Media want ABs in Super14 – Or Else!

So now the fate of rugby ratings around the world rests on the shoulders of 22 men from New Zealand? Give me a break.

Graham Henry’s plan to rest his All Black stars could lead to court action against the New Zealand Rugby Union if television ratings for this year’s Super 14 fall.

South African TV network Supersport has told the Weekend Herald it is prepared to take action to recoup any losses should viewer numbers drop when the competition starts in two weeks.

And the Rupert Murdoch-controlled News Ltd has said it will take on the NZRU for it.

Supersport chief executive Imtiaz Patel said the 1.7 million-subscriber network was disappointed the top 22 All Blacks, including Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw, would not play in the first seven rounds.

^{Absent All Blacks spark lawsuit threat – NZ Herald}

If this is the case, then New Zealand should be getting an even bigger slice of the IRB’s income and take home half the income of SANZAR. If 22 men from New Zealand are going to affect the ratings of the Super 14 by that much, then New Zealand should be getting paid more to perform.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter much. Based on last years performance, the Super 14 teams that have players in the All Blacks squads don’t need to play their All Blacks to win. We’d already started the test series during last years Super 14 which meant a lot of the All Blacks were unavailable for many Super 14 teams. Yet even then a New Zealand team still won the tournament.

Its a seriously bad day when media wants and needs come before player welfare and health. 2006 was one of the longest years for International rugby in history. These boys are fully deserving of their break. How many other teams in 2006 won every international game except one against South Africa? How many other teams hold every major and minor trophy they competed for in 2006? How many other teams toured Europe undefeated?

And now some media boss in South Africa wants to force these guys to start playing again after only a very short break?

Take a jump, Mr Patel. This is a World Cup year and there is no way the NZRU is going to allow your wallet to dictate the health and safety of the best players in the world.

Some people…. <rolls eyes>