Super Rugby Expansion
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<p>I don't even want to discuss expanding the Super comp any further, it's already so fucking diluted.</p>
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The upshot of this will be that it will become so ungainly, with massive disparity between the best and worst teams that an elite competition will eventuate from the best teams, offering a much improved spectacle for the viewing audience and the whole process will start again...
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<p>need a global season first:</p>
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<p>Play starts Feb-end of June, break July/Aug</p>
<p>Starts up Sep-end of Nov, break Dec/Jan.</p>
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<p>Although each break could probably be 6 weeks giving players 12+ weeks off a year...making a max of 40 games per year</p> -
<p>Bring back Super 12. No conference rubbish. Every team plays each other. The comp doesn't drag out to long. There's sufficient prep time for test footy.</p>
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<p>5 NZ sides</p>
<p>Natal, Northern Transvaal, Transvaal and Western Province</p>
<p>3 Aussie sides</p> -
<p>I have no idea why SANZAAR would want to negate the entertainment factor of Super Rugby: a top of the table Pro 12 clash between Irish sides Connacht and Leinster resulted in a 7-6 scoreline over 80 minutes of rugby. Thanks but no thanks for NH representation.</p>
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<p>I do think Super Rugby should expand to 20 teams - an extra Argentinian side and probably another side from Asia or North America, to balance the format.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, corruption means the Pacific Islands are probably a no-runner.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="567989" data-time="1459209283">
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<p>I <em>really</em> hope it's not going to happen, but if it does, then I'd swap the Jaguares and Sunwolves for the simple reason that the Jaguares are from the SH and Sunwolves from the NH. <strong>Jaguares are fine as far as time zones are concerned (I love Sunday morning games);</strong> Sunwolves and American team (I assume that's North America?) should be in same conference, esp if the American team is based in the West of the continent. In both cases, travel for the Sunwolves and Jaguares (and American team) remains a nightmare.</p>
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<p>Not sure how they'd organise a PI team. Don't think it should be based in NZ or Oz, because then the Islands don't get to profit from it (I mean supporters, local economy, development of local rugby). The financial obstacles of a PI team cannot be ignored either.</p>
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<p>Instead of adding teams to Super Rugby and changing the format again, I'd be much more in favour of synchronising the rugby seasons in the NH and SH, and then organise a play-off between the top 2-4 teams of each competition (Super Rugby, Eur Champions Cup) for a world club title at the end of the season. To be included, the American pro competition should first mature more. </p>
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<p>Uh, 7:30PM in NZ -> 3:30AM in Argentina. Just because you love it, doesn't mean the Argies will. Meanwhile Japan's only 3 hours behind NZ, so as far as time zones go, Japan makes far more sense to be grouped with us, while Argentina makes far more sense to be grouped with the Saffas.</p>
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<p>Anyway, the only expansion I'd like to see is Argentina getting a second team.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="568097" data-time="1459227350">
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<p><strong>Uh, 7:30PM in NZ -> 3:30AM in Argentina.</strong> Just because you love it, doesn't mean the Argies will. Meanwhile Japan's only 3 hours behind NZ, so as far as time zones go, Japan makes far more sense to be grouped with us, while Argentina makes far more sense to be grouped with the Saffas.</p>
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<p>Anyway, the only expansion I'd like to see is Argentina getting a second team.</p>
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<p>You haven't been watching the Jaguares home games, have you? They started at 10.40am NZT (-> 6.40pm in Argentina; they are 16 hours behind NZ). I was talking about the Jaguares home games, not NZ games.</p>
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<p>My comment that I love Sunday morning games was written between brackets, in case you didn't notice (it was a personal comment, just as I wrote my personal opinion on this topic; it wasn't about what the Argies might think of it). </p>
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<p>Anyway, as I said before, I hope this kind of expansion doesn't happen.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="568111" data-time="1459229681">
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<p>You haven't been watching the Jaguares home games, have you? They started at 10.40am NZT.</p>
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<p>My comment that I love Sunday morning games was written between brackets, in case you didn't notice (it was a personal comment, just as I wrote my personal opinion on this topic; it wasn't about what the Argies might think of it). </p>
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<p>What are you talking about? My point was that the Jaguares are a bad fit for the NZ/Aus conference due to the exact point you brought up, time zones. Putting them in the SA conference makes far, far more sense due to that reason alone. Take a look at a schedule with all the different times to see for yourself:</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.superxv.com/fixtures/'>http://www.superxv.com/fixtures/</a></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crash" data-cid="568114" data-time="1459230556">
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<p>If the Sunwolves last beyond this saeaon, then I'll eat my hat....they/re already suffering dwindling audiences in Singapore </p>
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<p>Move all their home games to Japan and I think they'll be fine. They've had enough close games to give them a little credibility, which is more than anyone can say about the Kings.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crash" data-cid="568114" data-time="1459230556">
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<p>If the Sunwolves last beyond this saeaon, then I'll eat my hat....they/re already suffering dwindling audiences in Singapore </p>
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<p>They do get very good attendances in Japan. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="568117" data-time="1459230878">
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<p>What are you talking about? <strong>My point was that the Jaguares are a bad fit for the NZ/Aus conference</strong> due to the exact point you brought up, time zones. Putting them in the SA conference makes far, far more sense due to that reason alone. Take a look at a schedule with all the different times to see for yourself:</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.superxv.com/fixtures/'>http://www.superxv.com/fixtures/</a></p>
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<p>Move all their home games to Japan and I think they'll be fine. They've had enough close games to give them a little credibility, which is more than anyone can say about the Kings.</p>
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<p>True only if NZ home games against the Jaguares should always be played in the evening. If you have a kick-off time of 2.35pm (like in NPC) on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, it's no worse for Argentinian viewers than their (current) away games in SA. It all depends on how flexible they (Sanzaar, broadcasters etc) can and want to be. I find the travel distance a far more convincing argument for placing the Argies in a SA Group (and Sunwolves in Australasian) than time zones.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="568130" data-time="1459234062">
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<p>True only if NZ home games against the Jaguares should always be played in the evening. If you have a kick-off time of 2.35pm (like in NPC) on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, it's no worse for Argentinian viewers than their (current) away games in SA. It all depends on how flexible they (Sanzaar, broadcasters etc) can and want to be. I find the travel distance a far more convincing argument for placing the Argies in a SA Group (and Sunwolves in Australasian) than time zones.</p>
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<p>SANZAAR isn't going to do that and we all know. They want as many games as possible during EU/SA friendly times.</p>
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<p>And yeah, I agree on the travel distance, I just figured that was a given. SA to Japan and vice versa is a pretty insanely long flight.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="568066" data-time="1459220439"><p>
5 NZ sides<br>
Natal, Northern Transvaal, Transvaal and Western Province<br>
3 Aussie sides</p></blockquote>
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SA teams were whoever was top 4 in the previous year's Currie Cup. <br><br>
So Free State made the cut in 97 in place of WP.<br><br>
Appears the permanent franchises from SA were entered in 98. -
<p>yeah those were the teams in 1996....</p>
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<p>Having been in the UK for a bit now, I don't think anyone up here besides hard core rugby fans and ex-pats give a rats about Super Rugby. This TV times for the Northern Hemisphere is a myth.</p>
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<p>However, night rugby certainly does work better for domestic broadcasters and advertisers.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="568117" data-time="1459230878">
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<p>Move all their home games to Japan and I think they'll be fine. They've had enough close games to give them a little credibility, which is more than anyone can say about the Kings.</p>
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<p>I'll admit to being genuinely surprised at how competitive the Sunwolves have been thus far.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="568044" data-time="1459217267">
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<p>Bring back Super 12. No conference rubbish. Every team plays each other. The comp doesn't drag out to long. There's sufficient prep time for test footy.</p>
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<p>Yep - it's reached the stage where I'm starting to lose interest in it being anything like a fair competition. When you can't be sure that the best team isn't going to be handicapped out of winning it becomes a bit hard to take seriously.</p>
