Rugby365
Aussies have too many teams
Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:25
Strong views from a knowlegable man. (c) Gallo
South African claims to an additional Super Rugby franchise received an unexpected boost with the statement that Australia are unable to sustain five teams.
The status of the Lions as a Super Rugby entity came under renewed scrutiny, following their poor string of results this season - which see them rooted at the bottom of the table.
And their position has become more precarious after the South African Rugby Union, who had already guaranteed the Southern Kings one of the five SA conference spots in 2013, failed to secure meeting with their SANZAR partners to discuss the possibility of expanding the competition.
However, it has now been suggested that Australia should drop one of its franchises, as they are unable to sustain five teams - which leaves all their franchises vulnerable with a lack of depth and struggling for form.
New Japan coach Eddie Jones, a former Wallaby and Springbok assistant coach, said Australia simply don't have the resources for five teams.
"Australia's just got too many teams," Jones told Rugby News.
Jones, who recently named his first Japanese squad for the 2012 Asian Five Nations tournament, says the establishment of the Melbourne Rebels franchise has further diluted Australia's playing stocks after a similar situation occurred when the Western Force entered Super Rugby in 2006.
"Each side has been watered down because there are too many of them, and that's a real concern for the Wallabies, because you don't have your best players playing with each other," he told Rugby News.
Contrary to the belief of former Wallabies like Jeremy Paul, who rubbished the notion that the Australian conference is the weakest in the SANZAR competition, Jones says, in reality, it's a fact.
He felt the standard of Super Rugby this season has been "pretty disappointing" across the board.
"There are definitely different levels [of competitiveness] between the conferences and the level of play, particularly the attack, is pretty orthodox. But the defence and breakdown work is of a good quality."
Jones said teams that are doing well like the Stormers and the Highlanders have a good work ethic and "high team cohesion".
Having coached the Brumbies to a Super Rugby title, guided the Reds and Wallabies (the latter to the World Cup Final in 2003) he has an intimate knowledge of Australian rugby.
Jones suggested the Aussie teams have not been helped by the usual exodus of players that occurs after a World Cup.
"It comes down to personnel, really. A lot of the good players have moved on some have gone to Japan and some have gone to Europe. That's taken the depth out of teams."
His comments came at a time when there are renewed suggestion that the lowly Lions should lose their Super Rugby status next year.
The Kings' participation in the 2013 competition has already been 'guaranteed' by SARU and even though a SARU-led delegation is due to meet with its SANZAR colleagues to discuss possible competition expansion, the possibility of increasing it to a 16-team tournament remains very unlikely.
This raises the possibility of an Australian team making way for the Kings' entry next year.
If that doesn't materialise, then it is likely that the worst-performing South African side would get the chop.
