Former Australian Rugby Union chairman John O’Neill yesterday called for the teams based in Argentina and Japan to be dumped from the Super Rugby competition, along with a South Africa-based side, as the second day of the new season concluded.
As the SANZAAR organizers grapple with a way forward for the 18-team, five-nation championship, O’Neill said they should return to a 15-team format.
O’Neill said he fears the far-flung competition, beset with problems over its unwieldy conference structure and exhausting travel schedules, is losing its tribalism.
Photo: AFP
He has accused the organizers of trying to please everyone, including World Rugby.
“It will take some very bold decisionmaking,” O’Neill told the Daily Telegraph, imploring Australian administrators to stand strong against calls to axe one of their own five teams.
“Am I suggesting it’s an easy solution? No, it’s not, but you cannot continue with an 18-team competition, which isn’t even a genuine competition,” he said.
O’Neill was referring to the competition’s convoluted four-conference structure and fixture schedule that means the Golden Lions and the Southern Kings of South Africa will not play against any team from New Zealand during this regular season.
O’Neill said it was time for a serious rethink.
“What is the best competition structure that is ultimately and unambiguously in the best interests of Australian rugby?” he asked. “Personally, I would not have agreed with South Africa going to six teams. That’s a domestic issue that they should have been told to sort out.”
He said the current format across five countries and 17 times zones with matches being played from Thursday to Sunday was flawed.
“Latitudinal competitions — east-west competitions — do not work,” he said, suggesting Australia should even look at a better trans-Tasman option that included Pacific and Asian teams.
The new season began on Thursday with the Auckland Blues thrashing the Melbourne Rebels 56-18 in Australia, while James Lowe pounced on two wayward passes to give the Waikato Chiefs a 24-15 victory over a wasteful Otago Highlanders side.
In the late game in Brisbane yesterday, the Queensland Reds beat South Africa’s Coastal Sharks 28-26.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care