SANZAAR is a misnomer.
SANZAAR doesn't run Southern Hemisphere rugby.
SA, as in South Africa, does in big capital letters, with NZ in smaller letters. Also bracketed next to it should be: (Game's broadcasters the over-riding sugar daddies.)
The second A in SANZAAR can be erased, because Australia is an irrelevance. As shown by the endlessly farcical carry-on over whether Super Rugby teams are going to be cut or not, Australia is the silent -- very silent -- partner of this once potent but now silly partnership. We even hear on good authority that newcomers Argentina, via its one-time pugnacious halfback and now influential World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot, is even putting Australia in its place. Good Lord!
It is now several weeks after a SANZAAR strategic meeting in London which was supposed to sort out this mess, and still nothing -- absolutely nothing -- especially from the strait-jacketed Australian Rugby Union officials, whose only action is to hurl buckets of slop out of their Crows Nest bunker any time the media speculates which teams are about to get the chop.
In the meantime, more than 60 Australian players have absolutely no idea what their future holds as they wait for South African rugby officials -- or more precisely the South African Government -- to decide whether they will cut one or two of their own teams from this horribly bloated Super Rugby competition. The Australian players are understandably so stirred up there is now a viable threat of player strike action, while petitions are being organised in a bid to save their jobs.
If South Africa cuts teams, at least one Australian franchise will go -- and with it we'll have general mayhem. If South Africa wants their teams to stay, which is likely considering the Government's original push to get the waste-of-time Kings added to the competition, we are stuck with the same unappealing product. Then the broadcasters will have their say over whether they like what is being offered, or whether they demand compensation because they don't like what is being offered.
A long, complicated process has basically stuffed the Super Rugby season, and SANZAAR -- in which Australia once was a viable partner - is completely to blame after agreeing in the first place to an unworkable Super 18. Each decision made has direct Australian involvement -- as SANZAAR is a joint venture demanding unanimous decisions - so the ARU cannot blame SANZAAR for anything.
Now each day there is an overflow of divisive, derogatory reports about the game, and a dogpile of denials. Teams, such as the Cheetahs, are even blaming the uncertainty for them losing games. Some are using it to attack others, by saying there are ulterior motives when provinces whisper someone else is going. State governments are blowing up. And for good reason former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones is relishing telling his past ARU employers how they mucked it up by adding the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels.
"It's become too diluted. The great thing about Super Rugby when it was 'Super 12' was that it was the best players against the best players and the quality was so high," Jones said this week.
And Fast Eddie is 100 percent right.
Typical in response was the usual 'going absolutely nowhere' media statement from the ARU during the week as officials tried to douse media claims that the Force were about to get punted by stating "no decision has been taken on the removal of one of Australia's Super Rugby teams".
Does that mean the removal of two or more Australian teams? Or does that mean that nothing has actually been discussed? That's possible especially as the ARU board appears to have taken an 'asleep at the wheel' approach to governance in recent months.
It is high time the ARU board, comprising Cameron Clyne as chairman, Brett Robinson, Bill Pulver, Elizabeth Broderick, John Eales, Pip Marlow, Paul McLean, Ann Sherry and Geoff Stooke showed some leadership to come up with something to appease the masses -- particularly those they are supposed to represent, the players and the provinces.
Yes, I know some in the rugby fraternity would have absolutely no idea who several of these board members are -- and googling them wouldn't exactly satisfy the punters, either.
At least on the board are three former Australian Test players in Robinson, Eales and McLean, while Stooke, who boasts a long and deep association with the Force dating back to their notorious Firepower days, played for an eternity, including 850 -- yes 850 -- grade games.
You would assume these four at least should have some sympathy for the plight of the modern player -- especially with Eales and Robinson's careers having spanned the professional era. Surely, they must understand how fickle the player's lot is. How it is fraught with uncertainty. How it can change in a moment, especially with the threat of a crippling, career-threatening injury constantly hanging over them. How they must utilise that moment because their ability to make a living via rugby can change within seconds.
So now those at the Force, Brumbies and Rebels are not sure whether there is a future at their province. And adding to the irritation, they have been told by the ARU that contract negotiations must be put on hold as they wait, wait and wait some more for answers from elsewhere. In such uncertain times, they naturally want someone from the ARU board to tell them what's going on. Something. Anything. Not this prolonged stalling game.
I guarantee you those former footballers on the board wouldn't be happy if they had been placed in the same situation during their playing days. Several would be kicking up an almighty racket.
And they shouldn't be complaining if more Australian players say: "Stuff it, I'm out of here. Playing overseas is a far smarter, more settled and definitely more lucrative option."
They also can't complain if the Australian rugby player reservoir suddenly runs dry due to an exodus of local talent.
All this sorry mess proves is that SANZAAR -- I mean SAnz (Game's broadcasters the over-riding sugar daddies) -- needs to be dismantled. As shown by how it has mucked up Super Rugby, it's no longer serving its purpose and has instead become a blot on the once mighty Southern Hemisphere game.