Australia Rugby Game seems set to adopt an “all for one and one for all” approach to New Zealand’s proposed trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition, demanding all five Australian teams participate. But it remains to be seen for how long a united front can be maintained before self-interest fractures the game in this country yet again.
Rugby Australia hoped a trans-Tasman competition would involve the five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises and five Australian sides, including the once exiled Western Force. But New Zealand’s revelation last week that it is planning to create an eight to 10 team competition, including a Pacific Islands franchise, does not add up to five Australian sides taking part.
New Zealand vs Australia Rugby It indicates Australia could potentially contribute just two or maybe four teams at best to a new competition, but certainly not five.
New Zealand wants to establish a high-quality competition to prepare Kiwi players for the All Blacks, which is their No 1 priority. In the absence of strong South African opposition due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Kiwis would not wish to carry any non-competitive Australian teams.
As it did at the start of Super Rugby in 1996 Australia is still capable of providing three highly-competitive teams, but not four or five, and the Kiwis know it. They do not want Australia to drag them down.
Australian rugby figures have expressed moral outrage at New Zealand’s stance. But why would New Zealand agree to five Australian teams taking part when three years ago RA and four Super Rugby franchises decided to axe the Force because Australia could not support five sides?
The Super Rugby franchise are still debating under their breath whether there is actually sufficient quality player depth in Australia to support five teams. If the Australians are not certain, why would the Kiwis be?
The depletion of Australia’s playing stocks could become even greater if RA is unable to secure a lucrative, new broadcast deal, which looks increasingly unlikely, to prevent a mass exodus overseas. Wallabies vs All Blacks live
RA is talking about approaching South African and Argentinian players to play in Australia and even re-locating an entire South African team. This is fanciful. The best South African and Argentinian players will find jobs in Europe and Japan. Australia certainly would not be able to pay them market value.
Perhaps Force benefactor Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest could dig deep and bring some top quality Australian players back from overseas, but the mining magnate’s recent $5m injection in Western Australian grassroots rugby may be a much more valuable investment for the game long-term.
New Zealand acknowledged its current five-team Super Rugby Aotearoa competition would be unsustainable beyond this year. RA will be hoping the Kiwis come around to the view that they need Australia as much as Australia needs them. All Blacks Wallabies live stream
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