National Rugby Championship 2014

[Quick Hands]

That assumes the general public is even going to care about a second tier tournament in the first place. Theres nothing wrong at all with the idea of entertainment before the game and half time but people are going to Rugby to watch Rugby. Moving away from that to BBL level (not taking itself seriously) pretty much erodes the point of going in the first place.

The rugby tragics will go to the rugby to watch the rugby, we need to attract new followers, not just provide another game for the rusted on supporters.

Cricket Australia published some data in the last week and the majority of people at BBL matches it was their first time paying to watch cricket. After years of trying to ignore 20/20 cricket, I was dragged along by the kids this year and actually enjoyed the experience. I think we went to all of the 6ers home games. The point that I took out of it was that I was surrounded by families out having fun.

You might just be surprised at what people will take the family to if it is marketed and promoted properly. Unfortunately, rugby has a history of failure in this regard - let's hope we get it right this time.

If we're going to promote rugby as some sort of super-serious event, for the higher intellects, where people are going to be content to be bored out of their brains for a couple and any frivolity is going to be met by disapproving looks - then we've lost the battle before we've even started.

 

[Badger]

QH, spot on. It has to be good value and entertaining for families. For the traditionalists it may be sacrilege to say, but the action on the field could be secondary to the atmosphere and other activities that may be offered to amuse the kiddies. If the kids enjoy it, then it's more likely that they will want to go again and ask their folks to bring them along. Nothing like a bit of pester power.

Today's 20/20 fans could be tomorrow's ODI and Test match viewers. So here's hoping the NRC could be the stepping stone to getting fans to Super Rugby and Test matches.

 

[Gagger]

Guys - interested on what you think about Rule variations in the NRC - see here

NRC Law Variations - have your say

 

[Caputo]

Now that the Wallabies Squad have been announced here is my impression what the playing ranks of the NRC could be. Noting I have shored up Perth, Melbourne and Canberra first. I had the most difficuty with Easts, NSW Country, Randwick combine. I tried to keep all Shute Shield players with their aligned teams in NRC. One exception was Mark Swanepoel. Feel free to make more appropriate selections of players.
I have also tried to balance the teams with U20 representatives.

 

[Caputo]

Now that the Wallabies Squad have been announced here is my impression what the playing ranks of the NRC could be. Noting I have shored up Perth, Melbourne and Canberra first. I had the most difficuty with Easts, NSW Country, Randwick combine. I tried to keep all Shute Shield players with their aligned teams in NRC. One exception was Mark Swanepoel. Feel free to make more appropriate selections of players.
I have also tried to balance the teams with U20 representatives.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Caputo

You know your stuff my friend - well compiled list.

My only comments relating to Bne/Qld Country:

Don't like Nigel Genia or Sam Greene replace with veterans in David Campbell & Matt Brandon.

Joel Faulkner in not playing for Easts (Bne) at present due to work commitments so don't think he'll be available for NRC;

Andy Muirhead is playing in Sydney.

As for the East Rand NSW Country squad - Michael Stolberg is playing in the Canberra comp.

 

[Dave Beat]

Now that the Wallabies Squad have been announced here is my impression what the playing ranks of the NRC could be. Noting I have shored up Perth, Melbourne and Canberra first. I had the most difficuty with Easts, NSW Country, Randwick combine. I tried to keep all Shute Shield players with their aligned teams in NRC. One exception was Mark Swanepoel. Feel free to make more appropriate selections of players.
I have also tried to balance the teams with U20 representatives.

Just a list, some thought and time went into that and well done.
Were you looking at this weeks program to assist?
Very surprised Porecki didn't get a mention in the Rays, he'd be the form hooker I think. In addition to that I want Swany with the Rays, hands off.
I hope Reece is back.
Some more players which I thought'd be mentioned - Jacob Woodhouse, Brian Sefiana, Caderyn Neville (found him VIC), and I'd at Mitch Lewis to your list for Rays props. Ed Gower would also be included on my list - I've simply made a longer list than you've provided.
Then what about the leading try scorer, but I haven't followed the 6's you've mentioned?
Anyway just a list and again, well done.

 

[Caputo]

Some of my decisions were based on name and CV as in the Hookers, two former Super Rugby Hookers in Whittaker and Holmes. Weeks from Norths was a recent U20 trialist in 2013. That was why I did not consider Porecki.
With the Props I did make a mistake by including Michael Ala'alatoa he should be a Ram and I am not sure how often Eddie Aholelei will be available from Tonga test matches and whether he is forced to move on.
With Swanepoel it came down to spots as you had Lucas of the Waratahs and Holmes filling in at the Rebels and Natoli a NSW U20 trialist.

Locks I used four positions with Peterson of the Tahs, Pyle I cut loose from the Rebel Rising as he is playing off shore next year, Neville I had stay with Melbourne , Mat Philip Aus U20 and James Cunningham trained in the Wider Training Squad with the Tahs over summer. He has played some Blindside Breakaway recently. Rory Walton could have been added to this but I took pity on Randy Easts

You asked about the 6 - Matwijow and Croke are from Norths. Matwijow was on the fringes at the Force and wanted to play 6 than Lock this year and Croke is in the Aus U20 and forced a few bigger names out in Sio and Gunn.

Other thoughts are that my placement of Sias Ebersohm was random maybe he would be better off as a Balmain Uni boy I was not expecting Foley to be called into the Wallabies. With my Melbourne Centres it came to a choice between Tom English over Lala Foketi. With Andrew Smith because he has signed for overseas next year and Nigel Ah Wong trials for his job in Canberra.

Those names you provide are excellent.

 

[Dave Beat]

Some of my decisions were based on name and CV as in the Hookers, two former Super Rugby Hookers in Whittaker and Holmes. Weeks from Norths was a recent U20 trialist in 2013. That was why I did not consider Porecki.
With the Props I did make a mistake by including Michael Ala'alatoa he should be a Ram and I am not sure how often Eddie Aholelei will be available from Tonga test matches and whether he is forced to move on.
With Swanepoel it came down to spots as you had Lucas of the Waratahs and Holmes filling in at the Rebels and Natoli a NSW U20 trialist.

Locks I used four positions with Peterson of the Tahs, Pyle I cut loose from the Rebel Rising as he is playing off shore next year, Neville I had stay with Melbourne , Mat Philip Aus U20 and James Cunningham trained in the Wider Training Squad with the Tahs over summer. He has played some Blindside Breakaway recently. Rory Walton could have been added to this but I took pity on Randy Easts

You asked about the 6 - Matwijow and Croke are from Norths. Matwijow was on the fringes at the Force and wanted to play 6 than Lock this year and Croke is in the Aus U20 and forced a few bigger names out in Sio and Gunn.

Other thoughts are that my placement of Sias Ebersohm was random maybe he would be better off as a Balmain Uni boy I was not expecting Foley to be called into the Wallabies. With my Melbourne Centres it came to a choice between Tom English over Lala Foketi. With Andrew Smith because he has signed for overseas next year and Nigel Ah Wong trials for his job in Canberra.

Those names you provide are excellent.

With the Hookers - Holmes & Whittaker are former as you've said and possibly closer to retirement than getting another Super Contract. My preference would be one of them and another who is wanting that next step.

Some of the players you've mentioned I haven't seen play so I cant judge, and some of the ones I've mentioned have had a good season.

 

[KevinO]

Great work, I don't think Lloyd Johannson will be picked though.

 

[Slim 293]

Now that the Wallabies Squad have been announced here is my impression what the playing ranks of the NRC could be. Noting I have shored up Perth, Melbourne and Canberra first. I had the most difficuty with Easts, NSW Country, Randwick combine. I tried to keep all Shute Shield players with their aligned teams in NRC. One exception was Mark Swanepoel. Feel free to make more appropriate selections of players.
I have also tried to balance the teams with U20 representatives.

Nice work, although I don't think it would be right having Rathbone play outside of Canberra as that's where he's called his home since moving from SA..........

However, I wonder if he'll still be around at the end of the Super Rugby season (I can't remember when his contract is up)?

 

[Intruder]

Awesome work Caputo, a few pieces of input on my behalf;

- It's seems SOME players from Melbourne, Perth and Canberra who are originally Sydney or Brisbane based will have the opportunity to return home during the NRC. Players such as Chris Alcock, Tom English, PAE, Jarrad Buttler etc for example might return to their NSW or QLD club to allow for more home talent to be unearthed during the NRC. Also with contracted players not being payed during this period it would be tough for them to continue to live away from families etc for an extra three month period.

- Loma Kavenga is a Balmain subbies player he would obviously sit into the Stars program.

- IMO a number of the Brumby wallabies would split into other teams far too many wallabies in one NRC side.

- NSW Country will fill a few more representatives at the expense of some Shute Shield players.

 

[Slim 293]

- IMO a number of the Brumby wallabies would split into other teams far too many wallabies in one NRC side.

Those Wallabies won't be playing............

 

[Train Without a Station]

It's great to see plenty of politics being discussed (e.g. Intruder's last sentence), rather than the best players being picked no matter who they play for. Don't know how rugby has gone to shit over the years.

 

[Tigers Tale]

I can't see a Butler or Hegarty returning to play for sides which are run by the QRU, maybe if they were JV traditional club side but not by a franchise when they are contracted to another franchise.

 

[Tigers Tale]

Given Mikey Harris has signed with the Rebels maybe he won't be part of one of the qld sides but in the Rising side.

 

[Dave Beat]

It's great to see plenty of politics being discussed (e.g. Intruder's last sentence), rather than the best players being picked no matter who they play for. Don't know how rugby has gone to shit over the years.

Never mince you words hey, state of the country is due to politics but not for this thread. Good / Bad / Having a good balance makes for good reading and debates. Some muppets post without substantiating, and then you have great posts like @Caputo that whilst we can all have differing opinions which may also be right he can substantiated his.

 

[Train Without a Station]

What can I say Dave, I'm a straight shooter, I don't side step haha.

Wasn't deliberately trying to have a go at Intruder to be honest, his was just the last of many comments like that which I noticed.

Any system that talks of quotas is to the detriment. You will never get the absolutely best possible players in every position on the park as practicality determines that some players superfluous to some teams will not get noticed by others and therefore miss out.

But any talk of saving spots for certain interest holders is against the purpose of this comp in my view. Which is to develop the best players and produce the best product.

 

[Dave Beat]

Does the ARU make big money when the Bledisloe is played in Japan?
Winner of NRC plays the winner of the Japan comp in Japan, could it provide a good revenue kick and increased Fox Exposure.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Even if it's not huge day dot can't be a bad idea. Only concern would be Japanese scheduling. So many big names playing there it would surely generate interest