Richard Loe: Uneven conference draw is hardly super

The Super 15 draw has disadvantaged Israel Dagg and the Crusaders. Photo / Getty Images

Super Rugby has hit something of a flat spot at the moment and there is more than a bit of talk that the competition needs to change.

I agree.

Certainly, apart from the struggle between the Blues and the Crusaders, the conference system has not really produced a lot of excitement, although at least there is a three-way struggle in the South African contest.

Most competitions have a weak point or two. But some of the inequities are coming home to roost a bit now.

The Crusaders should not have lost those games to the Highlanders and the Cheetahs.

But, now that their injury list is getting long and striking at their depth, it is possible for some to look ruefully at the fact that the Crusaders do not play Super Rugby's two weakest sides - the Lions and Rebels - at all.

Nor is it just a Crusaders issue. If the Stormers somehow miss out on winning their conference or even a playoffs spot, they could grizzle that they got the rough end of the draw too.

After all, they have already beaten the Sharks twice this season but the Sharks could theoretically overtake them in the run home - because they haven't had to play two of the top sides, the Reds and Highlanders.

Then there is the credibility issue in the Reds and Waratahs being higher than they should, some say, because they are in the weakest conference and get to play the Rebels, Brumbies and Force twice.

The playoffs will tell us if the Reds, in particular, are in a false position and you could explain away these issues by saying someone else will get the anomalies next year.

But there's little doubt the competition needs a tweak - particularly next year, as the Super competition will roll along until the June test window. Then it will stop.After the test window ends, it will start up again.

In anybody's book, that will sorely test consumer interest in this competition - and yet Sanzar and the NZRU have a problem.

They need the tests; they need more rugby and more teams to keep the TV money coming in. Some suggestions, like losing the South Africans and just making it a transtasman competition, are way off beam. We need the Boks for the money they bring from the TV receipts. Simple.

There are only two options, I believe - have a longer season and play everyone against everyone; even up to a double round-robin.

Or have a shorter season - go back to four teams from each Sanzar partner, the old Super 12. I don't favour the latter. There is the practical consideration of the money - being used to keep people like Dan Carter.

Also, if we'd gone back to four last year, we would now be without the Highlanders - a mistake.

So I reckon we might be able to learn something from our league cousins. We could play a double round-robin and play through the international windows, as the NRL does.

There might have to be some flexible scheduling, so that the franchises least affected play through the window.

Maybe some ground could be made up with the odd midweek fixture.

The alternative is that whoever is All Black coach will wants his boys rested before and after the test window - which kind of tears the guts out of things, especially when there is already a long delay.

It's hard to keep interest up when there is no play and then the best players don't front.

So why not do what the NRL does? They ensure everyone plays everybody during the season but can't do a double round-robin.

So they have a preference system, where clubs ask for preferred opponents in the second round.

It's not as silly as it sounds - the NRL sort it all out and most clubs don't duck the hard sides in favour of the easybeats as they also have to attract gates.

All of that would bring back the issue of travel into play in Super Rugby - and it is a real financial and tiredness problem.

But maybe that's better than a competition perceived to have a credibility gap.