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Rugby Australia yet to sign off on new Super Rugby competition with Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia is hailing the Super Rugby AU season a success and is still working to lock in the competition structure for 2022 with an expanded trans-Tasman format most likely.

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Ahead of the grand final between Queensland Reds and the Brumbies in Brisbane on Saturday night, RA boss Andy Marinos says the second year of the domestic competition has been a hit with fans while it’s also managed to unearth some new stars.

The decider is expected to draw at least 40,000 fans – close to a capacity crowd at Suncorp Stadium – while the match will be shown on broadcaster Nine’s main channel.

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“We’ve been really encouraged – it’s been a fantastic competition and it’s built and strengthened its narrative as the comp has gone on,” Marinos said on Friday.

“To see like the (Western) Force come through and surge and have that upset (over the Reds) in Perth two weeks ago was really good.

“I think what we always wanted was an unpredictability in outcome and to a large degree we’ve seen that with a number of games going down to the wire.

“There certainly is an optimism. All our metrics are tracking upwards.”

Marinos says the popularity of a domestic league has given the RA board “something to ponder”, however it’s more likely a 12-team trans-Tasman model will be used in 2022.

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That includes five teams each from Australia and New Zealand plus new entries Moana Pasifika and Fiji Drua.

He hoped the format would be decided by the end of June.

“There is a lot of value in the trans-Tasman (competition).

“It is good to get a litmus test against your compatriots across the ditch.

“We’ve just got to wait and see what the whole competition structure is going to look like with the possibility of another two teams joining.”

Meanwhile, Marinos was confident the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney wouldn’t impact the inaugural trans-Tasman Super competition which is set to get underway next week.

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“We continue as planned – we’ve got to be able to pivot and be dynamic – I’ve got a lot of confidence the NSW leaders will get to the bottom of this (virus outbreak) quickly,” he said.

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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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