He'll have his work cut out for him there I think. Money talks etc.

I'd rather see Platini in charge of FIFA than the corrupt basteard who's currently in charge.

I didn't realise it was UEFA's decision. I always understood that it was up to the local association how they qualified teams for the Champions League.

The criteria have to be the same across the board. Platini is keen to have the national cup winners qualify, but he's also keen…

the idea has been nixed again this summer by UEFA.

I didn't realise it was UEFA's decision. I always understood that it was up to the local association how they qualified teams for the Champions League. (cf the angst when Liverpool finished 5th in the Premiership the same season they…

Not a new idea but: FA Cup winners should get direct Champions League entry, that would help re-incentivise that competition.

Totally agree, but the idea has been nixed again this summer by UEFA.

Haydn (how did you avoid an 'e' in your name BTW? And it's Manawatu also, not Manuwatu. Sorry, professionally anal there)

It's Welsh, but it's spelled Hadyn :)

And I probably misspelled Manawatu because I like to say it like Vanuatu.

"leagues and cups are different, and shouldn't be hybridised"

is right on the money. At least the Air NZ Cup is correctly named, it's a Cup, not a league.…

I’m a Spurs fan too, but I think it’s a while (early 90s?) since we finished 4th in the league

I can't think of a single sports competition that doesn't enter a knock-out phase in some way at the finals.

Aside from all the national soccer leagues in Europe, you mean?

I don't know anything about soccer on the 'mainland', and very little about it in the UK, but if…

My husband, though, has an irrational dislike of the Yankees.

That's cool then, I'm a Mets and Jets fan. And no dislike of sports teams is ever irrational, there is always some kind of warped logic behind it.

Not Yankee fans? Not baseball fans?

We are, emphatically, baseball fans. I LOVE baseball. There is nothing more fun to me than the seventh inning stretch. (Particularly as 'root root root for the home team' is much more amusing if you're a New Zealander...)

My husband, though, has an irrational…

Loved going to the Sheild parades in Hamilton as a teenager, and the sheer pride that a sheild win would generate.

When I emigrated to NZ Waikato had the shield. We went to a chemist in Hamilton to buy some insect repellant and there it was, in all its splendour,…

With regards to the Ranfurly…

Hadyn, I think it's best if you don't come over to our house for Thanksgiving dinner. ;)

Not Yankee fans? Not baseball fans?

sigh, I'll make do with re-heated turkey roll.

So 26 titles (by the Yankees) over 139 years is pretty ok with me.

Oh dear. Hadyn, I think it's best if you don't come over to our house for Thanksgiving dinner. ;)

They're simply two different formats. A team can win the former even while losing the last game or two to inferior competition, and is none the lesser for it.

Exactly, it's not like the teams don't know that, should they make the play-offs, they will be eliminated if they lose.…

I can't think of a single sports competition that doesn't enter a knock-out phase in some way at the finals.

Aside from all the national soccer leagues in Europe, you mean?

And if a team wins all their games all year but then loses the big one, that loss probably…

There's no need for a knockout phase, except a desire for spectacle. I think that if you've won the league, you've won the league.

That's precisely the system we used to have in the NPC which they did away with to have semis and a final because it was often…

Isn't that exactly how they decide the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Champions Cup?

Yeah, the knockout competitions are decided that way. But leagues aren't, because once you've played every other team in the competition home-and-away you've tried every permutation, and you can just count up the points. There's…

And the English footballing competitions are much older than either of the American competitions.

If you'll excuse the use of wikipedia:

The Southern League, covering the southern two-thirds of England and Wales, was founded in 1894 and is one of the oldest leagues still in existence

Whereas the MLB (baseball)…

People don't like it? Duh. It's a meaningless "don't go to Europe yet, please" scheme that likes to pretend it's still the same premier rugby…

I watched Wellington play Manawatu last night, which on the whole was a pretty good game. I am a Wellington supporter though, so maybe my memory is tainted by the final result. But while watching I did think that one of the problems with…

I've only been…

And there’s your problems.

That equates to maybe $100 million in gate money (plus sponsorship), which should be enough when the cost of the stadiums is taken off to finance the game quite adequately.

I would guess that's a gross over-estimation. And even if that was the right figure, you are looking at 10-12…

Propose making the competition a straight knock-out like the FA cup. Our 26 unions makes for a 5…

There are several hundred thousand people in NZ who *are* really into the sport, enough to buy tickets to quite a few games. Plus all the people (including tourists and expats) who will turn out for NZ/England or…

The NRL shows how good a salary cap is at levelling out the teams

The NRL rocks the party (IMHO)

re: promo/relegation
It seems the Hivemind has come to a decision that the team that wins the second division should be promoted and the team that loses the first division…

Bart you've made some really good points but I have to disagree with some of what you wrote:

Hi Hadyn thanks and please disagree with me lots – I’m probably wrong about stuff :)

Or cricket during rugby season?

Not sure I know of much cricket played in NZ during…

Hawkes Bay, who always seemed to qualify for this match, and always lost, have subsequently proved they are actually of Div 1 standard.

And Northland, who seemed to not win a Div 1 match until the playoff for years, have finally been relegated.

The old NPC play-offs were unfair in that one side had been playing at a totally different level from the other.

And…

It totally holds because we are discussing how to revive rugby in New Zealand. People have lost interest in the current product, and in that product it's same old same old. Canterbury or Auckland.

When I came to NZ, the NPC was very popular. It had been won that year…

It would have made me watch the America's Cup.

Point of order, Giovanni

Yes, of course, you're totally right.

So I think that theory doesn't hold.

It totally holds because we are discussing how to revive rugby in New Zealand. People have lost interest in the current product, and in that product it's same old same old. Canterbury or Auckland.

Remember how exciting it was when Hawkes Bay got…

Bear in mind too that the FA was fiercely insular, hardly a soccer promoting body – the English team didn't play abroad until well after WW2.

Point of order, Giovanni

The FA refused to take part in the World Cup until after WW2. They may have even withdrawn from FIFA…

So, I don't see how a tournament where the winner can almost be predicted before the season starts is going to interest people enough to watch it.

Plenty of people are interested in the EPL.
I can tell you that since 1970, the year when Cagliari won its first and…

I like the idea of scrapping the Super 14 and instead having a Champions' League/Heineken Cup system of the best club teams playing each other. It would have the bonus of increasing interest in the NPC again too.

On the other hand, the English football system is the most successful sporting organisational system ever. It might be awful, but by God it works.

You might almost be right if you're talking about money only. And I have a sneaking suspicion that Major League Baseball is catching up quite…

Ahem. Red Wings won the Stanley Cup _this_ year.
My Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup _last_ year.

I meant last season. I am sadly aware of what happened last year.
(One game! They banned Pronger for just one game! A travesty.)

The FA gave those sailors a set of…

I'll let that one slide.

At the risk of explaining a joke, I was trying to poke fun at the dafter English insular attitudes — you know, the ``two World Wars and a World Cup'' stuff. '66 and all that. And Argentina do have a bit of a rep for…

The Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup almost in a canter last year

Ahem. Red Wings won the Stanley Cup _this_ year.

My Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup _last_ year.

No, but the FA has still done a very good job at getting people to play football worldwide

Wow, that's a big statement. England invented the sport and it caught on, but it's hardly the FA that did it. I know a bit about the history of the sport in…

It doesn't mean it's an unqualified success, nor that you can apply it here, to a different sport and a much, much, much smaller market.

No, but the FA has still done a very good job at getting people to play football worldwide. Maybe not an unqualified success, but I'd…

As evinced by the fact that everyone plays Association Football. That would seem the most important measure of the Football Association's success.

If that were true, I'd expect the national team to be quite a lot more successful. Besides, a lot of people play football in Brazil and Argentina and…

The massive amounts of money they make, and the success in European club competitions don't hurt. Further, if you look at the teams which beat English teams, an…

On the other hand, the English football system is the most successful sporting organisational system ever.

As evidenced by the dominance of the national team in all major tournaments? By the five-year ban imposed by Uefa on all English teams after the Heysel massacre?

Granted, they've turned it around financially…

When you say "this" you mean your idea right? because I want nothing to do with the EPL, I think it's an awful system.

On the other hand, the English football system is the most successful sporting organisational system ever. It might be awful*, but by God it works.

Personally,…

I really, really hope that’s a wind-up HG.

Just a little one :)

I have been against the Super 14/Cricket clash for aaages

Or cricket during rugby season?

I really, really hope that’s a wind-up HG.

It’s well documented that test cricket is no longer played at 3 of the 4 traditional venues in this country now because of a thing called Super Rugby. And we’re talking about Feb / Mar here. Most…

Regular Season:
The tournament starts in August and goes for 9 weeks. It will be a round-robin format with no bye-week.

There will be a bye-week between the regular season and…

DO NOT play Rugby during cricket season. I simply refuse to pay any attention at all to Rugby during cricket season it is just wrong.

Or cricket during rugby season?

Play more…

about maybe regionalising at least some of the npc (it used to be, too)

Only when playing aginst touring sides.

The Vikings and Tasman have proved that, over time, that does not work.

Provincial pride is too entrenched in NZ rugby, and that is no bad thing.

The final score was 101-14, but on the Dropkicks alternative score board it was Samoa 39, Māori 15, Australia 5, Everyone else 56 (which was decided upon after Muliaina's opening try when the commentators predictably yelled "born in Samoa!")

My reaction to the commentators at that point was along the…

Drop us a line at

That's as good a State of the Nation address as I've seen.

NZ is a country of 4 million people with a low population density, therefore do not assume solutions that work in other countries (UK, USA, Italy or even Aussie) have relevance. They might but it's not that likely.

I enjoy Rugby more this year with…

Anyway, does Hamilton really deserve a match involving the All Blacks?

F'n'ay. Git yer sprigs off my pitch. First game the fielders can't take their hands out of their pockets, you can start the rugby season.

Oh, hear f'n hear to that. The only consolation in the last couple of summers to the injuries suffered on some of the carpark-resembling grounds…

Not ot mention Tommy Smyth. With a…

I reckon it’s perfect.

It means spreading the business end of the tournament to roughly half of the promised “Stadium of 4 Million”, while meeting the IRB’s understandable requirement of 2 venues for Quarter-finals.

And the fact we’re working with the IRB is so refreshing given…

So, on average, that’s one free game per team per season.

Are you sure that’s enough?

Sorry I misquoted myself: a minimum of one free per week. The "minimum is because I would sell games separately and not as a whole season. this means there might be three free games…

You've obviously never played cricket in Karori in December....

I would definitely agree to that. Though my plan only had the stipulation of one free-to-air live game per week, which I figure is enough

So, on average, that’s one free game per team per season.

Are you sure that’s enough?

On a semi-related note, good to see the NZRU…

I bellieve the French mustard has to be between the teriyaki sauce and the sea salt...

Ha! that's exactly what I thought of!

I was referring specifically the idea of reducing the TV coverage to encourage attendance at the grounds.

I would definitely agree to that. Though my plan only…

Soccer’s probably the only sport around that doesn’t need the oxygen of TV coverage.

That’s its asset; simple rules. Anyone can understand it and play it.

My 13 yr old still palys soccer and loves it, although he is showing some rugby tendnacies now, probably because it is the main…

That’s its asset; simple rules

I bellieve the French mustard has to be between the teriyaki sauce and the sea salt...

Lots of people can't afford to go to the games

Hence my kudos to the Wellington RU for letting kids in for free. I'll bet they did a roaring trade in hot dogs and fizzy drinks. (plus I took my two boys to see Kung Fu Panda and it set…

Didn't the ABs lose to them too?

Only once

We had a silly, meaningless visit from something called the World XV who wore jerseys that would make your average jockey blush.

Didn't the ABs lose to them too?

BTW, it’s all over SKY Sport; England, Europe, even the A-League...

aaaand ESPN. (stupidsoccergrumblegrumble)

This is based on the English Premier League where games that kick off at 3pm are not shown live at all.

When you say "this" you mean your idea right? because I want nothing to do with the EPL, I think it's an awful system.

I back a system that…

Soccer’s probably the only sport around that doesn’t need the oxygen of TV coverage.

That’s its asset; simple rules. Anyone can understand it and play it.

BTW, it’s all over SKY Sport; England, Europe, even the A-League...

Waikato won the NPC.

You had me at 'Waikato won'

A dreadful year all round.

I'm a blogger. I don't do research.

I back a system that encourages fans to go to the game, rather than watch on TV.

Here's my problem with this. Lots of people can't afford to go to the games. Especially if they're people who are looking at paying for a whole family to go. If the only…

The All Blacks lost to Australia.

The All Blacks lost 40-17 to … Sydney!!!

Ant Strachan played for the All Blacks.

We had a silly, meaningless visit from something called the World XV who wore jerseys that would…

Which goes completely against my broadcasting policy:

This is based on the English Premier League where games that kick off at 3pm are not shown live at all. There has been an ever increasing number of EPL games that kick off outside that timeslot, but you still get 5-6 games…

Aw, and I didn't get you anything. Wait –

Dere iz no spoon!

May I present for your entertainment, the LOLBlacks, featuring: "There is no spoon" (at the bottom)

Take live NPC coverage off TV

Which goes completely against my broadcasting policy:

Broadcasting:
National broadcasting rights for the tournament will be sold as individual games. Broadcasters will submit tenders for each game. At least one game per week must be shown live on free-to-air television. All games must be…

You can always count on Emma to bring the saucy.

Aw, thanks Giovanni, it's nice to feel appreciated. Also glad I restrain myself as much as I do.

First game the fielders can't take their hands out of their pockets

You can always count on Emma to bring the saucy.

(or Frutopia, that one's for Emma)

Aw, and I didn't get you anything. Wait –

Dere iz no spoon!

Right.

season not to start before april, so i can enjoy my cricket and work up a bit of enthusiasm for the oval ball stuff.

F'n'ay. Git yer sprigs off my…

Take live NPC coverage off TV. Show one game a weekend live if you must, the rest delayed (or highlights). Make people go to the games if they want to see them live (and let the kids in for free, good show Wellington).

Is the Sky TV subscription going to…

Take live NPC coverage off TV. Show one game a weekend live if you must, the rest delayed (or highlights). Make people go to the games if they want to see them live (and let the kids in for free,…

Do the fans get stabby? No? Didn't think so.

Wouldn't be too hard to convert some of the Cantab fans into Lazio-style Ultras!

You've obviously never been to a Canterbury v. Auckland game at Lancaster Park.

Do the fans get stabby? No? Didn't think so. I grew up near the stadium in Milan and there were a few key games in the season when I knew better than to leave the house -…

Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and to a…

1. Stop treating us fans like fools
2. Change the perception by us fans that the ABs are mainly there to be squeezed and squeezed until the last drop of gold has been extracted.
3. Set up a competition where real teams (not franchises) play in a competition…

Kahui, Hore and Williams were among that number.

Nonu and Lauaki most assuredly were not.

But I'm with Henry in thinking the…

New Zealanders don't hate their neighbours enough.

You've obviously never been to a Canterbury v. Auckland game at Lancaster Park.

Failing that, lessee... as far as the Air New Zealand cup is concerned, I think part of the problem is that New Zealanders don't hate their neighbours enough. Back home, every town has a variation of the following saying, mouthed in the example by…