Does SANZAAR need to introduce extra-time into Super Rugby?
Nobody likes a draw.
The fans hate it, the coaches hate it, and the players especially hate it.
Two teams crash and bash into each other and try to knock each other’s heads off for nearly an hour and a half, but at the end of it, nobody wins, nobody loses, and it never really does anything to improve a team’s standing within their respective competition.
One could argue that picking up two competition points from a draw is better than securing nothing from a loss, but no team goes into a fixture wanting to come out with a draw.
All 30 players on the park want to win, and so although a draw may be better than a loss, nobody is satisfied when they’re held to a stalemate.
That was the case on Friday night, when the Highlanders and Bulls played out a 24-all draw under the roof of Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Both teams went into the contest needing victory to, in the case of the Bulls, solidify their quarter-final position, or, in the case of the Highlanders, to push their case for a top eight spot, but neither came away with their desired outcome.
The intent and desperation shown by both sides to try and snatch a late, late victory four minutes after the final siren had sounded indicated the will both clubs had in trying to keep their season hopes alive, but the 15,123-strong crowd were instead left with the feeling that both sides had lost rather than gained anything meaningful.
The Bulls may have benefitted by the result slightly in that it pushed them up to fifth on the Super Rugby standings, but their inability to secure a win within 80 minutes meant they were still vulnerable to being overtaken by the Lions, Rebels and Sharks – all of whom can still surpass them – even though they managed to avoid defeat.
As for the Highlanders, their hopes of appearing in the play-offs for a sixth consecutive season have taken a massive dent, with the draw succumbing them to 11th spot, meaning they will have to beat the Waratahs with a bonus point in Invercargill next week and rely on results to fall in their favour.
The disappointment was evident from all involved in the post-match proceedings, with Aaron Smith and Handrè Pollard expressing their dismay immediately in the wake of the full-time whistle, while Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger wasn’t much more impressed with the outcome during his post-match press conference.
Each team’s social media channels were flooded with a barrage of disparaging comments from fans aimed towards players, coaches and officials for their team’s incapability of notching up a much-needed win, and it’s not the first time this sort of dissatisfaction has stemmed from a draw in Super Rugby this year.
In fact, the 2019 season has had the most draws in Super Rugby history with seven stalemates to date, two more than the next most draw-filled campaign in 2011.
That means there have been six other matches this year that have ended in similar despair and discontent to the draw seen in Dunedin on Friday.
The volume of draws across the board is unprecedented, yet their impact has been severely underwhelming, so it begs the question as to whether the concept of extra-time needs to be introduced to Super Rugby.
Many other sporting leagues of much higher prestige than Super Rugby, such as the NFL, NBA and even the NRL in Australia, have implemented extra-time laws for the interest of their respective teams and fans.
Such rules would result in defeats for teams that are cruelly denied victory past the full-time hooter in regulation time, but rarely is anyone left as unsatisfied in tournaments with over-time laws as those involved with Super Rugby have been this year.
There are plenty of extra-time rulings across the world – the NRL applies a golden point rule, which the NFL has a variation of, while the NBA forces teams to keep playing deep into the match until a winner is found.
It’s no surprise that these three leagues have earned more positive reputations – to varying degrees – than Super Rugby, and although it would be stupid to suggest these superior reputations within the global sporting sphere were built solely on their extra-time laws, it certainly adds credibility to those competitions which Super Rugby seemingly lacks.
This week, there are a quartet of Super Rugby fixtures between eight teams vying for four post-season slots.
The effect of a draw could bring any one of those eight teams’ campaigns to a standstill, and without being offered the chance to resurrect their season hopes after the mandatory 80 minutes, any scoreline that cancels itself out this weekend can again be expected to bring with it a raft of grievances directed at players, coaches and officials.
For the sake of all teams that still possess play-off aspirations, and their fans, the sooner that extra-time is brought into Super Rugby, the better it will be for the competition as a whole.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments