Super Rugby format changes . . .

All the talk is that next year's Super Rugby tournament will be back to 15 teams, but there might be some surprises as to which teams are cut.

Most people were talking about 2 Aussie sides getting the chop along with a South African side but it seems it's going to be the other way around with 2 SA sides being cut and only one Aussie side.

Here is the latest article suggesting this as the most likely outcome.

So we'd lose the Kings and the Cheetahs while the Aussies would lose one of the Force or the Rebels.

As far as the Aussies are concerned, the Force look a much better side this year on form than the hapless Rebels but I'm pretty sure it will come down to financial viability rather than form.

As for us South Africans, the Kings won't really be missed and logically they should be incorporated with the Sharks with maybe a game or two every season in Port Elizabeth.

The Cheetahs is a tougher call. We all know the Cats didn't work very well and on current form, it's the Bulls who look most in need of additional players, but they do have a very strong brand and the Bulls do pull the crowds. Not sure how best to carve up the Cheetahs but it does look as if Bloemfontein is perceived to be a financial deadweight that is going to be cut from the tournament.

 I would accept a reduction to four sides - but the Cheetahs are more competitive than some of the other teams and that may not be acceptable to SA - but lets wiat and see what happens.  
Sanzaar must come to a unanimous decision and I do not think SA would accept that one and since SA is the major financial  source of income for the competition the other members will get nowhere if they oppose SA.

Well, by all accounts South Africa asked for the number of teams top drop from 18 to 16 with SA and Oz each losing a team but they were apparently outvoted and we're now down to 15 teams with SA losing 2 and Oz 1.

 
The SunWolves ended last season at the bottom wth the Kings. Surely they'd be a better choice than the Chetahs?

Things aren't going any better for them this season.

Both bottom feeders should be shed if you ask me

Don't think the Cheetahs did themselves any favours by scraping a narrow win at home against the Sunwolves this weekend. The Sunwolves also have much more scope for improvement.

The games in Tokyo have also been well attended compared to Bloemfontein.

 
The mighty dollar always has the last say in the end.

 Wouldn't like to see the Cheetahs go . They play some entertaining rugby and are a constant source of players for the parasitic bulls and sharks!