There have been some great articles written recently about how average the coverage of rugby on TV in Australia really is.
So I thought, as I have often see articles written in The Roar appear in the general press up to a week later, that if I put down my thoughts on what a rugby show should look like it may get read by someone who has influence.
Perhaps we can discuss and form a consensus of what a 3-minute weekly rugby show should look like.
Five-minute weekly wrap
This should include scores, using last week’s predictions. Make each panellist accountable for their picks and discuss what were the surprise results. They should explain why some games didn’t pan out in the predicted pattern, who’s on the move, who’s struggling, the stand out players, table analysis and what the results mean for the season.
Game of the Round
The second five minutes should focus on one match. This should be an advertisement to the casual viewer, highlighting the tries, dominant tackles, crucial scrums and turn overs and key players.
Finally, there should be a bit of stats analysis, but nothing too deep as this may send some viewers to sleep. They should break down some of the preconceptions such as, do South African teams kick more. Did Richie McCaw make 100 tackles and how many had a major influence on the game. Were Israel Folau’s three tries from individual brilliance of did his team mates put him in the position to score.
Player of the Week
This could take two to three minutes and focus on three nominations and a winner. Don’t pick the back that scored five tries, look at who hit the most tackles without missing any. Who hit the most rucks, made a crucial turnover or forced a scrum win. The key point is take some time to look at why each player was nominated before picking a winner.
Moment of the Round
What was the most important moment of the round? It could have been a Quade Cooper cut out to Folau to score in the final minute, or it could have been the moment the Bulls scrum got the ascendancy and turned the tide of a match. Discuss what does it means for the season and why.
Where they are now
Catch up with an all-time great and check what they are doing now. I love these segments but perhaps they could be broadened to include foreign players. I would love to hear what Naas Botha or Hugo Porta are doing. Also, include an intro describing their career so casual viewers aren’t left behind.
Issue of the Week
This should not include analysing referee performance. They add little other than confuse the casual viewers and reinforce myths that rugby is too complicated. Instead, look at concussion, culture, life of a sportsperson, latest developments in training, scrums, tackling technique or tactics.
The real key to making a segment like this successful is getting in experts, and ask them direct or even tough questions, prompting intelligent and thought-out answers, not merely off-the-cuff opinions from an ex-player.
Feature of the Week
This could be about women’s rugby, local club competitions and any part of our game that is under represented in our media.
Position of the Week
Spend some time looking at each position and the finer details that separate the great players in each spot. Examine the contrasting styles of each position and the approach taken in training, and the mental application it takes to succeed.
Predictions
Have a look at the future two or three weeks and highlights who has road trips coming up and who plays against who.
Plays of the Week
Finish with this segment. It’s a secret indulgence of mine – falcons, great tries, funny plays etc. Something light hearted to finish up on.
A lot of this stuff is already done to some extent or another, and judging from comments on The Roar the main gripe is the lack of depth and assumed intelligence level of the viewer.
Rugby union viewers are generally more engaged and discerning than most other sports, it can be complicated and most fans spend more time analysing and discussing the rules. Tailoring a show to that audience means doing something different to the free-to-air footy shows.
This is my starting point, please dissect, discuss and add ideas. Who knows, someone might even take notice.
Firstxv
Guest
Best show on TV for me is the League Footy show. Never miss it even though I don't even bother with the actual League matches themselves. Its all encompassing with humour to last 100 shows from the one, it covers a wide range of fringe topics and characters involved with the game. Fatty Vautin is a crack up just by looking at him let alone when he gets to say his bit. The bungi jump on the last show and the Chariots of fire music behind the underwater pool swim are classics. Anyway, nothing to do with Rugby and not sure how rugby would deal with the concept but sure is a good way to involve fans in the game, and a brilliant show.
Fatty Robinson
Guest
Great article full of interesting ideas. What always gets me thinking is do the powers that be at Rugby HQ actually listen to viewers comments ? Channel ten have had to do some serious soul searching with their brekky show will Fox do the same with Rugby HQ ? I would love to see more overseas rugby as well as our club rugby amongst the changes recommended by everyone else.
Bakkies
Guest
It's hard for tgem to explain when they don't know the laws themselves
Dru
Guest
Agree. I like Greg but don't bother refuting the incessant hate anymore. To be fair though I am a Reds supporter and played rugby with him at school. Thought he was a dick back then. But personally I look forward to all of his rugby commentry.
Dru
Guest
What I would like from the refs is: a) explain what the authorities are telling them to look for and concentrate on. Hopefully why b) their interpretation of what it means. Avoid controversy by using footage from chute shield or school boys if necessary c) perhaps work with a team in training to demonstrate - scrums, rucks, mauls etc Some of it can be for the tragics, other bits "dick and jane" stuff for newcomers. How is forward pass or a knock on different in Rugby etc.
gatesy
Roar Guru
What the NRL does really well is to engage fans and give the kids a mention - junior pathways should feature
Zero Gain
Guest
I think it's interesting that the guys on the show who cop the most flak are the ones who express the most opinions or show their support for particular teams the most, exactly what we all do on here. Someone like Greg Martin says some controversial things and gets slammed by the masses. Those who are careful like Tim Horan and Nathan Sharpe escape pretty much unscathed. I think we should give these guys a break and understand much of the nastiest criticism comes from Saffas and Kiwis who hate their natural and understandable bias towards aAustralian teams.
Daz
Guest
Absolutely agree. Only being broadcast on Fox simply reinforces a sense of exclusivity to potential fans. But it's even more dire than that. If you were a potential fan living in Brisbane you probably wouldn't even know the game existed. In the sports part of the news on the ABC and every commercial station there is rarely, if ever any mention of rugby. League, AFL and football (local and international) all get good coverage of games and results and in the case of the ABC any sport played by women but NO rugby. Why is that?
Zero Gain
Guest
His voice is so whiney, it's annoying, especially when he constantly criticises the Reds (even when they were winning).
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Has anyone else wondered ;looking at "Rugby HQ" how long Georgina's feet must be with those high heels ?
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I think that for Fox it is a deliberate policy to downgrade their stake in Rugby and undermine its credibility -treat it with disdain and contempt it would seem =i guess the aim is to make the next media deal as cheap as poss -bad news for Mr Pulver and the ARU
Wal
Roar Guru
Cheers Moa, only just got to this (work block videos) I forgot how on fire Kahui and Dagg were during that tournament.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I think Greg Clark was given the bums rush as host/leader of the show when he blubbered like a baby after one of the Wallabies great losses
Wal
Roar Guru
Agree Sprigs, A casual listen to the Hen's FC on the ABC any weekend shows how very often the females involved in sport are light years ahead of the blokes in media. Give me an an analysis of any sport from Debbie Spillane, Karen Tighe, Shannon Byrne over Paul Vaughtin, Sam Newman In NZ Melody Robinson is great, Meghan Mutrie used to guest on the AB's Podcast and was good value as well.
Michael Lee
Roar Rookie
Agreed, I think Nick McArdle does a very good job.
Wal
Roar Guru
Being an Australian show the cheat of the week would just be a Richie McCaw highlights reel. :) But I do like it. Howler of the week could have an explanation of why the Ref might have missed it (obscured view) The one I love is scrums we get this magic bird eye view an wonder why the ref is calling players for boring in. Who gets a completely side on view
AdamS
Roar Guru
Needs to be balanced to have any credibility. Cheat of the week picked up by canny ref with correct interpretations followed by howler of the week.........
sprigs
Guest
I liked Wal's ideas but I don't agree with you about Georgina Robinson. As a professional journalist she is more skilled than most in asking good questions (by the way, she is a woman not a girl). Many journalists report politics without ever having been a politician, and they can report a sport without having played it -- and who knows if she is played the game anyway? The stories by her that I have read have been good. She has her share of scoops too.
Wal
Roar Guru
Makes even less sense in Christchurch when it is 0 degrees and snowing on the hills around the city. Souths tried Drummers for a while does anyone have any feedback on if that worked?
sprigs
Guest
You will struggle to find a better MC than Nick McArdle.