Traditional rivalries will be prominent in next year's ITM Cup after provincial officials and coaches today made their first-ever match selection in a New Zealand Rugby Union-hosted web-conference.
The 14 teams today had the unique opportunity to select their opponents in three of the four "crossover" matches, where first-tier premiership
teams play against second-tier championship teams in next year's new format.
Teams ranked one to seven at the end of the 2010 season will play in the premiership, while teams ranked eight to 14 will play in the championship. All provinces will play every other team within their tier (three home, three away matches) as well as four crossover matches, which carry full competition points.
The first round of the crossover matches were automatically determined on seedings after this season, while the other crossover matches for each province were decided today.
The full draw for both competitions will be finalised before the end of the year.
Automatic crossover matches pre-determined by seeding:
Otago v Canterbury (14 v 1), Manawatu v Waikato (13 v 2), Tasman v Auckland (12 v 3), North Harbour v Wellington (11 v 4), Northland v Taranaki (10 v 5), Counties Manukau v Bay of Plenty (9 v 6), Hawke's Bay v Southland (8 v 7).
First round of crossover matches:
Championship teams - playing at home - selected a premiership opponent in reverse seeding order (14 through to eight).
Otago v Southland, Manawatu v Taranaki, Tasman v Canterbury, North Harbour v Auckland, Northland v Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau v Waikato, Hawke's Bay v Wellington.
Second round of crossover matches:
Premiership teams - playing at home - selected a championship team in seeding order (one through to seven).
Canterbury v Northland, Waikato v Otago, Auckland v Counties Manukau, Wellington v Manawatu, Taranaki v Tasman, Bay of Plenty v Hawke's Bay, Southland v North Harbour.
Third round of crossover matches:
Championship teams - playing away - selected a premiership team in seeding order (eight through to 14).
Taranaki v Hawke's Bay, Southland v Counties Manukau, Wellington v Northland, Bay of Plenty v North Harbour, Waikato v Tasman, Canterbury v Manawatu, Auckland v Otago.
