You talk FAR too much sense to be a contributor on this blog. Please extricate yourself !

Ive been saying it all along:-

Domestic Comps -> Qualifying Top 4 or 5 teams -> Draft System (thereby including all top players) -> Super15.

Why on Earth have these conferences ?! Isnt the beauty of S14 is that its an International Tournament ? I want to watch my domesttic rivallries in my domestic competition, I dont want to turn around and watch those same rivalry games all over again.

With teams QUALIFYING, you get variety, ala Heineken Cup. Variety, as they say, is the spice of life and the fans will get interested again. Interest equates to broadcasting dollars !!!!

Is this a wise decision? NO

Let’s just stand back and consider it for a moment or two:
First, we all recognise that none of this Super rugby would be possible but for the TV broadcasters, right? If not, then who? So, any change must make “cents” for the broadcasters.

Will the broadcatsers be interested? Well, let’s see who will actually be interested in the local conference games, home and away. Certainly NZ and Oz will not watch SA games, and vice-versa. As such, less enthusiasm means less money, which means the broadcasters will not like this very much.

After the coference-type games the real rugby, the Super 6, will kick-off. That will equate to 3 games a weekend for 5 weeks, plus a final (no need for semis then). The real competition will be over and done in a mere 6 weeks.

The broadcasters will not go for it – not enough games on TV to justify the expense to them.

Is that right, MM ?

From a little research, I think you find that the average attendance for the Storm was 8,000. Given that the Storm have been Champions (2-3 times ?) including Preliminary Champions, meaning home final games, the stats clearly show that their average crowds were grossly inflated by those Finals attendances. Furthermore, if you looked at the stats for any other team that regularly made Finals, their crowds would be atleast triple that. Doesnt that tell you something ?

It is true that I had not reseacrhed that point before posting, but instead relied on my 2 Victorian work-colleagues. They attended Storm games themselves and said that attendances of between 3-5,000 were the norm, and that Victorians only really came out in bigger numbers for a few marquee matches during the season and then the afforementioned Finals series (ie only when theyre winning).

So perhaps you were right, but I dont think Im totally wrong either. Victorians are sport-mad but you have to question whether they have reached saturation point with the number of non-traditional (for the locals) sports already. That was my point.

Im interested to hear that ‘club rugby is big in Vic’. Really ? Please name me 1 Victorian representative rugby player. Ever.

Western Australia was the obvious 4th team given their migrant (mostly Safa) population. But Victorians dont given a sh*t for anything other than Rules, as far as Im aware.

Remember when the currie cup had all the teams competing – EP, Border, Griffins etc etc? Well I didn’t watch a game, the standard of rugby was piss poor and the super 14 is heading that way.

I totally agree that our domestic leagues should be played first, scrapt the vodacom cup then get rid of these ridiculous incoming tours. When last has a northen hemisphere team sent a full strength side? We can then play a super 12 with the top 4 qualifiers from each country’s local league. This will add interest in both the local game as well as concentrate player resources in 4 competitive teams.

Expanding the super 14 is a short sighted way of generating more money, they are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Make some tough calls for the betterment of all.

Oohh … Well he did not say “where” his house was these days … So, if I come to his “house” – you will be providing snacks & beverages ?

#33 Rugby_Princess: His house?! You are aware he is back in my garage after the last ‘accident’ he had at his place…not sure about the details but it had something to do with Vetkoek and a hosepipe, I did not ask but she is in the hospital and he is in my garage…

Also less teams in the S14 not only makes it a better competition but we could start it in March like they want too. Better playing in the heat in SA and OZ that time of year is dreadful.

Maybe Oz should start their own Domestic competition that way they wont need for a larger S14.

Also would be a real shame to mess with our CC. That competition should just stay as it is and not incorporate it into this. Last year our CC final was magnificent.

Think most of this has to do with TV and extra money for OZ. Not sure just a thought.

Manly never makes me do chores … perhaps i should go to his house … & what is a loslyf ? Sounds like loose leaf – those pages that fall out of a book …

By the way, remember to make extra snacks, Manly will be there and you know he always manage to find some loslyf to join him…luckily for you Vetkoek is still in hospital so not THAT much extra needed.

Encouragement ?? You mena the wooden spoon you beat him with ?

Sorry, I am famously “domestically disabled”

Record ? Like many things in life … not the same as “live”

#26 Koos:

I have to do chores now ?

Bet there will be no snacks & beverages allowed either

More koos

Yes, but are you allowed to watch or will you be doing chores ?

Yes JON is just doing his job of being a pushy b*gger – our people must push back. He canned their domestic comp & do they even have “Australai A” anymore ?

Bring the Argies in & let them join 3N next year – at least they play our kind of rugby !

Blues v Sharks ought to be a sensational game … so naturally it will follow that ABC Asia-Pacific won’t show it

Reds suffered the most but compared to pre Force years not that much worse…and how much ‘worse’ than the Lions and Cheetahs?