Subtle shift away from strongest team – and SA teams lack depth

Posted by Boertjie - 05/02/06 at 01:02 pm under Super 14

The Sanzar competition underwent a subtle shift away from the strongest team to having the strongest squad, says a Kiwi rugby writer in an article in which he also hits out at the quality of the South African teams.

With the competition growing from 10 to 12 to 14 teams the reasoning of those running the game must be that bigger is absolutely better, says Gregor Paul in the New Zealand Herald.

“Maybe they are right. But there are plenty of rugby fans that can’t muster enthusiasm at the thought of yet more games against disinterested South African opponents.

“The suits have taken a measured risk by trying to fix a tournament that wasn’t broke. Everyone understands that the expansion came about to help Rupert Murdoch fill more airtime. Everyone understands that Murdoch’s broadcast dollars keep the players in the style to which they have become accustomed.

“But not everyone understands the logic of giving Australia and South Africa an extra team each. Neither country had a totally compelling case for more representation. That wasn’t, however, going to stop Australia and South Africa pressing their claim in the boardroom.”

South Africa was the biggest threat to the alliance

Paul then says the expansion came after almost two years of negotiation between the three Sanzar countries and executives from Murdoch’s Newscorp. Increasing the value of broadcast rights was but one reason, for the very future of the alliance was threatened if neither South Africa or Australia got what they wanted.

South Africa presented the biggest threat, with noises about breaking away and aligning with Europe. And if more teams were to be created, Australia wasn’t going to miss out.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller said the South Africans were closer to going their own way in 2005 than anyone realises. Being in the same time zone as Europe will always tempt them to look for opportunity in that region.

The broadcast deal comes up for renewal in 2011 . A lot will depend on the Force and the Cheetahs having phenomenal debut seasons, knocking over more teams than they should and then sustaining their form.

“Yet, even if the Force and Cheetahs do enjoy early success, no one at Sanzar should smile too smugly.

Paul says the expansion from 12 to 14 teams has greatly changed the dynamic of the competition. With 12 teams it had effectively been a sprint, meaning sluggish starts could be fatal and few “dead games”.

Now it’s all about the strongest squad

“Now there will be more of a leisurely feel, with teams a few more games away from a crisis. Paying spectators can be more selective.

“But the big change comes in the subtle shift away from this being a tournament about the strongest team. Now it’s about the strongest squad.

“New Zealand franchises have never really embraced the rotation concept. There might have been the odd game – usually against whichever South African team was deemed to be the worst – where fringe players got a run. The extra two games and the request from All Black selectors to rest front-line test players will force new faces into the fray.

In his view the Blues, Hurricanes and Crusaders look to have the most depth. Their individual franchises have good starting line-ups but the quality gets a bit dubious beyond that.

“If it boils down to who has the most strength in depth, it’s probably best to forget about the South Africans and Australians. Their individual franchises have good starting line-ups but the quality gets a bit dubious beyond that.”

Paul says the Sanzar bosses are understandably keen for this new competition to be embraced, but it will require a lot of spectacular rugby for their enthusiasm to become infectious.