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AUSTRALIAN rugby players and officials believe the expanded Super 14 playoffs next year should only contain the six best teams - and not a guaranteed finals spot for each country.
Planning for the new Super 14 season remained on hold for franchises this week after a meeting of SANZAR bosses in Sydney failed to agree on the format for the tournament's new finals set-up.
With the playoffs set to grow from four to six teams in 2009, Australia and New Zealand believe adding the next two highest-ranked sides is the obvious solution.
But a spanner in the works is a South African proposal that a "conference" system be considered, in which every country gets a spot in the playoffs.
This idea could conceivably see a team outside the top six - possibly as low as eleventh - qualify ahead of a top-six team on the basis of them being the best finisher in their country.
It's understood South Africa are concerned about the potential of no rugby in their market for up to a month if no South African team makes the finals.
But while three conferences - in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - are likely to be used in an expanded Super 15 in 2010, the ARU and NZRU believe a geographical qualification next year would be confusing to fans.
NSW Rugby boss Jim L'Estrange said the Waratahs' preference would be to reward the best teams. "Moving into 2009, I think first to sixth is an easy model and can be implemented immediately," he said.
"They are the first six past the post and have proved their best worth over a tiring season."
Rugby Union Players' Association boss Tony Dempsey concurs.
"RUPA's preference and our members' preference is a top six, irrespective of where they are located geographically," Dempsey said.
Given all three countries usually get a team in the top six - South Africa in 2002 the sole exception - the Africans are believed to be more intent on securing a guaranteed home final. But this too could see an unfair scenario where the sixth-placed team hosts a fourth-placed team.
Dempsey also baulks at this compromise. "It wouldn't recognise merit, or promote excellence and it wouldn't be our preference, that's for sure. Fair's fair - you have to recognise those teams who have done well through the year," he said.
It is hoped the issue will be resolved in a SANZAR phone hook-up later this month. Also on the agenda are further talks about what ELVs will be used in the Super 14.
The South Africans are keen to scrap the use of the full ELVs - notably the sanctions - but the issue remained "a work in progress".
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