Aussie Pro Rugby
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@Tim it's crazy and I think it's a hot mess of being meh about super rugby (we know its changing significantly), hangover from failed RWC, issues with the new coaching appointments, plus the ongoing blegh about ABs having limited time. Add in all the increasing real life pressures and the reasons to disengage pile up fast! oh, and the whole broadcasting side of things too!
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@Stargazer said in Aussie Rugby:
@Tim Do you know why? Is it the early start? Not winning the RWC? ABs being rested? ...??
For me it is the early start. Rugby starts in Autumn in my head and finishes in early spring.
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@antipodean said in Aussie Rugby:
Just looked them up:
The first round Super Rugby matches averaged just 33,000 viewers last weekend
Where did you look them up - from a News Corp source?
@Nepia said in Aussie Rugby:
@antipodean I was at a BBQ where the three or four Aussie rugby fans (Tahs fans, spit) didn't even know Super rugby had started and thought the weekends matches were still preseason, but the three Kiwis did.
New Zealanders will be the last people in the world to know that Super Rugby is dead.
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@Hooroo said in Aussie Rugby:
@Stargazer said in Aussie Rugby:
@Tim Do you know why? Is it the early start? Not winning the RWC? ABs being rested? ...??
For me it is the early start. Rugby starts in Autumn in my head and finishes in early spring.
playing rugby now is totally ridiculous. The season is 6 weeks too long. And that's just at the start.
Personally the player drain also lessens my interest. And that problem is even worse in Australia.
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@Hooroo For some of my friends/family it's mostly the constant changes. To the format, to the rules and how they are applied; trials etc. Especially if those changes don't improve the entertainment value of games. It will be interesting to see if SR's popularity will increase from next year, with fewer teams, round robin, fewer games.
I'm also convinced that a lot of the dissatisfaction is created/fed/aggravated by the clickbait-driven media. If they write often enough that SR sucks for some reason, people will start believing it. Too many opinion articles dressed up as factual reports are also annoying.
If only we had a few good rugby writers and analysts working in the digital and broadcast media with sufficient exposure.
Is 1014 Rugby dead? I enjoyed that programme.
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This is the best summary of where things stand with TV rights here. Still a long way to go.
Why rugby's broadcast rights imbroglio will go into extra time
Rugby Australia officials remained confident on Thursday their unprecedented decision to test market interest in rugby's broadcast rights would not blow up in their faces.
As much as I respect some of their rugby journos, you can't trust News Corp publications on this one. You just wonder if they are singing from the company hymn sheet.
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@Kiap said in Aussie Rugby:
@antipodean said in Aussie Rugby:
Just looked them up:
The first round Super Rugby matches averaged just 33,000 viewers last weekend
Where did you look them up - from a News Corp source?
Not quite, but the only ones I could find:
Fox Sports Responds To Reports About A Failed Broadcast Deal With Rugby Australia - Ministry of Sport
With several reports claiming that Fox Sports is set to end its 25-year broadcast history with Rugby Australia, Head of Fox Sports Peter Campbell has made a statement. Mr Campbell said […]
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@mariner4life said in Aussie Rugby:
Personally the player drain also lessens my interest. And that problem is even worse in Australia.
I was talking about this on the weekend and my interest is slightly reinvigorated to see talented youngsters given an opportunity. Every now and then (which tends to be after a RWC), it's nice to see the driftwood removed from the competition.
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@antipodean Yep, I find it quite interesting to watch the newbies, esp if I've been following some of them from the time they were still playing for their school's 1st XV.
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@antipodean said in Aussie Rugby:
@mariner4life said in Aussie Rugby:
Personally the player drain also lessens my interest. And that problem is even worse in Australia.
I was talking about this on the weekend and my interest is slightly reinvigorated to see talented youngsters given an opportunity. Every now and then (which tends to be after a RWC), it's nice to see the driftwood removed from the competition.
i get that argument, and i think others like Stargazer love that about the comp now, because they follow these guys as they progress. I don't watch NPC rugby because often the times are shithouse in Qld, so i don't know who they are.
And unfortunately Super Rugby is now old enough to have "halcyon days" where it wasn't a development comp, it was the best NZ players condensed in to 5 teams.
Now? Rest. Retirement. Sabbaticals. Overseas contracts. It's half of the ABs, and a bunch of 2nd year pros.
There isn't a decent lock in the country. There isn't a decent blindside in the country. There isn't a decent #8 in the Country. And even if they stand out, who are they testing themselves against? Australian players? The Boks not playing in Europe? whoop de do.
You add that to the fact the Friday NZ game is finished before i get home from work on a Friday, and my care factor is slightly above "meh"
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@antipodean said in Aussie Rugby:
Not quite, but the only ones I could find:
Fox Sports Responds To Reports About A Failed Broadcast Deal With Rugby Australia - Ministry of Sport
With several reports claiming that Fox Sports is set to end its 25-year broadcast history with Rugby Australia, Head of Fox Sports Peter Campbell has made a statement. Mr Campbell said […]
I reckon that's a rehash of News Corp sourced info. As per Barbarian's post, beware.
Don't get me wrong, the Foxtel ratings were still crappy. Just not as bad as claimed. Of the 7 games, 4 were watchable:
Blu v Chi 43k
Bru v Red 52k
Cru v War 66k
Sun v Reb 39kAverage there of somewhere around 50k.
Games in South Africa and Argentina don't rate (typically don't make the published ratings) and never have.
Sha v Bul n/a
Sto v Hur n/a
Jag v Lio n/aBut if you somehow wanted to count these, they'd drop the "average" for sure.
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https://www.businessinsider.com.au/kayo-streaming-cricket-2020-2
Not even the cricket is helping Foxtel/Kayo/News Corp
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@dK said in Aussie Rugby:
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/kayo-streaming-cricket-2020-2
Not even the cricket is helping Foxtel/Kayo/News Corp
we are in a dead spot, as the article says
Approximately 18 people in this country give even a solitary fuck about Super Rugby, and they are all Kiwi scaffolders on the Gold Coast. And they games they care about are kicking off at 4pm
The Aussie cricket summer was a procession, and ended ages ago.
The footy codes that people care about don't kick off for a fair while yet.
The Big Bash got too long and killed itself. And is on FTA.There is just no sport to watch.
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The Wallabies will play Fiji at Townsville's Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday, 18 July. It's a doubleheader, with the Wallaroos playing Canada in the women's test.
Townsville's Queensland Country Bank Stadium to host historic doubleheader
Townsville will play host for its first ever Qantas Wallabies Test when Australia take on Fiji on July 18 at the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
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So who's going to win the Aussie conference? Yes the questions could be rephrased as 'who is slightly less crap'?
When I looked at the odds a few weeks ago I think the order was this:
Brumbies
Rebels
Waratahs
Reds
SunwolvesHas much changed?
The Brumbies probably are still favourites but they have really drifted in and out of games. The matches so far - Reds, Rebels & Highlanders.. all those matches have been in Canberra. They look really fragile.
The Rebels had an unbelievably high error rate for 120mins. Their second 120mins was ok. The one thing they have in their favour is they have the only proven 10 in Australia. Meeks is an underrated player too.
Tahs keep bumbling along. The Reds might find form when they finally play at home? I can't see the Sunwolves winning often enough to stay in touch
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The Brumbies will win the conference. They have the best pack, the most settled squad, and they are well coached. They won't set the world alight but they will win the games they need to, especially at home.
The Reds are the smokeys. The first half they played in Buenos Aires was electric, and with a few more 50/50 calls they would have won. They have a good young core and if they put it all together they could rack up wins in a hurry.
Tahs are rebuilding and won't get above 14th on the ladder. Rebels are too hot and cold to get above 12th. And the Sunwolves... your guess is as good as mine.
But for all the dross I'm actually enjoying watching our teams this year. Good young players finally given their shot. Like Harry Wilson at 8 for the Reds, Mark Nawaqanitawase on the wing for the Tahs, Noah Lolesio at 10 for the Brumbies.
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