NZ's rugby society [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

Big Dan

30th August 2009, 08:50

I found this on stuff.co.nz this morning and found it rather interesting. I don't normally read a full write up like this (blame add) but me being 3 things

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/2815414/Time-to-stop-playing-rugby-blame-game

1 Rugby Fan
2 Grant Fox fan
3 Sports in general fan

I read this fully and found it amazing and got me thinking that Foxy has a few good points

Take a read and let me know what you think

short-circuit

30th August 2009, 08:55

James Deuce

30th August 2009, 08:56

My wife works at the After Hours Medical centre and when their is a test, cup, or shield match on, the number of people who turn up drops off dramatically compared to a night sans "important match".

I think that Rugby has crossed the boundaries into something approaching religion. Our behaviour certainly makes a Truism of Marx's "opiate" line.

short-circuit

30th August 2009, 08:58

a Truism of Marx's "opiate" line.

Shit for the masses.....

whereas League - well that's different

smoky

30th August 2009, 09:12

I agree with Mr Fox - we don't celebrate the game, the competition, we only celebrate the win
But in my mind that started to happen when the AB's became a business, when it became entertainment rather than just purely sport
So many people enjoy watching for the entertainment value - they don't actually understand the contest, the positions, the rules. Not saying that's a bad thing - but professionalism has taken the appreciation of spirit of the game away. We see strategic play - they'll be 10 meters short of the try line and get a penalty, rather than go for gold they'll kick it - settle for the easy points rather than try to get over the line. The kicking became so much more important, Grant Fox almost killed any interest in Rugby for a while, it was almost like watching a game of Ayssy rules. The AB's now have to play strategically rather than play the open game they were famous for, they play tactically to ensure a win - and that can result in some boring games, rules were stretched and used as an advantage, so rules tightened up, players would act out injury to get advantage, force penalties to get a kick at the posts.... result was more rules, inconsistent referees... more rules

We use to say things like "they may not of won but man they played well" or " they gave it a good go", but when the win became more important than how the game was played, all that appreciation went out the door, and now we don't celebrate the game, the competition, we only celebrate the win

Pussy

30th August 2009, 09:15

I must be going off rugby... I didn't watch the Shield or Tri Nations games last night.
Perhaps it is getting too commercial...

wysper

30th August 2009, 09:22

I agree with some of what Smoky says. Rugby is moving away from being NZ's game. It is a product that is marketed and thrives on success. I used to enjoy a nail biting win ground out 6-3 by the forwards as much as a 52-0 drubbing.
But now with the glut of rugby, and the demands that it is a spectacle - funnily enough it is LESS entertaining rather than MORE entertaining.

Also with so many tests played they are less special, less important as there is another one next week. Look how often we play the Aussies and the Boks.

For me - I would like to see a return to full tours, a reduction in the number of tests played and the scraping of the super14. I do believe there is too much rugby and that is part of the reason that there is less appreciation for the game itself and more of a focus on results. This won't happen as it is about the dollar not the game or the fan.

I am more of a round ball fan, cricket too. So I would like to see a simplification of the rules if that is possible. I hardly ever know what the penalty was for.

my 2c

boman

30th August 2009, 09:24

I must be going off rugby... I didn't watch the Shield or Tri Nations games last night.
Perhaps it is getting too commercial...

Possibly. I certainly don't miss a moments sleep if I don' watch rugby. I have been brought up on the game, but I am so over the sport being force fed into our lives. I see that the NPC is being played on a Thursday night even. That's 4 days a week of Rugby on the tube. Now if it was Motorsport, now thats a different story, 4 nights a week wouldn't be enough.

lb99

30th August 2009, 09:31

it was a work call, so I called back asap.

me. "sorry I missed your call mate"
him "I thought you'd be watching the rugby anyway"
me "nope, I was out flying kites with my kids, is there rugby on?"
him (offended silence)

we sorted the work problem out and then....

him "I'd better let you get back to the rugby"
me "I'm going to take the kids out on their bikes"
him (more silence)"uhh ok enjoy the game then"

He just didn't get it, I DONT CARE ABOUT THE FRIGGIN RUGBY.
I am right over pro sport as a rule, although I do still get a feeling of pride from seeing a kiwi team do well .
Oh and the local netball tournament is a good watch :love:

If you want to see a real game of rugby, go watch the local u12s play in the mud on saturday am.

Murray

30th August 2009, 09:33

I would be more than happy to clap the springboks....... if we won!

smoky

30th August 2009, 09:34

I would be more than happy to clap the springboks....... if we won!

Who's 'we' Murray?

James Deuce

30th August 2009, 09:35

I actually got a call from the boss to join them in the Corporate box for the game last night, but I've got this horrible chesty cold and mucus and beer don't mix that well. Some of the people who would have been there are good to hang out with too. But it would have been the company (both meanings intended) that I would have gone.

Murray

30th August 2009, 09:36

New Zealand

JimO

30th August 2009, 09:37

Rugby's gay

you would know:tugger::tugger:

peasea

30th August 2009, 09:41

I must be going off rugby... I didn't watch the Shield or Tri Nations games last night.
Perhaps it is getting too commercial...

Perhaps it's just over-rated shite?

Kickaha

30th August 2009, 10:03

My standard reply when anyone asks me if I Watched the All Blacks (or any other rugby team is " What kind of bikes do they race"

wbks

30th August 2009, 14:20

Maybe it's because it's so freaking overrated and shoved in everyones faces 24/7.

Grumpy

30th August 2009, 15:02

Brian d marge

30th August 2009, 22:45

Dear Sir, Madam

The following in a letter of unreserved apology to those unfortunate people whose rugby match at Lancaster park was delayed due to the actions of a minority.

I was one of them , So from the bottom of my heart I do apologise that you sat through so many minutes of a truly dreadful game

I was told by the organisers that the ball could not be substituted for one of a more rounded shape and that it was preferred by the players to use their hands

Sorry

Your Respectfully

Stephen

PPs ( if you can ever find footage of the springbock tour in chch , we managed to get the boofheads ( the ones marching for a cause in another country, as bad as it was ,- while Rome was burning at home ! )
to carry a Swastika from catherderal square , almost to the park ,,,if I remember its on the news footage in the opening min )

oh what fun,,,,,,,

ckai

31st August 2009, 14:01

We use to say things like "they may not of won but man they played well" or " they gave it a good go", but when the win became more important than how the game was played, all that appreciation went out the door, and now we don't celebrate the game, the competition, we only celebrate the win

Kiwi's are sore losers really. Me, I go for the win every time. If someone better than me beats me, sweet I hope I put up a good fight. I don't go for the "it's about the participation" bullshit.

But totally agree that we only celebrate the win. It's pretty sad really.

But now with the glut of rugby, and the demands that it is a spectacle - funnily enough it is LESS entertaining rather than MORE entertaining.

I hate this fuckin modern kicking game for strategic reasons. That's not entertaining. One of the reasons I wasn't a big fan of Foxxy. That and the old man gave him assholes at the TV.

I was watching Media 7 the other day and they have a few guys on there going on about rugby. One dude made a very good point, there's not too much rugby, it's just that the powers-that-be are focussing on quantity and totally forgetting about the quality. And this is the reason a crap load of people aren't watching anymore.

If there was 300 games a year and they where all bloody good to watch and exciting with big boff-head forwards scoring tries and the backs dancing around oppositions scoring tries - people wouldn't STOP watching.

But it's boring.

The last game I watched was last year (I think). At Eden Park a test between the AB's and buggered if I know. We sat in the corner where the AB's ran in 3 tries. Right in front of us. Such a boring game the crowd did a mexican wave for 10 mins!! :zzzz:

Win or lose, if it's good to watch, people will watch. I'm not talking about the hard core rugby heads. I'm talking about Mr Bloggs and his whiskey drinking buddies.

Murray

31st August 2009, 14:48

Forget about internationals and Super 14. I agree that that level has lost alot of it's "soul". The Air New Zealand cup is where it's at. I have started going to games again after becoming a little disallutioned with the way our national tournament was going but this year has been a pearler. To think the NZRU wants to fuck with it again ......:no: If it aint broke...DON'T FUCK WITH IT!

EXactly right - Having lived in Palmie for 8 years its been great to watch the Manawatu and other lesser teams play. Average of about 35 points per match this weekend! And now the 2nd division has started. Go the mighty West Coast!! won their first match!

vtec

31st August 2009, 16:40

I'm over rugby. I was in Melbourne last year and they are fanatical about AFL like NZ is about rugby, and it kind of weirded me out, like the media propaganda machine has convinced everyone how wonderful AFL is, and it's the same here with rugby. I'm totally disinterested in Rugby these days. League is better to watch in my opinion, less frustrating.

Bring on a wider range of sport. I love watching marathons, triathlons, motorsport, athletics, tennis, cycling, boxing, judo. Its time our media broadened their horizons. I seem to prefer watching individual sport as opposed to team, so that might just be me.