NZ's rugby society

**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...gby-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

Originally Posted by Big Dan

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...gby-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

Rugby's gay

**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

Originally Posted by James Deuce

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

Originally Posted by Pussy

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

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

Originally Posted by Murray

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.