How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Nepia said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@mariner4life Because they can.
It will likely infuriate some NH fans too so it's all good!
No it won't. Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour. It's regarded as a bloated overblown cash generation machine.
The obvious reply to this ridiculous generalisation is "why then have so many tickets been sold at high prices to apparently uninterested NH rugby fans"?
Sorry to burst your bubble, and I'm not trying to be incendiary, but that's just the way it is. You'll always get bands of wealthy tourists, mainly from England, but they're not really representative. In general, people don't really care. Sorry!!
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@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Nepia said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@mariner4life Because they can.
It will likely infuriate some NH fans too so it's all good!
No it won't. Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour. It's regarded as a bloated overblown cash generation machine.
Hang on I'll try some NH outrage.
"Outrageous, typical Kiwis ramming dancing down our throats, time-wasting, gives them an advantage because... err... because.. "
Nah fuckit, whatever grabs your fancy. Go for it.
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@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
This is the squad I expect to see named. All the key players with injuries just coming right will be named.
5 Props: Moody, Crockett, Franks, Faumuina, Ofa
3 Hookers Coles, Taylor, Coltman
4 Locks: BBBR, Whitelock, Romano, S Barrett
6 Loose Forwards: Cane, Read, Kaino, A Savea, Todd, Squire3 Halfbacks: TJP, TKB, A Smith
3 10s: BB, AC, Sopoaga
4 Midfielders: Crotty, ALB, SBW, R Ioane
4 Outsides: B Smith, Dagg, J Savea, Naholo
1 Utility: D MacThose invited to camp to hear the gameplan as 'just in case' call ups would include. If anyone is out for the series early on then these are the next in line.
Hames, Laulala
Harris
Bird, PT, Fifita
Luatua, Dixon, Shields, A Ioane
Pulu
Fekitoa, Ngatai
NMS
JBHarris will get the 3rd hooking spot IMO. Fekitoa will be ahead of Ioane for the midfield. NMS will be in ahead of Naholo if back from injury. Don't reckon McKenzie will be near the reduced squad - I'd rate JB a better chance. Interestingly Hansen name-dropped Shields the other day - I'd rate him a better chance than Dixon of making an extended squad.
Harris is an unknown at the moment although I agree that he will overtake Coltman if playing well or the obvious choice if Coles is out.
Not sure about Fekitoa. He just isn't looking like an AB at the moment. You may be right that he gets the nod based on experience in the AB systems though.
I don't know if they'll take the risk of an underdone NMS without seeing him play in the Maori game. Also, if going for four outside backs plus a utility you need a second power winger.
DMac has experience over JB and brings something different to the table. At this current point in time he is simply a better player than JB and plays more of a Ben Smith type game. Also offers options from the bench especially if we are looking to play the Lions off the park pace wise..Shields AND Dixon to get a playbook for homework.
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@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Nepia said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@mariner4life Because they can.
It will likely infuriate some NH fans too so it's all good!
No it won't. Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour. It's regarded as a bloated overblown cash generation machine.
The obvious reply to this ridiculous generalisation is "why then have so many tickets been sold at high prices to apparently uninterested NH rugby fans"?
Sorry to burst your bubble, and I'm not trying to be incendiary, but that's just the way it is. You'll always get bands of wealthy tourists, mainly from England, but they're not really representative. In general, people don't really care. Sorry!!
OK, the general public, maybe not too much, but given the population of the NH, there are enough keen rugby fans to sell out all the games. I'm not going to waste my time arguing about it, but there will be a sizeable TV audience from the NH watching the games, myself included - the tour is big TV money.
You are welcome of course not to watch the games since you have no interest.
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@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Nepia said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@mariner4life Because they can.
It will likely infuriate some NH fans too so it's all good!
No it won't. Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour. It's regarded as a bloated overblown cash generation machine.
The obvious reply to this ridiculous generalisation is "why then have so many tickets been sold at high prices to apparently uninterested NH rugby fans"?
Sorry to burst your bubble, and I'm not trying to be incendiary, but that's just the way it is. You'll always get bands of wealthy tourists, mainly from England, but they're not really representative. In general, people don't really care. Sorry!!
OK, the general public, maybe not too much, but given the population of the NH, there are enough keen rugby fans to sell out all the games. I'm not going to waste my time arguing about it, but there will be a sizeable TV audience from the NH watching the games, myself included - the tour is big TV money.
You are welcome of course not to watch the games since you have no interest.
Thanks very much for your permission.
It seems to be a touchy subject for some reason but that's the reality. Even avid rugby fans are a bit meh about it. Some love it, some hate it, and most just aren't really bothered. It's not like playing for a national team. Sky TV overhype it, of course, as they pay for it. If it wasn't for the TV money they provide, the Lions may not have existed at this stage. -
@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Nepia said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@mariner4life Because they can.
It will likely infuriate some NH fans too so it's all good!
No it won't. Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour. It's regarded as a bloated overblown cash generation machine.
The obvious reply to this ridiculous generalisation is "why then have so many tickets been sold at high prices to apparently uninterested NH rugby fans"?
Sorry to burst your bubble, and I'm not trying to be incendiary, but that's just the way it is. You'll always get bands of wealthy tourists, mainly from England, but they're not really representative. In general, people don't really care. Sorry!!
OK, the general public, maybe not too much, but given the population of the NH, there are enough keen rugby fans to sell out all the games. I'm not going to waste my time arguing about it, but there will be a sizeable TV audience from the NH watching the games, myself included - the tour is big TV money.
You are welcome of course not to watch the games since you have no interest.
@Billy-Tell - you're fighting fire with logic/reason. Crazy approach. Fire (blanket statements about an entire hemisphere's opinions with zero supporting/backup information or even anecdotes) must be fought with fire...
- Everybody in the NH views this Lions tour as being more important than two World Cups combined, and if there is one more haka - it will be perceived as influencing the match and lawyers are certain to become involved.
Of course, if you DID want to proceed with a rational retort to the man, by all means feel free to cite the number of newspaper articles written by NH scribes on the topic, the weeks-long coverage of goddamn rumours before the team was even announced, statistics on the viewership of the live broadcast of the team announcement, etc, etc. And good luck to you.
But I don't think any of that really stands up against a good solid emphatic "Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour". -
@Kruse said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Billy-Tell said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Nepia said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@mariner4life Because they can.
It will likely infuriate some NH fans too so it's all good!
No it won't. Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour. It's regarded as a bloated overblown cash generation machine.
The obvious reply to this ridiculous generalisation is "why then have so many tickets been sold at high prices to apparently uninterested NH rugby fans"?
Sorry to burst your bubble, and I'm not trying to be incendiary, but that's just the way it is. You'll always get bands of wealthy tourists, mainly from England, but they're not really representative. In general, people don't really care. Sorry!!
OK, the general public, maybe not too much, but given the population of the NH, there are enough keen rugby fans to sell out all the games. I'm not going to waste my time arguing about it, but there will be a sizeable TV audience from the NH watching the games, myself included - the tour is big TV money.
You are welcome of course not to watch the games since you have no interest.
@Billy-Tell - you're fighting fire with logic/reason. Crazy approach. Fire (blanket statements about an entire hemisphere's opinions with zero supporting/backup information or even anecdotes) must be fought with fire...
- Everybody in the NH views this Lions tour as being more important than two World Cups combined, and if there is one more haka - it will be perceived as influencing the match and lawyers are certain to become involved.
Of course, if you DID want to proceed with a rational retort to the man, by all means feel free to cite the number of newspaper articles written by NH scribes on the topic, the weeks-long coverage of goddamn rumours before the team was even announced, statistics on the viewership of the live broadcast of the team announcement, etc, etc. And good luck to you.
But I don't think any of that really stands up against a good solid emphatic "Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour".That's a typical delusional response. It's really funny how Sky TV's total overhyping of the Lions squad announcement is seen as a barometer of the level of interest general. Plus the NH journo's writing about it. I know you don't want to hear it, but they're trying to flog a dead horse and get people to watch TV and read newspapers. It's their job!
Rugby followers know that 90% of the rugby writers are complete hacks and don't bother reading them, the rest don't read them because they don't follow rugby.
Again, I'm not trying to stir things up, and there seems to be a level of touchiness about this. Sorry to disappoint you, but it really isn't a big deal in the NH. -
Okay - fair enough. Newspapers and Sky have a vested interest in making this seem more "popular" than it might be. So, ignore that the 4 top Sports stories on the Telegraph website are currently about the Lions. (In a fucking soccer-mad country)...
Anecdotal evidence is the order of the day. It just so happens that there are several NH posters on this very forum. Including PotHale, who immediately refuted that view. Can we still do "polls" on the new platform?
And myself, although I presumably don't count, as a dirty filthy job-stealing immigrant. But I do work with Brits, and discuss the upcoming irrelevant money-spinner with them. And... yeah - nah. -
@Kruse said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Okay - fair enough. Newspapers and Sky have a vested interest in making this seem more "popular" than it might be. So, ignore that the 4 top Sports stories on the Telegraph website are currently about the Lions. (In a fucking soccer-mad country)...
Anecdotal evidence is the order of the day. It just so happens that there are several NH posters on this very forum. Including PotHale, who immediately refuted that view. Can we still do "polls" on the new platform?
And myself, although I presumably don't count, as a dirty filthy job-stealing immigrant. But I do work with Brits, and discuss the upcoming irrelevant money-spinner with them. And... yeah - nah.That's fine. You can believe whatever you want.
Look I know rugby is the no.1 sport in NZ, NZ are the best team in the world and will win the Lions series fairly easily - the predictability probably takes a lot of the interest out of it.
So it's understandable that you'd like this to be big news globally and get a lot of international focus - but it won't and most people won't really care either way. -
@Jenlynx you are trying to make an argument from something that evidence totally dismisses.
In the Rugby world the Lions Tour is seen as a massive event that generates money second only to the RWC. That money comes from somewhere. Guess where? Sponsors whose analysis has decreed value for money in reaching interested people; broadcasters that have researched the likely audience levels; and those interested people themselves.
If you want to believe 'Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour' go ahead but a pissy little country called NZ can't generate that amount of money on it's own. -
@Jenlynx Cool - agreed, you can believe whatever you want.
I should have followed PotHale's luck, and just wished you luck in not watching it, and not logging on to NZ-based rugby forums to discuss it. Unfortunately, I drank warm beer at lunch, and it upset my constitution.
But now - fare thee well, in not caring about the Lions, and I hope you don't accidentally incite any further discussions about the whole pointless thing. Good luck for your favourite team in the futbal, or whatever it is that does matter. -
@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx you are trying to make an argument from something that evidence totally dismisses.
In the Rugby world the Lions Tour is seen as a massive event that generates money second only to the RWC. That money comes from somewhere. Guess where? Sponsors whose analysis has decreed value for money in reaching interested people; broadcasters that have researched the likely audience levels; and those interested people themselves.
If you want to believe 'Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour' go ahead but a pissy little country called NZ can't generate that amount of money on it's own.It really is a very touchy subject isn't it? The target market is affluent males of 35-55, which is where the majority of the tourists fans are. It's excuse for a trip away with the lads. Many sports fans will sit down and look at it as there's no other rugby on. The result won't mean too much to them either way.
Lots of people will be getting ready for work, or be at work, when the midweek matches are on.
I know each SH country only gets to play the Lions every 12 years, so can understand the touchiness. but apologies, it's really no big deal in the NH. -
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@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Kruse touchy, touchy!! That beer must really have upset you.
Yeah - apologies, that beer really didn't go down well. I realised I was a bit snarkier than I needed to.
But yeah, in general, an obvious troll - who created an account on a NZ rugby website just to make a blatantly incorrect point - and me being bored as shit at work, trying to avoid real-life conversations with boring fucks... this little piece of venting got me through to the end of the day. And now, done. -
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx you are trying to make an argument from something that evidence totally dismisses.
In the Rugby world the Lions Tour is seen as a massive event that generates money second only to the RWC. That money comes from somewhere. Guess where? Sponsors whose analysis has decreed value for money in reaching interested people; broadcasters that have researched the likely audience levels; and those interested people themselves.
If you want to believe 'Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour' go ahead but a pissy little country called NZ can't generate that amount of money on it's own.It really is a very touchy subject isn't it? The target market is affluent males of 35-55, which is where the majority of the tourists fans are. It's excuse for a trip away with the lads. Many sports fans will sit down and look at it as there's no other rugby on. The result won't mean too much to them either way.
Lots of people will be getting ready for work, or be at work, when the midweek matches are on.
I know each SH country only gets to play the Lions every 12 years, so can understand the touchiness. but apologies, it's really no big deal in the NH.I'm not being touchy at all? Why would I care if the BIL held interest outside of dedicated fans? I have no stake in this apart from wanting to watch some rugby.
Your initial statement was complete nonsense and you are being called out on it. That's what happens in this forum. Talk shite and you will get shot down. -
@Kruse said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Kruse touchy, touchy!! That beer must really have upset you.
Yeah - apologies, that beer really didn't go down well. I realised I was a bit snarkier than I needed to.
But yeah, in general, an obvious troll - who created an account on a NZ rugby website just to make a blatantly incorrect point - and me being bored as shit at work, trying to avoid real-life conversations with boring fucks... this little piece of venting got me through to the end of the day. And now, done.So if anyone says something you don't agree with that's being a troll?? OK!
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@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Crucial said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Jenlynx you are trying to make an argument from something that evidence totally dismisses.
In the Rugby world the Lions Tour is seen as a massive event that generates money second only to the RWC. That money comes from somewhere. Guess where? Sponsors whose analysis has decreed value for money in reaching interested people; broadcasters that have researched the likely audience levels; and those interested people themselves.
If you want to believe 'Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour' go ahead but a pissy little country called NZ can't generate that amount of money on it's own.It really is a very touchy subject isn't it? The target market is affluent males of 35-55, which is where the majority of the tourists fans are. It's excuse for a trip away with the lads. Many sports fans will sit down and look at it as there's no other rugby on. The result won't mean too much to them either way.
Lots of people will be getting ready for work, or be at work, when the midweek matches are on.
I know each SH country only gets to play the Lions every 12 years, so can understand the touchiness. but apologies, it's really no big deal in the NH.I'm not being touchy at all? Why would I care if the BIL held interest outside of dedicated fans? I have no stake in this apart from wanting to watch some rugby.
Your initial statement was complete nonsense and you are being called out on it. That's what happens in this forum. Talk shite and you will get shot down.But I'm not talking shite and I didn't get shot down. You just don't agree with me and don't like what I'm saying, which is fine.
To be honest, most rugby fans understand that any top 6 national team should beat a Lions team, at least 2 out of every 3 times. You can big it up all you want but again it is what it is. -
@Jenlynx said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Nobody in the NH cares about the Lions tour. It's regarded as a bloated overblown cash generation machine.Just to bring you back to the statement you made.
Are you really trying to tell us that only a small number of NH rugby fans care about the Lions tour? That's what I'm calling out because (as explained) it goes against obvious evidence to the contrary. It's not just my opinion that differs it is the opinion of sponsors, broadcasters, merchandise buyers, travelling fans, news editors etc etc
