Argentina Australia at.... Twickenham?
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The Barbarians don't sell out, so I'm clearly not as confident that Twickenham will be full to watch Argentina.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="570108" data-time="1459922183"><p>
Of course, it's a money grab. Just like us playing Ireland in the USA.</p></blockquote>At least we have the guise of "growing the game", which in fairness is a reasonably valid reason for playing in a huge un-tapped market.<br><br>
Also, we aren't impacting the integrety of the RC where traditionally the home/away games have been hugely important in deciding the comp. Argentina now have one less home game, hurting their chances of winning the comp.<br><br>
But really I was just highligting the stupidity of the reasons given for playing the game at Twickers, which are beyond taking the piss. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="570132" data-time="1459925872">
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<p>The Barbarians don't sell out, so I'm clearly not as confident that Twickenham will be full to watch Argentina.</p>
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<p>Hmmm....not sold out equals no English fans?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="570135" data-time="1459926041"><p>Hmmm....not sold out equals no English fans?</p></blockquote><br>I didn't say no English fans would be attending. I implied they couldn't be relied on to fill the empty seats.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="570146" data-time="1459929070">
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<p>Avatar wager? I think it will sell out.</p>
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<p>I'll take you on that! I think it's a good idea and probably at least as popular as a Baabaa's game if not more so. Heck the crowd for the Crusaders/Sharks game was decent enough. I'd be tempted to go if I still lived out west.</p>
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<p>Edit: But I don't think it'll sell out.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="570058" data-time="1459908803">
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<p>This makes absolutely no sense to me.</p>
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<p><strong>That seems pretty bloody condescending to English rugby and in fact the entire 6 Nations tournament which has a big following and a shit load of history behind it. Do fans up there really think "ooohhh I wish I could watch a Southern Hemisphere team, <em>any</em> Southern Hemisphere team, instead of my country!!" ???</strong></p>
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<p>Sorry if the interest in rugby is growing in Argentina why the fuck are you taking one of your home matches to England? How does that help "grow" the game in Argentina again? Am I missing something?</p>
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<p>Sky Sports.... ohh right it's just a money grab. Cool.</p>
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Ummmm, yes. That's exactly what a shitload of my UK-rugby watching mates said after the RWC / during this year's 6N, being heartily sick of the tripe served up to them.<br><br>
I went the Crusaders-Sharks 5 years ago and it was awesome. I might go to this. I reckon it'll sell out. Sign me up to any Avatar bet.</p> -
<p>It will sell out and if I can get a ticket I will go. So what if Argentina are sharing the gate with Aussie, its probably how they got them to agree to go to the UK and they will probably come away with more money than playing it in Argentina. You can not compare the Barbaa's game after a world cup to this game.</p>
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<p>With the number of Aussie ex-pats in the UK, plus a fair sprinkling of Argies around western Europe I'd say there's a fair chance of a sell out or close to, though much will depend on ticket prices. I doubt the next one (if sanctioned) would be as popular and then on diminishing returns. If so, as a one off it makes financial sense but not much else.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="TeWaio" data-cid="570150" data-time="1459930914">
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<p>Ummmm, yes. That's exactly what a shitload of my UK-rugby watching mates said after the RWC / during this year's 6N, being heartily sick of the tripe served up to them.<br><br>
I went the Crusaders-Sharks 5 years ago and it was awesome. I might go to this. I reckon it'll sell out. Sign me up to any Avatar bet.</p>
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<p>That would be heartily sick of the tripe that sells out four times over and gains huge TV audiences?</p>
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<p>Whilst anyone with a brain could see the gulf between playing styles and success shown at the RWC, you still have to be invested in your team. Otherwise why not watch the Harlem Globetrotters 24/7?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="570157" data-time="1459934632">
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<p>That would be heartily sick of the tripe that sells out four times over and gains huge TV audiences?</p>
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<p>Whilst anyone with a brain could see the gulf between playing styles and success shown at the RWC, you still have to be invested in your team. Otherwise why not watch the Harlem Globetrotters 24/7?</p>
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Totally agree, its massively popular due to history/passion (and the cynic in me says due to scarcity value, in terms of international rugby). And I love watching it, even though some of the play makes you want to pull your hair out. Was just pointing out that all my UK mates who watch it religiously feel the same way (the two aren't mutually exclusive) and are all over this Arg/Aus game.<br><br>
In fact, as I type this an English based Chilean born mate who has debenture seats has asked me to go along with him. Result.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="570146" data-time="1459929070"><p>Avatar wager? I think it will sell out.</p></blockquote> <br>Sure.<br><br><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="570151" data-time="1459931887"><p>You can not compare the Barbaa's game after a world cup to this game.</p></blockquote><br>What about the year before then?
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<p>The only positive is that unlike BaaBaas games on EOYT or neutral site games played in London this is happening a week before the Premiership kicks off - so there likely will be less rugby fatigue than if this fixture happened in late November etc.</p>
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<p>On the negative side after the RWC last year and regular EOYT games England has seen Australia a lot recently so the bloom is certainly off the rose there. With a Lions tour looming at the end of their season I can see why it would be hard for the neutral to get excited about a 3rd v 4th playoff?</p>
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<p>Whatever that Crusaders v Sharks game did is about what I'll guess? Perhaps a touch more.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wreck Diver" data-cid="570151" data-time="1459931887"><p>It will sell out and if I can get a ticket I will go. So what if Argentina are sharing the gate with Aussie, its probably how they got them to agree to go to the UK and they will probably come away with more money than playing it in Argentina. You can not compare the Barbaa's game after a world cup to this game.</p></blockquote>
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I was curious how many they got to that carnival game at a point where it was probably at saturation point following the RWC so an actual meaningful test is likely to attract a much better crowd. -
I get that the money will be good, bit it doesn't sit well with me that this is part of the RC and being played in London. Any other time sure, but this is supposed to be a home-away comp that will grow the game in Argentina. This is a game the Argies would have a good chance of winning and shit, could even decide the champion. Imagine Scotland playing England in a 6N game in Sydney.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="570214" data-time="1459982453">
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<p>I get that the money will be good, bit it doesn't sit well with me that this is part of the RC and being played in London. Any other time sure, but this is supposed to be a home-away comp that will grow the game in Argentina. This is a game the Argies would have a good chance of winning and shit, could even decide the champion. Imagine Scotland playing England in a 6N game in Sydney.</p>
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<p>This is a fair point. It is a decent advantage for Australia over New Zealand and South Africa.</p> -
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<p>I was curious how many they got to that carnival game at a point where it was probably at saturation point following the RWC so an actual meaningful test is likely to attract a much better crowd.</p>
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<p>They got 35,000. I reckon Australia vs Argentina will get more, probably not a sell out though.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="570214" data-time="1459982453">
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<p> Imagine Scotland playing England in a 6N game in Sydney.</p>
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<p>I would probably go to that (and regret it).</p>
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<p>Another metric would be comparing the difference in attendance Australia and the ABs did in Chicago. Australia aren't much of a draw overseas outside of the expats. All of the home unions have trounced them regularly over the past 10 years - so that important benchmark of beating them which England had in the early 00s and the other unions always had is no longer there.</p> -
<p>No doubt that NZ is the draw card. They are the yardstick by which all others are measured and I'd suggest that anyone interested in rugby would pay to go and see NZ play if they were in their own back yard. But would they pay to go and see NZ play someone else (other than their own team) in their own back yard? Would they pay to go and see NZ play someone else in their own back yard yet again? Now double that for anyone who isn't the draw that NZ is.</p>
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<p>To maintain any interest you have to have the fans invested in the actual teams to fill an 80K+ stadium again and again.</p>
