Rugby: Blues handed good draw in Super launch

The Blues and Crusaders - the only New Zealand teams to have won the title - meet at the revamped Eden Park on February 19. Photo / Getty Images

A new era of Super rugby was ushered in yesterday with a draw that pits New Zealand's biggest rivals against each other in the first round.

The Blues and Crusaders - the only New Zealand teams to have won the title - meet at the revamped Eden Park on February 19.

The highly charged clash should make up for the tepid opening fixture, though there will be some interest in Jamie Joseph's new-look Highlanders up against the Hurricanes.

The Chiefs are the only New Zealand side to leave these shores in week one, making the tough trip to Canberra to play the Brumbies.

The competition - titled Super Rugby rather than Super 15 - sees the addition of the Melbourne Rebels, a conference structure that will see home-and-away local derbies and a new playoff format.

The extra team and the new system means there will be 125 matches played, up from 94 this year, but the draw does have significant kinks and at first glance the competition's most successful franchise seems most seriously disadvantaged.

The Crusaders do not get to face either of the expected five-point bankers, the Rebels or the Lions of South Africa. Adding to their dismay will be the fact the Blues avoid two-time champions the Bulls.

Australian and South African sides that face potential easybeats the Lions and Rebels twice, should have have an easier path to the three wildcard spots who join the three conference winners in an extended playoffs. Wildcards are awarded to the next three highest teams on the points table, regardless of conference.

The two highest qualifiers get a bye in week one of the three-week playoffs, with third meeting sixth and fourth playing fifth. The winners of those two games meet the bye teams in the semifinals.

Talking to reporters, New Zealand Rugby Union boss Steve Tew said the odd anomaly was unavoidable. "What we've tried to do is ensure over the five-year period the draw will even itself out."