SUPER 12 now SUPER 14

[Squirter]

Anyone interested....as from 2006 an extra team from Aussie and one from SA. and the Tri Nations will have another round.,...hopefully they'll base the extra team in Perth.

[sportznut]

Wonder if they're going to increase the finals from top 4 to top 5 or 6. Often think it's a bit of a disappointment to have such a short finals series at the end of the comp. Not sure about an extra SA team. Could have been a good chance for a pacific islands team, but I guess that might have been hard to organise.

An extra round in the TriNations? Do you mean 3 games in each country instead of 2? I guess that would coincide with the Bledisloe up reverting to a 3 match series.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: sportznut on 2004-09-06 14:24 ]</font>

[Mr J]

They better make the B.Cup 3 matches again. I swear we had to defend 3 a few times. Best of 2 just makes it too easy to hold on to.

3 matches with the 1st and 3rd games in the current champ is pretty fair. The champs get 2 home games but at least the other nation has a chance. Winning 2/2 is so much harder than 2/3.

As for the S12, yeh an extra SA team seem like too much. Just hope it doesn't weaken any of the other teams. It was good to see the SA teams up in the mix for a change.

A pacific islanders team would've been pretty cool. Japan/argentina would've been good but the travel would be too much.

They might change the finals format. A top 6 where the top 2 teams get byes the first week would be good.

[sportznut]

Mr J,

The Bledisloe Cup would alternate from 2 matches in NZ one year to 2 in Australia the next. The other two contests in the TriNations would work exactly the same way to make it all even.

[Squirter]

Sportz and Mr. J,

Thats about all I know at the moment....It's a bloody shame about the PI's, both Aussie and NZ rape the place of their top players and at the end of the day it's all about money, TV money, and how much Packer is prepared to pay considering Union is not a major sport in Aussie as far as TV viewing is concerned. This country comes to a stop when our representative team plays anyone from O/S, the same goes for SA. TV viewing in the Pacific is non existant so this would determine the composition of the participants.

Gotta go...tea O'clock

[Squirter]

This will upset mr. J,

I believe the Bledisloe will remain a 2 game format....this was determined by the ARU....the NZRU wanted a 3 match format....I think I'm right here but could be mistaken.

Bloody tea.

[sportznut]

I can't believe that! I especially can't believe that it would be the ARU's decision, because with the current format, NZ could hold the Bledisloe Cup for ages.

[Squirter]

Just re-read your post again Mr. J re the Bledisloe....no, it's always been 2 games which has made it a bloody site harder for Aussie to win in my opinion....you've got remember, up till recent times the cup sat in Wellington year after year after year. Now that the confounded thing flits between the countries. Isn't it great that you Aussies sling the Poohs at us and we return it with interest.

Crikey...cold tea.

[Squirter]

Sportz,

We're rippin ya off again....shit love it.

Food.

[sportznut]

It was reported on the news that the Bledisloe Cup WILL go to 3 games in 2006.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: sportznut on 2004-09-06 17:08 ]</font>

[Squirter]

Crikey,

the bloody thing will be here for another 10 years by which time we'll donate it back to Aussie for the odd game or two.

Hooray......

[goldmember]

Super 14 ,just doesnt sound right?

[Mr J]

Yeh 12 did have a nice ring to it.

I'm sure I remember us having 3 game series...

"Any hopes of the Bledisloe Cup series played annually between the All Blacks and the Wallabies returning to a three-Test competition were dashed by opposition from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU)."

In '97 and '98 there were 3 tests played between Aus and NZ in July/August. I'm guessing all 3 were Bledisloe games.

3 matches were also played pretty much every 2nd year from '92 and earlier (a few were every 4th year). Probally Bledisloe games...

We have both matches next year right? Real stupid. We'll probally win it back, then when the kiwis get the 2 games they'll win it back etc. Best of 2 with one nation getting both games just doesn't make any sense.

[sportznut]

I think you'll find it was actually called Super 10 before the mid 90s when the Brumbies came in and it became really professional.

And yes, there were 3 match Bledisloe series. It's only over the last 4 or 5 years that a two match series has become the norm.

[Mr J]

Yep, just saying that Super 12s just sounded right. twelve just fits in nicely, like rugby 7s or the eights in rowing.