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Squeeze on to lift revenue as Super 14 expands
Eddie Jones
May 23, 2009 12:00am
SUPER rugby keeps getting bigger as the drive for more revenue in Australian and New Zealand markets intensifies.
Whether the southern hemisphere's showpiece provincial series can recapture the fans it has steadily lost since a peak just after the turn of the century remains to be seen.
One big positive of 2011's Super 15 format is that more local derbys will be played. These will be fierce and should provide good spectacles.
Competition between the provinces to progress to the finals from their conference will be fascinating. There will be no hiding which team is the best and worst in each country.
The later season start should bring better quality rugby, as heat will be less of a factor.
But the season is long and broken. Interest will be hard to maintain and player workload is a secondary consideration.
Look at how George Smith might fare in Super 15. If he plays two pre-season trials, 16 home-and-away games, two play-off games and 14 Tests, he's up to 34 games.
From that, you can presume some stars will be rested from Super 15 games to ensure they play a maximum of 30 games.
I thought the idea of increasing Super rugby was to increase depth but Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill has made it quite clear that it is purely financial.
He has suggested a new team - the Sand and Sushi Surfers as a working title - will include Pacific Islanders and perhaps Japanese players for a possible base on the Gold Coast.
Queensland needs another team that can help encourage local talent to stay in the fastest growing region in Australia.
Former ARU boss Gary Flowers' weak promise to the Melbourne Rebels that they would have the next team, unopposed, is likely to rear its ugly head.
Planning is the key to success so the quicker the decision on the fifth team, the more set-up time there will be to get it right.
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has done a good job in his opening squad selection. He has identified raw potential with Ben Alexander and Pek Cowan among the props.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...003411,00.html