ITS THE end of the world as we

know it and I dont feel ne.

Australian Rugby Union chief Bill
Pulver has spilled the beans about
Sanzars plans for Super Rugby from
the 2016 season.
He seemed quite excited about
them, which is a worry, because any
sane rugby fan would take one look
at them and run the other way.
It appears were getting three new
teams, and yet another change of
format.
Te most alarming news is that
the local derbies, appear to be on
the outer.
Instead of the current full set of
home-and-away xtures, teams
would only play two of their local
rivals twice each season.
What a balls-up that would be.
Te local derbies, in spite of the
terrible name, have been a godsend
for the competition.
Super Rugby has never managed
to sell itself as a cohesive product.
New Zealanders care about New
Zealand teams, Australians about
Australian teams, and South Afri-
cans care about South African teams.
Diehards might watch when their
side makes an overseas trip, but
when its the Bulls vs the Sharks, fans
in New Zealand couldnt care less.
Te conference format means this
season in particular seems headed
for an exciting nish.
Te ve New Zealand teams are
separated by just six points, and all
of them face a urry of domestic x-
tures in the back half of the competi-
tion.
Its a dream scenario ve teams
competing for two or three nals
places and it should provide some
of the most exciting action weve
seen in a while.
Te strength of the current format
is clear when you look at crowd g-
ures.
Te Crusaders averaged 17,000 for
their local games last season, com-
pared to 13,000 when foreign sides
came to town.
Te same pattern can be seen
across all of our teams, and the dif-
ference is even more pronounced in
other cities.
Te new teams will include the
Southern Kings, who nished last in
their only season, a side from Argen-
tina, and one that is yet to be deter-
mined.
Teams from Asia, Europe, or an-
other from South Africa have been
mooted to ll that 18th slot, and I
can guarantee none of them will be a
draw card for audiences here.
What do any of them have to gain
from joining this circus?
If expansion is inevitable, why not
target the Pacic Islands?
Teyre more in need of a profes-
sional presence than the locations
suggested, but they havent even re-
ceived a mention.
Im not one of the bleeding hearts
who thinks Fiji or Samoa are owed a
visit by the All Blacks, but a Pacic
side in Super Rugby seems a no-
brainer.
Teres a saying if it isnt broke,
dont x it.
Super Rugby has had it hard since
2007, when withdrawals in advance
of that years world cup devalued the
competition.
Playing up local rivalries has
helped it regain some steam, so why
do away with them now?
If we keep adding layers and lay-
ers of complexity, it wont be long be-
fore the whole thing comes crashing
down.
Andr e w Voer man
!"" $%!&'()
1he proposed
changes Lo
Super 8ugby
from Lhe
2016 season
wlll mean
less games
beLween new
Zealand sldes,
such as Lhe
Crusaders and
Lhe Purrl-
canes.
PC1C:
MA81ln
Pun1L8
If it ain't broke don't x it
Blackadder
supports
changes