D'Arcy Waldegrave: The criticisms of the Super Rugby Pacific finals structure are fascinating

I’m fascinated by the accelerated criticisms around the finals structure of Super Rugby Pacific.  

Granted, the process is not perfect. The matches could have been ordered in manner that may avoid the probability that the Hurricanes-Brumbies encounter result will be essentially of little import.  

The nature of qualification where a life is offered to the highest qualifying loser isn’t ideal.  

The issue here of course is the number of teams competing. This was foisted upon the organisers after the Rebels folded. That odd number has created the need for an unusual competition structure which has caused much consternation amongst, predominantly, the media. That number of teams though, has also been the making of this Super Rugby this season. As sad as it was to watch the hapless Rebels stumble and fall, their death has resulted in a vibrant competition that has enthralled the masses since day one.   

This appears to have been forgotten by the army of enraged media who are now taking potshots at the structure, now that they have tired of celebrating the good.   

The powers that be had no idea how the points collection would pan out. They weren't to know who would end up where. Yes, they had control over the placement of the finals fixtures, and have probably acquiesced to the broadcasters timing needs, but Super Rugby Pacific isn’t a charity, bills need to be paid.  

There is only one certainty here. There will be one winner. Regardless of how they scale their lofty peak, whatever steps they had to take, none of that matters in the wash up.  

The champion of 2025 will be remembered, not how they got there.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
I'm fascinated by the accelerated criticisms around the finals structure
of Super Rugby Pacific. Granted, the process is not perfect,
could be even a tag confusing. If you let it
be that the matches could have been ordered in a
manner that may have avoided the probability that the Hurricanes

(00:33):
Brumby's encounter, and that result will be essentially a little
important fair. The nature of qualification, where a life is
offered to the highest qualifying loser, is an ideal. There
you hear, though it's obvious. It's the number of teams competing.
This was foisted upon the organizers after the Rebels folded.

(00:56):
That odd number has created the need for an unusual
competition structure, which has caused much consternation amongst predominantly the media,
only their fans complaining about it's mostly us. That number
of teams, though, has also been the making of this
Super Rugby season. As sad as it was to watch

(01:16):
the hapless Rebels stumble and fall, their death, has resulted
in a vibrant competition that has enthrilled the masses since
day one. Higher concentration of players in Australia has made
for a better Super Rugby comp This appears to have
been forgotten by the army of enraged media who are

(01:38):
now taking pot shots at the structure now that they
have tired of celebrating all that was good so far.
The powers that be had had no idea how the
points collection would pan. That they weren't to know who
would end up where they weren't. Yeah, they have control
over the placement of the finals fixtures and have probably

(02:00):
acquiesce to the broadcast as timing needs. But Super Rugby
Pacific isn't ality. Bills need to be paid, and there
is one certainty here. Let's not forget this. There will
be one winner. Regardless of how they scale their lofty peak,

(02:23):
whatever steps they had to take, whatever angles they had
to go through, none of that matters in the wash up,
not one iota, not one sausage. The champion of twenty
twenty five will be remembered, not how they got there.
That'll do.

Speaker 1 (02:41):
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