'All-star breaks', a finals series and a host of law changes all under consideration for Super Rugby Aotearoa
Super Rugby Aotearoa was an unmitigated success.
After a three-month period without any matches, New Zealand fans would have likely been happy to gobble up just about any professional rugby – but the NZ-only competition was perhaps the highest quality, most entertaining club footy we’ve been blessed with in recent times.
While the final result was undoubtedly a fair reflection of the competition as a whole, with the Crusaders crowned champions, it did lead to a somewhat anticlimactic finish.
Before a ball had even been kicked in the final round of matches, the Crusaders had built an insurmountable lead at the top of the table, which put a bit of damper on the closing weekend.
That could all change in 2021, with a final one of many changes New Zealand Rugby appear to be considering for next year’s competition.
In a survey sent out to members of the Team All Blacks fan club, respondents were asked to elect their favourite potential changes from a shortlist that are presumably being assessed by NZR.
They range from modifications to the game itself (law changes) to competition restructuring (adding foreign sides, introducing playoffs and/or a final) and changing the match-day experience (at-ground entertainment).
Perhaps the most interesting idea is a mooted all-star break, similar to what major American sports run part-way through their seasons.
This year’s North v South match, played upon Super Rugby Aotearoa’s conclusion, was the closest thing NZ has to the American staple, but even that wasn’t a true ‘all-star’ game.
The North and South squads were selected by the All Blacks coaches with a strict eligibility criteria. The selection process for the MLB and NBA all-stars matches are events in of themselves, with coaches, fans and the media all having a say in who gets picked.
Often, game weekends are also filled out with a host of entertaining events such as legends matches and slam dunk competitions.
With next year’s calendar still very much up in the air, NZR appear to be looking for alternative ways to keeps fans entertained.
At this rate, Super Rugby Aotearoa could be done and dusted with 10% of the competition still to be played.
That's just one round, of course ? #SuperRugbyAotearoa #SuperRugbyAUhttps://t.co/pnZYy3DOFn
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 5, 2020
The survey also asked respondents what specific rule changes they’d be interested in seeing, including the various modifications adopted by Super Rugby AU.
Other options include instigating mandatory yellow cards after a penalty threshold is met by either team and introducing a ‘Captain’s Challenge’.
Finally, the survey asked what kick-off times would most appeal to fans, and what title would be the best suited for a potential competition involving Australia and/or the Pacific Islands.
While there’s no guarantee that any changes will be made to next year’s competition, fans will be encouraged to see that New Zealand Rugby appear to be engaging with the masses to help shape the future of the game.
Mooted competition changes:
Playoffs and/or a final
An All-Star break
Teams from other countries
More community engagement
More innovative law changes
Coaches on the sideline, mic’d up and included in broadcast
Official fan-vote awards: MVP, Defensive Player, Attacking Player, Most Improved, etc.
More at-ground entertainment
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGhNR6bHzhg/
Mooted law changes:
The awarding of a goal-line drop-out to the defending team when an attacking player, who brings the ball into in-goal, is held up.
Goal line drop out to replace 22m line drop out in all current scenarios to reward the attacking team in good field position.
50-22: If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents’ 22 or from inside their own 22 into their opponents’ half, they will throw into the resultant lineout, rewarding positive kicking in the field of play
The introduction of a penalty limit for teams. Once a team has reached the limit, a mandatory yellow card is given to the last offending player as a team sanction to reduce ambiguity and inconsistency in the awarding of yellow cards.
The introduction of a Captain’s Challenge in which each team captain can challenge any call made by the match officials during the course of a match once play has stopped, to be reviewed by an independent TMO. Each captain will only be allowed one unsuccessful challenge per match.
The introduction of a Captain’s Challenge in which each team captain can challenge any call made by the match officials during the course of a match once play has stopped, to be reviewed by an independent TMO. Each captain will only be allowed one unsuccessful challenge per match. Undecided
7 point try: Any try scored between the posts will automatically be awarded 7 points to the try scorer, with no conversion to follow, speeding up play.
Mooted competition names:
Trans-Tasman Championship
Trans-Tasman Rugby Cup
South Pacific Championship
South Pacific Rugby Cup
Super Rugby
Super Southern Rugby
Southern Rugby Cup
Oceanic Rugby Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
Lots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
1 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
38 Go to comments