior said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Snowy said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Kiwiwomble said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

if RA are so adamant they have five good team then lets run two separate comps and the top 2 teams from each can meet in a playoff series, see how the results and their finances go

That works for me. I won't bother with much of the Aussie comp though.

Probably the three good teams.

This actually makes a lot of sense when you consider what grabs the public's attention and also produced the best rugby - the derby matches. You could effectively run three comps - Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby Australia and then the Super Rugby Champions Cup, which would be like the semis and final for the top 4 teams. If you could squeeze in the Jaapies too, you could have a 6 team Champions Cup and the domestic parts of the competition could be run as the local unions wish. Why does NZ care if the Kings or Force are shit, when none of our teams have to play them or travel there?

which is what the conferences could/should have been ....but then they kept the cross conference games so not only kept the shit stuff (the travel/weird times) but added an un-even draw...

also would provide a more natural domestic comp for Aussie, if they want to add a six team in ten years who cares

nzzp

@antipodean said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

Once people stop watching the product is worth less. For me the quality needs to be high to get people viewing again.

Hell, quality has to be high to prepare for the internationals. No surprise the AB quality dropped from 15-19 with weird expansions to 18 teams, diluted quality, complex pools, and no one giving a relative toss.

The SRA has been sensational - players get properly tested every week, flaws get exposed adn players get better. I'm loving it

Snowy

@junior Yep. Kinda like the Euro champs. Play at home, best team has a crack at the rest. That could be global too.

Nepia

@Bones said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Nepia said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Snowy said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@mariner4life said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

Starting again would be retarded.

You just called @Nepia and @Bones retards didn't you?

I prefer intellectually challenged!

I'm pretty sure I didn't even tard a first time, so I definitely didn't redo it.

Landers were always my second team, I moved to the other side of the world so wasn't immersed in the capital, Hammett eroded my love of the canes and ditched players I had a real connection to. I found myself enjoying the Landers more and switched naturally...then they go and win a fucken title! How could I go back. Nice to have a connection with the old man on it too. Bonesetta loves her canes though, as does my ma and bro.

To make some family fun we've assigned the chiefs, crusaders and blues to Bonesettas's father, mother and brother.

I went to pretty much every Chiefs home game in 1996-1997 and then like you the Hammettuer completely eroded my love of the Canes ... you were lucky you weren't here to hear him go on weekend radio and lay into the players, and then have Alama have to go on a day later and try and back track those comments. And like you, the moment I switched to the Chiefs they won, but I was actually pretty confident they'd do well after picking up Rennie.

barbarian

@junior said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@KiwiMurph said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Rapido said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

I also don't get the ARU position.

They have 4 teams, currently, not 5.

Surely, from the 2 CEOs perspective - it's a case of comparing the 2 TV deals. Working out how many teams each can support with that money to create competive squads against each other, and competitive salaries against prospective NH deals.

I'm not thrilled that this is where it is at (still only 5 NZ teams and having to join with Australia). But diluting it with 2 weak Australian teams in expansion cities will be awful.

Honestly. Who can possibly go for war for a team call "Western" with nickname called "Force" who wear the same kit as 2 of the other 9 definites. Get the fuck out you bland fluffybunnies.

I can see why the Aussies want 5 sides.

Their broadcast deal is so low that they want 5 teams to at least keep up a national presence and so they can have content to sell to the broadcaster.

Otherwise they might as well go it alone with their own domestic comp.

Arguably the Force have the best fanbase of all the Aussie teams.

It makes sense from a TV perspective. Playing in Perth, they potentially have something to sell to the Saffas. Plus, I bet they're planning on Twiggy bearing ~~some~~ all of the financial load.

FTFY

Kiwiwomble

@Nepia said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Bones said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Nepia said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@Snowy said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

@mariner4life said in 'Super Rugby' 2021:

Starting again would be retarded.

You just called @Nepia and @Bones retards didn't you?

I prefer intellectually challenged!

I'm pretty sure I didn't even tard a first time, so I definitely didn't redo it.

Landers were always my second team, I moved to the other side of the world so wasn't immersed in the capital, Hammett eroded my love of the canes and ditched players I had a real connection to. I found myself enjoying the Landers more and switched naturally...then they go and win a fucken title! How could I go back. Nice to have a connection with the old man on it too. Bonesetta loves her canes though, as does my ma and bro.

To make some family fun we've assigned the chiefs, crusaders and blues to Bonesettas's father, mother and brother.

I went to pretty much every Chiefs home game in 1996-1997 and then like you the Hammettuer completely eroded my love of the Canes ... you were lucky you weren't here to hear him go on weekend radio and lay into the players, and then have Alama have to go on a day later and try and back track those comments. And like you, the moment I switched to the Chiefs they won, but I was actually pretty confident they'd do well after picking up Rennie.

...id say going to watch the chiefs probably eroded your love of the canes too...i probably would have cone and watched the canes....

The Silver Fern

'Super Rugby' 2021