The heat is on for the Australian Rugby Union to select the location of the fourth Super 14 team for the 2006 competition when it expands from 12 to 14. Extra teams will be added from South Africa (going to five) and Australia (going to four).

The final two have been selected and with the modern day desire to satisfy commercial interests first the field has been narrowed to Perth (Western Australia) and Melbourne (Victoria). Locations to miss out completely are a Gosford based side north of Sydney and to the west Penrith and Parramatta and the Gold Coast side located south of Brisbane.

The Gosford bid would have been a good choice as would either Parramatta or Penrith. At least in any of those three locations there is a solid base of club rugby to feed in to a Super team. The choice of Melbourne or Perth is the usual chase for the almighty dollar rather than foster the game where the club strength lies.

The failing of either Perth or Melbourne is the shortage of registered players to grow into the team to any extent resulting in the membership of that team having to be transplanted from outside the State from the stronghold of rugby in the premier states of New South Wales and Queensland.

The dismal showing of rugby league in both Perth and Melbourne is testament to the pitfalls of a team brought in and without a solid rugby culture to keep them supported both financially and on the field.

The supporters of those two finalists will say that they have the supporter base and Perth would have a case with a four grade competition and 18 clubs.

Melbourne, however, has always struggled with just two current senior grades and 11 clubs. Both capital cities are the stronghold of the Aussie Rules football game -- a complete contrast to rugby in spectator appeal.

With Aussie Rules the scoring system (six for a goal) is such that an exciting seesawing of points can keep a game exciting and with simplicity of rules anyone can watch the game and be excited due to the scoring system. In Melbourne Aussie Rules through the Australian Football League is a religion almost second to none.

Rugby will never make an impact there as evidenced by the poor showing of the rugby league team -- the Melbourne Storm.

Rugby needs to be where the players and supporters are and that means the Sydney area in Gosford, Parramatta or Penrith where they have fine stadia and strong support.

The decision has been made that it will be Perth or Melbourne so the Australian Rugby Union should be crucified if they do not pick Perth -- at least it has a slight chance to make a go of a Super 14 team -- Melbourne has none.