The Wallaby Brand: Death or Glory?

[RedsHappy]

Sadly I dont think that the crowd numbers are what will move the code forward, at best there are only around 200k people that could watch a S15 game live (sellouts at 5 grounds in Aus). This would be a great dream but not very likely.
The game will move forward on TV royalties. I think if the game can be consistently attractive then we can look at free to air games and increase the following of the game.
I think a bonus based on ratings would be a good starting point.

LB, thanks. Points re dominance of TV in this economic scenario are v well made. The other point to throw in here is that IMO the recent arrival (in most homes now) of large screen, HD plasmas with HD rugby broadcasts (and with 3D to come) may well materially affect the motivation of many to go the game itself (esp when the multiple costs and transport hassle etc are factored in).

HD on a large plasma with good camera angles etc is an increasingly attractive way to follow the game. Much is missed from a fixed seat in a stadium (esp ANZ!) than is seen up close (and then usefully replayed) on HD. And the HD TV broadcast can be time shifted in perfect quality - a major plus.

There is no doubt that if the HD TV option slowly but surely becomes ever the more favoured, there's plenty of competition around on those nights/dozens of channels. So, as you say, the brand of rugby almost certainly has to be right combination (over a season) of a reasonably good w-l ratio and bloody entertaining, dynamic play (most games). This is hardly (overall) the case with our S14 today. Let's hope the S15 brings new vigour and competitive excellence to the whole scene!!

 

[RedsHappy]

+1 Gagger.
The development and management of the Wallaby stock falls under the direct control of the regional coach for 6 months of the year. RD has mad eit very clear that while he does work in a very general sense with the OzS14 coaches, on the whole he has little to no say in the set-up.

That may well be the case daz, as you state it. What I would contend, with the currently thin, elite player base we have in Oz, is that such a dislocated model where the S14 development programs are largely detached for 6 months + from key programs to build real Wallaby depth, is not the best model and likely could be much improved. And, to pre-empt your potential further response on this, I don't think that the 'state rivalries' argument is good enough to justify that dislocation when we look at (a) the state of Wallaby depth and success and (b) the gradually declining game attendance levels, etc, at both Wallaby and most S14 levels.

 

[Lindommer]

A Queenslander suggesting their team pull together in the national interest! Well I never. St Paul'd be proud of you, RH. Before your time there were Queensland coaches who bluntly told the national coach to "fuck off" when such a strategy was suggested.

I hope this new-found attitude catches on north of the Tweed.

 

[daz]

And, to pre-empt your potential further response on this, I don't think that the 'state rivalries' argument is good enough to justify that dislocation

Sorry RH, but that is just sheer nonsense. The ARU set-up includes a high performance unit. This is the central brains-trust to identify national talent outside of the regional politics and ambitions, and ensure a development pathway is in place to capture and nurture future players from grass-roots through to Wallaby status. This includes club rugby, u19, u20, S14, etc. RD develops depth by throwing some kids into the Wallaby mix to see what will come out. He took a young ordinary kid named QC (Quade Cooper) on the EOYT and look who came back. Look at the tripod; they more than held their own, and in some cases destroyed, their S14 opposition. They get hammered on Wallaby debut and suddenly we have no depth.

If I was a regional coach, I would be more than willing to make sure any of my players identified by the ARU as future Wallaby stock was given every opportunity to develop to that level. I would bet my balls that all of the current regional coaches do this already. The Wallaby coach would be asking for some development ideas, such as try Gits at 12, alternate AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) between wing and FB, give JOC (James O'Connor) a run on the wing, etc, etc.

But those regional coaches are paid to deliver regional success. If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) needed to play the entire season at OC to meet his Brumbies plan, even though the Wallabies coach see's him more as a FB, then sorry Robbie, but tough titties. Why would any regional coach want his opposition coaches to see his plans, or methods, just to satisfy some national ideal? Show me how to do that, and I'll listen.

 

[liquor box]

LB, thanks. Points re dominance of TV in this economic scenario are v well made. The other point to throw in here is that IMO the recent arrival (in most homes now) of large screen, HD plasmas with HD rugby broadcasts (and with 3D to come) may well materially affect the motivation of many to go the game itself (esp when the multiple costs and transport hassle etc are factored in).

HD on a large plasma with good camera angles etc is an increasingly attractive way to follow the game. Much is missed from a fixed seat in a stadium (esp ANZ!) than is seen up close (and then usefully replayed) on HD. And the HD TV broadcast can be time shifted in perfect quality - a major plus.

There is no doubt that if the HD TV option slowly but surely becomes ever the more favoured, there's plenty of competition around on those nights/dozens of channels. So, as you say, the brand of rugby almost certainly has to be right combination (over a season) of a reasonably good w-l ratio and bloody entertaining, dynamic play (most games). This is hardly (overall) the case with our S14 today. Let's hope the S15 brings new vigour and competitive excellence to the whole scene!!

This was my first season without seeing a live game in Brisbane since my first Super game back when the Hurricanes still had Christian Cullen. Instead of a night at the rugby I got HD on Foxtel and put in an extra box at home. My backup TV is now an HD 42" and even though I would go to finals for a live game I struggle to justify the cost of a live game.

 

[matty_k]

Quade Cooper has just revealed why Higgers will never earn a Wallabies jersey.
via Twitter

Eating out startes how bout higgers ordered a salad for his main?? What's the man thinkn???

 

[RedsHappy]

A Queenslander suggesting their team pull together in the national interest! Well I never. St Paul'd be proud of you, RH. Before your time there were Queensland coaches who bluntly told the national coach to "fuck off" when such a strategy was suggested.

I hope this new-found attitude catches on north of the Tweed.

Hahaha....mate, give us time, give us time.

 

[Langthorne]

This is my first post (apart from a very silly spoof dressing room conversation a couple of weeks back) but I've found myself getting a little hot under the collar around all the discusssion of Deans coaching abilities and thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.

Welcome. Thanks for sharing your insights.