Super-12 or Tri-Nations, which one do you like more?

[OldFanatic]

As the Super-12 final comes near, with another Tri-nations season to follow, I'm wondering: Which one provides more excitement for you?

For me, it has to be the Tri-nations. I feel the crowd atmosphere is better for Tri-nations, especially Wallabies-All Blacks matchups. Don't get me wrong, there has been some incredibly good football played in Super-12 this season (the Brumbies vs Warratahs match few weeks ago comes to mind first). But some of the intra-national club matchups, especially involving the South African teams don't generate as much excitement.

The only drawback of Tri-nations is that not a lot of the Polynesian (Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, ...) talent is visible through these, if those players haven't managed to aquire a New Zealand citizenship. And I do believe there is a lot of great untapped talent there.

[OldFanatic]

Ha! 26 viewers, but not a single vote? (The only vote so far is mine.) I suppose not a lot of viewers here have gone through a full Tri-Nations season. Also, it remains to be seen how well the Super-12 final playes out this weekend. I'll bump this thread again after the Tri-Nations season starts.

[BhoysFC1995]

chill out dude ;) ! i just came across this thread. i pick tri-nations. as for reasons you stated. its just more exciting for me to read, watch and follow when its national teams compared to club teams.

[Andy TAUS]

chill out dude ;) ! i just came across this thread. i pick tri-nations. as for reasons you stated. its just more exciting for me to read, watch and follow when its national teams compared to club teams.BhoysFC1995,

Don't mean to be picky, but Super12 is not club level (eg Randwick in Sydney or Brothers in Brisbane) but provincial (somewhat higher than club).

A bit like the various conferences in American Football (in the NFL & AFL) putting together teams to play amongst themselves, but including similar groups in other countries (eg Canada).

I follow both for different reasons and have no preference between the two.

Cheers.

Andy T.

[BhoysFC1995]

andy,

i know, super 12 is sort of like the champions league (soccer) and while the tri is national teams. like in soccer, i just think its overall more exciting seeing national teams.

[Mr Hanki's Throne]

I think the smaller number of games means more excitement for the Tri-Nations, automatically, since every game gets a significance that can be easily grasped. The small number of games (6) also makes it more exciting than a one-off test match. The recurring nature of the tournament (annually) makes more exciting than a touring series, which are irregular. You know that every year there is a preparation cycle, selection of coaches, players jocking for position, to satisfy the requirements of the tournament. Players who fail to gain the roster know there will be another cycle of preparation to get psyched up for in several months. I think all of these factors converge for Tri-Nations.

[Craig the Aussie]

For me it is the Tri-Nations, as they are actually representing their countries.

While I am from NSW I find it hard to get over excited as the Waratahs are not a true NSW representative team. In a true, old-fashioned representative game most of the ACT Brumbies would be wearing the sky-blue jersey.

The down side of the Tri-Nations is that it has pretty much eliminated the old tours - when a Wallaby team would go to NZ and play a test series, plus games against the provincial sides, or even better when they did a full home countries tour.