This is the end, beautiful friend the end...

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Super Rugby done and dusted? Does it need to be heavily reduced in numbers or a 2 division set up with promotion relegation? Or just scrap it and go back to the NPC? Leave it as it is because your some sort of sadomasochistic type? Discuss if you so wish.

[rowan]

Super Rugby basically rescued domestic rugby as the NPC was on the point of fizzling out, largely due to the descrepancies created in the shamateur era and the overwhelming domination of one team. Believe me, these were no halcyon days of wonderful, flowing rugby and brimming stadiums. I was there covering the championship, and spent many a Saturday afternoon sitting in a near empty stadium in the nation's capital. People were actually talking more about rugby league in those days! But that changed with the advent of Super Rugby, which is a fantastic competition, and completely revived interest in the XV-man code in New Zealand, while raising its profile considerably across the Tasman. It was also a godsend to the Saffas, who had only recently emerged from isolation and were desparate for international contact at all levels. So everything works very well for the first decade or so of competition. But the traditionalists didn't go for the conference system at all. This works fine in NFL, which has a draft system to ensure an even distribution of players, but it hasn't worked for the rugby competition due to the varying strengths of the three nations which has become evident. So now we have a competition which is overwhelmingly dominated by one conference - and, again, the stifling predictability. Sorry to keep harping on it, but the introduction of the Sunwolves only compounded these issues, and along with the Mickey Mouse 4 conference system introduced for Super 18, reduced the whole thing to a meaningless circus. This is where the organizers really messed up, IMHO. Super 15 was fine; the fans just needed more time to adjust to it. Super 18 could have worked, too, if they'd done it properly, included the Pacific Islands instead of Japan, and just run with three conferences of 6 teams. But the other really important factor here is that we have too much top level rugby now, which impacts not only on player performance, but also on spectator interest. Your average fan is only going to attend so many games per year. So all these factors combined had led to declining interest and match attendances. Rightly or wrongly, it's back to 3 conferences of 5 next season. I feel more strongly than ever that the Force should stay and the Brumbies and Rebels should merge, thereby maintaining a foothold in the 4 major centers plus the capital. Then just stick with it for a while and let fans get used to it. Meanwhile, I wouldn't be surprised if the improving Kings really thrive in PRO12 and become the envy of the other SA franchises, who will likely continue to struggle against their Kiwi counterparts for the foreseeable future. I also suspect that within another season or two they'll be forced to admit the Sunwolves were a horrible mistake and another team will replace them after the 2019 World Cup.