Super Rugby 2024
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When looking at the table, points difference makes for interesting reading.
Crusaders may be poke this year, but points diff is a real outlier for that end of the table. Same said in opposite direction for the Brumbies. Reds clearly a much better team than their position too.
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@Tim said in Super Rugby 2024:
Liam Napier said on the Rugby Direct podcast that the Rebels are done, and next season will be an 11 team competition.
yeah, its pretty well accepted around melbourne rugby, only question marks are really around development pathways to replace theirs, we're hoping to at least see state youth teams and then the axemen/axewomen as a rep team
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@george33 that was announced ages ago.
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I guess the question is whether that is next year or not?
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@Canes4life yeah as far as I no it depends on the Rebels situation, might happen sooner than later
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@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Also get rid of the totally not super round
Don't get rid of it. Make it better. 2024 Super Round was good
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@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Also get rid of the totally not super round
Don't get rid of it. Make it better. 2024 Super Round was good
Maybe Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan (run games a few weeks later to get better weather) on a three year cycle.
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@MajorRage what's the reason?
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Few things about that they are not taking the away games seriously and sending weakened teams.
Truth is that I think the game up here is similar to football in that the local games are attended by the same fans week in, week out which creates great rivalries. Then, the Champions cup (equivalent of Football champions league) is the same but brings in some European flair with passionate European fans.
The SA teams just don't fit this model as the history isn't there.
Be interested in @Dodge view here. I don't follow / watch rugby beneath intl level here, just been reading some commentaries.
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I think it stems from a few things...
1/ There's a large group of people who believe that South African teams don't belong in the 'Euro' Cup (largely French and English supporters).
2/ Those same people get frustrated when their teams lose to the South African sides, especially if they have to travel to South Africa to play them.
3/ The Bulls sent a second-string side to play in their knock-out match a couple of weeks ago, effectively conceding defeat before the game had even started. This gave ammunition to the critics that they shouldn't be involved in the competition at all.
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@gt12 said in Super Rugby 2024:
ingapore
I hope SA don't return
Why not focus on the new SRP and make the team more even. It can be done esp if Aust drop to 4 (preferably 3) teams. And NZ give more support to MP. Add 1 and later maybe 2 Argie teams if needed
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@MajorRage said in Super Rugby 2024:
Few things about that they are not taking the away games seriously and sending weakened teams.
Truth is that I think the game up here is similar to football in that the local games are attended by the same fans week in, week out which creates great rivalries. Then, the Champions cup (equivalent of Football champions league) is the same but brings in some European flair with passionate European fans.
The SA teams just don't fit this model as the history isn't there.
Be interested in @Dodge view here. I don't follow / watch rugby beneath intl level here, just been reading some commentaries.
I don't pretend to watch the URC, but it seems like Irish sides are also sending second XVs to SA - just highlights the problem.
I've said it before, SA's problem is that they are bloody miles from anyone else who plays rugby, so either they make the ANZAC competitions more difficult or the European ones. Can't comment on URC, but for the European competition, there is a distinct difference between a game in SA at short notice to a game in Toulouse or Dublin. The European competitions are great fun, and fans love to travel. What they don't love is 6 days notice to get to Cape Town or Jo'burg - with the associated costs and logistical issues. As an example, Quins play in Toulouse this weekend and there are about 45 ways to get there, from driving, to trains, to flights to different airports with trains / taxis or buses at the other end - that simply isn't possible when you chuck in a 12 hour flight and transport issues at the other end.
Personally I would prefer a European competition to only include European teams but i can see why it has unfolded how it has. The fact the Bulls sent a weak side for a Euro Quarter Final just reemphasises how stupid the current set up is. European sides broadly prioritise European games as the pinnacle, if SA sides don't want to do that then they shouldn't be in the tournament.
