The S15 has lost momentum

 After 3 weeksof internationals, with the Lions series a compelling contest....the S  15 seems a little deflated. I suppose the local derbies will have some interest as Bok trials, but even there the team is largely formed . So we have to have the semis and finals to finish the damn thing....but it's too long, the standard has dropped from the early days. Much of the magic is gone and this clumsy scheduling only serves to underline that.

Come on Moz we all know you will be glued to the screen screaming for the Mighty Stormers when they take on the Cheetahs and even the Sharkies match agains the Blues - I hear one of Lambie or Butch will be at center.

Mike, Why can't these tests be played in July? Premiership, and Pro12 don't start till September. I don't know about the top 14 though. But Would it really matter if a few players from a few teams missed out on some pre-season games to play test matches?

 What other rugby championship has a three week break. It is an anti climax.

Agreed that its lost a bit of spark with the break but hope thats a one off with the Lions series dictating terms. 

But ultimately its rugby and I'm looking forward to the S15 games this weekend, they dont have the clout of a test match, but they are the next best thing.

I have ot enjoyed this years S15 as much as the past but that is purely down to the Stormers and Sharks doing so poorly

Moz, I feel exactly how you do. It sort of like back at school days. The first team is always the last to play so everyone builds up by watching 16a, 3rds, 2nds then the main game. This is sort of like that except the first team has played now we are asked to get excited about the 2nds! Just doesn't have the same effect ;-)

At the moment, I just dont want guys like Willie and co getting injured. Just want the comp to be over and the RC to start. I read a post where someone from the Sharks team (Bismarck I think) says that the season is not over for them. They were written off last year and made the playoffs. They can still do it. (Way too many results need to go our way so its really not gona happen) I should be getting excited as Sharks have a mini final each week now but I am just not! I will watch the games because it is my team but hopefully when it kicks off, I get excited coz at the moment, I am keen only for Lions v Aussies!

spot on mozart.....the new conf system is nothing short of rubbish. to many teams and the quality has nose dived. peters of SANZAR has been hell bent on try to make as much profit as possible out of the super rugby brand but in my view it has started to cartwheel in the opposite direction. from what i heard they want to include teams from japan ext so do fear we are seeing the end of the shortend format.

i dont believe in the conf system but i do like the play offs idea though but there would need to be a overall of the structures if there is more teams in play...maybe a champions league style group pool with a home and way structure might suite the comp best. there is to much rugby right now there needs to be a structure in place to counter is...in this case more is not better

@Mozart. The Heineken cup has several long breaks.

Round 1: 11/12/13 October, 2013

Round 2: 18/19/20 October, 2013

Round 3: 6/7/8 December, 2013

Round 4: 13/14/15 December, 2013

Round 5: 10/11/12 January, 2014

Round 6: 17/18/19 January, 2014

QF:  4/5/6 April, 2014

SF: 26/27 April, 2014

Final: 24 May, 2014

www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/fixtures_heineken_cup.php

I am all for the way that they run these competitions in th NH, Moz. You do not have watered down competitions like the Vodacom, and even the CC nowadays. You have the same teams/players involved in all the competitions. The other competitions, like the English Premiership and even the 6 Nations are played in those gaps. You do not have, for instance, London Wasps having a Heineken Cup team and a seperate Premiership team. Remember that the Heineken Cup is not the only European competiton. There is also a second tier European competition, called the Amlin European Challenge Cup.

www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/amlin_challenge_cup_fixtures.php

Analogous to the soccer. Of course the S15 would have to be pared down to six weeks of pre knockout play. Maybe not a bad thing....but the money might be a fatal problem

The big difference is that the Heineken is over a shorter period, despite more teams being involved, because they use a pool system which, I suspect, is decided on a similar basis as the pools for the RWC. They have many more teams (24 in six pools) but less almost the same number of games (12 games per round).  The players play less rugby though, because there are only six rounds before the QF, SF and the final.

The games are all well attended though, and there are many sponsors are involved, apart from the two main sponsors, Heineken and Amlin insurance.

The domestic games also attracts capacity crowds.

I agree its just too much rugby stuffed on top of each other. i mean what am i concentrating on??? the lions tour is right in between the championship and super rugby but its the incoming tours and its too fucking chaotic!! im pretty happy im not a player. i dont remember so many players have season or career ending injuries before anyone else think that too?? thank god we dont have to see the all blacks and australia play three tests again (or boks if your south african). the rugby calendar is a mes and the innternations have started to who gives a fuck what happens in the super xv its already been going so long  most people have lost interest anyways. i think super rugby should be a straight up no shits and frills league and you play a team only once. you get a lot of games coming out of that and its more suspensed because it matters who finishes first i bet you lot would be pretty interested in the comp right now if it was a league seeing as so many teams could clinch top spot. but it doesnt have to drag on for fucking months on end to finish! maybe throw in a islanders side too ;)