D-Box
Cyril Towers (30)
Interesting read as the personal impact of cutting the Force https://www.playersvoice.com.au/pek-cowan-stress-tears-and-a-club-ruined/
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Yet still the Rebels can't get in.
Reds v Tahs was the biggest super rugby crowd of 2017
yes you are right. But the games V kiwi teams are only just behind. And the games V other Aus teams are far less in crowd numbers. My mind does not do details so that is the extent of my research. The crowd numbers for the derbies and now including the Sunwolves will be interesting from a revenue perspective.
Given trends since the peak of 2003 (down season on season) and the worst ever performances of the Aus teams last season, i would expect a continuation of the historical decline. I can't see yet another change in format saving attendances.
I'm interested to see how Argentina address their rapid descent internationally. I would expect them to loosen eligibility pretty soon. If they do you'd imagine that would have a pretty detrimental impact on the already underwhelming Jaguares.
I'm not sure what you mean re eligibility? They were the main drivers of the new 5yr rule. And at the last RWC they were the only team, I think, made up of all or mostly all home grown players and not the 3yr eligible players seen in a lot of teams. This goes hand in hand with your French RWC application article?
I agree. Surely it's time to move on though.
We've known the competition was likely to have 15 teams for 2018 since about April.
It's hard to have a constructive discussion about the 2018 competition if everything is framed around what the preferred structure would have been.
Pretty sure they are only selecting locally based players, i.e. Jaguares players. Meaning people like Facundo Isa etc can't play. It's making them a bit shit.
BH - you were suggesting there was a specific benefit due to the 15 team structure - which IMO was arrogating strength unrelated to the claim. I see you agree that far.
This thread was predisposed, at least in part, around concern with the ARU direction. I acknowledge your efforts to move on and have discussion turn to a clean sheet, but the thread has not (yet) been re-named "Where to for Super Rugby for those who are prepared to ignore 2017".
I would have thought this thread was the perfect place for voicing on-going concern about Super Rugby and it's direction. And to hold the ARU and SANZAAR to account for their extraordinary actions. Super Rugby 2018 success is far from obvious at this stage.
The last 100-200 pages of the thread have been criticism of the reduction to 15 teams and the removal of the Force.
<noting the nature of the thread >
Should we make a new thread to discuss Super Rugby 2018 and this thread can continue along with the existing theme?
Should we make a new thread to discuss Super Rugby 2018 and this thread can continue along with the existing theme?
I guess I don't really see the point of criticising the 2018 draw which has been the recent topic of conversation after it was released yesterday on the basis that it only has 15 teams and/or doesn't have the Force in it.
The last 100-200 pages of the thread have been criticism of the reduction to 15 teams and the removal of the Force.
but is totally addressing the inherent weaknesses of the existing S15 schedule. My criticisms are essentially that a) there will be no additional Derby games, and
You play the four other sides in your conference home and away.
For South Africa and Australia that includes a side that isn't from your country.
Were you expecting something different?
I hope that you can see that my criticism has nothing to do with the axing of the Force but is totally addressing the inherent weaknesses of the existing S15 schedule. My criticisms are essentially that a) there will be no additional Derby games, and b) that there will be an additional game per Aus franchise against non-Aus sides. I haven't done the analysis as far as travel is concerned but I would guess that there won't be much difference for our teams, and a large number of games will again be in time-unfriendly timeslots. I cannot see how this structured competition will do anything to revive the game in this country. See, no mention of the Force.
I think the majority of fans were expecting a schedule that had proportionately more Derby games and most of the games in time-friendly slots with far less travel. None of these factors have been achieved with this S15 schedule, while it is also obvious we could have maintained the status quo in these matters had we continued with five Aus franchises. It is demonstrably an issue of the wool being pulled across our collective eyes once again. But I accept that there is a core of ARU cheer squad posters on the site who can see no evil when it comes to matters relating to the ARU and associated issues.
Mate, I'm no ARU apologist but how did you think this schedule would pan out regarding the derbies when we cut one of our franchises.