Which team will you support (Only Tah supporters)

[Sandpit Fan]

The opposite holds true with the same logic; those who blindly support all Australian provinces can't 'expect anyone to take their opinions on Australian players and coaches seriously. Basically you've just admitted you can't be anything but biased.'

This thread is going in some interesting directions.

Serious question antipodean: I'm curious about the logic you use to arrive at the statement above. We see a lot of threads here (ok, every thread) on the merits of various players degenerate into state based bias. Reds supporters will talk up Higginbotham as the most deserving 6 in the country, while Tah's supporters will talk up Mumm, Force supporters will talk up Hodgson, etc, to the exclusion of all others, and label each other one eyed clowns who wouldn't know a decent 6 if he smacked them in the head.

People who support their favourite province and also support the other provinces (I don't think anyone "blindly" supports all Aussie provinces) when they are playing other teams are more likely to be open to recognising the merits of other provincial players, simply because they are not automatically marking them down because of who they play for. Gaggers statement makes sense - I can't see how you can argue the reverse. If you say they are biased, who are they biased in favour of?

Personally, if the Tahs or Brumbies were in the finals, and the Reds weren't, I'd be right behind them. That wouldn't stop me taking the the piss out of any of their supporters if the opportunity came up - the provincial rivalry is still there, but better to have an Aussie team take the silverware than anyone else. The RL comparison doesn't really stand up for mine, the Warriors are the only non-Australian team in the competition, so support will be more related to player/playing style/ etc.

Not having a go at you, just interested in the reasoning behind the comment.

 

[qwerty51]

Just so you know, no Tahs fans talk up Mumm.

I will talk up Dennis however.

 

[Richo]

Reds supporters will talk up Higginbotham as the most deserving 6 in the country, while Tah's supporters will talk up Mumm, etc, to the exclusion of all others, and label each other one eyed clowns who wouldn't know a decent 6 if he smacked them in the head.

That's just not fair. No Tahs fan talks up Dean Mumm to the exclusion of others.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

Just so you know, no Tahs fans talk up Mumm.

I will talk up Dennis however.

That's just not fair. No Tahs fan talks up Dean Mumm to the exclusion of others.

Sorry fella's - fixed now :frans Forgot it was such a controversial position!!

 

[ACT Crusader]

I remember when the 'Saders took on the Tahs in the '08 final, I went down to the RUC in Canberra to watch the match...

There were numerous Brumbies' players there cheering on the 'Saders... and they weren't alone...

Super Rugby is a provincial comp, so I'm not going to support a team just because they're from the same country...

I've generally been a supporter of the Reds (they used to be my second favourite team), but in light of recent events I don't want them to win...

Stormers or Sharks for me... would love to see a team notch up their first championship...

I've been surprised at how many Canberrans like the Crusaders. There was the rivalry in the early 2000s and alot of Brumbies fans I've met over the years were genuine fans of the Marshall and Mertz vs Gregan and Larkham matchups. There's definitely joy here in seeing the Tahs fall over though....

 

[Jethro Tah]

For the semi and grand finals, this Tahs fan will be supporting in order of preference:

1. Reds - for the sake of aussie rugby and all the media hype a finals win brings to increase exposure of the great game to a wider audience, and also with a hope to bring a winning culture to the Wallabies (for the record, I would have preferred any other aussie super side to be there instead but hey they aint and the Reds deserve it so good on 'em).
2. the Cru – partly because of the hardship their home city has endured this year from the quake but more so because I just really enjoy watching Dan Carter play rugby.
3. Stormers - up until recent years I had not enjoyed watching the rugby coming out of SA but the more I get into rugby I actually find myself starting to enjoy their style and the Stormers are great ambassadors of it
4. Blues – it’s not that I don’t like them (I actually enjoy watching the likes of Ranger, Smokin Jo and Mealamu) it’s just that there are three other teams that I would prefer to win.

Basically if a team is playing good rugby, with ball in hand or in defence, I will cheer them on. My applause is a thank you for the entertainment. I also reserve the right to support the Tahs through thick and thin.

 

[Scarfman]

I reckon Reds fans might not be so generous if it was the other way around. I've met plenty of Queenslanders who hate everything to do with NSW and would support an overseas team on that basis. Fair enough - I don't have a problem with that.

One point I'd like to add is that a QLDer wanting to see NSW lose, does not mean they are incapable of judging whether Mumm or Beale is a good player. Speaking personally, I haven't got a problem with any Reds players individually, but I'm not a big supporter of their team.

For myself, I'm supporting the side that I think deserves to win it the most: the Crusaders. If the Reds won it, it would be like Mark Webber winning the Grand Prix tournament. You'd be happy, because it was an Australian, but you'd think it wasn't quite deserved. Don't get me wrong - the Reds have a real shot, and I wish them well. But I think the Crusaders have players the best rugby this year and I'd like to see them win. I'm not sure I could stand a side with such a weak scrum as the Reds to win SupeRugby.

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

I reckon Reds fans might not be so generous if it was the other way around. I've met plenty of Queenslanders who hate everything to do with NSW and would support an overseas team on that basis. Fair enough - I don't have a problem with that.

One point I'd like to add is that a QLDer wanting to see NSW lose, does not mean they are incapable of judging whether Mumm or Beale is a good player. Speaking personally, I haven't got a problem with any Reds players individually, but I'm not a big supporter of their team.

For myself, I'm supporting the side that I think deserves to win it the most: the Crusaders. If the Reds won it, it would be like Mark Webber winning the Grand Prix tournament. You'd be happy, because it was an Australian, but you'd think it wasn't quite deserved. Don't get me wrong - the Reds have a real shot, and I wish them well. But I think the Crusaders have players the best rugby this year and I'd like to see them win. I'm not sure I could stand a side with such a weak scrum as the Reds to win SupeRugby.

How so? The Reds beat The Blues, Stormers (in SA) and Crusaders this year.

 

[GC]

I've always supported the Tahs when they were in the finals and the Ponies before them. I never occurred to me to support a non-Australian team. I'm sure most Reds supporters are the same.

Having said that, when I was in school Wally Lewis was denied a place on the end of year tour to England even though recovered from injury. Pretty much everyone except me supported England against the Roos as it was considered Wally's omission was a terrible slight on QLD.

 

[vidiot]

I reckon Reds fans might not be so generous if it was the other way around.

I can only speak for myself - I've had ample experience supporting the Brumbies and the Waratahs when the Reds were struggling with mediocrity and the large timber cooking implement. I latched on to any aus team like a limpet then....

 

[Ruggo]

This is a team of 15 provinces, not a team of three countries. I don't understand why anybody thinks they should support an Australian team after their own by default because they are Australian. We may as well strip away the provences and line up as Australia 1,2,3,4,5. I much rather believe that those who back the Reds here on in do so on their own merit and not because they are Australian. Only when Aussie players unite under a Wallaby jersey do I feel a need for a national sentiment.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

I don't think anyone "Should" support annother Aussie team, but i respect their right to do so if they would rather support a team from their country than a team they feel less affinity for.

I will support the reds because of twitter, basically. Having gotten to hear and converse with some of the players, and especially the coach (who I've always been a big fan of) means I will back them to win. If it was 5 years ago, I would have backed anyone but.

 

[Slim 293]

I'm taking the spite-route... particularly after what ensued after the Canes and Brumbies matches...

As much as I don't want to see the 'Saders win another one it would be good for Christchurch...

And the Stormers are the only other team left that haven't won the comp yet, and I feel they deserve a championship after playing some good rugby the past few years...

 

[Scarfman]

VRF - the Reds are playing terrific up-tempo rugby. But the only side playing perfect XV-man rugby is the Crusaders. The only thing that can beat them is travel.

 

[Victorian Reds Fan]

Fair enough point Scarfman, but I still think the Reds deserve the title just as much. As I have said before, I still think the 'Saders score most of their points off counter-attack/broken play and not phase play and this detracts from their deserving the title in my opinion.

 

[tigerland12]

I reckon Reds fans might not be so generous if it was the other way around. I've met plenty of Queenslanders who hate everything to do with NSW and would support an overseas team on that basis. Fair enough - I don't have a problem with that..

Very valid point. I have been brought up with the NSW rivalry in all codes, so I find it very hard to support the Tahs. And I'm sure it goes the other way around also. Personally I think it's great that there is such a healthy inter-state rivalry, makes things very interesting.

On the Reds scrum, yes it sucks, but the ball running, ruck work ect of the forwards almost makes up for it (ALMOST).

The Crusaders didn't look that convincing to me in the first half against a fairly ordinary Sharks. Not sure why they have been touted as the favourites for most of the year when Stormers, Reds and Blues were winning more games all year. Don't get me wrong I'd hate to face them if the Reds and Crusaders made the final.

 

[waratahjesus]

The saders have done it tough, I'm nit sure there is another team in the comp that could deal with being away from home all year and still put the performances together.

 

[Scotty]

I reckon Reds fans might not be so generous if it was the other way around. I've met plenty of Queenslanders who hate everything to do with NSW and would support an overseas team on that basis. Fair enough - I don't have a problem with that.

One point I'd like to add is that a QLDer wanting to see NSW lose, does not mean they are incapable of judging whether Mumm or Beale is a good player. Speaking personally, I haven't got a problem with any Reds players individually, but I'm not a big supporter of their team.

For myself, I'm supporting the side that I think deserves to win it the most: the Crusaders. If the Reds won it, it would be like Mark Webber winning the Grand Prix tournament. You'd be happy, because it was an Australian, but you'd think it wasn't quite deserved. Don't get me wrong - the Reds have a real shot, and I wish them well. But I think the Crusaders have players the best rugby this year and I'd like to see them win. I'm not sure I could stand a side with such a weak scrum as the Reds to win SupeRugby.

Two points:

1. Best not to speak for others. I and almost all Reds fans I know have supported the Tahs when they have made the finals in the last few years. Ironically the only one I recall not supporting the Tahs come finals time was one that lived in Sydney (probably got sick of the abuse I guess and rebelled).

2. Did you to put yourself in the 'not so generous' category on purpose?

 

[Jets]

Having supported the Ponies and the Tah's in the finals that they have been in before I can say that I support Aussie teams first but I don't have an issue with people that don't. That's the great thing about sport is that you pick a team (sometimes for the most illogical reasons) and you back them against the other team.

Everyone has a bias in sport. If we didn't it wouldn't be any fun.

 

[Ruggo]

I guess the Reds may have blown a hole in many a domminant scrum theory. The Reds are very deserving of winning the comp (should that happen), finishing first should make that clear enough. Their squad has responded to the hurdles in front of them and their success has truly been of their own making. Weather you support them or not in the comming weeks is the individuals decision but it does not detract from what I have said in this post.