Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#2578035 2-Oct-2020 14:25

The best could hope for next year is a top 4 type playoff where the best 2 teams from each country play a tournament-style competition in the same place.

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#2578082 2-Oct-2020 14:26

Jas777:

The best could hope for next year is a top 4 type playoff where the best 2 teams from each country play a tournament-style competition in the same place.

You forgot the 9 months of arguing about where it will be held and what conditions each party will not agree to! :)

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#2578203 2-Oct-2020 16:45

This is just getting worse.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12369850

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#2578205 2-Oct-2020 16:54

They should have consulted, but I 100% agree with their decision to exclude a Pasifika team from participating next season. It's all been a rush excluding COVID. The long term viability of the team needs to be more certain.

I am very keen to see a team formed in this manner, so I am disappointed it won't happen 2021 but hopefully, 2022.

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#2578206 2-Oct-2020 16:58

NZR just aren't capable of working with others. There'll be some other excuse next time, the Pacific Islands are convenient when they want some window dressing but never get any actual support with super rugby or international games.

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#2578207 2-Oct-2020 17:01

Handle9: NZR just aren't capable of working with others. There'll be some other excuse next time, the Pacific Islands are convenient when they want some window dressing but never get any actual support with super rugby or international games.

So you think they should have allowed a Pasifika team in 2021?

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#2578212 2-Oct-2020 17:02

If they wanted to make it happen they could have. They didn't, haven't and won't.

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#2578215 2-Oct-2020 17:07

Handle9: If they wanted to make it happen they could have. They didn't, haven't and won't.

How could they have made it happen? The reason given was there wasn't enough financial backing and certainty around financial longevity. Sponsorship is at an all-time low, people just aren't interested in appearing to spend unnecessary money. Seems very reasonable to me.

A Pasifika team would increase viewership, no downside from that perspective. Not sure what you think the "real" reason is.

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#2578216 2-Oct-2020 17:11

New Zealand was never serious about it. The Pacific team concept, which comes up every few years, is just virtue signalling by NZ rugby. Look how we are supporting the islands but not doing anything.

It's no surprise that the islands have stopped voting with NZ in the IRB.

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#2578237 2-Oct-2020 18:14

Now Gregor Paul, who has been largely an NZR mouth piece, is putting the boot into NZR.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12369894

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#2578345 2-Oct-2020 22:13

Handle9: New Zealand was never serious about it. The Pacific team concept, which comes up every few years, is just virtue signalling by NZ rugby. Look how we are supporting the islands but not doing anything.

It's no surprise that the islands have stopped voting with NZ in the IRB.

I honestly think if NZR came up with a cure for COVID, you'd find a critism of their handling of it :)

At least in my memory, this is the first time, there has been not only 1 but 2 potential teams able to be commercially assembled made up of Pasifika players. Up until now there has been lots of "words" without any practical application of it.

NZ Public has been crying out for it for a long time. NZR have been talking about it for a long time, but the format hasn't really come together. This is the first time it's been a real actual formed plan (helped by COVID, ironically, and the separation into our own Super Rugby Competition) with real people involved. I believe it will happen in 2022 assuming they can get financial backing. In fact, I am confident enough that if it doesn't happen, I'll donate $50 a charity of your choosing.

Their reasons for not doing it this season seem logical and plausible to me.

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#2578349 2-Oct-2020 22:28

Interesting that they are talking about a return to Super 14 in 2022 (Iron Clad contracts mentioned), if that's the case it would seem unlikely a Pacifika team would be in that 14.

I don't know how likely there will be said competition in 2022 though, I guess that's a long way away with lots of COVID related things to get sorted first.

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#2578365 2-Oct-2020 23:21

networkn:

I honestly think if NZR came up with a cure for COVID, you'd find a critism of their handling of it :)

At least in my memory, this is the first time, there has been not only 1 but 2 potential teams able to be commercially assembled made up of Pasifika players. Up until now there has been lots of "words" without any practical application of it.

NZ Public has been crying out for it for a long time. NZR have been talking about it for a long time, but the format hasn't really come together. This is the first time it's been a real actual formed plan (helped by COVID, ironically, and the separation into our own Super Rugby Competition) with real people involved. I believe it will happen in 2022 assuming they can get financial backing. In fact, I am confident enough that if it doesn't happen, I'll donate $50 a charity of your choosing.

Their reasons for not doing it this season seem logical and plausible to me.

When they expanded super rugby last time there was a proposal for a viable team based in Fiji. They were turned down based on criteria which none of the NZ super rugby teams would have qualified for. This was a SANZAAR decision obviously.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-reasons-why-the-pacific-islands-super-rugby-franchise-bid-has-been-rejected/

New Zealand plays the island teams less regularly than the northern hemisphere teams do. If NZR were serious about helping the islands they would have done it by now. They haven't and won't, they just don't care. Last time the Maori played in Fiji the Fijian RU had to pay NZR a $250k match fee. How is that supporting Pacific Island rugby?

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fiji-had-to-pay-250000-match-fee-to-new-zealand-maori-all-blacks/

I'm not the only one critical of NZR, every other international union is having a go and now most journalists are as well. When was the last time they were successful in any of their international endeavours? They grossly over estimate their importance to world rugby.

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#2579172 4-Oct-2020 18:25

Himself and I were watching the Shield match between Hawkes Bay and Otago.

When it was looking like it might be a draw we got to wondering what would happen to the Shield if it was indeed a draw at full time, and the game went to extra time for golden point, and Otago lost.

Would Otago keep the Shield as at normal full time it was a draw? Or would the Shield go to HB for winning the game in extra time?

Himself reckons golden points are not part of the Ranfurly Shield rules.

Of course it's a moot point now, but we are left pondering what would have happened.

Delete cookies?! Are you insane?!

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#2579264 4-Oct-2020 19:12

Handle9:

New Zealand plays the island teams less regularly than the northern hemisphere teams do. If NZR were serious about helping the islands they would have done it by now. They haven't and won't, they just don't care.

The NH teams play Island teams at home, don't play away games and subsequently mop-up the gate takings. They haven't, won't and just don't care. See how this doesn't prove anything?

The reason the international media is kicking the All Blacks is they've finally managed to justify kicking them - not that it usually stops them, as their perennially craphouse rugby writers can attest. If the Home Union press held their own teams and Unions to the same standards, the world would be a better place.

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