The dismal crowd attendance at local Super Rugby matches is not because winter is starting to settle in, it’s because Australian rugby is in complete disarray.
Last Saturday night, I called up a few mates to see if they wanted to go to the Brumbies versus Rebels game in Canberra. They were up for it, but just 5000 others agreed.
Yes, it was cold (about 7 degrees), but it has been and is going to get colder. Traffic, what traffic? I left my house 30 minutes before kick off, parked the car at the stadium, got a drink, found my seat, and there were still a few minutes left until kick off.
What happened to the days when there were close to 15,000 coming to see the Brumbies play? Easy answer: watching rugby is just boring, especially when Australian teams are involved.
You can hear the frustration from the dedicated fans who always go to the games. There were boos at the end of the game and quite a few expletives whenever the ball was kicked mid-play, and then out of possession.
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The players themselves are also partly responsible. The number of stoppages because of ‘injuries’ was ridiculous – I lost count of how many. Just because you have a niggle doesn’t mean you need to stop play for a couple of minutes and get checked out. You are playing a contact sport, of course you are going to get a niggle or two!
In rugby league, if you have a slight issue, you get checked out by trainer while play goes on – great!
A couple of weeks ago I watched the Kiwi match between the Blues and Chiefs, and it was so good! Both teams playing exciting, flowing, talented rugby. No wonder we are approaching 40 games in a row lost to New Zealand teams.
The day after the Brumbies-Rebels game, the Raiders played the Cronulla Sharks, with close over 10,000 fans turning up – and yes, it was cold. But there were families of all generations there and it was a great game!
This is happening week in, week out and it’s just sad comparing the two all the time.
I’m going to have to seriously consider if I want to go spend the money for a rugby game or stay at home to watch several sports on the couch.
I hope it’s not the latter.
chris
Guest
Tribes are getting smaller so maybe it's time that World Rugby and Rugby League should work out the best way for both codes to become one.
chris
Guest
I think having Subbies Rugby been played Friday nights and Junior Rugby Saturday mornings then have Shute Shield on Saturday afternoon and have a free Saturday if Wallabies are playing and have Super whatever number its or better still a Trans Tasman comp on a Sunday.
chris
Guest
Seen some lovely style Aussie Rules type marks in both Rugby codes.
mielie
Guest
No, Rugby Union is not in disarray. Put Rugby Union on free to air T V, and watch what happens. Question to a 16 yo League supporter and player: "What is your opinion of Rugby Union?" " I dunno. I've never seen it played or seen it on T V."
Macho
Guest
NZ players react instinctively when under pressure because they have grown up watching Rugby. Our guys are a bit behind the pace on this issue but RL must like NZRU/RL players because there are about 190 playing in the NRL and just below RL comps.
Macho
Guest
The waratahs played afternoon Rugby and Cully of SMH berated them for having only 48K Fox viewers when most Rugby people are doing something else and why RL gave up on Saturday arvo because of people working, shopping, kids sport only to return to it when the AFL jumped in to the empty space so now the RL put up GC and Western Sydney teams against the new AFL franchises.
Macho
Guest
Unfortunately the tribes are getting smaller
Macho
Guest
The prosecution rests. I think your responses showed that not so smart people are rugby haters and smart people watch Rugby while others watch something else.
Macho
Guest
Harrigan who had the 99 GF was an expert and the last 20 mins the decisions favoured the trailing Storm (and I'm not including the winning penalty try which I think was legit) - a Storm forward pass for a try on the left and then a Saints dropped ball went backwardsby 2 metres and was ruled a knockon. SHayne was a champion as well. Todays chief exponents are Sutton, Cummins, Klein and Ccechin with the first 2 the worst as they often get the free to air games. Perenara is a fair ref and a neutral but wont get SOO because he is too fair..
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
I agree with you and it's been happening for years. As a long time fan of the game I made this point after the 99 Grand Final where I thought Melbourne, the home of Aussie Rules, got a bit of help from the refs (NRL emplyees) but only got emotional replies like "sore loser" and "you talk shit" as they couldn't make an intelligent argument against it.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
If you want endless repetition Union is your game. I was watching a game of union and I thought it was never going to end as it was past the 80 minutes and you had a ruck or maul and then the ball comes out passes thru a few pair of hands and then another ruck and another one and another one. Of course Union is a game for mental giants.
Faith
Guest
Good point In Brief - how sports is filmed is key. The U.S are very good in all their sports with this ...
Peter roberts
Guest
Paul cully’s article to pull up “stumps” and Australia go it alone,because no one watches super rugby is unbelievable. The BIG difference between Australia and NZ rugby is skill. The NZ teams do show a lot more skill,especially in the basics. We should look at the coaching staff. They all have skills coaches - so what are they coaching? What happens when rugby goes global and it will soon. One season for all. If the skills are not improved Australia will certainly be on its own.
Ed
Guest
Tahs and Swans play next to each other tonight. We'll find out what the crowd is at the Swans, but the Tahs have been shy this year about their's.
union was always like that
Guest
Ever heard of AFL? Record crowds, and it has been like that since the sport was first played in the 1850s. Rugby and soccer didn't even exist yet. Difference is, some people were more easily influenced by the 'mother country' than us rebellious Victorians.
Bakkies
Guest
Hello Quentin good to see you on here. Hugs and kisses Rowan.
Bakkies
Guest
The other option is Seiffert and public transport between borders is non existent due to incestuous and pathetic politics so the only option is to drive even if you want a few beers. The other detriment is the facilities as it hasn't hosted top flight sport since the mid 80s.
Bakkies
Guest
Victorians are pretty soft when it comes to cold weather. Melbourne is not really cold it is just bleak in Winter.
Quentin Poulsen
Guest
Aussies don't like seeing their teams lose, more likely
In Brief
Guest
I think the way rugby is filmed could be improved greatly, even revolutionised. We seem to have copied the rugby league technique of focusing too closely on the ball. That works for league as most of the action takes place around the play the ball. League copied the idea of cricket where the zoom in on the batsmen. But in rugby there is a lot more running off the ball, there are different defensive patterns, different attacking patterns. To capture this you need a wider view. The amateur footage from the new Major League Rugby competition is America is actually more interesting to watch than super rugby. I think it's the first time I've actually seen how high a bomb is actually kicked. We need rugby centric footage