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Sometimes I have this dream where after you die, you go to heaven. When you arrive they have edited together your life’s highlights.
They’ve clipped up all the best things you’ve ever done. The things that brought you the most enjoyment. In those highlights, I’m quite sure watching footage of Australian rugby from 2003-present day would not be prominent.
I grow in frustration just watching it. Every time my patient wife asks me after a rugby game why I watch the sport, I am sadly unable to give her a reason.
I am a diehard rugby fan. I went to a private rugby school, one considered a grassroots nursery. Yet only about five per cent of my social group still follows the game. Rugby league has the lion’s share of support, even though we didn’t even have a league team at school! This undeniably small sample group is symbolic of rugby’s current social footprint.
No one cares about rugby anymore. But why?
Rugby has too many laws. One of the reasons rugby has so many laws is the players. This win at all costs mentality means coaches and players are constantly trying to wrestle the system. Watching Richie McCaw consistently roll out of breakdowns the wrong way to “accidentally” be in the way gave me diabetes. The first mention of speeding up set piece with time clocks to make the game more appealing was met with Andrew Kellaway arguing against it in the name of player safety.
Richie McCaw(Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
A pet hate of mine is when a player gets injured on the far side of the field and rather than just stepping off and walking around, they would rather slowly hobble across the playing surface forcing the game to wait on them. For the sake of all of the fans watching at home and at the game, leave via the nearest exit.
2. The Officials
The monstrosity of laws has paralysed the game. It’s too convoluted. I don’t think the referees and law-makers care about rugby at all. They fixate on ensuring the right decision is made and lose sight of the big picture. They conduct TMO conferences mid game with multiple replays whilst we all fall asleep at home. In such a competitive sporting market in a convenience-focused and society of instant gratification, we cannot afford these stoppages.
Referees are like Australian idol judges, in that as facilitators of proceedings they became bigger than the contestants. I don’t want to see the referees on screen. I once had a job at a rubbish tip picking up the loose stuff that had escaped the heap…that was more stimulating than watching the TMO talk us through which part of the arm made initial contact.
(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
3. The Broadcast
I’ve seen minimal advertising for the current Super Rugby season. The promotional clips are underwhelming. They have all the flair of a low budget Blumhouse production. The current arrangement is one game a week on free to air television.
The game relies on the fans. Where the fans go, the commercial dollars follow. At the moment, we are trying to win at all costs, hoping that winning attracts sponsors and fans but I believe it is the other way around. The concept is dependant on Australian rugby teams winning but I think “Bill” has forgotten who the Wallabies are.
I accept there are green shoots. The new law changes reflect this changing sentiment. I really hope they inspire positive change. However, I feel like the regular fans who support rugby will turn up in spite of these changes rather than because of them.
Making the game great again requires a collective effort between all parties. You can only control the controllable. All I can control is to vote with my feet and turn up to games. I hope everyone else feels the same way.
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.