Play Offs to move to neutral venues

[Ddanno]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c992m1d9gz8o

I like it, especially with the mooted cities of Liverpool and Brighton to get rugby to more places. I don't really understand the argument at the tail of the piece that clubs won't bother trying at the end of the season, you still want your players firing when there's a trophy on the line.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

If they're not going to be at home - then there's no need for the SFs at all.
No advantage to being better than other teams over the course of the season. Home advantage (and circa £1M) already wasn't really a big enough advantage for being better-over-the-season IMO.

Rugby really is doing its best to beat any enthusiasm out of me.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, I hate that - what's the point in striving for top 2?
Just removes more excitement from the season - with no relegation and that removed too, then it just removes a ton of interest from the latter parts of the season

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Stupid idea. I’m sure they will kill the premiership, just like they killed Europe, super rugby, the World Cup (with the stupid round of 16 and nothing pool games).

Why can’t they just have some better ideas.

 

[Brown Bottle]

...
Why can’t they just have some better ideas.

Or just stop having ideas.

 

[OllyM97]

Absolute b******s. So being the most consistent teams over the season now gives you no advantage whatsoever in the playoffs?. They’ve basically now decided that sporting merit is now irrelevant.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Can’t wait to see Newcastle v Sale in Brighton.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Absolute b******s. So being the most consistent teams over the season now gives you no advantage whatsoever in the playoffs?. They’ve basically now decided that sporting merit is now irrelevant.

Now?
They decided that when they finally killed off promotion & relegation.

Top 40% is all you need to call yourself "Champion"
Top 80% is all you need to gain entry to the "Champions' Cup"...

 

[Becca]

Pathetic idea

 

[Saintjay]

If they go with the idea the league winner gets money, or 1st, 2nd get a bigger slice of the pie from the neutral venue revenue. Then I'd be less miffed.

Still nothing they do is going to equal a Friday night semi-final game at the Gardens against Tigers.

 

[higgik]

All other major sports that have play off, (NRL, NFL, NBA, AFL), give home advantage to the higher ranked team.
Otherwise there is no point in trying to be top of the league, which would then mean more matches, where teams would 'calculate' what sort of team to put out, resting key players.

 

[Brown Bottle]

All other major sports that have play off, (NRL, NFL, NBA, AFL), give home advantage to the higher ranked team.
Otherwise there is no point in trying to be top of the league, which would then mean more matches, where teams would 'calculate' what sort of team to put out, resting key players.

Apart from the Top 14. A Rugby Union league.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Apart from the Top 14. A Rugby Union league.

Top 14 does give an advantage to the top 2 over 3/4 (and 3/4 over 5/6) though.

 

[higgik]

Top 14 does give an advantage to the top 2 over 3/4 (and 3/4 over 5/6) though.

Exactly what I was saying.
Just happens in T14 it is the top 2

 

[Brown Bottle]

Top 14 does give an advantage to the top 2 over 3/4 (and 3/4 over 5/6) though.

OK, I forgot about their 1/4 finals. But neutral 1/4 finals would be a step too far.