Andrew Gourdie: My idea of Super Rugby

Hurricanes players celebrate their 2016 Super Rugby victory
Hurricanes players celebrate their 2016 Super Rugby victory

SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos tried to tell us earlier this week that Super Rugby is a "damn good competition".

That might be the view from up in SANZAAR Towers, but down on the ground it's hard to agree. Sure, some of the Rugby's great but the games are often lopsided, travel demands are ridiculous, and the format is a shambles. 

He also told us SANZAAR has never had a strategic plan which is shocking, but not at all surprising.

Broadcasters certainly haven't helped with the mess, but SANZAAR needs to get its house in order.

Super Rugby is the 1920's bungalow that's had so many renovations and extensions over the years that it's now barely recognisable from the house it originally was. Every "fix" has created another problem. You may as well bowl it and start again.  

So if you had a blank canvas, what would your shiny new Super Rugby house look like?  

I'll have a go. 

Super Rugby would remain an 18 team competition. It would feature two conferences: the Pacific Conference and the Atlantic Conference, each with nine teams. 

All teams in each conference play each other in a home and away round robin, with a couple of byes during the regular season. 

Let's start with the Pacific Conference. 

New Zealand would retain its five franchises - Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and the Highlanders. 

Australian Rugby's in crisis, and struggling for player depth. Time to consolidate.

The Western Force and the Rebels have to go.

Andrew Gourdie: My idea of Super Rugby
Andrew Gourdie: My idea of Super Rugby

(Images courtesy of Photosport)

The Waratahs, Reds, and Brumbies remain. 

Japan's Sunwolves complete the conference, which would see a dramatic reduction on the team's the travel demands. I Imagine there'd be a few kiwi coaches happy about this idea too. 

Then there's the Atlantic Conference. Bear with me. 

South Africa's broadcast money rules the SANZAAR roost, so they get to keep their six teams. 

Andrew Gourdie: My idea of Super Rugby

(Photosport)

Argentina's Jaguares will join them, along with TWO new U.S. franchises based in Chicago and Boston.

Given the efforts of NZ Rugby to provide exposure to the game in the "Windy City" it makes sense to have a team based in Chicago, and having another U.S. Franchise on the East Coast is crucial for developing internal competition, as well as ensuring the geographical functionality of the Atlantic Conference. 

Andrew Gourdie: My idea of Super Rugby

Boston's Fenway park - a possible location for a U.S based Super Rugby franchise (Photosport)

The top four from each conference advance to the quarter finals, which are hosted by the first and second-placed finishers.

Semi-finals, Final – done!

Easy! Heaps of kiwi derbies, the Aussie teams will be better. So clear, so easy to understand!

Players will spend a lot less time on aeroplanes, that's for sure.

It'd need a few concessions here and there. South Africa probably need a greater slice of the financial pie to help plug the player drain.

Maybe some NZ players who're considering a big European offer could be tempted with a marquee-type contract to lead one of the new U.S. franchises?

Perhaps NZ Rugby would allow player representing teams in the Atlantic Conference to remain eligible for the All Blacks?   

Ugh. Who am I kidding? 

Broadcasters and administrators would probably hate it. No one's going to agree to this, let alone get the unanimous support SANZAAR needs to make any changes. 

Makes you wonder: if everyone keeps worrying about their own backyard, will we ever get the house we want?

How would you fix Super Rugby? James McOnie and Andrew Gourdie put the spotlight on this from 2pm on Sunday Sport  including a chat with NZR boss Steve Tew on RadioLIVE .

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