Where to for Super Rugby?

[Teh Other Dave]

I don't agree - at all. This is purely perception. In fact, the Brumbies vs Chiefs and Reds vs Crusaders proved this stuff is just an optic myth.

At the risk of going all Fox Sports, they're outliers rather than the norm. And even after all these years, it still stings to say that.

 

[Teh Other Dave]

I was more than happy with what I watched. Was expecting a flogging and really the Tahs should have won it.

It was a great game.

Don't care what was going on in some foreign country southeast of where I come from. Didn't watch it, don't think I am alone

Enjoyed it, but I had skin in the game. But I'd rather see our guys play rugby powerhouses like Canterbury and Waikato than play the Rebels a couple of times a year. Interesting that you mention a country that's approx. half the distance to Perth.

Oh, and the Tahs shouldn't have won it. The Reds left a lot of points on the park.

 

[Teh Other Dave]

Might be time to space things out with a few waters there RN.

 

[The Honey Badger]

Oh, and the Tahs shouldn't have won it. The Reds left a lot of points on the park.

Yes , they were leading with less than 10 to go?? and Tupo was carded? Yes, I repeat, they should have won it

 

[Teh Other Dave]

Fail to see how either point supports your position. Bell was also yellow carded, and the Reds were in the lead with zero minutes left.

 

[Up the Guts]

I’d like to see us playing NZ teams but I’m going to reserve judgment on the quality of the respective competitions until the Australian comp is a few rounds in. First game back after a few months lay-off and throw in the rule changes, I’d expect the game to be a bit more error ridden than the NZ game.

 

[Teh Other Dave]

I’d like to see us playing NZ teams but I’m going to reserve judgment on the quality of the respective competitions until the Australian comp is a few rounds in. First game back after a few months lay-off and throw in the rule changes, I’d expect the game to be a bit more error ridden than the NZ game.

That does seem prudent, but even accounting for rd1 v rd 3 it just seems like a huge gulf.

 

[KOB1987]

That does seem prudent, but even accounting for rd1 v rd 3 it just seems like a huge gulf.

We all know that NZ generally are better rugby players. By and large except for a few fluctuations in our favour this has been the case for 140 years. I don’t agree that having to play NZ teams regularly so we can compare ourselves with them is the solution to our current woes. Look at the period 1984-1994 as a case in point. What we need is world class development systems and coaching.

 

[Wilson]

Reds vs Tahs match chat

Reds vs Tahs match chat

Please keep the match chat in the match thread.

 

[hoggy]

We all know that NZ generally are better rugby players. By and large except for a few fluctuations in our favour this has been the case for 140 years. I don’t agree that having to play NZ teams regularly so we can compare ourselves with them is the solution to our current woes. Look at the period 1984-1994 as a case in point. What we need is world class development systems and coaching.

Agreed, we can't even get past one game before the "its not legit unless we're playing NZ sides" gets trotted out.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

69,000 tuned into watch last night. Would be good if we can average that throughout.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Agreed, we can't even get past one game before the "its not legit unless we're playing NZ sides" gets trotted out.

On the money Hoggy. No other team in the world play NZ as often as we do. Nevertheless, Ireland and England have both risen to No 1 regardless. SA is/was No 1 after the RWC. It can happen by playing other nations. And winning more than losing. We need fewer tests against NZ and more against other nations to get the most out of the Wallabies.

 

[KOB1987]

69,000 tuned into watch last night. Would be good if we can average that throughout.

that seems to be on par for historical time-zone friendly matches. Where the numbers will look good is we won't see the <20K viewers for the middle of the night matches. Hopefully interest will even pick up as the season progresses, I'd imagine there would be a few people sitting on the fence to see how it goes before committing.

 

[KOB1987]

On the money Hoggy. No other team in the world play NZ as often as we do. Nevertheless, Ireland and England have both risen to No 1 regardless. SA is/was No 1 after the RWC. It can happen by playing other nations. And winning more than losing. We need fewer tests against NZ and more against other nations to get the most out of the Wallabies.

yes, it relies on someone beating NZ for it to happen, which ironically is usually us. By virtue of the amount of times we play them we are also the team that beats them most often.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

that seems to be on par for historical time-zone friendly matches. Where the numbers will look good is we won't see the <20K viewers for the middle of the night matches. Hopefully interest will even pick up as the season progresses, I'd imagine there would be a few people sitting on the fence to see how it goes before committing.

Certainly hope so.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

On the money Hoggy. No other team in the world play NZ as often as we do. Nevertheless, Ireland and England have both risen to No 1 regardless. SA is/was No 1 after the RWC. It can happen by playing other nations. And winning more than losing. We need fewer tests against NZ and more against other nations to get the most out of the Wallabies.

Part of the reason why I would prefer the one off Bledisloe as opposed to the current 3.

 

[rugboy]

69,000 tuned into watch last night. Would be good if we can average that throughout.

Does that include Kayo? Normally initial ratings are fixed Foxtel service.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Yep and I suspect Kayo numbers risen with people like me cancelling Foxtel but then reactivating on kayo

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Does that include Kayo? Normally initial ratings are fixed Foxtel service.

Not sure.

 

[Teh Other Dave]

Agreed, we can't even get past one game before the "its not legit unless we're playing NZ sides" gets trotted out.

Not saying it's not legit, it's good to have it back. But surely if there's the opportunity to do so in the future it's better to watch a higher quality ~ten team comp with the NZ sides than either a five team comp with only local sides or the NRC.

And yes, it goes without saying that exposing players to quality opposition is not the only thing necessary to develop quality test teams. But it surely must be better than being in a narrow or diluted talent pool.

Similarly, the players in the 1984-1994 era are now fathers and grandfathers. Back in the days of amateurism and 'shamateurism', test teams weren't allowed to assemble, players largely played and trained at their local clubs after work. Just so happened that two clubs in particular (one in Brisbane, one in Sydney) had a wealth of playing and coaching talent. Totally different world now. Having said that, Qld and NSW still played in the amateur Super comps in the late 80s and early 90s.