Aussie prop backs round-robin system
Waratahs prop Tom Robertson has called for Super Rugby to return to the round-robin format that made it the best professional rugby competition in the world.
Robertson bristled at Kiwi sentiments that New Zealand’s superior teams were disadvantaged by the current three-conference format but agreed that a round-robin system would result in a ‘‘much more even’’ competition.
‘‘That’s their point of view but hopefully we just beat them and they can see how that talk goes,’’ he said.
‘‘I understand what they’re saying but at the same time they do get two or three teams through each year generally and they’re generally pretty good teams too.’’
New Zealand would field four teams in the quarterfinals next week, leaving out only the Blues, who are the second lowest-ranked team on points.
Still, it is the question of home semifinals that most rankles the New Zealanders. Home games in the final four are awarded to the top two among the three conference winners at the end of the regular season, not the top two teams on points.
So the Waratahs, again on current standings, will host a home semi-final if they progress past the quarters, despite the fact they are ranked below three New Zealand teams on points.
A return to the simplest round-robin format, in which each team would play every other team once, would remove both measures – the guaranteed home quarter-final and the chance to secure a home semifinal.
Speaking as the Waratahs prepare to host the Brumbies in their final regular season match of the year, Robertson backed All Blacks captain Kieran Read, who spoke out last week about making the competition ‘‘fairer’’.
‘‘It’s probably not my place to say with all the travel – it’s pretty expensive to send blokes all around the world – but I’d love to see that [round robin],’’ Robertson said.
‘‘You play everyone once, you get one shot unless you play them in the finals. That would make it a lot more even.
‘‘Obviously you get more TV [revenue] and stuff with the derbies and [playing each team] home and away ... but from a playing perspective that’s the ideal comp.
‘‘You play everyone once, pick your top eight going into the finals and that’s it. That would be a lot simpler I think.’’