Moller tells Marshall rugby not 'boring'

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRFU) has said its hands are tied after All Black Justin Marshall's latest attack on the rugby schedule.

Marshall said the expansion of the Tri-Nations and Super 12 under the new broadcasting deal would only add to their monotony, and this was a significant reason for his mid-year departure to Leeds.

Marshall, the most capped All Black back, pointed to the huge interest in the Lions tour as evidence that the public wanted some new ingredients in the rugby diet.

NZRFU chief executive Chris Moller said he spoke amicably with Marshall when he first made his views public four months ago.

But while Moller agreed that Marshall might have some valid points, he said the rugby world was not perfect and the NZRFU was not the total master of its destiny.

And he disagreed that the competitions were boring, saying no other senior All Black he had spoken to backed Marshall's views.

The NZRFU had raised the possibility of playing the Tri-Nations by tours, rather than the home-and-away system of one-off tests used now. For example, in one season Australia would tour New Zealand and their three matches would be played in succession.

But broadcaster News Ltd was dead against the idea.

News opposed the idea because it would always create a broadcasting dead zone in the country not involved in games, Moller said.

Tours would also increase the strain on players because the country not involved would need to play trial games to stay conditioned.

Moller said the Super 14 had to be expanded because Australia deserved another team as double world champions and after the success of the champion Brumbies.

The international programme was already jam-packed, so there was no room to include other countries, as Marshall had suggested.

"I have no problem with him making his comments and he accepts that for many other players the Tri-Nations and Super 12 are exciting," Moller said.

"In an ideal world there would be tours and we would play some new countries. But we don't have the luxury of having a nice white piece of paper on which we can draw what is totally ideal for New Zealand rugby.

"Other countries are involved and you have to make concessions and compromises."

What do you think?

* Are the Tri-Nations and Super 12 boring, as Justin Marshall suggests? Email your views to sportrac@nzherald.co.nz