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Rugby Australia boss says a Pacific Island Super Rugby team based in Auckland would be 'madness'

By Online Editors
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

A professional Pasifika team has become the instant new battleground between New Zealand and Australian rugby.

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And Australia is continuing to fight back against powerful New Zealand as rugby’s warring neighbours try to re-shape the game.

The relationship between New Zealand and Australian rugby reached another new low when former All Black coach Steve Hansen re-opened old wounds and issued a “we owe them nothing” statement last week.

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Former Aussie boss John O’Neil hit back, and the current administration isn’t lying down either.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan says Sydney should be the base for a new Pasifika team even though there is an assumption in New Zealand that it will be located in South Auckland.

There are strong Samoan, Tongan and Fijian communities in the Sydney western suburbs in particular.

McLennan is also calling on the formation of the team to be delayed for a year.

And one of Sydney’s biggest newspapers has described New Zealand as displaying “sheer arrogance” in trying to dominate the competition to replace Super Rugby.

McLennan said: “We have a large and wonderful Pacific Islander population in Sydney and I think that would strengthen rugby long term.

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“Basing them in Auckland would be detrimental to the Blues, it would be madness for the Blues.

“I think the Pasifika idea is brilliant, but I would be housing them in Sydney. And because of COVID, the fact we don’t know what’s happening, I am not sure we could guarantee them for next year.

“Maybe we should be planning for them to be involved from 2022.”

Initial proposals emerging out of New Zealand Rugby’s Aratipu report centred on an eight team competition which cut the number of Australian’s franchises from five to two.

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The Telegraph raged: “No-one should be kidding themselves that Australia’s five-team domestic competition is at the same standard as New Zealand’s version, but that’s hardly the point.

“The sheer arrogance of the Kiwis in suggesting that Australia’s teams aren’t worthy of joining their planned competition for 2021 has got up everyone’s nose.

“If the Kiwis want to go it alone, then hasta la vista.

“Australian rugby will be just fine without them and this weekend (of rugby action) was the proof.”

McLennan however is hopeful of reaching an agreement to secure the future of all Australian franchises.

“Hopefully we are moving in the right direction, an eight-team competition with two Australian sides doesn’t work for us,” he said.

“So if 10 teams is on the table then we have the chance to create a world-class competition which will be highly valued and extremely exciting.”

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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