Rugby - The beautiful game

[Andydog]

our domestic competition is what it is. It can't expand any more - except in terms of having NSW clubs playing Queensland clubs and calling it, technically, a national comp - because there simply isn't the financial base because there aren't the numbers.

I find it difficult to accept that the market for union in Australia is saturated and can't grow any more. NZ has only 3.9 million people (with bugger all disposable income), but we still manage to run a successful domestic competition that makes money. I realise that the average Kiwi may be more passionate about rugby than the average Aussie, but there are a lot of you who all love sport, and with a good bit of marketing and enthusiasm at the helm, your domestic competition would go off. As someone has already pointed out on these threads, Union is a game where Aussies can represent their country. Bugger all countries are interested in league, and even less are interested in Aussie rules. There is huge potential for a domestic rugby competition in Australia, but the ARU has always lacked the drive to organise it and market it so it will succeed.

Anyway, it sounds like this argument has been had before. I apologise if we are treading old ground here folks.

For the sake of my sanity, can we bet only in units of 10? Please? Andydog?

*Andydog pulls out his mouldy old violin, dusts it off, and starts playing slow, sad music*
Mate I forgot the difficulties that Aussies have with decimal points. And numbers. Do you have Excel? If so I'll whack a sheet together that will do all the calculating and rounding for you.

I do it for the tips, which the gimps don't get eh? Andydog!

Dammit he speaks the truth! How can chicks tip me with that gimp suit obscuring my g-string!

[finbar]

Originally posted by Andydog

I find it difficult to accept that the market for union in Australia is saturated and can't grow any more. NZ has only 3.9 million people (with bugger all disposable income), but we still manage to run a successful domestic competition that makes money. I realise that the average Kiwi may be more passionate about rugby than the average Aussie, but there are a lot of you who all love sport, and with a good bit of marketing and enthusiasm at the helm, your domestic competition would go off. As someone has already pointed out on these threads, Union is a game where Aussies can represent their country. Bugger all countries are interested in league, and even less are interested in Aussie rules. There is huge potential for a domestic rugby competition in Australia, but the ARU has always lacked the drive to organise it and market it so it will succeed.

Anyway, it sounds like this argument has been had before. I apologise if we are treading old ground here folks.

It has been had before, but there's no reason not to have it again. But I'll summarise it for the sake of those who have heard it all before.

Population has nothing to do with it. Rugby - in NZ - has next to no opposition as a winter sport. It is - and always has been - a religion. In Australia, the majority of the states have Australian Rules as a winter sport. And AR is more than a preoccupation in those states, it's an obsession. It has been for close to 100 years.

One-off Test and Bledisloe Cup matches have been played in, for example, Melbourne - the HQ of AR - and have drawn massive crowds. They were deliberately played there in order to further the rugby cause. It needs to be realised, though, that Melbourne sporting crowds will turn out in droves to see any quality sporting event. Certainly, the fans leave the games with a better idea and appreciation of rugby, but they go home to AR. The ARU are following up in Melbourne - and the other AR states - with publicity and development, but they're starting from behind scratch. Why do you think Melbourne was one of the first choices for the location for the extra S12 team that didn't happen?

Rugby League relocated a team to Melbourne and it has never attracted much more than the original RL expats it originally attracted. And the Melbourne-based team won an ARL Premiership a couple of years ago!

The market for rugby here isn't saturated. I've never said it was. The bottom line is that recruiting people - outside the traditional rugby/RL states - to rugby - as both players and fans - will be a slow process. The unfortunate thing is that it has taken so long for the process to start. It's only with the advent of professionalism - and the influx of dollars - that rugby could afford to further its cause against Australian Rules, which is a massive, billion dollar enterprise in this country.

I couldn't agree more with you about the reasons why our footballers should be choosing rugby. The education process is ongoing.

Mate I forgot the difficulties that Aussies have with decimal points. And numbers. Do you have Excel? If so I'll whack a sheet together that will do all the calculating and rounding for you.

No thanks. I enjoy grizzling!

[Havak]

the players knew what they were in for and should have been better disciplined.

This of course is very true but it just never seems to work that way?

Maybe the Wallabies are recycling their quotes.

Lets just say some of the lads lack your vocabulary shall we?

Did you like me find it mildly amusing that the Boks say they will outmuscle you? Whenever you play them you know there will be plenty of claret flowing for just that reason. It’s a bit like them saying “we are going to target Larkham” – in other words totally redundant?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Lets just say some of the lads lack your vocabulary shall we?

About as much as I lack their ball-handling skills.

Did you like me find it mildly amusing that the Boks say they will outmuscle you? Whenever you play them you know there will be plenty of claret flowing for just that reason. It’s a bit like them saying “we are going to target Larkham” – in other words totally redundant?

It's even a bit like saying a certain other lock of aggressive renown will start a stink.

[Havak]

You missed the "not" between "will" and "start"? Unless you were talking about Harrison of course

[finbar]

1. No I didn't.

2. No I wasn't.



More importantly, the Kiwi report into the loss of the co-hosting of the WRC was meant to be out today. Hopefully it will be in tomorrow morning's paper. Hopefully there is, at the moment, blood flooding the corridors of the NZRFU.

[Havak]

Poor old Jonno - he will never get a fair reputation with at least one Aussie.

The BBC seem to have anticipated some of the NZ report here

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Poor old Jonno - he will never get a fair reputation with at least one Aussie.

Make that 19,250,000 at last count.

The BBC seem to have anticipated some of the NZ report here

Mmm. Everything bar the details. Serves me right for farting around on these forums and not (a) checking the rugby websites for details of the report; and (b) ... I was going to say working, but I know I'd only get a lot of guffawing smilies ...

So it's a bit after 1.30pm, Havak - just back from lunch? Contemplating pottering off to lunch? Having a sandwich while you ponder the state of world rugby?

[Havak]

He has one Aussie 'friend' - no less a man than Gentleman John himself.

Actually he may have two - I think he gets on well with Kafer too. And Kiwi Kronfeld likes him - that alone should be all the endorsement any Aussie should need to hate him all the more?

I grabbed a sandwich at my desk as normal. It's only Apolyton thats prevents me being a workaholic some days.

[Caligastia]

Hi all!

Im back from Vegas, poorer but wiser. It is a beautiful place. I love the desert air, no humidity whatsoever! A tad hot when it gets over 110 though...

NZ 41 - SA 20

A great game of rugby! I thought the Boks got off to an excellent start, and they look very promising for the future (hopefully the very near future).

A couple of defensive lapses from the ABs, but I think they are still improving with every game. Sydney should be fantastic!

I have a question. Why is it that every time the ball is kicked into the in goal area and is picked up by the defending team(not under pressure), they stand around for a bit before touching it down? It seems they are just teasing the opposition by making them run needlessly. Is this just a mind game?

Originally posted by finbar
Care to put your bollocks on the line with your Kiwi comrade? I'd dearly love a clean sweep!

Youre taking bets for the Oz v SA game already? I bet 1 gold on SA...

I just discovered that Planet Rugby - or their Zurich Computer, or somesuch - had calculated a 21 points start for the Boks. I probably wouldn't have gone that high, but I think our 12 points margin was pretty slim.

Well now you can rest easy in the knowledge that you would not have won the bet with a higher margin anyway.

[Mickeyj]

“In response to the announcement that the Australian Ben Tune was prescribed a banned substance as part of the treatment for an infected knee last year, "
Seems those aussies have been up to their old tricks, there've been a few now since the Waugh "brothers" sex changes.

Did you like me find it mildly amusing that the Boks say they will outmuscle you? Whenever you play them you know there will be plenty of claret flowing for just that reason. It’s a bit like them saying “we are going to target Larkham” – in other words totally redundant?

We wouldn't be the first - the Lions tour last year was disgracefully amusing.

I have a question. Why is it that every time the ball is kicked into the in goal area and is picked up by the defending team(not under pressure), they stand around for a bit before touching it down? It seems they are just teasing the opposition by making them run needlessly. Is this just a mind game?

It's good fun.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Mickeyj
It's good fun.

I thought so.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
He has one Aussie 'friend' - no less a man than Gentleman John himself.

That tree-hugging namby pamby? He likes everyone.

Actually he may have two - I think he gets on well with Kafer too. And Kiwi Kronfeld likes him - that alone should be all the endorsement any Aussie should need to hate him all the more?

Josh was much admired here for his cheek and, um, exploitation of the laws. In much the same way that Sean Fitzpatrick was much admired here. Cursed and abused to buggery, but much admired.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Hi all!

Im back from Vegas, poorer but wiser. It is a beautiful place. I love the desert air, no humidity whatsoever! A tad hot when it gets over 110 though...

You'd love the Australian outback. Exactly the same. Minus Wayne Newton, of course.

I have a question. Why is it that every time the ball is kicked into the in goal area and is picked up by the defending team(not under pressure), they stand around for a bit before touching it down? It seems they are just teasing the opposition by making them run needlessly. Is this just a mind game?

Little boys' games.

Well now you can rest easy in the knowledge that you would not have won the bet with a higher margin anyway.

With a 21 point margin, I would've. So would you have. It would have been money back all round.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Caligastia

Youre taking bets for the Oz v SA game already? I bet 1 gold on SA...

Havak is wrestling with a possible margin for the Wallabies-Boks match. Can we get some input from the independents? That rules you out, Mickeyj.