Can we go to 16 for the World Cup?

[Fui!!!]

For me it has to be 12 teams in 3 pools of four. I would break it down in the following:

Example

Pool 1
Aus (1)
Eng (3)
Fiji (5)
Irel (12)


Pool 2
NZ (2)
PNG (4)
Fra (6)
Wales (11)

Pool 3
Cooks (7)
Lebanon (8)
Samoa (9)
Tonga (10)

Top of pool 1 automatically goes through to SFs. Second in pools 1 & 2 play-off against top two in pool 3. This makes a balanced comp with all three pools competitive. It also has the top six seeds fighting for 2 automic SF place and 2 SF qualifying places. Pool 3 is competitive and rewarded with SF qualifying play-off places.

I don't like this idea of rewarding some teams more than others. It should be like the FIFA world cup. Groups selected at Random. Everyone gets the same treatment.

 

[Goddo]

Who are the ten non-Australians in the union team? Are you saying that only people born in Australia should be able to represent Australia - even the children of bona fide migrants are not Australian enough?

No you disilusioned union apologist.

My point was more for those who are against Australian NRL players representing other countries. My point was that it occurs just as frequently in other codes as it does in RL and as such isn't as big a problem as what some people make it out to be.

On the wanna-bes, one bloke is 23 came here at 15, the rest of his family lives in NZ, knows the words to the kiwi anthem, regularily spends time in NZ. Hardly Australian, but we claim him and there is no problem with it:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...on-calls-oz-home/story-e6frey4i-1225788972557

Union sucks balls anyways. why are we talking about it?

 

[adamkungl]

Agreed Goddo. Nation hopping is the main problem. If an Australian born with French parents/grandparents or whatever wants to play for France, then he should be allowed. Just don't allow him to play for Australia later on down the track.

If anything, we should be encouraging this to strengthen the international game.

 

[crimpo]

I don't like this idea of rewarding some teams more than others. It should be like the FIFA world cup. Groups selected at Random. Everyone gets the same treatment.

FIFA select the groups in the World Cup at anything but random. The teams are very carefully streamed.

 

[Goddo]

Agreed Goddo. Nation hopping is the main problem. If an Australian born with French parents/grandparents or whatever wants to play for France, then he should be allowed. Just don't allow him to play for Australia later on down the track.

If anything, we should be encouraging this to strengthen the international game.

I agree totally. Druzik had a good idea, if a player is eligable for 2 nations, make him pick one, then lock him in for 4 years.

eg someone eligable for Samoa and Australia chooses to play for Samoa in the world cup. He is then locked into the Pacific cup for 2 years, then the rest year before WC. The next WC he can play for Australia if he is good enough, but at that stage he is 4 years older and may just stay with Samoa.

 

[Evil Homer]

FIFA select the groups in the World Cup at anything but random. The teams are very carefully streamed.

It's seeded, but no one group is more important than the other and everyone has an equal change, I think that's what he was getting at.

If it's financially viable, I would love to see a 16 team WC with four groups, each one containing a top four seed, a second four seed, a third four seed and a lower four seed, with the groups drawn randomly. Hopefully we will be able to achieve this in two WC's time.

 

[Goddo]

It's seeded, but no one group is more important than the other and everyone has an equal change, I think that's what he was getting at.

If it's financially viable, I would love to see a 16 team WC with four groups, each one containing a top four seed, a second four seed, a third four seed and a lower four seed, with the groups drawn randomly. Hopefully we will be able to achieve this in two WC's time.

Thats the aim i think. But to get there, we need 6 teams to be good enough to win it to make sure the quality, fans, corporates are there. No one wants to watch a 16 team comp where only 2 sides are competative.

Imagine the NRL where every team was like cronulla in 2009 all year except two who would be like the storm that inevitably win the comp. We need the quality first.

 

[wain]

Looks like we will find out soon enough...


League looks to expand World Cup

By STEVE KILGALLON in Leeds - The Dominion Post Expanding the World Cup, by at least two teams and possibly as many as six, is atop the agenda at today's International Rugby League Federation meeting in Paris.
Resolving the thorny issue of international eligibility – a debate which will particularly interest New Zealand – will also be discussed.
The game's world ruling body has gathered for the first of two meetings – their last for at least six months – and is expected to make some significant decisions during the next week.
Adding teams to the World Cup would be a major call, given the failure of a 16-team tournament in Britain in 2000 and the success of last year's 10-team affair in Australia.
The British have secured hosting rights for 2013, and will deliver their plans for the event to the meeting. It is understood some officials may favour increasing the number of teams to 12, and some even back to 16 – raising the spectre of such one-sided affairs as Australia's 110-4 defeat of Russia in the 2000 event.
Part of the success of last year's World Cup was the close-scoring nature of every game, with the pools "loaded" so that England, Australia and New Zealand met in a "Super pool".
League's much derided and rather clouded eligibility rules allow players to change national allegiance once in each World Cup cycle, but even this loose ruling appears to have been exploited.
Current Kiwis prop Fuifui Moimoi played for Tonga in 2006, the Kiwis in 2007, went to court and successfully argued to play for Tonga in the 2008 World Cup, and is back with New Zealand in 2009. Moimoi was born in Tonga but qualified for New Zealand on residency grounds, living in Auckland between 1997 and 2003.
Federation chairman Colin Love did not return calls, but earlier had confirmed both issues were on the agenda, as well as plans for next year's Four Nations in Australia and New Zealand and the funding of worldwide development.
NZRL chairman Scott Carter and vice-chairman Ray Haffenden – who is on the federation's executive committee – will represent New Zealand at the meeting. The pair flew to Toulouse just five hours before kickoff in the Kiwis game against France on Saturday evening and straight into a formal lunch with French officials.
Meanwhile, Kiwi physio Hamish Craighead said medical staff suspected centre Steve Matai had suffered bruising rather than a broken bone, and that the Kiwis had no other injury concerns ahead of Sunday morning's match against Great Britain.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/3023966/League-looks-to-expand-World-Cup

 

[roopy]

Thanks for putting that up Wain.
I seem to be on my own, but I have no doubt that we need to be bold and go for 16 and keep the super group for now.
As the old saying goes 'there is a tide in the affairs of men...' and if we don't catch the wave we are in for a long swim.

 

[babyg]

Go for 16. The super pool fixes any huge blow outs.

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

How do you structure 16 with a Super Pool, then?

Super Pool 1 and 2 go through to Semi-Finals?

Super Pool 3 and the top team from each of the other 3 pools play two Quarter-Finals, with the winners meeting Super 1 and 2 in the semis?

Would that be it?

 

[roopy]

How do you structure 16 with a Super Pool, then?

Super Pool 1 and 2 go through to Semi-Finals?

Super Pool 3 and the top team from each of the other 3 pools play two Quarter-Finals, with the winners meeting Super 1 and 2 in the semis?

Would that be it?

I'll have a shot.
5 groups.
Super group of four teams.
4 groups of 3.
Winners of the four groups play each other - then best two play teams 3 and 4 of the super group for a semi spot.
Teams one and two of the super group go straight through to the semis.

 

[Rastus_in_Melbourne]

16 teams, how many groups. WGAF.

Just make it a one off game between Australia and NZ. That's who the final is going to be between anyway.

 

[dogz08]

Hows that AFL World Cup going?

 

[bender]

I'll have a shot.
5 groups.
Super group of four teams.
4 groups of 3.
Winners of the four groups play each other - then best two play teams 3 and 4 of the super group for a semi spot.
Teams one and two of the super group go straight through to the semis.

I am very undecided on the best format or numbers. I wouldnt say i am leaning towards 16, but i am starting to at least see some benefits.

I dont think that the super group is necessarilly as important in Britain as it is in the UK. The first thing to consider is the effect of the British sides. It is often forgotten because of the socalled failure of the 2000 world cup (dont forget, it only failed because Australia refused to allow tv rights to be sold and this meant no money was earned from TV rights which had already been sold. That isnt a concern this time) that Ireland vs Britain was watched by more people than any State of Origin game has ever been watched by. From memory it was about 9 million British viewers. This is indicating that with the right Promotion, England can get good interest in their games, even without playing Australia or New Zealand, who to be honest are probably getting a bit stale over there anyway (Quad nations crowds have not been overly well attended have they). Also, there is a potential to get good (or at least partially good) crowds for French home games against some of the non traditional sides. Austalia in their own group would always be a pretty good draw. And the Welsh showed in the 2000 wc they could get ok crowds also.

I think that format will be very important. I really like a top 5 semi final series with any number of teams, but it never really seems to get that much support on here so maybe it isnt as good an idea as i think.

Here is a bit of an out of the box idea, what about a 15 team world cup.

Group 1 Australia, Samoa, Tonga
Group 2 England, Scotland, Ireland
Group 3 New Zealand, Wales, France
Group 4 Russia, Fiji, Cook Islands
Group 5 USA, South Africa, Lebanon

Top 5 semi finals (top 3 decided on point spread). 4 & 5 to come from Group 4 & 5. This would also allow a bowl and plate semifinal series to be played as undercards or stand alone games. This format allows the required spread of countries (US, South Africa, Russia) and also avoids the mismatch scenarios as well. In fact, if you really wanted, you could stagger the qualifying groups so that the likes of Japan, serbia (not that this is the way i would go). Is there any support for this sort of format or should it go on the scrap heap?

 

[whatsdoing1982]

This is the best option financially, spectators and international development.

Teams example only.

Group 1: Aus, NZ, Eng, PNG
Group 2: Fiji, Wales, Ireland, Samoa
Group 3: France, Scotland, Tonga, Lebanon

3 rounds over 3 weeks

Winner and runner up of group 1 through to semi's
Third in group 1 plays winner of Group 2
4th in group 1 plays winner of group 3

- 6 week comp in total
- 4th team in group one still make the semi's
- All close games
- Maximum games with no byes therefore more profit
- All teams get 3 games minimum

2017 work towards 16 teams

 

[wain]

This is the best option financially, spectators and international development.

Teams example only.

Group 1: Aus, NZ, Eng, PNG
Group 2: Fiji, Wales, Ireland, Samoa
Group 3: France, Scotland, Tonga, Lebanon

3 rounds over 3 weeks

Winner and runner up of group 1 through to semi's
Third in group 1 plays winner of Group 2
4th in group 1 plays winner of group 3

- 6 week comp in total
- 4th team in group one still make the semi's
- All close games
- Maximum games with no byes therefore more profit
- All teams get 3 games minimum

2017 work towards 16 teams

if we go the super pool, this version has to be the go...its not right that the 4th best team doesnt get a crack at the finals, just becuase of who it is pooled with (as with PNG last year)...

 

[kiwileaguefan]

No no no no NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

12 teams please!! Lets just develop all these nations first and not throw them to the lions like Russia and Cook Islands got in 2000.

Lets be realestic, only Wales, Lebanon and maybe Cook Islands would be up to a high enough standard to join the RLWC.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

No no no no NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

12 teams please!! Lets just develop all these nations first and not throw them to the lions like Russia and Cook Islands got in 2000.

Lets be realestic, only Wales, Lebanon and maybe Cook Islands would be up to a high enough standard to join the RLWC.

Exactly right, maybe in 10-15 years time others might be good enough, but baby steps is whats needed.

 

[VictoryFC]

You say league are the only ones that do this, but union is pretty bad too. there is something like 10 non-Australians and a kiwi coach in the team heading to England right now. Soccer is just as bad. We just need to put our foot down a bit more, and make it financially atractive to play for teams other than Australia and lock them in.

What rubbish. Where did you fish that one from? There are a few naturalized players among FIFA associates.

League doesn't have the talent pool, so these rules have to be relaxed. It has to start somehow, and naturalizing players with ridiculous rules should be encouraged, at least for now.