From the high five to the Super six?
OPINION: Since its inception in 1996, six new teams have been added to Super Rugby, but not one new team in New Zealand.
The expansion has not been good for the game with player depth in Australia and South Africa exposed.
But player depth is not an issue in New Zealand. The national provincial championship proved the quality of players in the country after the naming of Super Rugby sides earlier this month, a significant number of quality players were left without contracts.
Yes Super Rugby expansion has been a negative for the quality of the competition and has affected what should be the focal point of the New Zealand domestic season, the NPC.
But there is no chance of the competition heading back to its glory years as a 12-team competition.
So what if New Zealand Rugby stood up and demanded another team?
There is little doubt a sixth New Zealand franchise would be of a higher quality than many of the competition’s bottom feeders remember, even New Zealand conference strugglers the Blues lost just one game against non-kiwi opposition in 2016.
The concept of the Central Vikings could be re-established.
But this time rather than an illfated attempt to align Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu into one provincial union, the two centres, Napier and Palmerston North, were used to host a Super Rugby side.
Even if the Vikings were to pick over the scraps left once the other New Zealand sides locked in players, there is still the nucleus of a solid side.
I put together a squad of 36 players who all were on the outer for 2017 contracts.
And while the team may lack star names, it has plenty of experience.
It features 13 players with previous Super Rugby experience, 17 who have turned out for the New Zealand under-20s and eight who have played for the New Zealand sevens team, not to mention one former All Black.
Despite the squad being dominated by young players, there are 12 with Super Rugby experience, 13 who have played for the New Zealand Under 20s and four for the New Zealand sevens team.
New Zealand Maori hooker Joe Royal would hold down the No 2 jersey over the promising Asafo Aumua from Wellington and Steven Misa from Waikato.
The front row would be tough to move with the likes of Marcel Renata, Aidan Ross, Fraser Armstrong,
"There is little doubt that a sixth New Zealand franchise would be of a higher quality than many of the competition's bottom feeders."
Counties Manukau giant Kalolo Tuiloma, Fijian international Peni Ravai and future star Alex Fidow.
While the locking stocks were lighter, North Harbour captain Chris Vui and former Blues lock Hoani Matenga add class.
Former Blues flanker Onosa’i Auva’a would captain the team and be joined by strong-running Bay of Plenty No 8 Joe Tupe and hard-working Taranaki flanker Mitchell Crosswell.
At halfback there is a trio of Super Rugby-quality No 9s in Jono Hickey, Jamie Booth and Ere Enari.
The first five-eighth stocks took a hit when Auckland’s Simon Hickey announced he was returning to Bordeaux and Wellington’s Jackson Garden-bachop inked a deal with the Melbourne Rebels.
But with Bryn Gatland and TJ Va’a there is a duo with plenty of potential. Matt Mcghan and Luteru Laulala are also in the squad as outside backs and can cover No 10.
Michael Little’s surprise omission from a Super Rugby contract was a bonus for the Vikings, with former Blues midfielder Hamish Northcott, former Chiefs centre
Sam Vaka and promising Tasman midfielder Alex Nankivell adding plenty of depth.
The outside backs are headlined by budding Hawke’s Bay star Jonah Lowe and former All Black Zac Guildford.
Sure, that side may struggle to beat any of their New Zealand opponents, but it would be good enough to at least knock off the Force, Kings, Cheetahs, Sunwolves and Jaguares.