Field Theory: The NPC Manifesto
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Someone asked me yesterday "What's happening in the cricket?" to which I responded "It's a test match so probably nothing".
Yeah this test match cricket stuff is really boring. Whatever you do don't ever watch the last day because it'll only be a boring draw anyway.
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And Guptill seems to be our new wicket taking slow bowler. It might be arse-backwards, but it works for me.
Leading wicket taker. in the innings. Makes no sense, but a cracker of a game on.
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make Dan Vettori the head of the NZRU. The boy is a born multi-tasker.
Or Tiger Woods.
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Yes precisely. Ten teams would be more viable (actually 12, as there's two whole teams of All Blacks who can't play NPC.
To be honest, my biggest issue with 10 is that the next division down only has 6 and it seems like a big waste of time.
If the number of NPC players was to get closer to the number of super 14 players that would also help. Currently you might get a contract for 5 months for the NPC. Then you have to go do something else for the rest of the year. Super 14 players get a full year of work and don't have to have another half of a career.
Would you then be at risk of less opportunities for players in NZ? Might more and more players come through the academy systems and players like Delaney wouldn't get a shot? Essentially the NPC at the moment is the bridge between High School & Super Rugby.
So here is what I propose, Salary caps, transfer fees, a cap on the number of all blacks in a team
I guess that would force some teams to shed some players, and potentially make the competition more even.
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To be honest, my biggest issue with 10 is that the next division down only has 6 and it seems like a big waste of time.
Yeah, but I think that's the result of only bringing two up. And mergers that have happened over the past decade or so reducing the number of teams in the competition. 10 feels like a good number for the top level - 4 or 5 games a week, about 300 contracted players.
It all seemed like a good opportunity to look 10, 15 years out and define a good competition that was financially sustainable, had a good structure, pushed players to achieve at higher levels, brought in new talent, maintained public interest etc.
I can't see any of those things from here. All that's in my head is four unions battling their national body and lawyers and a lack of vision.
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