Unfair advantage
Australia wants to change Tri-Nations format
Posted: Tuesday July 21, 1998 11:46 AM
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The Australian Rugby Union says it will push for the current system of staging a match each weekend to be changed to playing every second week Jamie McDonald/Allsport |
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- Australia wants to change the format for the annual Tri-Nations rugby series after their one-point defeat by South Africa last weekend.
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) says it will push for the current system of staging a match each weekend to be changed to playing every second week.
ARU managing director John O'Neill said the problem with the existing schedule was that it disadvantaged the team playing successive matches.
"I believe playing the game every second week would improve the spectacle of the game because each team would be fresh and ready to go after an extra week's break," O'Neill told the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday.
"At the moment, the team which has to double up in a week is in an unfair situation."
Australia lost 14-13 to South Africa in Perth on Saturday just seven days after they had beaten New Zealand 24-16 in Melbourne.
O'Neill said the matter would be discussed at next month's SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) meeting in Sydney.
He said the three unions had all voiced their concerns about the difficulties of backing up in matches, particularly when they had to travel to away games.
O'Neill predicted South Africa would experience the same problem when they traveled to New Zealand this weekend.
"To expect them to be at their best against the All Blacks next Saturday is a tall order," O'Neill said.
"I discussed the idea with [South Africa coach] Nick Mallett on Saturday night after the Perth test and we both agreed that the current system is somewhat unfair."
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