Unfortunate consequences of revised Super Rugby Pacific draw
While there were some reservations about the new Super Rugby format announced in late August, there were still high hopes that the revamped competition would bring with it a number of changes for the better. The continuing impacts of the global pandemic, however, have curtailed some of those important changes and left players, fans and administrators alike with another season that may struggle to capture the imagination.
Per the first announcement, Super Rugby Pacific would see all 12 teams play each other at least once throughout the season, with one bye and three extra fixtures tacked onto each team’s schedule, leading to a 15-week regular season. The top eight sides would then qualify for the finals.
This week, New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia announced that as a result of the ongoing travel restrictions between Australia and New Zealand, the draw has had to be seriously rejigged. The overall format remains the same but the schedule has been switched up and while the tournament has likely taken on the most sensible form possible, given the circumstances, it’s difficult to get excited about the final structure for 2022.
In 2021, the five New Zealand and five Australian sides played in their own 11 and 12-week competitions, respectively, including finals, before playing cross-over games against their rivals from across the ditch.
Although the initial Aotearoa and AU competitions were thrilling spectacles populated by close matches, any semblance of competition fell out the window when the Trans-Tasman portion of the season kicked off.
Many suggested that the ‘confidence’ instilled in the Australian teams thanks to actually recording wins throughout Super Rugby AU would help them grow into stronger sides but that clearly didn’t lead to better results when playing against the NZ franchises. The Reds and Brumbies were the only two Australian sides that managed to scrape wins over their Kiwi opposition and the five weeks worth of Australiasian clashes devolved into a bit of a farce, with the Blues and Highlanders eventually contesting the final after recording the greatest number of winning bonus points throughout the competition.
The final result was questionable and that will thankfully be rectified in 2022, with every game – whether played against NZ or Australian opposition – counting on the overall table come the sudden-death portion of the season.
Unfortunately, the rejigging of the draw means that the same drop-off in match quality that occurred in 2021 is inevitable next year.
Previously, derby matches and international games were spread out throughout the season. Every weekend contained at least two derby matches, so even if there were going to be a few blowouts when the Crusaders took on the Waratahs, or the Hurricanes hosted the Force, there would be some games where the result wouldn’t be a foregone conclusion until later in the game, no matter what round of the competition someone tuned in to watch.
That’s now no longer the case, with the derby matches frontloaded into the first nine rounds of the season.
A blockbuster local derby between Moana Pasifika and the Blues will kick-off Super Rugby Pacific in 2022. https://t.co/aox0IFLRXe
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 23, 2021
Effectively, we’re now left with a very similar scenario to the year gone, where there’ll be plenty of interest and intrigue over the opening two months of the competition – but that will fade once the cross-over matches take centre stage.
Variety, as they say, is the spice of life, and after two seasons of Super Rugby Aotearoa and AU, fans would have been looking forward to a tournament of relatively consistent quality, from the first week to the grand final, instead of watching their sides play the same teams each weekend, and then either flogging or being flogged by the opposition come the latter part of the season.
It’s also a less-than-ideal outcome for the players – particularly those in the NZ sides – who will now have to again deal with the increased physicality of derby match after derby match to kick off the season.
You also have to spare a thought for the newly introduced Moana Pasifika franchise. They arguably have the weakest squad in the competition, thanks in part to the late confirmation of their addition to the competition, and while they were previously set to play four Australian sides in the opening six weeks of the tournament (with three of those fixtures at home), they now face a baptism of fire against six Kiwi opposition.
At the end of the day, NZR and RA have tried to make the best of a bad situation. The only alternative to front-loading the draw with derby games would be to play all the NZ-based games in the opening half of the season and all the Australia-based games in the second half (or vice versa). The current solution is still dependant on a quarantine-free travel corridor opening in mid-April, which is by no means guaranteed, whereas the alternative option wouldn’t be quite as restricted and would at least add a bit of diversity to the matches every week, even if they were all played in one country.
Still, with the pandemic continuing to wreak havoc, we were never going to see Super Rugby Pacific kick off its inaugural campaign without a few hitches along the way – and while there are certainly aspects of the reformated draw to nitpick, it should ultimately (fingers crossed) see the competition completed in full, which is more than can likely be said for some of the competitions currently taking place around the world.
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments