Wynne Gray: Provincial fervour nurtures new stars

A few years ago, the branding for New Zealand's premier domestic rugby competition was based around the True Colours theme.

It seemed a good idea, until Auckland unveiled an alternate version of their traditional blue-and-white hoops. So much for True Colours.

Auckland have reverted to their original jerseys this year and there is also a revisionist feel about the national championship.

There was certainly a new fervour percolating around the opening round of this year's series last weekend, while on the other side of the world the All Blacks were going through their struggles.

While much of the test scene has an artificial edge about it these days, there is enough of a raw attraction about the national championship to pull in admirers.

There may be a lull in the middle of the series, when it seems there is a surfeit of games or mismatches but the interest will surge again when the competition reaches its finale.

This is also the arena where the next generation of New Zealand rugby talent is being honed. The nursery crowd that we will someday look to fill the All Black jersey.

When four of the Super franchise headquarters fell in round one - Auckland, Waikato, Canterbury and Otago - that raised the interest even more. And for either Auckland or Canterbury, unless they draw their match tomorrow at Eden Park, they will be looking at two straight losses after round two.

That sort of struggle fires up the spectator appeal, though it will be a nauseous component for the coaching and administrative staffs of both provinces.

But when most sides have a chance against any others in the tournament, then the lure of the competition will increase. Tack on the attraction of seeing underdogs against the "major" unions and the threats of relegation for four sides at the end of this year, and the fascination level grows even more.

Spectators can also identify with sides from their own areas; they are not forced to support composite teams in the Super series which may not include any players from their region. This is the logical connection, a natural progression from club rugby to the true colours of representing your province.

And while they are at it, those provinces who accommodate rugby academies would do well to think about the value of that concept.

It has all the smell of a cushioned ride to the top, an extension of selection in age-grade teams and their players who are identified early, protected, managed and coached towards the top. That has not succeeded in the Auckland area for who knows how long.

Instead these players need to play age-group or senior club rugby, they need to learn how tough it can be on dodgy grounds, against ropy rivals and in sides which have lopsided talent. Then if they are good enough and the scouting/coaching system is effective, they will be rewarded with promotion to their provincial teams.

This is the NPC, the nursery for those wishing to progress to the fulltime professional ranks or those rare few who want to play some footy and combine that with their regular work.

It would be comforting to think the national championship was an arena which demonstrated a mix of coaching methods and playing styles could co-exist.

The Super series and the All Blacks show little differentiation in trends. It is homogenous activity, there is not much to distinguish teams. Put most of those teams in the same coloured jersey and there would be little to separate their style.

But the national championship is a setting where coaches and players should be showing different ideas about how rugby should be played. It should be where players and coaches marry their sides' skills to a different playing template, where they test the boundaries or challenge convention.

It has been that way since Tuck Waaka held up the first trophy in 1976, when Bay of Plenty won the inaugural National Provincial Championship.

That is why the enthusiasm shown before this year's series took another leap after the sort of opening results which had North Harbour taking out Canterbury and Southland beating Waikato.