Remember awhile back when I semi-facetiously suggested the way to create more interest in Super rugby was to kick out the South African teams?

Well, SANZAR has done the next best thing, choosing wisely to avoid the political firestorm my proposal would have lit, and dividing the competition into three conferences.

With the addition of the Melbourne Rebels in 2011, each country - Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - will have five teams in the Super 15, and that's how the three conferences will be aligned.

This is an important move, and one that pumps life into a competition that, while often exciting, still remains behind the AFL and the NRL in terms of marketing and public perception in Australia.

Let's start with the basics of the new Super 15. For one thing, there will be more rugby. Instead of 13 matches, each team will now play 16. And there will be four home and away matches against every other team in your conference.

That means eight games of Aussie on Aussie action.

Without being xenophobic, it just makes sense to have rivalry games rather than matchups with somewhat obscure South African teams. If you're a novice fan thinking of checking out a game in Australia, are you more excited about seeing your team play the New South Wales Waratahs or the Cheetahs?

The other important thing about intra-conference fixturing from an Australian fans' standpoint has to do with television. Your team will now play just two matches in South Africa, a relief to anyone who wants to watch live but hates the sound of the alarm at 2 am.

You'll still get your Trans-Tasman rivalries, although they've been tempered a bit. Each Australian team will get a visit from two Kiwi clubs (and two South African clubs). Who you get to see will be up to the fixturing gods.

Come finals time, things will change as well, and again for the better. Instead of a top four, there's a top six. And here's the twist: each conference winner gets an automatic spot in the finals. That means each nation is guaranteed a participant in the post-season. Is it fair? Not necessarily. Is it smart marketing? Absolutely.

Reaction in South Africa has largely been positive, especially with regards to the travel. Each team from the Republic will now make just one, four-week trip to Australia and New Zealand. Two bye weeks will help with recovery as well.

The Kiwis seem to be on board too, but in a World Cup year - and with the event in New Zealand - they seem to be proceeding cautiously. All Blacks coach Graham Henry has already gone on record saying that certain key players will be rested during the Super 15 season.

In fact, the longer season, and the toll it takes on players' bodies, might be the only down side to the expanded Super 15.

Still, as a fan, I see few, if any negatives.

The New Super 15

Australian Conference

ACT Brumbies

Melbourne Rebels

New South Wales Waratahs

Queensland Reds

Western Force

New Zealand Conference

Auckland Blues

Canterbury Crusaders

Otago Highlanders

Waikato Chiefs

Wellington Hurricanes

South African Conference

Bulls

Cheetahs

Lions

Sharks

Stormers