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Rugby World Cup 2015
The World Cup format, going forward
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<blockquote data-quote="vasysm" data-source="post: 756149" data-attributes="member: 73342"><p>Judging from the experience of the last editions, there is always talk about the unfairness of scheduling in 5-team groups.</p><p></p><p>Some have proposed to reduce the World Cup to 16 teams, but this, in my opinion, would make rugby go the way of cricket, with a huge gap between top and bottom national teams and the inevitable elitism.</p><p></p><p>Therefore, let's get radical. How about 24 teams in the World Cup?</p><p></p><p>6 groups of 4 teams each, meaning 3 group matches for everyone, scheduled with 4 days of rest between them.</p><p></p><p>At the end of the group stage, 16 teams move on to Round 2: top 2 in the group and the best 4 standings-wise of 3rd place teams. 8 teams are eliminated.</p><p></p><p>Round 2 has 8 matches. Winners proceed to quarters, semis and the final. No 3rd place match.</p><p></p><p>Teams which lose in Round 2 enter a Shield competition with its own quarter-final draw, awarding the Shield finalists automatic qualification to the next World Cup.</p><p></p><p>Shield final should be played before the Cup final, on the same stadium, and the Shield tournament should have its own trophy and prize.</p><p></p><p>A 6-week schedule could accomodate such a tournament, with rest between matches reduced by a day mostly, but fair for all teams involved.</p><p></p><p>This would create less lopsided matches and a meaningful competition for minnow teams, which would play in tight matchups for the automatic qualification spots and a shot at Finals Day glory on the best arena.</p><p></p><p>With 10 teams qualifying for next World Cup out of 24 (instead of 12 out of 20), the qualifying process would be open to more teams and would help growing the game worldwide.</p><p></p><p>This format would mean 36 group stage fixtures, 8 in Round 2, 8 in Cup and Shield quarters, 4 in Cup and Shield semis and the 2 finals, for a total of 58 matches.</p><p></p><p>How does it sound?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="vasysm, post: 756149, member: 73342"] Judging from the experience of the last editions, there is always talk about the unfairness of scheduling in 5-team groups. Some have proposed to reduce the World Cup to 16 teams, but this, in my opinion, would make rugby go the way of cricket, with a huge gap between top and bottom national teams and the inevitable elitism. Therefore, let's get radical. How about 24 teams in the World Cup? 6 groups of 4 teams each, meaning 3 group matches for everyone, scheduled with 4 days of rest between them. At the end of the group stage, 16 teams move on to Round 2: top 2 in the group and the best 4 standings-wise of 3rd place teams. 8 teams are eliminated. Round 2 has 8 matches. Winners proceed to quarters, semis and the final. No 3rd place match. Teams which lose in Round 2 enter a Shield competition with its own quarter-final draw, awarding the Shield finalists automatic qualification to the next World Cup. Shield final should be played before the Cup final, on the same stadium, and the Shield tournament should have its own trophy and prize. A 6-week schedule could accomodate such a tournament, with rest between matches reduced by a day mostly, but fair for all teams involved. This would create less lopsided matches and a meaningful competition for minnow teams, which would play in tight matchups for the automatic qualification spots and a shot at Finals Day glory on the best arena. With 10 teams qualifying for next World Cup out of 24 (instead of 12 out of 20), the qualifying process would be open to more teams and would help growing the game worldwide. This format would mean 36 group stage fixtures, 8 in Round 2, 8 in Cup and Shield quarters, 4 in Cup and Shield semis and the 2 finals, for a total of 58 matches. How does it sound? [/QUOTE]
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Rugby World Cup 2015
The World Cup format, going forward
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