Like resuscitating a patient in a hospital, it’s important to remember that survival isn’t the only KPI. We must consider quality of life.
Rugby union has been resuscitated following the injection of a free-to-air broadcast deal. The next 12 months will heavily influence the quality of the competition.
What can Stan, Rugby Australia and the fans do to ensure this competition is healthy and thriving?
Role allocation
Michael Cheika’s debut last week was underwhelming. However, he is a big name in the sport and does have something to bring.
We always talk about players needing to play to their strengths. Cheika was a notorious man motivator. He should be doing the pump-up pre-game pieces a la Matt Nable in the NRL.
I’d also get him involved in the advertising marketing. The panel should be asking him about his famous motivational tactics as that was his forte.
(Photo by Warren Little – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Production
The advantage of free-to-air coverage is that it opens the game up to a greater audience. The problem that rugby has is that not many people know who the players are.
Stan needs to introduce the players to the fans. Have pre-match origin stories detailing the background story of the players. For example, there are a lot of Pacific Island players with interesting back stories. I want to know about the family sacrifices, what schools they went to, what motivates them. Once fans can relate to the players, the interest will grow.
There were some hiccups with Stan’s delivery into pubs. This was a critical error on opening weekend. This must be rectified immediately. Have cameras in multiple pubs across Australia broadcasting the rugby. When a team scores a try, the broadcaster can show the best reactions.
It frustrates me that sports networks continue to employ former players. Just because they could play the game doesn’t make them good commentators. It is an entirely different skill set. If anything, it could hinder their commentary performance as they will be less objective.
Kayo minis were a great extended highlights viewing option if you’ve missed the game but want more than the news highlights, but don’t have time to watch the whole 180-minute replay. I’d borrow that idea.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Match day
In the same way that rugby league is bringing back the reserve-grade matches to play before the main game, union should do this with the reserve teams. I’d happily turn up a little earlier to watch some more rugby, especially if I have to travel to some of the less conveniently located stadiums.
It’s exciting to see who is coming up from your reserve team. Alternatively, have a women’s national club comp on pre-game.
Perhaps in next year’s rendition, we could add a Pacific Island team such as the Drua? I love the brand of rugby they play.
Could we please introduce a Super Rugby NBA-style combine or draft? It would nicely complement Rugby Australia’s proposed television of schoolboy rugby.
You could have a week-long camp testing sports biometrics. It would generate community interest in the game at a grassroots level. It would also provide another broadcast opportunity for a mendicant union.
Parochial protectionist unions will argue this disincentivises local academies, but you can weight the draft picks to favour local products.
Fan involvement
In the New Zealand domestic cricket competition, a certain amount of fans are given bright coloured T-shirts and if they catch a six, there is a cash prize.
If we could transplant this into catching conversions of kicks into touch, this could add entertainment value.
(Photo: Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Pre-game entertainment in the NBA may include half-court shots for large prize money. These often make world news when they occasionally are won. Adopting this in rugby could generate increased exposure in various news feeds or social media. An example may include a series of difficult challenges catching high balls on a slippery surface, nailing a few difficult drop kicks and conversions in a certain time frame.
Themed rounds are another way of adding novelty to each round and engaging the young fans. You could have retro round with clubs wearing their inaugural jerseys, an Indigenous round with Indigenous jerseys, a club round where players wear their club socks, a charity round similar to the Jane McGrath pink day at the Sydney cricket Test, and a magic round where all the games are at the same ground.
Have a live tweet scroll on the bottom for commentators to answer fan questions during the physiological dead space in a match, such as during scrum resets.
Optics are important. It’s grim watching 5000 fans at a rugby match scattered throughout a big stadium. Where contractually possible, go for smaller stadiums to create better atmosphere. If the tickets sell out, it will generate interest and incentivise people with the demand it creates. Smaller stadiums include Ballymore, Kawana Sunshine Coast Stadium and Cairns.
As a passionate rugby fan, I don’t want to see rugby wither and die. I don’t want to realise one day that all of the resuscitation efforts so many stake holders have made were all in vain.
I don’t want to be told Australian rugby is not for resuscitation.
Joshua Butler
Guest
If the national club championship has guaranteed representation from ALL states (even the non-SR states), I would support it, but if it ends up like the NRC (pre NRC2, which was a competition primarily for the non-SR states plus underrepresented regions) and the ARS before it, why should I support something that has nothing in it for me as a South Australian?
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
Without ongoing week to week rule changes, to rapidly improve continuity and reduce scrums and line outs.. the game will continue to go backwards. Why are we still paying 3 points to penalties and field goals inside the 50m?
VO
Roar Rookie
20 mins, same as kayo
gatesy
Roar Guru
Whether they are good ideas, great ideas or lousy ideas, they are ideas and we Roarers need to get onboard with them. We need to do what RA did in Covid - everything on the table for discussion and throw it out there. We need to have the "build it and they will come" mentality and not the "if it doesn't suit the Shute Shield or the Brisbane comp, it ain't gonna work" mentality. Old news baby - the Brumbies put 50 on the Tahs and Penney is talking about falling on his sword. Reality check, time, lads. The re-distribution of the power base is overdue. Let's all get with the program for the overall good of Aussie Rugby.
T Bradley
Roar Rookie
thx JB. What would you propose? what about a national club comp like the FFA model. we could have the best club teams from across australia? would that be a start?
lots of fluffy words there BT and if thats your scene go for it. I think I have experienced more than enough rugby to make my statement. Your opinion is yours and you are entitled to it no matter how wrong I think it is. I’m sure you will continue to voice your opinion too, as is your right.
He certainly needs more time T.....
Joshua Butler
Guest
There is one MASSIVE elephant in the room that is continually being ignored, does the so-called ARU actually represent ALL of AUSTRALIA? I personally don't think so, as a South Australian, why should I support the Wallabies, Wallaroos or any of the underage sides, what is in it for me as a South Australian? What has the ARU done for South Australia since the 2003 World Cup? This is why I would support anyone who plays against the Wallabies &/or the Wallaroos
T Bradley
Roar Rookie
Thx K n C. I love my green machine and Brums equally. It was hard work trying to buy a raiders jersey this season unless you were a XXXL.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
We've had disagreements in the past Jacko, so just to let you know... I've had season tickets with the Reds since they first started selling them back in the amateur Ballymore days. I've played at a pretty good level, reffed at National U'16 Level and coached and managed schoolboys at State Championships. I think I have experienced more than enough rugby to make my statement. Your opinion is yours and you are entitled to it no matter how wrong I think it is. I'm sure you will continue to voice your opinion too, as is your right. But for me, the implication made by your statement was, is and always will be in my eyes less than dignified. And if there is another occasion where I think you need to be chastised, I will.
Did you see the article by Mike Cron ( ex ABs scrum coach ) saying that scrums should be set within 10sec...he was saying that at training he called for scrums set within 4 sec and he says it wasnt difficult for the guys to achieve......Time the laws of the game gave refs the power to speed it up.....And a 30 sec clock for penalties and conversions would be great...
BroncoWA
Roar Rookie
There’s already mini replays like in Kayo. I’ve watched the mini versions of both Reds games this season. Under replays, highlights and extras, 20 mins long.
T Bradley
Roar Rookie
Well said BF. Let’s give him some time. I’m just a little impatient as I worry the start of the season is critical time for the game but I’ll try to be more patient
T it was 2 mins for most kicks or more and it was similar for scrums...Not good enough and why did they change from last week where the TMO was encouraging the ref all game to get sides to speed up...I watched it straight after the SRA game and found it to be different. Another thing that really bugged me was that the 10 in the bin was actually 13 mins...shocking and unnecessary....There was at least 2 penalties in the extra 3 mins but the ref did not allow the Reds player back on...
BF as soon as the Reds scored that final try I said to a mate I was watching with that based on the rest of the game I GARRANTEE the Ref finds the Rebels a kickable penalty and sure enough the one he found even had the commentators saying it was a 50 50 call. He did not check a shoulder only tackle from a Rebels player ( who he had already penalised from a tmo’s call ) and in the last 15mins missed a terribly crooked lineout throw that the Rebels did…Its harder with Stan to go and find all incidences as you cant fast forward thru you can only go thru at 10sec increments or you watch the whole thing……Im a Chiefs supporter so had no skin in the game yet saw a reffing performance that favoured the Rebels….. The very simple fact that if, as you say, this was his 3rd game it says he is inexperienced and if being inexperienced is what led to the incompetency then lets hope he gets better with more experience but I have serious doubts he and the assessors would have been happy with his game last night. He seemed to favor the Rebels and what the reason for that was I dont know….. You say my last statement is “totally unfair”…Well you back that statement up…Why should I spend 2 hrs going thru the tape just because you have a different opinion to me as for all I know you are a Rebels supporter and were very happy with the refs performance…..Just not the result. The ref did not end up costing anyone the win…..Luckily!!!
T Bradley
Roar Rookie
Love it BF. The stripping down of pre and post fan engagement is appalling. Like a thief in the night it seemed to vanish over the years. Bring it back! Bring it all back!
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G'day TB. Yes I'm old and the music and fireworks and bloody flame-throwers do nothing for me. BUT, when are the teams going to talk to the stadia and allow the kids on after full-time? Some-one mentioned autographs and selfies. What about being able to "score tries like Mafi" or "kick goals like JOC"? Suburban grounds get it all week with hundreds of players, under age and seniors training, and can be played on on Saturday. Surely the amount of wear caused by some kids after a game can be taken care of by the full-time professional staff that the various stadia around Australia employ. You can't help but notice the way it works for AFL. Or the way it used to work at Ballymore.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Funny you should say typecast private school sport TB. I'm concerned that should the Schoolboy game go televised the player base, at least in Brisbane, will really shrink to the GPS system. Although there is no admission from them, we know that those schools go out and recruit and I fear only for what benefits them. I go back many years now when a lad at the State High School I was teaching at was offered a scholarship by one of the big privates. He had discipline issues that I hoped would be sorted by them. He played the season for them quite well. He may have even made the Qld Schoolboys team. But when the season was over he was suspended, disciplinary reasons and eventually expelled. This is not common, but I worry about the extent schools will go to to further their reputations? Of course there is now no real schoolboy pathway, it's U'18s...but it won't stop the recruiting which will ultimately shrink the player base.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
He must have been upset when Toomua missed that final penalty…. Bit harsh Jacko, in fact totally unfair. I hope you wrote this when you were angered and common sense hadn't yet taken over...though I see it was edited after posting. I'm not going to defend Way to the hilt, but he is a young referee. No doubt he's trying to make his way into the profession and will ref the game the way the Refs Associations, mentors and appointment boards tell him to. I will agree that there seemed to me to be a number of decisions that were made that seemed too technical,eg penalising the attacking backline for being inside the 10m when their forwards are moving forward. How far were they inside the 10? Was their action really going to affect the outcome of that particular phase of play? How much warning did the ref give the backs, allowing them to get back on-side before penalizing them? There are the two areas of Foul Play and Player Saftey that should never be compromised. There's also the aspect of the "feel for the game" that I don't think refs are encouraged to follow, especially at the higher levels where slow-motion replay exaggerates the on-field action . Some might say that Nigel Owens reffed with a combination of all the factors I've mentioned and then some. Sure, but in his 100 Test game career and all other rep standard and club and all his experience, when did he start to show "the added qualities"? I don't think it was in the equivalent of his third SR game. Like players, refs have to start somewhere, and like players, if they are not up to standard, they too will get dropped. Back to your last statement...less than dignified.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Also agree on ex players. OK for a bit of colour but that's it. Has anything been said about the commentary teams for the Shute Shield and Hospital Cup? Also has anything been said on commentary for the country rugby games to be televised?