Qualification system the problem with NPC

After reading Steve Hepburn's report (ODT 22.9.09) about there still being time to turn around the Otago team's fortunes, it is obvious why New Zealand provincial rugby is on the slippery road downhill.

The criteria for top-division qualification is totally wrong.

How can a team that comes last in the playing results still qualify in front of a team that comes, for example, fourth.

How can a coach build the team up to try to win these tight games when, in essence, the players realise that they do not need to win games to still qualify for top division next year?

One can only imagine what would happen in English football's Premier League if they said the rich clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea could not be relegated even if they came last on the ladder.

There would be rioting.

There is only one fair way to run top-division qualification and that is solely on results.

If Auckland, with all its money, comes last, it should be relegated.

It should be the same with Otago and every other team.

With that in mind, they might play a bit harder.

Stu Dever
Queenstown

- In recognition of the importance of readers' contribution to the letters page, the newspaper each week selects a Letter of the Week, with a book prize courtesy of Dunedin publisher Longacre Press.

This week's winner, Stu Dever of Queenstown, receives a copy of Ralph Markby's , Longacre Press, $44.99.