Former New Zealand rugby boss David Moffett wants the Super 14 and Tri-Nations tournaments to be ditched, saying they had exceeded their "lifespan".
Moffett said Australian sides should be part of an expanded New Zealand provincial championship and said historic rivalries were crucial to rugby.
Have the Super 14 and Tri-Nations become boring? Should Australians join a New Zealand competition?
I think Moffett's view is bang on. Whilst the Tri Nations and Super 12 /14 comp. have been very good moving rugby in to the proffesional era it is time for a change for the following reasons: 1. The Tri Nations should be played every second year outside the world cup and reduced to 2 tests between countries, giving it more prestige. It is overkill at present. 2. Removing the Super 14 reduces the amount of rugby played by our top players and will lift the std. of the NPC with their involvement. So to will the inclusion of NSW, Qsld, WA & ACT providing a transtasman level of interest. Anyone who asks why should we help Australia should look at the present situation; We already do so through the Super 14 comp and the 3 tests played in Tri Nations.
- Jason McCrea
AT LAST! I've been wanting to ditch SUPER 12 for years and thought that this was a non realistic hope because apparently the Super 12 was the greatest competition ever! We all know this is not true. Only 3 teams have won the tournament which makes it a tri series more than a competition. My main reason how ever is that it takes away from my beloved NPC. I have more pride in my provincial colours than in a super 12 franchise because thats exactly what it is...A FRANCHISE made up of NPC rivals! I would much rather watch an extended NPC season (playing each team twice, home and away) similar to the NRL. Since the Super 12, Test Matches have been predictable because international players play each other day in and day out. Because of the Super 12, the NPC has been deprived of its stars for a large part of the competition which is like taking all State of Origin Representatives out of the NRL. Imagine that? Bring back the unknown factor of international rugby. Bring back our stars. Bring back our competition.
- Jacob Aniterea
It should be a Super 18 with two pools of nine. The remaining teams coming from the following places -
Japan x 2 (TV $$$$ for Africa)
Pacific Islands x 1
Argentina x 1
You only play the teams in your pool once. The top two teams go to the semi's and then there is the final. Where you finish decides what pool you are in next year. Less rugby but more teams. Is there anyway that instead of A Tri-NAtions tours can come back? Perhaps with a small Super 18 (see above) there will be more time for this to happen.
Fewer Internationals but the same number (maybe more) of All Black games (v Club sides). I'm sure that the AB's would love a good old fashioned tour again weather it be Australia, Sth Africa or the Uk. Bring back The AB dirt trackers!
- Paul Blanchard
Rugby, oh rugby, why hath thou become so predictable.
I'd love to see a shake up happen in rugby union. It would be great to see more international games against different opponents rather than the re-runs of Super 14 and Tri-nations. Oh they're not re-runs at all? Can anyone tell me what made this years Super 14 or Tri-Nations any different from the last one or the year before that one?
What do we really have in union? A long season of the same teams playing the same teams with the same winners. Please show me something a little more exciting.
- Kevin
I couldn't disagree more with Moffett, actually. If it wasn't for the Super 12 (now 14) tournament piquing my interest, I still wouldn't care about the NPC. Both the Super 14 and the Tri-Nations are always going to pay their way anyway so shelving them is a pipe dream, and if that means we have to suffer through "too much" rugby per season then so be it. As for ditching SA, think how boring and repetitive it would be to only ever play Oz. SA adds flavour to both competitions; to lose them would be a tragedy. After all, aren't the Springboks the only international side to beat the All Blacks anytime during the last two years?
- Carl Reynolds
The inclusion of the super 14 sides from South Africa is a waste of time, they have never been competitive. The inclusion of Perth has been a good change but I suggest also add Melbourne so there are 5 from Australia and 5 from NZ in a super 10. Have a last four in semis and then finals.Then also have an NPC with NZ and Australian sides. For the internationals have NZ, Australia, the Pacific Islands and Argentina in a four nations, that would actually be interesting and useful for development of rugby. The Pacific Islands should be fostered to become the West Indies equivalent in rugby. A major change is required, SANZAR rugby is currently treading water.
- Dean O'Keefe
Please don't scrap the Super 14 or Tri Nations Rugby. I live in Perth, WA and we live for Rugby over here. WA is an AFL dominated state and rugby has just been revived because the Western Force has entered into the Super 14 competition. We just can't get enough of it!!! I understand that that attendence to games may have fallen due to the amount of rugby available on Sky (for NZ) and Fox (for Aussie) however, in WA, if it wasn't on TV we wouldn't be able to watch it. We even get the NPC over here...bring it on!
- Helen
Extended Super12 (Super14) and extended international rugby isnt providing enough recovery time for our top level players - SA teams are not keeping up with the pace in terms of quality rugby like NZ and Aussie are providing - Super 14 should never of gone through, should of stayed as Super 12 at the most - international rugby used to be scarse, made it bigger and better! Grassroots rugby is where its at, thats how we are the best, from the roots up!
- Luke
A very interesting debate indeed, and initially I was shocked by the headline statement regarding David Moffett's opinion however after reading what he had to say I probably agree with him. Super 14 has probably outlived its life and a transtasman competition replacing that could be a good idea. Is NZ strong enough to go it alone? Could we even go a step further and revert back to just the Air NZ Cup and Heartland competitions solely withdrawing from the Super 14? Perhaps but probably not because in this professional era TV money and broadcasters make the rules because they are the key financiers of the modern pro rugby game. We are too small to go it alone but a transtasman competition like Moffatt suggested could be the way. What about if NZ, South Africa and Australia reverted to their domestic competitions and had a play off between the top teams from each competition? It certainly is an issue NZ rugby needs to face in the not so distant future. All Blacks rugby could revert to 3 test series and mid week games. The revenue from these tours could be huge particularly in South Africa and the home nations with guaranteed TV and packed stadiums.
- Heemi T James
Even avid of rugby fans like myself find ourselves saturated with the amount of rugby available. We all appreciate TV rules and thats the preferred viewing medium these days with falling crowds, however we must appreciate it's not nessarily for the good of the sport. I was disappointed when the Super 14 review just expanded the current competition (more of the same) and failed to include Argentina and Japan. Argentina would have been able to look at joining the professional era and Japan would have been the true answer to increased advertising revenue. As for the travel some inovative travel could have been worked with an tour away for our teams on a Argentina, Japan and South Africa leg.
- Murray Towers
Yes, stuff the Tri-Nations and Super rugby. The South Africans probably won't be too concerned given the travel bias against them and the fact that they are only rarely competitive in either competition. I would recommend shifting the Air New Zealand Cup to the start of the year and extending it. Australia could have their new domestic competition running in parallel. At the conclusion of both competitions, the top 4 sides in each could play off in a combined tournament (sounds similar to the old Super 8, but it could work....)
- James H
Why on earth would New Zealand want to strenghten Australian Rugby by allowing them to play in our NPC!!? NZ rugby would have absolutely nothing to gain!! The Aussie Clubs can't even agree on who is going to play in their own provincial competition, let alone ours!! I would rather see the NZRFU helping to strenghten the Pacific Island nations after all, take a look at NZ rugby these days and its dominated by Islanders, especially the All Blacks! The Aussies are big enough to look after themselves!!!
- Jo
I don't think including the Aussies in a competition such as the Air New Zealand Cup would be a good idea. What would happen to the great Log of Wood? I would hate to see a team from Australia challenge for the Ranfurly Shield and manage to carry it home across the Tasman with them
- Richie
David Moffet needs to get out and smell the roses a little more.His opinions on rugby stopped being meaningful and helpful years ago. The Super 14 and Tri Nations competitions are a great concept and play a vital role in developing the game both locally and internationally. These two competitions also assist in the development of national competition such as the NPC, Currie Cup and the new Australian series.
- Paul Skevington
Play Aus every 2nd year, same for South Afarica. Maybe France every 2yrs.
- Regy
There is far too much rugby nowdays: a drain on the wallet and mind both. The magic has all but vanished from domestic rugby and it's not been replaced by Super 14 rugby or the Tri-nations. Perhaps consider holding the Tri-nations every 2nd or 4th year, and for the other years have major tours like we used to see. Cut the number of Super Rugby games or even cut the competition full-stop. It's created an imbalance in NZ rugby: every other team now acts as a feeder club to the 5 Super 14 provinces in NZ and the competition robs them of their players and any chance of higher honours. And when a union the size of N Harbour suffers too it shows that something is wrong.
- Mark Hamilton
I agree with Moffett. The Super 14 especially has become very dreary (unless you are a Crusaders fan!). It has benefited the big five provinces and had little or no positive impact on the smaller provinces. This is exactly the opposite of what it was meant to achieve when it was started. Sadly, the richer have gotten richer and the poor have remained poor. The South African teams are useless and the sooner they pull out the better. The Tri-Nations is better, but the decision to expand the competition's number of games without expanding the teams who can participate was short-sighted and seemed to be motivated solely by greed. A new competition involving NZ, Australia, Argentina, Japan and a Pacific Island team would be much for interesting for me. If the status quo remains, I predict crowds to fall even further. Games that used to attract 40,000 people to Eden Park are now attracting 20,000. Expect that to be 10,000 in a few years, with the TV audience also falling due to lack of interest and over saturation. The NZRFU would do well to listen to David Moffett.
- Paul H
The games between Aussie or NZ and South Africa are very competitive and entertaining, you're guaranteed a bit of biffo, it's also a good warm-up for each team in the lead up to international tests (Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks. Each coach can watch the games and size up the competition, which normally works in our favour coz our All Black coach rocks! The other thing to is the virtual rugby, I play every season and have a great time competing against mates, take away the Super 14 and NPC and what do you have left?
- HB
The Super 14 and the Tri-Nations competitions should be retained, because regular competition with Australia and South Africa (whose teams are consistently ranked in the top five) is essential if the All Blacks are to retain their position as the world's number one rugby team. However, greater efforts need to be made to supplement the Super 14 and the Tri-Nations competitions with games, and even tours, against a variety other top 10 teams. To accommodate these games, the Tri-Nations should revert to a six game competition and consideration should be given to holding it only every second year.
- R Taylor
Kia ora - I was very annoyed to see this particular heading but after I read Moffat's comments I tend to agree with him in most aspects, however, I think we should also do a 3 test challenge with South Africa (a similar format to the Bledisloe Cup) and travel etc... can be countered by the country hosting it's opposition one year, the next year in the other country etc... The rivalry and respect between NZ and South Africa is so great that to kick them out in the cold totally is unthinkable. Given that I personally can handle losing to any other team bar Australia, I think the expansion of the current NPC(AirNZ Cup)would be an excellent idea. It would further cement the intense rivalry between the two countries and you would get some outstanding games of rugby.
- Louisa Mutu
I think Sky TV has something to do with this. You don't even have to watch the game live, you can watch delayed coverage. Hell.... you could schedule the game in next week.... And the fact that you pay hundreds a month for Sky... No wonder crowds at games are declining. I could imagine that rugby 24/7 would drive a person cu-cu. I scrapped my Sky subscription because I signed up for broadband.... now if I want a game I download it from the internet.... I got the NPC final and still haven't watched it... Rugby doesn't have the same pull it used to
- M
Considering the fact that I live for rugby (and music) I don't think that the Tri Nations & Super 14 should be ditched. I agree there has been alot of rugby, even for a crazed fan like myself. Three rugby competitions a year, and it works out as simple as small, medium and large. Maybe just shorten them a tad. It's the knock out stages we all love anyway. And heck no on the Ausi/New Zealand provincial competition. We have to have some form of national competition. I believe that is where most of the country's rugby passion is derived from.
- Matt Wakenell
David Moffet is sounding more and more like Graham Lowe every day. He's got more opinions than than the ladies at the local rest home. Weve been down the road of looking at a joint NPC with Australia before and we dont stand to gain anything from it - nothing has changed. He should zip it and get on with life.
- Terrence
Yes, I agree with Moffett, I think Super 10,12 & 14 have weakened NZ Rugby and my team in particular has suffered (North Harbour). As a Harbour it is hard to see our great players for example our captain has signed with Canterbury to play in the Super 14 side, with an option to come back for the Air NZ Cup next year, but he may not. Countless others have moved, and money not passion is the only result. Bring the Passion back to Rugby...
- Will Black
I live in a male, dominated rugby mad house, however as this season has gone on and the boys have finished their season - they, their friends my husband, his mates etc are all over it. TOO much rugby... we can no longer be bothered to go to the big games and it no longer dominates the social calendar. If they don't cut back the number of games the game will suffer support.
- Gae Stevenson
Great! The Super 14 has evolved from a series of pre season warm up games to a competition to milk more money from rugby patrons. However, it could still be viable if the South African teams could put up a decent fight. As for the Tri Nations, played every year dented the prospects of playing South Africa, our biggest nemsis, for which even Australia does not come close. Now that it is even longer it has become unbearable and unwatchable. If the cup was played on alternate years, it could be better and the cup would mean more. However, the cup that means more to me is the B. Cup, apart than the World Cup.
- Anthony Meredith
Yes, the Super 14 and Tri-Nations has become repetitive, I've stopped watching it, not really interested. I think the rugby season is too long. I'd much prefer a shorter (6 months) season. Focus on high quality games. After years of Super 12/14 and Tri-Nations I know the Australian and South African players as well as I know the NZ players. The classic rivalry between SA and NZ evolved because it was 'special' to play the Boks, with a huge unknown element. Not any more.
- Michael E
Even the most avid of rugby fans like myself have become saturated with the amount of rugby nowdays. The TV moguls run all professional sport and not nessarily for the good of the sport. For the first time in 65 years I did not watch a premier club rugby match. I have become very selective of which Super 14 games i watch. What happened to afternoon NPC and other main fixtures. Who wants to go out on a freezing winter night. Much easier to watch on TV..The Rugby Union can't have it always.
- Mark Lenihan
The only country that has benefited from super 12/14 and Tri-Nations is Australia. Why? Because Australia had no domestic rugby competition of any merit. New Zealand and South Africa had fantastic competitions in the NPC and Currie Cup respectively. Scrap both comps, let Australia develop their own domestic comp then bring back the three test match tour with mid-week and warm up games on alternative year/country setup. NPC will blossom; it will be the only way players can prove they are good enough to be an All Black. A three test match tour with provincial games by South Africa that is what I call rugby not this made for TV rubbish we have now.
- Mike
I agree with Mr Moffetts comments in part, I believe that the super rugby concept has become dated and is too heavily weighted in favour of Australian and New Zealand sides. I believe that South African rugby would be better served investing into the future of the Currie cup competition, the standard of rugby displayed leads me to think that it would not be detrimental to the development of SA at international level, and the crowds who attended those games were superb. As for allowing Australian sides to enter teams into the Air New Zealand Cup, I would not be a fan of that concept, I believe Australian rugby has been the major beneficiary since the advent of professional rugby in terms of the development of there playing depth and style. New Zealand have done the hard yards in terms of establishing a competition that would allow us to develop our own talent for the betterment of the All Blacks, to allow Australia to benefit from a competition we derived would allow them to reap the benefits without doing any of the hard yards. I say let them develop their own competition.
- Jason Kelly
The All Blacks star made a brief appearance at his new club.