Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
There's speculation out there that last night was Channel 10's lowest ever rating share
Why aren't the public engaged with the Wobs? The Reds week on week were probably getting bigger ratings and they are only on Fox.
Maybe it's because most of the matches the Wallabies have played of late haven't been great spectacles.
I'd suggest its because AUSTRALIA.
Finals of two other codes on, and a game against Argentina is largely meaningless in the face of whether one of your other teams will live to see next week.
Unfortunately, Pulver can do all he likes to promote the game - with money he doesn't have to spend - but the Wallabies' performances at big events like RWC will ultimately decide our place in the public eye. The fact that its in Europe is not going to help one jot.
We can sit here spitballing about why, but in the meantime let's all get out and fucking support the game, hmm?
Well I agree with you. But I think the focus on the Wallabies above all else costs rugby in Australia.
Look at rugby in France. It's absolutely booming despite the fact their national side has been disappointing for years.
Fixed.
Well then we should blame our billionaire team owners
Get rid of Argentina, invest more Wallabies into the NRC
Before you start throwing around money and ideas we may want to ask the question are the ratings generated by the opposition team at Wallabies games? So the Wallabies rate well when they play quality teams like the Kiwi's and Bok's. Conversely against teams that dont command the same audience numbers or support here in Oz like the Puma's and French the rating crash. Common denominator? We know we have supporters and an viable audience as evidenced from the Super Rugby finals numbers (ratings and attendance) and the recent games against the Kiwi and Bok's.
So what is the real issue? Is the reality that the Wallabies just don't engage or interest people as a standalone product? Is it time for a rethink of the landscape and a shift in thinking? Time to stop obsessing about the national team? That being said why do the Kiwi's, Bok's, and Pommy National teams rate so high even when they are playing minnows?
What is there to ask? Australian rugby is too reliant on the performance of the Wallabies.. A team which for the better part of the last decade failed to defeat its arch-nemesis in a series and on far too many occasions played a style of rugby which has failed to ignite the imaginations or appetite's of the fans.
My 'cutting of Argentina' suggestion was tongue in cheek, I don't expect or think it would be good idea for the overall development of the game to cut Argentina from the mix, however I would be interested to see how the ARC were to perform if the Rugby Championship were reduced in length and more high profile players(i.e Wallaby players) were free to play in the ARC..
French rugby isn't booming because of billionaire team owners. It's booming because it basically has an equivalent of the NRL. A well marketed competition that supplies 7 big games every weekend between teams with tribal followings. For 26 weeks. And the point of it isn't to develop test players for France.
Yeah good point.
Right everyone: get in. We're heading back to 1995 and Omar's going to put down the plan that changes all the shit we've seen for the last two decades.
Somebody bring beer. I'll drive.