The Playoff system is totally unnecessary

[sigesige00]

The Playoff of top 4 system is totally unnecessary. Deciding winners by 22 league games--why is any more necessary?

 

[Twebby]

£££.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Although it's true that play-offs in leagues are used to make more money, you've got to think about why...

I personally love winner-takes-all finals, they are much more exciting than regular league finishes.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Can we start a petition to retrospectively award Leinster the 2010 and 2012 Magners League/Pro 12 ***les?

 

[Tony Manx]

This argument seems to come up every year!!

It is definitely about money but also to keep some interest in what happens in the league for as many teams as possible.....

Imagine a situation a few years down the track where the "spending power" of Saracens (or Leicester?) is such that they are dominating the season and by February no one can catch them....what is the point in playing any more? Not impossible....look at Newcastle this year and Quins before them in the Chamionship.

Play offs give teams that reason as there are 4 (or in France 6) places to fill get into the play offs and, hopefully, 7 or 8 teams that can get there until very late in the season.

Like it or not....it is here to stay and that is probably that.................

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Playoffs in the Heineken Cup work because not everybody plays the same schedule. You need quarter, semi and finals to declare a winner. In a league format, I think it's unnecessary since every team plays every other team twice. The team who are top after 22 games are generally the best side.

That said when a team knows they don't have to finish top to win the ***le, they can rest players more liberally and time their run to the end of May. Ospreys are really good at this. Damn them!

Every team knows the system so there's no sympathy for finishing top and not bringing home the ***le. If playoffs lead to more money for the league, then I've no problem with it.

 

[lynam1104]

I think it adds a little bit more excitement it certainly keeps teams 1-6 interested ti the last few rounds, provided it's close in the top 6.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

I support the Ospreys. Therefore, I think the play-offs are the best thing in the history of rugby.

 

[dullonien]

Nothing wrong with play-offs imo. They have added a lot to the Pro12. The final between Leinster and the Ospreys was an excellent match which we wouldn't have got without the play-offs.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

sige, if you don't like play-offs, watch football, the only major sport in the world without a play off system. Rugby, basketball, baseball, hockey, icehockey, American Football... They all have play-offs. It can't be that bad if all those sports have implemented the play-off system.

 

[SelimNiai]

sige, if you don't like play-offs, watch football, the only major sport in the world without a play off system. Rugby, basketball, baseball, hockey, icehockey, American Football... They all have play-offs. It can't be that bad if all those sports have implemented the play-off system.

Not strictly true, the English league system from Premier League down has playoffs to determine the 3rd/4th side promoted

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Not strictly true, the English league system from Premier League down has playoffs to determine the 3rd/4th side promoted

Okay, let me be more specific:

Play-offs to determine the championship

 

[psychic duck]

Let's be honest. Playoffs are a silly way of deciding a champion, rewarding a one off winner rather than the season's best. And devaluing winning the league.

However, they are probably a necessary evil in a sense.

As whilst they take away the most consistent team the trophy in some cases. They are needed to help create more to play for teams and to reduce dead rubbers (which without relegation, and European qualification guaranteed for most team the Pro12 is a big issue in that league). And also to add a pay day for the league who should get a good crowd at Twickenham or Stade de France with more media hype and attention which helps boost them financially.

Add to that an argument for them is that unlike Football for example where internationals get their own weekends and don't clash with the domestic leagues. Internationals periods take up a large chunk of the season, with added periods of preparation weeks for all but the Top 14, thus meaning some teams are not at full strength a lot.

One thing is though that playoffs can be done very badly. For example the previous system in the Championship, they had 8 teams from 12 enter the playoffs, having that large a number enter the end of season race devalued and wasted the actual league season completely, and conversely made a fixture with 2 teams already qualified for the top 8 a dead rubber with both in the playoffs, playoffs that take up a too large proportion of the league are awful. Also in the Top 14, I find them making the semi finals at neutral venues a poor idea as the team who finished higher should be rewarded with home advantage.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

sige, if you don't like play-offs, watch football, the only major sport in the world without a play off system. Rugby, basketball, baseball, hockey, icehockey, American Football... They all have play-offs. It can't be that bad if all those sports have implemented the play-off system.

Or just stop watching at the end of the regular season. That'd be easier than adapting to a totally new sport. Really, you get the best of both worlds with a play-off system. Without, you only get the league.

 

[LoShaw]

I follow the Barclay's PL too and find it a lot less exciting nearing the end of the season than the Pro12. I definitely think that it adds to the competition... and I must admit a part of me likes seeing Leinster losing final after final (I know; they have 3 HCups!)

 

[RedWhiteGreen]

I like playoffs in that they ensure the ***le is decided when all the internationals are there.

With the Pro12, wouldn't an, albeit minor, improvement to them be to hold them at Flaminio/Millenium/Murrayfield/Lansdowne on a rotating basis, so it can be pumped up like the Premiership final?

 

[big ginger 8]

I like playoffs in that they ensure the ***le is decided when all the internationals are there.

With the Pro12, wouldn't an, albeit minor, improvement to them be to hold them at Flaminio/Millenium/Murrayfield/Lansdowne on a rotating basis, so it can be pumped up like the Premiership final?

I've heard the suggestion before but I don't think it's a runner. Teams only find out if they'll be in a final two weeks before. Also if it's say an all Irish final like this year does it really make sense for it to be in another country?

 

[irelandfan123]

Well It would mean you have more time to prep for the Lions