Aussies punt rugby World Series
29 Mar 2006
The ARU has come up with a way of making Tests between World Cups matter. They believe rugby needs a “World Series” in which the results of Tests every second year would determine the two leading teams, who would then meet in a final.
Tests between World Cups are often regarded as preparation for the next World Cup, with countries selecting second-string teams for less-important matches.
France, for example, used their South African tour last year to blood several youngsters ahead of the 2007 World Cup, while the All Blacks played their ‘B’ team against Ireland and Scotland on the Grand Slam tour, opting to save their best side for Wales and England.
The Sydney Morning Herald has learnt that a concept is to be put to the IRB which involves Tests, including pre-season and end-of-season internationals played by major nations, being allocated points on a win/loss basis.
Greg Growden reports that the two teams that finish with the highest number of points or best win ratio would meet in a final at the end of the calendar year. That match would be played at a neutral venue, with lucrative prizemoney on offer.
Aussie officials have been concerned for some time that when northern hemisphere teams travel Down Under before Tri Nations series the matches have often taken on the status of a friendly rather than a fully fledged Test.
Officials argue a World Series, which would be held only in years when the World Cup is not being staged or when the British & Irish Lions are not touring, would dramatically increase the importance of these matches because every game would be crucial in determining the final spots.
It would also make the Tests outside the Six Nations and Tri-Nations a far more attractive product for spectators, broadcasters and sponsors, while putting pressure on national coaches to pick their best sides when on tour.
The World Series would involve about eight or nine matches. In one season, Australia’s World Series games could involve Ireland, England, Italy and Argentina in June-July, followed by two matches of the Tri Nations series (one each against New Zealand and South Africa), before they played Wales, Scotland and France in November.
The other countries would have similar schedules.
The major problem with a World Series is that it would detract from the World Cup. The World Cup is the IRB’s big cash cow and they would be reluctant to detract attention from the main event.
69 Comments
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29 Mar 2006, 22:42 pm
In the professional era tests between countries become less and less important. Soccer is a good example. When two countries play each other, sure the stadiums are full, but u can’t compare it to the inter franchise/provincial games.
The Rugby World cup is just a ‘nice to have’, no meat and potatoes there. England are the world champs, who cares ? With the whole ‘you’re only as good as your last game’ and ‘anything can happen in a quarter / semi / final’ attitude the RWC is a show,thats all.
Coaches throw the ‘yes,we lost but we’re preparing for the world cup’ excuse around too easily.
I can understand them wanting to put pressure on coaches to pick the best teams. I am not going to fork out R 500 plus to watch the Bokke ‘try out new combos or strategies’. Se gat. If you want to ‘blood new players’, for varks steaks, do so in practise games arranged between countries, off camera and not publicised.
Surely France and SA could arrange such practise games. We need pressure from the sponsors to ensure that coaches always pick their strongest team possible.
Who wants to spend big money to see if a new combo works ? That’s not why I support the sponsors.
30 Mar 2006, 00:26 am
Well I guess Americanisation of sports in Australia is evident, next thing we hear out of Australia is that they want a 5th Super Rugby team and a draft system of the pacific snd africa. For a country of proud sporting prowess, they should throw some money into getting a Currie cup/NPC type comp running. In Australia its called a World Series, In SA and NZ, we call it tours. Bring back the good old fashioned tours, with midweek games and have the tri-nations every second year.
30 Mar 2006, 00:42 am
P.S. Australia have one of the worst away records in rugby, so I guess they will not be top of the table if they continue this trend. World Series is a joke, bring back tours.
30 Mar 2006, 00:45 am
It seems to me that one of the problems of Saffers is you have a laager mentality. As soon as anyone happens to come up with an innovative idea, most of you slam it. It seems to be you find it difficult to break free of your conservatism-especially since you did not come up with the idea!
Were it no for innovative ideas, we would not have night cricket and I’m sure 438/9 is something you don’t want to forget!
It’s a great idea because as almost every side who has won the WC has proved, they hardy look like champions post the world cup. This would motivate sides to keep up the standards of playing.
Furthermore, this whingeing about playing too much rugby is ridiculous. Sides like the All Blacks handle this problem by developing a squad. Considering the amount of money rugby players earn, they should stop complaining about playing too muc rugby.
30 Mar 2006, 09:23 am
This is the only way of making the june and november tests more interesting. the public don’t want to pay good money to watch the top teams parade their second XVs. The NH teams are a joke when they tour here. remember the two english tour from *****.
Full tours are never going to come back due to the UK and French club schedule. The French still play club rugby in June. it is unfortunate but it is a reality and this is the next possible solution.
Ig, the ICC have a test championship trophy
30 Mar 2006, 09:24 am
We need the old fashioned rugby touurs back.
30 Mar 2006, 11:24 am
Ian,
thats not true, many of those that disagree with the idea mentioned above, are’nt from SA, i.e CSI.
Also, please bear in mind that we needn’t agree with evey idea put forward just becasue its australian. I certainly think Growden writes absolute rubbish, but Peter English seems better on the cricket. Cant be that conservative if we actually rated our chanes of chasing down 438, in fact strikes me as pretty revolutionary.
30 Mar 2006, 11:26 am
Agreed, Sarky. Bring back tours. Also; 3N every two years, full tour every two years. Dump S14
30 Mar 2006, 12:53 pm
dump super 14 for tours? wtf. who would you play in a tour in all seriousness? the NH players play in three major comps going during the Super 14 period.
30 Mar 2006, 13:09 pm
CSI Rugby thats the most Patriotic New Zealand view of rugby if ever there was one.
I thoroughly agree that in a rugby utopia we would have tours the focus to give all provincial teams around the globe a crack at international sides. Japies, Blacks, Oz and Poms would be great chances to match club players with world class players. When the lesser nations toured a major country its like a rugby lesson on the style of play at the roots of that country. This is what i would call spreading rugby literally to as many parts of the world as possible. Players everywhere at elite, provincial and even amature level will come against each other which can only enhance and improve the seeds of this great game in all parts of the world.
30 Mar 2006, 13:16 pm
However yes i know the way is that tours will never returnn full but they should be phased in between nz and South Africa if nobody else. Our tours i believe have been far more important than lions tours only until recently. We must restore them.
This new world series is a shock reation from the Aussies cause it aint looking to good for Aussie rugby if the Wallabies aint winning the sports popularity might all go to other codes in ten or so years…. but hey i think its a good idea…its following cricket a bit and to tell you the truth it sounds alot better than the current format of boring tri nations. Lets face it, a test is still amazing to a purist like myself, but i fear if we dont move with the times in terms of format (not style of play) then we will be left behind in todays competitive world.
30 Mar 2006, 13:18 pm
And by the way CSI – No whea he koe? where you from in Aotearoa
30 Mar 2006, 13:50 pm
NZMaori
From Auckland mate, Married to a South African girl, and living in the USA, I’m home on vacation for a couple of weeks, currently in beautiful Nelson. Where you from bro?!?!
30 Mar 2006, 14:13 pm
Tokoroa, but im a scarfie down in Dunedin. Waikato is my team mate. Catch your ailing blues up bro – too many islanders in your tema….hahaha
There is a couple of good local derbys this weekend. it could get spiteful i recon. And im also picking a chief Hurricane double. Will pay well at the tab. The saders have to lose one this year and the canes have forever been there bogy team, and chiefs on form id say…due for a win after some choking in the last two games.
Good man for finding a beautiful Japie girl…
Is there any coverage of games in the states??
30 Mar 2006, 14:34 pm
NZMaori
Agree, Yeah my blues are doing real bad, but the memories of yester-years makes up for a shocking season, its that rugby cycle, it will come our way again, and the blues will be champs again, when? who knows. Tokoroa boy, home to keven mealamu, and also scarfie, well enough said about a scarfie, different breed down there, haha.
Yeah me and my wife met at the ’99 RWC and yes we both drowned our sorrows, more me then her after the 3rd and 4th place game.
Anyways we found a channel up in the states, and have to order it, called Setanta Sports from the UK on Direct tv, and we get some of the S12/14 games up there, mainly NH Rugby of course.
Rugby coverage in America is very statistic based, if you the americans and there sports, they love statistics.
Canes to win and the Chiefs, The Blue v Bulls, I honestly couldn’t pick it. what u think? TAB are paying good odds this week on the home derby games.
30 Mar 2006, 15:01 pm
yah the blue-bulls fixture is a tough one to call, blues very temperamental side, if they get it together at home, very difficult side to beat.
30 Mar 2006, 15:02 pm
Im sorry but the blues are rip for the picking with Nacewa at 1st five. It is a rebuilding phase you are right but im not convinced Nucifora quite knows how to make these boys gell like say Henry could. McAlister should play at 1st 5. (if fit of course)
the bulls have an expert foward pack and this pressure is going to make it even harder for Ice at 1st 5.
having said that the blues can just turn it on at the drop of a hat so as much as i think the bulls will win, if they dont im picking the blues to blow them out of the park by 20… catch my drift??
31 Mar 2006, 06:14 am
A couple of thoughts…
Simon
Who said the AB’s played their ‘B’ team against Ireland and their ‘A’ team against Wales? Running my eyes over the two teams at the time I felt they divided the whole squad 50/50 (quality-wise) – right down the middle.
I wouldn’t have liked to have picked a winner between those two AB teams, although I would have loved to see them play!!! What a match!!! The teams against England and Scotland were certainly ‘A’ & ‘B’.
I’d love to see the TriNations extended to take in Argentina – two matches against each team – home and away.
I’d love to see that competition also take place every second year with some tours in between.
The Lions tour was just a brilliant event for NZ. A decent length, mid-week provincial matches, a game against the Maori, and three tests. What more could you want? (Just a shame that the Lions supporters were better than their players!!!)
Imagine a Springbok tour run along those lines – or the Aussies? Or France or England? (Did I say that?!?)
I still remember the Springbok match against Taranaki on the 1981 tour. I was 16 at the time. Actually I don’t remember the match, but I remember the EVENT!!! (Apparantly Charles and Diana getting married on the same day.)
31 Mar 2006, 06:22 am
The Blues CAN do it tonight – whether they WILL or not… They really need to cut loose and play to their strengths. Run the Bulls off their feet.
The Hurricanes need the win for the sake of a home semi.
The Crusaders will get one home semi, and won’t lose too many games, so a win over the Crusaders is a four point advantage over the rest of the teams.
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