For those who want to know how Super Rugby will work this year here's a video to explain it all for those of you who are still confused!
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I was watching the Super Rugby Extra time show and got me wondering.
Bar the divisional winners, will all the wildcard entrants be exclusively the 2nd placed teams in each division? Because we could have a situation where one division can be relatively poor for one season and its champion end up at a spot below 3rd. This would mean the strongest division could potentially have 3 teams instead of 2.
No, it is the top team from each division and then the next 3 best teams overall. It is essentially just the top six teams as I'm pretty sure in the history of Super Rugby each country has always had a team in the top six.
It does disadvantage us but I'm not too worried about that. The best teams will win through in the end. It is the price to pay for a longer season which can compete with the other Australian football codes and more local derbies.
It also puts Southern Hemisphere rugby in a better position money-wise in relation to the North; hopefully with somewhat bigger salaries less of our players will be lured up North and with the need for greater depth we will see our youngsters get more chances at top flight rugby- well either that or exhausted senior players and both are likely.
My only gripe is the loss in relevance of the CC and NZ provinvial championships. But I expect both will weather the storm as both are so ingrained in the rugby culture of our nations and you can't have your bread buttered both sides (although I sometimes do - I love butter).
With the Reds winning the cup, does this mean next season they versus 4 higher ranked teams (of this season) or is it completely random?