News
Boks propose Tri-Nations schedule change
August 21 2008
South African administrators have proposed a schedule modification to the Tri-Nations that could see the All Blacks spend an additional week in South Africa next year.
The move comes as the Springboks try to level the playing fields in the Tri-Nations after complaining for years that South Africa are at a disadvantage in terms of the travelling schedule of the southern hemisphere competition.
"We have proposed to SANZAR that a bye be included when New Zealand tour South Africa next year," said Springbok manager Andy Marinos.
In the current format of the extended Tri-Nations series the Springboks embark on a four-week tour of Australasia. The Wallaby and All Black teams by contrast will spend only two and three weeks respectively in South Africa.
"[The Springboks] will then play the All Blacks twice and the Wallabies once just after the tour by the British and Irish Lions," Marinos explained.
South African teams have complained since the start of the SANZAR tournament that the travel commitments favour the Australasian teams, and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers feels things need to change.
"[Travelling] will always favour them," said De Villiers.
"When they come here, the time difference favours them. They gain a day but we lose a day when we fly there.
"Then you also have to play, for financial reasons, on consecutive Saturdays," he added.
This year SA played on three successive Saturdays when they went to Australasia. There had however been talks about a bye during the tour, although the idea was not approved.
"SANZAR consists of three countries and the profits and losses should be shared," said Marinos.
"From a business point of view it was too expensive to include a bye.
"During the first extended Tri-Nations series in 2006 the Springboks spent an additional week in Sydney. But it means the tour is then extended to five weeks.
"Some players who are involved in the Super 14 competition already have a tour of five or six weeks behind them [when the Tri-Nations starts].
"It makes it more difficult; it's six of the one and half a dozen of the other," added Marinos.