There are plenty of problems with it though. The ARU is going to lose quality Super Rugby players and you play way more rugby over there in France (possibly up to 30 domestic games for the club teams). I don't think the international players will just be able to slot back in. We have also played a few tests outside the official test match window in recent years. The problem is if you don't have quality players playing locally then people don't have idols they can look up to.
ARU have done this because they are bricking it the Wallabies will not make it out of their pool at the WC tbh.
Yeah, especially given how the AIs went. It's going to be close no doubt. I wasn't aware AA-C had gone to France though No DWTA. If you have like England 03 to 07 where an entire generation of guns retires, we did not deserve to go in to that tournament as the top seed. I know we nearly won in 07 but we were pretty shit
It makes business sense to do it in the same year a well, there's no better way to kick off promoting the tournament
Also for the quality of the tournament. One of eng aus or wales wont make it out of the group... That reduces the quality of the knock out stages
Although actually in this situation you get 3 big games in the group and potentially one worse game in the K.O stages in place of one big game in the group and a big game in the group stage. So 3 vs 2 in favour of the group of death.
Yeah from a neutral pov the quality of the tournament actually improves if you get rid of seedings altogether as the first round matches count for more. It wouldn't be fair, is all.
Gives some meaning to the group stages though. As much as I loved the cricket World Cup for the exposure it gave the minnows, there was very little in terms of tension over who woulf get out the groups.
They do it because fans want to know in advance so they can plan their trip. You could easily put it back 12 months though.