Letter to the Editor – The Super Rugby Fix?

I reckon there’s a real case to be made that the fix was in for the Lions in the Semi. This isn’t sour grapes. I couldn’t give two ****s about the hurricanes or a NZ team hosting a final (or even winning it).

I think it was a social and financial decision orchestrated by desperate men with their backs against the wall. The difference between hosting the final in SA or travelling to NZ is worth about $20 million dollars to the Union and host broadcaster. It’s the difference between an irrelevant TV event in Christchurch no one will watch and a major sporting event in the nation’s capital.

There is no Union in world Rugby under greater pressure than SARU, particularly socially. They are on the verge of annihilation politically. The power base has shifted and SARU’s relevance to society is questioned. Their results last year didn’t help. A home final appeases everyone nicely, has the chance to capture the Nation’s attention and fills the coffers which is desperately needed. A South African Super Rugby Champion reaffirms the games status in the political and social hierarchy.

Isn’t all that worth at least considering making a few calls go your way?

The reality is that there is absolutely NOTHING any of SANZAARS partners can do about this, should it be the case. Steve Tew has zero leverage on these guys and could never come out questioning the integrity of the competition he has such a large part in designing. And World Rugby won’t care. Everyone agrees it’s actually better for the game to have the final in SA anyway and a strong SARU. Plus, who doesn’t like a NZ team getting Stiffed? So no one will look at this too closely at all.

Watching it, it seemed pretty obvious to me. Just too much money on the line. Seemed a typical South African Rugby kind of decision – maximise home field advantage in every respect. And it was and is so easy for South Africa inc to pull off with absolutely no repercussions. In fact, how could they not take this opportunity? It was laid out for them.

And my point is this – when you have a $20m game on the line with people’s jobs riding on it and where a result has huge political capital, only SANZAAR wouldn’t take appropriate steps to ensure impartiality so these kinds of theories couldn’t surface. Once again, their administration has left the integrity of the competition open to criticism. Questions of impartiality are as fundamental as you get and a case can certainly be made.

Matt – Auckland

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