Have been wondering for a while about the lack of intensity not from the players this time, but from the crowd. Was at the Ireland game and the Irish supporters were amazing, definitely outenthused the Aus crowd. Why is it we sit, not proudly and loud in Gold, but donned in black coats with a dribble of gold over shoulders aka the scarf politely clapping? The guy who ran on the field at the end of the Ireland game got a more rousing cheer from the crowd than throughout the game
Excellent points, and similar via other posters. I can remember the 2006 Suncorp victory over the Boks vividly. I am sure the crowd intensity and vocal support (at least at Suncorp) was stronger for Oz a few years back than it recently has been. I think there are a number of reasons IMO:
- passion really does lose its edge when fans over time know that maybe next week it could - probably will - all fall back in a heap - the Wallabies' love-hate relationship with consistency and backing up over time dilutes fans' enthusiasm that they are behind 'a good cause'.
- at the Ireland game June 26 for example, literally about 20% of the people around my (premium) seats got up 15+ mins before game end and all were muttering things like 'don't know why I bother', 'not as much fun as the Reds', 'crap game', etc.
- the whole renaissance for the Reds 2010 (with major increases in crowd numbers, and I thought the crowds were generally very passionate around me when I was there, more so than for Wallabies) proved to me anyway that the 'everyday' Aus rugby fans want to pay to see: dynamic, entertaining, hi-octane, ball-in-hand rugby from a team they think can win well and keep on winning. They especially love seeing their team 'beat the best'. Hardly surprising. This is, over time, what the Wallabies have not been delivering. JO'N has noted that from a business/revenue-in point of view, this is one of his key worries for rugby in Australia, and he's 100% right.
[Btw, this is one of the many reasons I get so grumpy with posters that insist the RWC and 'subtle development and depth' and 'don't worry about w-l ratios' are all the rightly dominant themes for Wallaby land, and don't worry yourself about winning now. Whatever the merits of these arguments, we must never, ever forget the everyday rugby fan that pays the bills, watches rugby on TV, kids who turn up and decide on a code for life, etc. These are the constituencies that really need to come to love, and/or keep loving, the game, and keep growing it by coming again and playing it more. They want terrific play, exciting players, and wins. They won't wait for delayed gratification opportunities every 4 years that will be over in 4 weeks...and we still may lose! 90% of the subtle 'expert' views on this and other sites matter not a jot to 90% of the everyday fans.]