Common sense goes out of the window with plans to stage Rugby Championship this year

So, it is on again. Probably. Reports on both sides of the Tasman last week suggest that Sanzaar intends to roll out plans to stage a Rugby Championship this year, after having the rug pulled from under its feet a month ago.

Senior player sources indicated to the Guardian that Sanzaar had been poised to announce its final plans, including a Queenstown bubble for the visiting sides, just before the re-emergence of Covid-19 in Auckland.

For once, in a sporting world governed by pay television money, it appeared common sense may be prevailing, albeit forced to some extent by government action. But not, apparently, anymore. If the tournament is held in New Zealand, and the venue is just one of the things that remains uncertain, the danger of importing the infection has not gone.

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Given New Zealand remains on a level two footing – which means sporting events without crowds – is the importation of three enlarged playing groups, complete with hangers on, worth it?

If New Zealand’s upcoming general election was in December, after the proposed start of the tournament, would the current Labour coalition be countenancing it? It is true that the government, and especially its rugby-loving sports minister Grant Robertson, have close relations with the New Zealand Rugby brass.

But politics aside; and even allowing for the not inconsiderable issue of union financing, for which a four or five match Bledisloe Cup series might compensate, there is the moral question. It is one rugby union needs to examine seriously, given the game always rushes to proclaim its virtue in refusing to compromise on strict values, something its supporters argue the rival code, rugby league, does not do.

Is the Rugby Championship a risk to both the local population, and its participants, whether the tournament is held in New Zealand, or in Australia, which is the back-up plan? From a player perspective, is it even fair?

Is it realistic to expect the Argentines and South Africans to leave their families, at the height of a global pandemic, for potentially up to two months, to play at a destination that is upwards of a day or more’s travel away given the limited flight schedules?

Clearly the South Africans are taking this seriously, following the weekend’s revelation from World Rugby vice chairman Bernard Laporte, of talks for the Springboks to play in the northern hemisphere’s Eight Nations tournament instead. The attraction is clear. It is closer, there are more flights to rush players home if needed, and the games are in a more favourable time-zone, which has always been the weakness of the Sanzaar model on the western side of the Indian Ocean.

Afternoon or evening games in Europe mean regular viewing time slots for South Africans, as opposed to morning telecasts from Australasia. One imagines the commercial value for broadcasters would be also be greater, which is good for South Africa but probably terminal long-term for the southern hemisphere alliance.

While the suggestion has been dismissed by Sanzaar, although interestingly not yet by SA Rugby, Laporte, who is arguably the most powerful figure in the game, would be in position to know what was going on.

Aligning with the north levels the playing field for the reigning world champions, given South African players have only just resumed contact training this week, while New Zealand has been playing since early June, and Australia a few weeks later.

Although rugby is underway north of the equator, the South Africans are only a few weeks behind. Tellingly, South African chief executive Jurie Roux acknowledged that providing a proper preparation so that the Boks are not compromised is an important consideration.

As reigning world champions, and Rugby Championship title holders, they have more to lose playing in a tournament distorted by the current circumstances. Playing in the north offers a better option in that regard and would also be easier for the Boks to access their large European-based contingent.

Argentina, who had loose forward Javier Ortega Desio struck down by Covid-19, are being asked to go straight into a competition, where they have only won five matches in eight years, having not played since Super Rugby was suspended in March?

Which is not only almost pointless, in terms of their competitiveness, it is probably quite reckless with regards to player safety as well. Look at the injury carnage caused by the intensity of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

The new Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber got it right when he expressed reservations in July about the prospect of a championship in New Zealand, citing humanitarian and preparatory concerns. In citing “humanity”, with regards to the players being so far from home for so long, Nienaber was both compassionate, but also brave.

It cannot have been an easy stance for an incoming coach to take. Both characteristics reflect well on his, but also the game’s cherished values. Sanzaar’s bosses need to show the same level of empathy – settle for a bunch of Bledisloes, allow the Argentines to focus on their families, and let South Africa do their own thing. If 2020 has taught us all anything, it is that there is more to life than money.