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The uncertainty about being able to travel when they planned the Super Rugby seasons has to be factored in. It was generally accepted that games playing internationally would be difficult if not impossible. Are Australians going to be interested and invested in watching Australian teams play each...

I find your rugby laughable so perhaps we're even. Apparently being good at rugby means that the competition is designed for your interest. GTFOH - no-one claimed Super Rugby was designed for RA interest when the Brumbies were winning or the Reds or the Tahs. You're saying that the reason Australia...

Riiiiight. Australians will turn away from watching the premier rugby league and Aussie rules comps in the world to watch 3rd and 4th rate rugby players have a go. All because a Sydney team has the chance to beat a Qld or Perth team? Most Australians won't care about a domestic comp when...

Muthafker LOL

I call bullshit on most of the shit you're saying here. You're basically pissed off at NZRU because they have ensured that NZ rugby- whether it's Super Rugby or the ABs - is some of the best rugby in the world. NZRU had NOTHING to do with the demise of rugby in Australia. They just kept getting better...

Well, to be fair, there have ALWAYS only been a small number of teams.

Ummm - so you think selling the advertising, merchandise, name etc of the All Blacks is not selling the All Blacks? OK

I'm not sure but I think it may be because the All Black brand is built globally on basically being perhaps the most dominant sports team in all team sports. If they assist Australia in being more competitive on the field, are they putting the cash cow at risk? I don't know if that's it but...

It's not just playing against the best - it's playing WITH them. That's why I noted his teammates and not so much his opposition.

Just read an article from last week about Skelton. This was written near the start, "Throughout his time in England, we marvelled at the Australian who was overweight and unfit when first arriving in North London" Skelton has been playing with guys like Victor Vito, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Maro...

I don't think it's about dismissing the ratings. It's about understanding why they have been declining and the answer is pretty simple - Australian teams have been losing. @Quick Hands posted the numbers earlier: The Reds best attendance number: 2010 - 22,826 2011 - 33,253 2012 - 34,479 2013...

They can afford to do that with the money that they can generate with their market size.

I'm not 100% sure but I think the insurance is a big difference in comparing NZ with Aus. I think that having ACC in NZ is a huge bonus. I used to run a American Football Club here in Aus and the insurance alone accounted for around $130 of player's fees, if I remember correctly...

Again - I'm not talking about the Saveas or Mo'ungas. There is a grade of players a level or two under the ABs who could look to move to Australia to play Super Rugby here if for nothing more than a change of lifestyle. It's not all about the money. For Australia, this is more about depth than just...

Currently, players only came here if they have given up on playing for NZ. It also allows for Australian players to play in NZ eg. Lealiifano to improve without having to return to Australia to play Wallabies

It allows NZ players to look at opportunities in Australia without giving up the AB dream. It also allows Australian players the ability to look at playing in NZ without forgoing Wallaby honours as well. In most cases, this isn't about the top 30-40 players looking to go play for the Force or...

Yeah - I agree. It seems to me that NZ rugby would rather look at private ownership of the ABs instead working with Australia to lift the standard of competition. I love how dominant NZ rugby has been over the last 10yrs or so but I would also love to see the passion and the contest of the...

Exactly. And it's no different in NZ. The ABs basically make all the money for the rest of NZ rugby

My suggestion is actually that NZ has to assist in lifting Australian rugby (I understand how unlikely this is so yeah) by opening up AB eligibility to any player/coach who is in Super Rugby regardless of whether they are in NZ or Aus. The misconception is that Australian public want to watch local...

Except the 'champions league' has realistically already been played in the NZ comp...