All Blacks V Ireland. The "Pick and go"

[MisterD]

The Bledisloe/tri-nations series of games are going to rock, as always.

The point is, they'd rock a lot harder if there weren't so friggin many. We're paying more, for less. End of.

[Hitcher]

This thread is a reason why I avoid rugby fan sites.

Blind patriotism has no sensible place in reasoned discussion of the game nor in important decisions regarding its future. Rugby is the game of the people of New Zealand, and some of us would quite like to have it back, before the highest bidder takes it away from us.

[Headbanger]

This thread is a reason why I avoid rugby fan sites.

Blind patriotism has no sensible place in reasoned discussion of the game nor in important decisions regarding its future. Rugby is the game of the people of New Zealand, and some of us would quite like to have it back, before the highest bidder takes it away from us.

Sweet, I don't hold your (overtly negative) views so I'm blindly patriot, and you "speak" for the people of NZ?, since when?

Get a grip.

[James Deuce]

Play the ball, not the man.

[bull]

Four, count 'em, four Bledisloe tests including one in Hong f-ing Kong this year...I rest my case. Yawntastic, it's all about the $$'s.

To expand the game of rugby and promote it further they chose to have that game in Hong Kong - im sure if the motogp decided to come have a round over here in NZ to promote etc that the rest of the world would have a cry about it but wed be stoked 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.

[MisterD]

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

If the various Rugby Unions were really concerned about the growth of the game, the next world cup would be in Japan.

[Ragingrob]

If the various Rugby Unions were really concerned about the growth of the game, the next world cup would be in Japan.

You're complaining that the world cup is going to be in NZ?

[Hitcher]

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

Until there are no more test matches held in New Zealand, because there are much larger stadiums and more affluent ticket buyers in other parts of the world. The Bledisloe Cup is played between Australia and New Zealand, therefore those tests should be played in Australia or New Zealand. This ploy has got nothing to do with expanding the sport into other countries, unless perhaps a plan is to make the Bledisloe Cup a tri-series involving China. It is about money, nothing more. I'm not opposed to a professional sport looking at ways of increasing its revenue streams, as long as the organisers are honest about their motivation and strategic intent.

[MisterD]

You're complaining that the world cup is going to be in NZ?

Complaining? No. Does my head tell me that the game would have been better served by holding it in Japan? Yes.

[Ragingrob]

Complaining? No. Does my head tell me that the game would have been better served by holding it in Japan? Yes.

But a lot of fans would be pissed off and it would make people like in this thread think even less of the game, therefore not serving it better but worse.

[MisterD]

But a lot of fans would be pissed off and it would make people like in this thread think even less of the game, therefore not serving it better but worse.

Well sure, if you took it off them now. IMHO we got the world cup on a sympathy vote, because if the game does grow it's the last time this tin-pot little country will be able to pull it off...

[Ragingrob]

Well I for one am damn excited about the cup being held here, not just for the rugby, but also for the economic benefits it will bring.

With the All Blacks having been pretty much top of the world for such a long time, I think we deserve to host the world cup.

[Badjelly]

Not fucking thugby AGAIN?

Well, this is a thread about a rugby game, so yes. But you don't have to read it.

[Swoop]

Well, this is a thread about a rugby game, so yes. But you don't have to read it.

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.

[Hitcher]

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

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