Auckland dominated the early years

The tournament includes five teams from New Zealand, four from South Africa and three from Australia.

It was born to satiate the public's hunger for live rugby between the southern hemisphere giants after the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

The plan was to create 'super' provincial teams and lay traditional inter-provincial rivalries to one side for a competition where the international flavour added spice to the confrontations.

Its success was helped by rules which promoted free-running, expansive play which rewarded tries as opposed to goal kicks and steadily the southern nations were showing the way forward to rest of the rugby world.

It has been a winning formula since its inception in 1996 despite northern hemisphere critics dismissing the tournament and the way the game was played as 'basketball rugby'.

The Brumbies claimed the trophy in 2001

Auckland Blues with its triumvirate of All Black greats in the forward pack, Sean Fitzpatrick, Zinzan Brooke and Michael Jones, swept all before them in the first two years of the tournament.

But their era of domination came to an end in 1998 when the Crusaders assumed their mantle as kings of southern hemisphere provincial rugby.

Without the star players of other teams in the competition the Crusaders have relied on hard graft for their success, and their approach is epitomised by the grizzly All Black captain Todd Blackadder.

As the game has moved on and defences have become a more important facet of the game, the New Zealand side's impenetrable line has laid the foundations for its success.

Blackadder has held the trophy three times

In 2001, there was widespread concern that rule changes could influence the tournament, after an International Rugby Board edict ordered referees to clamp down on offences in the tackle.

Coaches suggested that strict adherence to the rules could lead to matches becoming stop-start affairs with rigid enforcement spoiling the spectacle for the public.

Despite some initial problems, however, the change was largely a success.

Certainly ACT did not complain when they swept to the title with a well earned victory over South Africa's Sharks - to become the first non-Kiwi winners.

Surely 2001 had proved that both Australia and South Africa deserved another team?

Not so, said New Zealand, despite earlier reassurances.

And there looks certain to be more trouble on the horizon after suggestions that far from improving the standard of Kiwi rugby, the competition is hindering the growth of talent in New Zealand.

Expect this argument to run and run.