SUPER RUGBY TRANS-TASMAN … LET THE ANZAC BATTLES RESUME

Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa was the first course, and now rugby moves to a new, exciting and somewhat unknown new competition.

Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman will see the five New Zealand clubs taking on each of the five Australian Super sides – having not competed since early in 2020.

The format is simple – each New Zealand club will play each Australian club, but there is no local derby component.

The Australian sides comprise many of the old foe – led by new Super Rugby Australian champions the Reds from Queensland; the beaten finalists Brumbies from Canberra; the developing Melbourne Rebels; the exciting young NSW Waratahs and the return of the Western Force from Perth.

There is a final at the end of the five-week competition. The leading team has the hosting rights against the second placed team of the 10 competing clubs.

It might be two Australian teams in the final, or two New Zealand or one of each.

Points are as usual – 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw (there is NO golden point extra time). The bonus points are 1 Point for scoring a minimum three tries more than your opponent; and 1 Point for a loss by seven points or less.

With the nature of this short competition, bonus points are likely to be a significant factor, which may well encourage an attacking brand of rugby.

If teams are tied on points, the team to advance will be firstly decided on the side with the most wins in the competition. If still tied it will go to the points for and against differential. In the unlikely situation that there is still a tie, then it will be decided on the side with most tries in all matches; then the differential of tries for and against in all matches, and finally a coin toss.

And what about the rules? Well, two rules brought in to the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa competition will remain for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman. The goal-line dropout instead of a 5m scrum will continue as will the red card replacement rule, which allows for a replacement after 20 minutes. But there’s no Captain’s Challenge.

Let the Battle of the Tasman begin …