u/northernirish_kiwi

What if each Super Rugby team took one of their home games and played it in a place that doesn’t usually get Super Rugby?

Like Force vs Crusaders in Darwin.

Not really about expanding the comp, more just opening the game up to different audiences who wouldn’t normally get to see it live.

It feels like it could create some great atmospheres and give different regions a proper taste of top-level rugby, while still keeping most games at home bases.

Worth doing, or does it mess too much with the idea of a “home” game?

Assuming all players are fit and available for selection, keen to hear thoughts on this as a potential All Blacks 23 for the Nations Championship fixtures against France, Italy and Ireland:

1. Williams
2. Taylor
3. Newell
4. S Barrett
5. Holland
6. Blackadder
7. Savea (CC)
8. Sititi
9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Carter
12. J Barrett (CC)
13. Ioane
14. Tangitau
15. Jordan

Impact

16. de Groot
17. Taukei'aho
18. Lomax
19. Lord
20. Lio-Willie
21. Fainga'anuku
22. Hotham
23. McKenzie

Rationale

I like the idea of using Fainga'anuku as a genuine hybrid impact option. He could cover the backline, but also bring the kind of physical flexibility you see from players like André Esterhuizen or Kwagga Smith, where the bench gives you more than just standard positional cover. It could also give the All Blacks more options around set piece and late-game matchups.

I’ve left Fehi Fineanganofo out of this 23 due to him heading overseas, otherwise he would definitely be in the conversation.

Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell are options as injuries start to dictate selection, given they would need to be exempted from NPC games as they are coming back from overseas.

I’d also be interested in the idea of co-captains, with Ardie Savea leading from the forwards and Jordie Barrett leading from the backs. It gives leadership across both sides of the team and allows different voices to lead in different areas of the game.

If a singular captain had to be named, I’d go with Codie Taylor. To me, an All Blacks captain should always carry high mana, and Codie fills that role. He has the respect, experience and presence you want from someone leading the jersey.

What would you change?

If an ANZAC Day Test gets off the ground, should the first couple be in Canberra and Wellington?

They are where each country leads from, which feels fitting for a fixture that is meant to reflect shared history. Whilst the Bledisloe Cup matters, this would be about that connection first, not just another Test.

There is also a case that starting in those cities gives the game its own identity. If it opens in Auckland or Sydney, it risks feeling like a rebranded Bledisloe straight away.

Atmosphere is another factor. Both venues would likely lean into the occasion rather than just the event, which might matter more in the early years than raw crowd size.

You could argue the opposite and go straight to the biggest stadiums to maximise impact from day one.

Keen to hear what people think. Start in Canberra and Wellington to set the tone, or go big immediately?

If this fixture happens, should it start in Canberra and Wellington?

They feel like natural hosts given what the game represents. Whilst the Bledisloe Cup is important, this would lean more into the shared history between the two countries than just the rivalry.

It might also help the fixture stand on its own early. Starting in Sydney or Auckland could make it feel like just another Bledisloe with a different label.

From a Kiwi’s perspective, Canberra being close to Sydney could actually work in its favour. It is still accessible enough that people would travel, so you are not necessarily sacrificing crowd numbers while giving the capital a marquee event. That’s just my opinion though.

On the flip side, bigger cities mean bigger crowds and a stronger launch.

What would you rather see. Build it in Canberra and Wellington first, or go straight to the main stadiums?

How are we all feeling about the idea of making Ōtautahi Christchurch the long-term home of Super Round?

With how well it seems to work there, the atmosphere, the crowds, the centralised setup, and just the general vibe of the city, it feels like it is becoming more than just a one-off “host rotation” stop.

On one hand, locking it in could give the Super Rugby Super Round a real identity and consistency year to year. On the other hand, part of the appeal has always been the novelty of moving it around different cities across the competition.

Should Super Round stay in Ōtautahi Christchurch for the long term, and should it also be set on ANZAC weekend every year?