If Australian players can't find extra motivation for the upcoming Super Rugby AU competition, they should be looking for another job.
That's the view of Brumbies coach Dan McKellar as more details of the tournament, to kick off next month, were revealed on Thursday.
Rugby Australia confirmed the full Super Rugby AU draw on Thursday morning, with the Brumbies opening their campaign against the Rebels on July 4 at GIO Stadium.
Super Rugby AU will be a 12-week competition involving Aussie derbies every week, a far cry from plans for Super Rugby should it return in its planned form in 2021.
The proposed Super Rugby format for 2021 and beyond would see Australian teams play each other just once in a round robin season, down from twice under the conference system.
While he stopped short of endorsing the domestic format as a way forward long-term, McKellar had no qualms guaranteeing motivation would be as high as ever when the competition kicked off.
"Australian derbies, people want to see Australian derbies, well there's plenty of them and they'll certainly be played at a high intensity," he said.
"There's Wallaby jerseys up for grabs, new Wallaby coach, new Wallaby coaching staff so if you can't get up for these games you shouldn't be playing rugby professionally in Australia.
"Down the track, there's trans-Tasman, Japanese options as well. I think all those things will be considered over the next few weeks."
The potential of a domestic only Super Rugby competition has been criticised from some corners in the past because of the concern that a lack of exposure to overseas teams in the club season could reduce the quality of the Wallabies come Test time.
McKellar said he felt the existence of five teams, up from the current four in Super Rugby, to choose Test squads would be a positive thing.
"I don't think so. I think Dave (Rennie) and his coaching staff will just want to see as many players as they can," he said.
"Now with the Force back involved, there's another pool of players that will get that opportunity and they'll certainly be motivated.
"We've dealt with five teams in the past and performed okay at national level. Think back to 2015, we played in a World Cup final, there was five teams back then.
"I think Dave will just be keen to, as will Wisey (attack coach Scott Wisemantel) and Tattsy (defence coach Matt Taylor), to view as many players as they can and see, they'll go in with a pretty open mind around selection. Anyone who stands up and performs well in this competition could get an opportunity at a higher level.
"I think it's a good thing."
Rather than dilute the interest in derbies with 22 to be played over 12 weeks, Brumbies prop Scott Sio said he expected interest would rise with the stakes in each match.
"I think our fans have so much pride and so much passion for their teams and bragging rights, it's always been a big thing on weekends coming into work and being able to have little stabs at your mates," he said.
"That's a constant thing week in, week out, knowing that there's another opportunity to maybe get one back up on your mate.
"I think it'll be pretty exciting for everyone and there'll be some good chat around that as the competition goes on and tends to heat up halfway through."
One of the biggest senses of relief after this week's news might arguably be in the ability for the rugby community to discuss tangible rugby contests.
Since Super Rugby shut down, Rugby Australia has seen drastic changes in leadership and announced significant cost-cutting measures and job losses as it dealt with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
McKellar said he had felt a shift in the tone around rugby already, just a day after the Super Rugby AU competition was finally confirmed.
You can see the difference, can't you, in the messaging and people are talking about the footy," he said.
"You've always got your silly season from one season to the next, this is just been an extended silly season.
"Thankfully it's finishing or nearly finished and we can just let he footballer play football and get on with it and that's a positive story and I think it's going to be a great competition where local derbies, people know all the players, know all the teams well, something to get excited about and I think the players will certainly be keen and ready to go.
"Let's get some positive stories out there and that flows on hopefully into an international series with an exciting new Wallaby coaching group, there's good times ahead."
The Brumbies take on the Rebels at GIO Stadium on Saturday July 4, kicking off at 7:15pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports.
