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How a trans-Tasman competition could be the death of Super Rugby

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Super Rugby as we know it is dead, and New Zealand Rugby knows that according to Australian reports.

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This is the groundbreaking claim from Rugby Australia chairman Paul McLean, after speaking to his New Zealand counterpart Brent Impey over the weekend.

Impey and McLean made contact to discuss the World Rugby elections, but then moved on to Super Rugby, according to The Australian.

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NZR chief executive Mark Robinson announced a major Super Rugby review this week, without giving any serious hint about a new direction. There is clearly some urgency however, with an initial report to the board scheduled for the end of June.

Virus-related travel difficulties and expense may encourage New Zealand and Australia to forge ahead without South Africa and Argentina.

The Australian, after talking to McLean, said a pandemic-shaped trans-Tasman competition could become permanent.

“I can’t see and they (NZR) can’t see South Africa and Argentina being involved anywhere in the short term along the way,” it reported McLean as saying.

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“I think they know that the competition next year may be the competition they sell to their broadcasters (long-term).

“Everyone is in the same boat and their broadcasters are under the same pressure as us, I suspect – like everyone around the world.”

There is no date set for a Super Rugby resumption. New Zealand and Australia have reportedly been talking about somehow linking their two domestic competitions.

Australia is hoping their two test series against Ireland, set for July, will be played late in the year. Australia is likely to follow Queensland’s lead in allowing training to resume on Friday, with matches to begin on July 1.

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RA is also looking at how Aussie Rules and the NRL run their sports, in re-shaping their game.

NZR has set up a Super Rugby review named Aratipu, chaired by Blues chairman Don Mackinnon.

Robinson said New Zealand was “committed to SANZAAR and our broadcast agreement with Sky TV”.

“…(there is) a real desire to drive positive change in the way Super Rugby is administered and played.

“It is a hugely positive signal for the game that Clubs, investors and NZR are coming together to do what is in the best interests for Super Rugby and rugby in New Zealand.

“Super Rugby is a vital part of our rugby eco-system and has a solid 25-year track record as a strong and admired rugby competition that has valuable intellectual property and a legacy of world class rugby. We are committed to setting New Zealand Super Rugby up to continue this success for another 25 years.”

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Flankly 1 hour ago
'Absolute madness': Clive Woodward rips into Borthwick in wake of NZ loss

Borthwick is supposed to be the archetypical conservative coach, the guy that might not deliver a sparkling, high-risk attacking style, but whose teams execute the basics flawlessly. And that's OK, because it can be really hard to beat teams that are rock solid and consistent in the rugby equivalent of "blocking and tackling".


But this is why the performance against NZ is hard to defend. You can forgive a conservative, back-to-basics team for failing to score tons of tries, because teams like that make up for it with reliability in the simple things. They can defend well, apply territorial pressure, win the set piece battles, and take their scoring chances with metronomic goal kicking, maul tries and pick-and-go goal line attacks.


The reason why the English rugby administrators should be on high alert is not that the English team looked unable to score tries, but that they were repeatedly unable to close out a game by executing basic, coachable skills. Regardless of how they got to the point of being in control of their destiny, they did get to that point. All that was needed was to be world class at things that require more training than talent. But that training was apparently missing, and the finger has to point at the coach.


Borthwick has been in the job for nearly two years, a period that includes two 6N programs and an RWC campaign. So where are the solid foundations that he has been building?

4 Go to comments
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