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Most of today’s opinion will be on the post-mortem of Saturday’s Wallabies Vs Springboks Test, but I was at a funeral on Friday and a conversation made me think of the health of rugby in Australia and New Zealand.
I can’t comment on any other countries, but it is a bit of a worry for Australia and New Zealand.
My mates and I are in our , we may be living in the past, but none of us are enjoying watching rugby as much as we used to.
Two of the guys are ex-pat Kiwis who 20 years ago loathed league.
They both, along with the rest of us native born Aussies, have admitted to switching to the league during telecasts of rugby Tests.
At the funeral on Friday I met a 40 year-old Kiwi who moved over to Australia three years ago. He was a passionate All Black supporter and we told war stories about going to the Tests, about bus trips and the like.
He described rugby at the moment as AFL. He said he now prefers watching the Warriors to a rugby Test.
All of us have the same opinion.
Because of the way the breakdown area is now contested, recycled ball is terribly slow and defence is now winning out over attack. To a man, we want rucking to come back into the game.
But we know that this will not happen.
The marketers may be picking up another demographic (if that is the right word) but it is losing the once faithful.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.