Things That Have to Happen for the Greater Good
01 BLUES COME RIGHT
The Blues have to get their act together. New Zealand needs a strong Auckland and Super Rugby needs a strong Blues.
Auckland drives the economy and rugby needs to be strong in the financial hub of the country.
The Blues have been a bad joke for a decade and everyone is ready to give up on them. Significant changes have been made at a governance level and also in their coaching team.
There has to be some evidence that these changes are having an impact...like the defence has to be way less crap than it was. They have to be able to score tries, win their lineout ball and actually look like they have spent the week training.
02 EQUITY PROVEN IN OUTCOME
The two best teams have to reach the final. It happened last year when the Crusaders met the Lions and it helped that the final was in Christchurch as it would have been a bad joke if it hadn’t been.
For too long Super Rugby has had a farcical element with crap teams being protected by stupid rules that have seen play-offs gifted to teams with fewer competition points than their opponent.
The fact the Crusaders, who were head and shoulders the best team, won at home, deflected the nonsense that saw the Highlanders playing their quarter-final in Sydney despite finishing the first phase with significantly more competition points than the Waratahs.
When things end up with the right outcome it tends to justify the means.
03 REFEREES STICKING TO CLEAR AND OBVIOUS
Referees have to keep making decisions for themselves and be brave enough to only worry about the clear and obvious.
Rugby descends into farce when referees stand in the ingoal area, hand glued to their ear hoping to hear the TMO make the big calls for them.
Super Rugby is fast and furious and it needs quick decisions that are decisive.