D'Arcy Waldegrave: People are too quick to shoot down the new Super Rugby system

The All Sport Breakfast

Someone always has a better idea. There is always an expert out there who knows best. Invariably it’s a detached non-stakeholder who claims to know the lay of the land better than the decision makers in the thick of the action. Such as people who understand the vagaries, the implications, the weight of the final call around key arrangements in competition structure and policy.

Yesterday the format for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season was released from its cage to roam amongst the public and the media.

The criticisms and ‘superior concept’ brigade sprang into action, decrying the masterplan, immediately looking for fishhooks and pulling apart the minutiae, expressing their concern and presenting what in their opinion, would be a superior competition build.

All strength to their arm, but it’s like naming an All Black team, your side doesn’t have to play, and you don’t know the finer details of team dynamics or the mechanics around playbook philosophy.

I’m not suggesting that people’s opinions are not valid or shouldn’t be aired. We’re all entitled to weigh into the discourse as we are the target. We’re the fans, we pay the bills, we’re particularly important. We are the why. I’m merely stating that in this situation, this fraught cobbling together of a scratchy competition, Super Rugby Pacific haven’t just pulled this structure out of a bin at the 2-dollar shop. They are in possession of every piece of a complex puzzle, so surely, they are in the best position to put it together in a manner which takes into account a gamut of requirements.

They have the most to lose here. This isn’t tiddlywinks, this is the preeminent rugby competition of the southern hemisphere.

People are too quick to shoot down new systems. This new format has been designed to enhance the product, not detract from it.

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, and dessert isn't served until February.

Have a spoonful, and another, finish the dish and see how it tastes.

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