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The 123-year-old historical clash NZR can revive during Super Rugby's suspension
With Super Rugby now suspended for the foreseeable future due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, alternative solutions are being explored in a bid to fill the rugby void.
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Strict travel restrictions implemented by the New Zealand and Australian governments means people travelling into Australasia will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, which eliminates the prospect of Super Rugby taking place for at least the next fortnight.
Realistically, though, given the rapidly developing nature of COVID-19, the competition is likely to be suspended for much longer than that.
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That has led SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos to concede that if Super Rugby hasn’t resumed by the end of April, then the tournament will have to be called off.
“If it [suspension] goes four, five weeks then it’s going to be almost impossible because we don’t have the schedule to do anything further,” he told Newshub.
In the absence of regular competition fixtures, there has been talk in both New Zealand and Australia of in-bound clashes against other franchises from the same conference.
New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association boss Rob Nichol has revealed to Stuff that New Zealand Rugby and SANZAAR have been working on Super Rugby alternative models “for weeks” prior to the competition’s suspension.
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One of the options on the table was a ‘derby only’ format if and when Super Rugby continues, something of which Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar is eager to pursue in Australia.
“We just want to play footy,” McKellar said following his side’s 47-14 victory over the Waratahs on Sunday.
“We were supposed to be going to Auckland and that’s not happening and then we’ve got the Reds, Melbourne and we play the Tahs again.
“If we can get the conference games; it’s a conference system so play your conference games and then see where things are at and then hopefully we can have a genuine finals series and the best play the best.”
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However, such a model is dependent on Super Rugby coming back to fruition by the end of April, which is no certainty if Marinos’ comments are anything to go by.
Practice matches may be held between conference rivals in the meantime, but if there is no competition to return to, these clashes would be merely exhibition fixtures.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing in terms of upholding fan engagement and keeping players match-fit and prepared to return to action.
But, if exhibition matches are what franchises must resort to, then why not resurrect the ultimate exhibition match – from a New Zealand perspective – in the form of the North Island vs South Island derby.
Despite its prominence in New Zealand rugby history after having been played 80 times over 123 years, the inter-island rivalry is one that has been severely neglected since it stopped being held annually after 1986.
Since then, the clash has only been played twice, with the last of those matches coming eight years ago in a fundraising effort for the financially embattled Otago Rugby Football Union.
To no avail, Kiwi rugby tragics have longed for this classic and formerly highly-anticipated fixture to return to the yearly rugby calendar.
The evolution of professionalism in rugby has resulted in a saturation of matches at all levels from early February to late November, leaving no room for a contest that was once considered a marquee event that evoked a sense of rivalry and tribalism on both sides of the Cook Strait that hasn’t been seen in New Zealand sport, let alone rugby, for decades.
However, as the spread of coronavirus ensures that there will be no meaningful Super Rugby matches over the coming weeks (and potentially months), there can’t be many better opportunities to reintegrate the North Island vs South Island clash into the Kiwi rugby landscape.
Even if the rivalry resumes as a one-off spectacle, the incorporation of the fixture with New Zealand’s star players all available for selection would be a treasured and much-welcomed return of a former gem of the national game.
Potential North vs South lineups
North Island
1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Born: Tonga; School(s): Mangere College)
2. Codie Taylor (Levin; Fielding High School/Horowhenua College)
3. Nepo Laulala (Samoa; Mount Albert Grammar School/Wesley College)
4. Scott Barrett (New Plymouth; Francis Douglas Memorial College)
5. Sam Whitelock (Palmerston North; Fielding High School)
6. Luke Jacobson (Cambridge; Cambridge High School)
7. Sam Cane (Rotorua; Tauranga Boys’ High School)
8. Ardie Savea (Wellington; Rongotai College)
9. Aaron Smith (Palmerston North; Fielding High School)
10. Beauden Barrett (New Plymouth; Francis Douglas Memorial College)
11. Rieko Ioane (Auckland; Auckland Grammar School)
12. Ngani Laumape (Palmerston North; Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
13. Jack Goodhue (Whangarei; Mount Albert Grammar School)
14. Sevu Reece (Fiji; Hamilton Boys’ High School)
15. Jordie Barrett (New Plymouth; Francis Douglas Memorial College)
Reserves
16. Dane Coles (Paraparaumu; Wellington College)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (Auckland; Wesley College)
18. Angus Ta’avao (Auckland; Dilworth School)
19. Isaia Walker-Leawere (Gisborne; Gisborne Boys’ High School)
20. Dalton Papalii (Auckland; St Kentigern College)
21. TJ Perenara (Porirua; Mana College)
22. Aaron Cruden (Palmerston North; Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
23. George Bridge (Gisborne; Lindisfarne College)
South Island
1. Joe Moody (Christchurch; Christ’s College)
2. Ricky Jackson (Dunedin; Otago Boys’ High School)
3. Atu Moli (Gisborne; Marlborough Boys’ College)
4. Brodie Retallick (Rangiora; Christchurch Boys’ High School)
5. Patrick Tuipulotu (Christchurch; St Peter’s College)
6. Cullen Grace (Hawera; Timaru Boys’ High School)
7. Tom Christie (Gore; Shirley Boys’ High School)
8. Tom Sanders (Christchurch; Lincoln High School)
9. Mitchell Drummond (Nelson; Nelson College)
10. Richie Mo’unga (Christchurch; St Andrew’s College)
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku (Tonga; Nelson College)
12. David Havili (Nelson; Motueka High School/Nelson College)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (Christchurch; Christchurch Boys’ High School)
14. Solomon Alaimalo (Auckland; St Bede’s College)
15. Damian McKenzie (Invercargill; Christ’s College)
Reserves
16. Brodie McAlister (Christchurch; Shirley Boys’ High School)
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown (Christchurch; Christchurch Boys’ High School)
18. Siate Tokolahi (Tonga; Sacred Heart College/St Bede’s College)
19. Quinten Strange (Takaka; Nelson College)
20. Reed Prinsep (Christchurch; Christchurch Boys’ High School)
21. Jay Renton (Invercargill; Southland Boys’ High School)
22. Mitch Hunt (Nelson; Nelson College)
23. Will Jordan (Christchurch; Christchurch Boys’ High School)
NB: Selections primarily based on place of birth and/or secondary school attendance.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments