KEY POINTS:
Scrapping The Tri Nations in World Cup years is expected to be high on the agenda when Sanzar executives meet next month. New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller recently told the Herald on Sunday that the possibility of not playing the tournament in 2011 had to
be considered.
That proposal is now ready to be fully debated after South Africa arrived in Australia this week without 20 first-choice players, arguing the absentees needed to be rested ahead of the World Cup.
The Springboks' decision to flaunt the Sanzar agreement for all countries to field their strongest teams comes after New Zealand withdrew 22 players from the first eight rounds of this year's Super 14.
Both New Zealand and South Africa have tainted the Sanzar relationship with these unsupported withdrawals and have also angered News Limited, the owner of both tournament's broadcast rights.
With the current broadcast deal with News Limited expiring in 2010, it presents the perfect opportunity to negotiate a new deal that will not see the Tri Nations played in 2011.
While Moller accepted that decision would obviously diminish the value of the next contract, it would leave New Zealand, South Africa and Australia free to decide their own preparation schedule in World Cup years without fear of reprisal.
"All that has to be looked at," he said. "We have been discussing this and it is possible that we have no tournaments or tours scheduled [in World Cup years] subject to satisfactory financial arrangements."
The attraction to News Limited would be the safety of knowing they were paying for a broadcast package which is then honoured as per the terms of the contract.
The issue of devaluing tests in World Cup years has already come under IRB scrutiny as the Herald on Sunday reported in May. At a recent board meeting, the IRB agreed in principle that in future, countries would no longer have their test schedules dictated in World Cup years.
Concerns have been mounting in administrative circles that action has to be taken to restore the integrity of test rugby. This year England and France sent massively depleted teams to South Africa and New Zealand respectively and were consequently humiliated. The French situation was exacerbated by the fact the finals of their club championship were taking place over the same weekends while the majority of England's top players had featured in the final of the Heineken Cup only a day before the tour party departed.
Ireland and Wales also fielded weak teams to fulfil obligations against Argentina and Australia and the IRB is now thought to be relaxed about leaving countries to determine their own schedules in future World Cup years.
Ditching the Tri Nations would be a departure from tradition but it will be given considerable thought because any devaluation again in 2011 by the non-appearance of the best players could have far-reaching consequences.
