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Controversial captain's referral law innovation dropped for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman

(Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

Goal-line drop-outs and the ability to replace red carded players after 20 minutes are the two law innovations trialled by New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia that will carry over to Super Rugby Trans-Tasman when the new competition kicks off this weekend.

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Players, fans and coaches have grown accustomed to a range of law trials during Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU this year, but a number of these will not be used during Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

The two law innovations used in Super Rugby Aotearoa that will not carry over to the new six-week trans-Tasman competition are the captain’s referral and golden point extra-time.

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Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos speaks to media

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Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos speaks to media

NZR head of high performance Mike Anthony said it was important to ensure the laws used over the next six weeks did not disadvantage players from either side of the Tasman.

“New Zealand Rugby has trialled a range of innovations this season in Super Rugby Aotearoa and we are reviewing those trials with a view to making some recommendations for future competitions,” he said.

“For Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, we have agreed with Rugby Australia to stick to laws that were consistent across our respective domestic Super Rugby competitions, which in this case are the goal-line drop-out and the red card replacement.

“Statistics from Super Rugby Aotearoa indicate the goal-line drop-out has achieved its purpose of speeding up the game and getting the ball back in play more quickly than a 5m scrum, while we believe the red card replacement rule maintains the integrity of matches for players and fans alike when a player has been sent off.”

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It has been agreed that matches tied at full time during the round-robin will finish as a draw with the two teams sharing the competition points, Anthony said.

“The exception will be the final, which will follow the same extra time protocols as the Super Rugby Aotearoa final.

“If the respective Super Rugby finals in New Zealand and Australia over the weekend are anything to go by, Super Rugby Trans-Tasman will be an incredibly exciting tournament.”

Super Rugby Trans-Tasman kicks off at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday when the Highlanders and Reds play the first of five weeks of cross-Tasman matches involving the Hurricanes, Blues, Crusaders and Chiefs from New Zealand and the Brumbies, Waratahs, Rebels and Force from Australia.

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Innovations from Super Rugby AU which will not carry over to Super Rugby Trans-Tasman are the 22/50 and 50/22 kicking law that rewarded tactical kicking, a restart variation, which saw any infringement from a kick-off result in a free kick on halfway to the receiving team, and golden try extra-time.

– New Zealand Rugby

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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