Wynne Gray: Sanzar left in the dust

Wynne Gray

Tally-ho, well done you Rugby World Cup chaps. Hang your heads in shame, Sanzar.

Talk about sticking the cold steel up 'em, exposing the ineptitude of the Southern Hemisphere administrators in their own dungheap ... sorry the soon-to-be soaring grandstands and Eden Park surroundings which will host the 2011 World Cup final.

It was a disconcerting/comforting day when the blazers rode into Eden Park the other day and delivered their plans, ideas and resolutions about the seventh global tournament. Gratifying to hear RWC officials unveil their choices for an event which does not kick off for more than 2 years. There will be areas for public discussion, points of contention and disagreement about some details like the late kickoffs but decisions have been made.

It was disturbing to think that men often lampooned for their ineffectiveness had outdistanced their new-age Sanzar counterparts. It is an indictment when the RWC can outflank Sanzar, when those characterised as the doddering global administrators can hit the tape earlier than those smart young things from the Southern Hemisphere. Spanked them well and truly.

The current Super series ends next May and those charged with running that competition have yet to sort out a replacement tournament for the start of 2011 while World Cup details for the end of that year have now been divulged.

What an indictment to have beaten by the Dublin pink gin brigade slapped across your Sanzar resume. Now that the 2011 draw has been revealed, we can scan the crystal ball for some possible speed bumps. It is all rah-rah-rah now about the 9pm kickoffs for the final stages of the World Cup but experience of those late-starts in other tournaments has not been all rosy.

Players (except those in France and Argentina) are not used to those kickoff times and find it difficult enough to wait until 7.30pm. Ground conditions will only get more difficult as even the most tranquil spring evening unfolds. This tournament should be as much about giving teams optimum chances to display their skills as it is about catering to a global TV audience. But I guess the later kickoffs are a quid pro quo for New Zealand sensibly insisting on teams being hosted throughout 13 cities.

The mid-evening finals starts may mean Mt Eden residents will have to be appeased more about letting a night of celebration continue. The Labour Weekend holiday will soak up some of the disaffection but shifting 60,000 revellers from the Friday night playoffs then Sunday's final, prizegiving, speeches, farewells, introspection and bonhomie into Auckland's transport system and away has a messy smell about it. But there will be time to make changes.

The RWC officials have given NZ that chance while the Super officials have hitched their work to that line about ... "I used to be indecisive but now I aaagh, aaaagh, aaaaagh ..."