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60% of the time I get it right EVERY time. But really it's what BH said. I don't think you are comparing apples with apples. Brumbies and Force were new teams in areas that previously had nothing. Putting new teams in Sydney and Brisbane (already saturated) is a huge risk and I'm not sure it...

I would be. There might be a spike for game one with a lot of new curious fans, but there is so much more to the current situation than 'the fans are angry at RA/Super Rugby'. Rugby fans won't show up to a game without meaning, or tradition or any sort of community link. There has been...

I also think refs are too quick to award penalty tries when there is a dominant scrum close to the line. I've spent some time at #8 of a dominant pack (nothing to do with my contributions, I can assure you) and found that executing a pushover try is bloody difficult. You have to control an...

But penalties aren't there to stop 'incompetence', they are there to stop infringing. You can be incompetent and still play within the laws of the game. Indeed many Aussie Super Rugby teams have made it an artform. .

I know that's a well-worn narrative (Mike AAA as well) but has Lousi been any good this year? Or Ta'avao? I've seen a bit of both and they have been pretty average every time I've seen them. Maybe I've missed their standout games but from my view I don't think the Tahs have missed them at all. .

BR - when was the last time you saw a prop penalised for boring in? It never happens any more, not sure why. I don't want to get into the Jacko discussions, but the refereeing of the scrums in that game reminded me of a recent discussion in the refereeing thread. Scrums are moving towards...

In the end, the game said it all about the Waratahs season. Flashes of brilliance, but ultimately they lacked the firepower to compete with a top team for 80 minutes. They needed an ounce of luck which just didn't come. Or, to put it better, they needed the Lions to make mistakes they just...

I'd like to see Rory given a shot, maybe off the bench. My only reservation with him is his handling, he can be a bit of a goober and drops a few more than I'd like. But that can improve (he's already heaps better than he was).

Is Rodda a dominating player? I don't recall any dominating hits or runs from the Ireland series. To me he's more of a workhorse type, that gets through the hard yards in tight. Nothing wrong with that, but I wouldn't call him dominant in any way. .

I disagree. Who has 'one eye on the paycheck'? Name some names, please. OK I get the Fox guys are never super critical but I don't really mind that, they are there to promote the game. The print journos I think all do a pretty good job balancing the need for game/player coverage and general...

I can't agree with you there Hoggy. If the bloke fell of the face of the earth tomorrow I think the game would be much better for it. 'Voices like him' only feed the pale/male/stale thing that other posters rant about. He epitomises the 'let's go back to the 1980s' mindset that only holds the...

I think playing SA sides is a drag, yes. NZ teams? I'm not sure. Attendance at local games when the Crusaders, Chiefs or Canes come to town is generally quite strong, and the TV ratings are healthy as well. .

That's the question, isn't it. The thing people miss in the discussion of TV revenue, is the amount that comes from overseas deals. Europe, Japan, Americas. A comp with international appeal puts more money in our pocket. We go domestic and I'm not sure that interest is there anymore. .

I don't think a local league is impossible, I just haven't seen a model I like yet. Specifically, one which doesn't completely demolish our major revenue source (TV rights). For all the talk of issues in the game, it's important to remember the desire for the top product (Wallabies) is still...

I've been thinking about it a lot, and there is no easy answer. The solution I'm drawing more towards is a rebranded Super Rugby with a few tweaks to make it more accessible and easier to understand ('back to the roots'). I can see the merits in the conference/Champions Cup model too, though...

How do they have a vested interest in staying in Super Rugby exactly? Surely their 'vested interest' is in the success of the game? If the game succeeds, they do. If the game dies, then they die too. Painting people in one corner or another here helps nobody. We all have our different views...

Let's dive into this concept a bit more then. Given we're talking 2020 here you have to assume the June internationals are being pushed back to July, so we have a clear timeline of Aussie Comp/Champions League/July Internationals/TRC. I assume by 6 teams you are talking about the current four...

Do you know how SANZAAR determine the split of TV revenue? I'd be interested if anyone did, or if it was just an even split among all parties, or if there was some sort of formula they use to determine it. .

I think it's a lot better than what it used to be. Remember the days of Greg Growden potting every single thing the ARU or Wallabies did? The 'fort fumble' shit and the mindless gossip from 'around the traps'? Old Spiro writing those bitter rants every week or two? Thank Christ that is now a...