KEY POINTS:
Super 14 franchises have been told to prepare for an extended playoff series in 2009, with confirmation of the extension just days away.
Sanzar executives met last month in South Africa and have all but agreed to start the 2009 competition one week early to allow for an
extended round of playoff games.
Historically the Super Rugby format has been a round robin with the top four sides making the semifinals. Next year, the top six teams will be in the playoffs, with details on the format to be confirmed.
The extension was proposed after research showed that what engaged fans was knock-out football. This year, there were several sides in contention in the final round and a few coaches, including the now departed Blues supremo David Nucifora, said the competition was selling itself short by allowing only four teams to progress.
"It is a tough competition and it is possible both teams could miss out," said Nucifora after the Blues had beaten the Hurricanes in their final round-robin game that left them both a potential chance of qualifying.
"And that would be a shame as both teams probably deserve to be there. But if you had a six-team finals playoff system, that would be a better outcome."
The extension has been endorsed by Sanzar's domestic broadcast partners who are keen to see viewing figures increased.
Sanzar bosses haven't signed off on the extension because there are details that need to be tidied up.
To fit in the extra round, the competition will have to start a week earlier than planned, as it can't be extended later in the year because of test commitments.
If the competition is to finish in its traditional last Saturday in May slot, it would need to start on February 6, Waitangi Day.
This year the All Blacks played their first test on June 7, meaning those Crusaders players involved in the final were not given a rest week. The All Blacks are due to play France on June 13 next year and the coaching panel would prefer for there to be one blank weekend between the Super 14 final and first test.
But there are two problems with starting the competition a week early. The first is that it cuts the preparation time - the period in which players physically condition to prepare for the season. That shorter period will be felt most by the All Blacks who tour at the end of this year.
They will play England on November 29 and are then entitled to a month off under the collective agreement. By the time they return in early to mid-January, their franchises will be playing warm-up games meaning the international players have no real window in which to physically prepare.
The other problem, the Herald on Sunday understands, is that under the provisional schedule, two teams will have to make two trips between South Africa and Australasia.
Normally, South African teams make just one long road trip where they play four or five games consecutively in New Zealand and Australia. Likewise, New Zealand and Australian teams play three games on their one trip to the Republic. The teams lumbered with the extra travel burden will be severely disadvantaged and will also be financially penalised.
