Trans-Tasman marriage on the rocks already?
REACTION: The much-publicised Super Rugby ‘partnership’ between New Zealand and Australia has hit it’s first rough patch.
Within days of a report that a new Trans-Tasman competition – to replace Super Rugby – is on the cards, it was reported that the New Zealand board is split over the idea.
Details of the NZ Rugby review were leaked this week, leading to strengthening predictions that Super Rugby is set for the scrap heap.
However, a new report emerged suggesting that NZ Rugby doubts Australia can field more than two strong teams – meaning a Trans-Tasman competition would have to be dominated, numbers-wise, by Kiwi sides.
It was suggested by the Sydney Morning Herald that Australians are already contemplating a Big Bash-style domestic rugby competition dotted with international names as New Zealand attitudes appear to harden against a five-team Australian presence next year.
Australian officials were alarmed to learn that at least half the NZ Rugby board favoured an eight-team competition – featuring the five existing Kiwi sides, a Pacific Islands team and just two Australian franchises.
It was met with some strong reaction, with the Waratahs’ Kiwi coach Rob Penney suggesting New Zealand would risk pushing Australia away “at their own peril”.
Penney, who coached Canterbury to four provincial titles between 2006 and 2011, warned New Zealand officials against “isolation”.
“Isolation is probably not the ideal scenario for anyone, but if New Zealand wants to do that, [it will be] at their own peril,” he told a media briefing on Thursday.
(Watch the Penney media briafing and continue reading below … )
He didn’t hold back in his stinging criticism of his compatriots.
“We’ll have a great competition here in Australia.
“As we’ve talked about, there is a great depth of youth coming through. It’s a very exciting period of time for Australian rugby. I certainly really believe that.
“If New Zealand doesn’t get positive around the relationship they have with Australia, that is their loss.
“They [New Zealand] probably see themselves in a powerful bubble, which they have done for a number of years. So be it.
“We’ll create one here and then they’ll come knocking I’m sure.”
The SMH suggested that Rugby Australia will consider going it alone with a six- or eight-team domestic competition ‘on steroids’ – using foreign players to boost depth and appeal in the vein of cricket’s Big Bash.
The All Blacks have totally dominated the Bledisloe Cup for many years and Australia’s old Super Rugby prowess has collapsed as New Zealand sides – particularly the Crusaders – increasingly dominated.
This has undoubtedly made a Trans-Tasman competition involving too many Aussie sides less appealing to the Kiwis.
The report also says that COVID-19 still hovers over the future structure – temporary competitions may need to be played as virus cases spike in places such as Melbourne.
Those still supporting a Trans-Tasman relationship are talking of a 10-team model – with a degree of open borders policy on player movement.
Details of NZ Rugby’s ‘Aratipu’ review were leaked via Newshub this week and suggested SANZAAR would be pretty much disbanded, leaving it to run the Southern Hemisphere Test programme only.
In the background, there is an improved relationship between Rugby Australia and the breakaway Perth-based competition backed by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest.
But this has also put more pressure on the future of the existing Australian Super Rugby teams finding places in any Trans-Tasman competition.
The SMH claimed communication between New Zealand and Australian rugby had “dropped off” with a planned conference call involving all the Super Rugby franchise bosses postponed.
This, however, may simply have occurred while the Aratipu report was being finalised.
Sources: Sydney Morning Herald and RugbyPass
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