What can we expect to see from the Allianz Cup?
As the Allianz Premier 15s season breaks for the Autumn Internationals, fans are slowly being introduced to a new competition, The Allianz Cup, which sees teams being split into two pools of five, based on last season’s rankings.
In total, the competition includes five rounds, with each club getting the opportunity to play each other once in two home games and two away games.
I use the word slowly purposefully, as many have come out to criticise the overall promotion and marketing of the new competition. Taking a quick glance to social media, it seems that fans are getting increasingly frustrated with being drip fed information regarding fixture times and locations.
For this to be deemed as a success, the Cup needs to be branded and understood exactly for what it was intended to be, a developmental competition. This Cup isn’t especially for the fans, it’s for the players. This competition will enable the league to move forwards in the future and we must be realistic in our expectations over the coming weeks.
Hey @Premier15s any more information about the Cup competition you can share? ??
— RugbyBabble (@BabbleRugby) October 20, 2021
So, why is it necessary? If you look back at previous fixtures, its clear to see certain teams are getting left behind. It can’t be easy for the likes of DMP to walk away from a match being beaten 115 –0 by Bristol Bears. Not only is this a tough pill to swallow for players but looking at it from a streaming perspective it isn’t going to get broadcasters queuing up to cover the league. The Allianz Premier 15s competition needs to be as marketable as possible, and that starts with consistent competitive matches, right across the board.
This is where the Cup comes in. With most club’s big hitters away at various international training camps, less experienced players will have the opportunity to step up to the mark and develop their skillset. Player development can only reach a certain standard outside of game time, the best way for new talent to come through is for them to gain real playing experience.
Allianz Cup Week ? #Premier15s pic.twitter.com/joUrfnMMEz
— Allianz Premier 15s (@Premier15s) October 25, 2021
If you look over to Bristol Bears, who are currently sitting top of the table, they have lost 15 players out of their squad to international camps. With players like Amber Reed, Leanne Infante (Riley) and Abbie Ward being unavailable, this leaves huge shoes to fill, and could be a constructive learning opportunity for those players often not given game time.
Speaking exclusively to RugbyPass, Bristol Bears Women’s head coach Dave Ward said:
“Lucy Burgess will be captaining the team and is arguably one of the best nines in the league but due to being in constant competition with Keira Bevan and Leanne Infante, rarely gets a chance to showcase her skills. The Cup presents a great opportunity for her to get her first start of the season.”
He continued onto say: “I’m also looking forward to seeing England U20’s Gabriella Nigrelli get her first start in a Bears shirt, as well as seeing Ella Lovibond come back from injury too.”
The RFU have today confirmed that they have no plans to stream the Allianz Cup. No doubt this will be taken as bad news by some, as fans will be frustrated at the lack of live streams available. For once, I agree with the decision not to stream the games. The whole Cup needs to be seen and framed as a developmental competition for the future of the league as a whole.
I am in no way suggesting we should write the Cup off and not give it the time of day, but we must understand that this is an opportunity to build talent from the ground up. This shouldn’t be sold and marketed as a grand spectacle, especially with most big names who have traditionally drawn in fans being out of the picture.
From a marketing perspective, the RFU’s decision to not commit resources to streaming the Cup was a sensible decision. I am not doubting the players ability to put on a show, but we must take into account that the highest level of talent has been taken out of clubs, and therefore there may be a period of adaptation.
The long-term success of the league depends on player development, it always has. The creation of this Cup can be a positive if the expectations are set accordingly. We often struggle to fill one stand on a usual Saturday game in the Premier 15’s. If we are to sell women’s rugby to a wider audience, we must be broadcasting the highest level of talent available.
Ultimately, the new competition provides an opportunity for players to test out their skills under real pressure, without being in the shadow of big names who often steal the spotlight. Hopefully, when given the chance, these younger players will prove that they can earn a spot on the team sheet for good.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
30 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“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?
13 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.
10 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 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.
27 Go to comments