Eight things that would make Super Rugby a must-watch competition in 2021
While it’s still difficult to say for sure what fans will be subjected to when Super Rugby returns in 2021, there are some changes to the game that should be here to stay – including some of the new rules introduced in the Aotearoa and AU competitions this season.
1. Late start, early finish
Back in the salad days of 1996, when Super Rugby was actually an enjoyable, attractive competition, it kicked off on March 1 and the final was held on May 25. It was all over in less than three months, leaving a clear window for club rugby and a decent lead-in to international rugby.
It won’t happen in 2021, but it should do. For starters, the international season is not due to finish until December, so a January/February kickoff, as in 2020, would be absurd. The players will need a half-decent window to rest, recover and recondition.
If 10 teams were in the competition, they could play a full nine rounds, plus byes, and then semis and final. There is your 12 weeks, a sprint rather than an interminable marathon.
2. A ‘normal’ bonus points system
A few years ago, SANZAAR decided it would copy the French Top 14 and change the bonus point system to reward sides that scored three tries more than their opponents, instead of teams that managed four tries regardless of how their opposition faired. Why why would you feel the need to imitate the French, who have always marched to the beat of their own drum? It becomes confusing for fans, who are primarily interested in what their team is doing. A bonus point for scoring four tries was always the best way.
3. Brodie and Beaudy forego Japan to play Super Rugby
The COVID-19 situation in Japan is not flash, with upwards of 25,000 cases and nearly 1,000 deaths. Most important, however, is what it might look like around November when Brodie Retallick and Beauden Barrett will be on the cusp of taking up their deals for the 2021 Top League season.
What is clear is that Super Rugby needs its marquee players. The Chiefs miss Retallick something chronic, as will the Blues with Barrett, despite his underwhelming form at fullback. Both players could possibly pull the plug if the situation worsens in the Land of the Rising Sun.
4. Pasifika team to be a success on and off the field
There are many questions still surrounding the possible make-up of a Pasifika franchise. It is a long-overdue scenario, and the temptation will be to say it needs time to bed in. Maybe so, but if the team can play attractive footy, whether it be based in Auckland, Fiji or Hawaii, then that will be a massive boon.
We do not yet know the financial clout of the Kanaloa consortium, made up of several former All Blacks, including Jerome Kaino, but many, many fans will be willing this to work.
5. The Force take precedent ahead of the Rebels
It mystified many when the Western Force were jettisoned from Super Rugby after the 2017 season. They had placed second in the Australian conference that season and Perth is far more of a rugby city than Melbourne ever will be. The work of Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest and his team, via Global Rapid Rugby, should be enough to win a place if there are four Australian teams given the nod. It will then be goodbye to the Rebels.
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6. Crusaders to not win
The Crusaders are odds-on to win the inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa, which would be their fourth straight title and 11th in all since 1996. It’s an astonishing level of dominance, but the competition needs another franchise, probably a Kiwi one, to lift its game and the trophy in 2021. That would be a major shot in the arm for Super Rugby.
7. 20-minute ejections for red cards
We haven’t seen one of these yet in Super Rugby Aotearoa, other than Scott Scrafton’s (unjust) double yellow/red against the Chiefs, but it’s a good move by administrators. Super Rugby is about entertainment, and we don’t need an unnecessary ejection that impacts adversely on the contest, especially when some of the officials are making enough bad calls as it is.
In addition, the golden point rule, yet to be used, should remain.
8. Someone to come up with a legal way to stop lineout drives
Yes, yes, we know that a well-executed lineout drive is a skilful piece of collective play by a forward pack, but it’s almost impossible to stop legally. Last weekend, there were three tries from this tactic in both the Super Rugby Aotearoa clashes. We know Folau Fainga’a is deadly from it for the Brumbies, and the Chiefs’ Bradley Slater latched onto two of those drives for tries against the Highlanders. Let’s not make it too monotonous, lads.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments