All Blacks V Ireland. The "Pick and go"

[Ragingrob]

Unfortunately thugby in this country, is similar to a famous person who, when asked "do you listen to rock music" replied "It's like death - inescapable".
So it remains in the Banana Republic of Noo Zulland.

The sooner that sponsors and advertisers realise that the planet doesn't revolve around brain-dead sports, the better.

I barely see any advertising for rugby around at all?! If I want to see rugby I need to turn on the tv to sport at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday, or read a couple of pages in the paper. I don't see how this is in-escapable?

[Swoop]

As soon as "brain-dead" sports stop pulling millions of viewers, sponsors and advertisers may see the error of their ways.

I see your point, alas it is true. The masses are easily amused.

I barely see any advertising for rugby around at all?! If I want to see rugby I need to turn on the tv to sport at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday, or read a couple of pages in the paper. I don't see how this is in-escapable?

Thugby in NZ is inescapable. Simple fact. It is force-fed down schoolkids throats, most pubs have walls covered with stuff, walk up to anyone in the street and ask "how's your team going in the xyz competition" and you'll get an answer.

The dollars thrown at the players for their mighty performances? Large salary, car, footwear, etc. Throw the same at the likes of Bruce Antsey, Shaun, the NZ rowers, etc, etc and we will see successes galore.
I wonder how the NZ athletes will fare in Beijing?

[marioc]

Thats hardly comparing apples with apples now is it.

[Ragingrob]

I see your point, alas it is true. The masses are easily amused.

Thugby in NZ is inescapable. Simple fact. It is force-fed down schoolkids throats, most pubs have walls covered with stuff, walk up to anyone in the street and ask "how's your team going in the xyz competition" and you'll get an answer.

The dollars thrown at the players for their mighty performances? Large salary, car, footwear, etc. Throw the same at the likes of Bruce Antsey, Shaun, the NZ rowers, etc, etc and we will see successes galore.
I wonder how the NZ athletes will fare in Beijing?

I'd have to disagree with you. The schools I went to did not force feed us rugby, even though I went to one of the top rugby high schools. We hear about the game on Monday morning and that's all.

Pubs are involved in the rugby culture.

I wouldn't know where the Blues came in the Super 14, so that's a fail.

[Oakie]

To expand the game of rugby and promote it further they chose to have that game in Hong Kong ....and im sure the Hong Kong fellas are looking forward to seeing two of the worlds best rugby teams in their own city.

Seems like a good thing to me for the sport of Rugby.

I'll reserve my opinion on that one until I see the ticket prices. Cheap enough for ordinary Hong Kong families to go with their kiddies so they can perhaps become interested in the game or restrictively expensive so just the elite can go? We'll see.

EDIT. Found this: Profit will be solely from gate takings, corporate packages and potential one-off sponsorships. The capacity at Hong Kong Stadium is about 40,000 and O'Neill said the most expensive tickets would be sold for just over HK$1000 ($160). and this The Hong Kong Rugby Union will host the match and will use the occasion to promote rugby with youth and club tournaments in the week leading up to the match and potentially a curtain raiser between Hong Kong and China on the day of the match. Take from that what you will.

[James Deuce]

I'd have to disagree with you. The schools I went to did not force feed us rugby, even though I went to one of the top rugby high schools. We hear about the game on Monday morning and that's all.

Pubs are involved in the rugby culture.

I wouldn't know where the Blues came in the Super 14, so that's a fail.

a. Girl's Schools are a bit soft on Rugby.

b. Ooo are they? I'll have to stay away from them. Done!

c. Not a Rugby fan then. So why argue the case?

[James Deuce]

...and O'Neill said the most expensive tickets would be sold for just over HK$1000 ($160).

That's a 10th of the average monthly wage. Given how that works in NZ and how much bigger the earning capacity is at the top of the wealth tree in HK, I don't think you'll be seeing average people at a Rugby event in HK. A bit like NZ really.

[Ragingrob]

a. Girl's Schools are a bit soft on Rugby.

b. Ooo are they? I'll have to stay away from them. Done!

c. Not a Rugby fan then. So why argue the case?

a. More of a boys school than you ever went to.

b. Um, ok.

c. I'm a pretty big fan of rugby, just don't care where exactly each team comes in the Super 14, lost interest the past few years in the comp.

d. Anyway according to some in this thread how could I not be a rugby fan? I'm a kiwi so got force-fed all through school

[James Deuce]

There's kind of a rule on the Internet.

When the bad man with the fishing rod starts up the outboard on the little dinghy and dangles a hook in the water; don't bite.

[Ragingrob]

You expect to make personal remarks and assumptions and me not to have my say?