2022/23 Champions/Challenge Cup

[Dogbert]

Glasgow leading 12 - 28 in Perpignan on 35 mins

The overthrow for Jonny Matthews try was pure comedy gold

[Dogbert]

However the jackel by Jamie Dobie was sublime

[Tichtheid]

Glasgow leading 12 - 28 in Perpignan on 35 mins

The overthrow for Jonny Matthews try was cure comedy gold

He nearly put one of the defenders into the second row of the stand at behind the pitch, the guy went flying back at a rate of knots after Matthews ran into him

[Torquemada 1420]

What’s happened to SA club rugby? Just turned on the last five mins, I probably last watched a SA club game in the Super 12 era but my memory was full houses, stadiums rocking, and of course the cheerleaders. Now looks funereal.

Soup killed our rugby.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinion ... er-bullet/

A document circulated to the South African Rugby Union (Saru) general council in late 2020 highlighted alarming attendance and viewership trends before the pandemic hit.

Attendance figures at Super Rugby matches had dipped massively. In 2015, the Stormers’ average home crowd was almost 33,000 and, by 2019, it was 16,000 — more than a 50% decline in four years. The Lions were averaging 23,300 in 2015 and, by 2019, only 13,400 fans were attending home games. The Bulls and Sharks attendances fell by nearly 3,000 people per game.

Even more alarming was the decline in TV audiences. The Stormers were, unsurprisingly, the most-watched team on TV, in line with their status as the team with the best attendance figures.

In 2015, the Stormers averaged 635,000 TV viewers per Super Rugby game. By 2019 that had declined to 261,100. The Bulls went from an average of 591,000 viewers in 2015 to 253,000 in 2019 and the same trend followed the Sharks (534,550 to 257,000) and the Lions (494,000 to 218,000).

Clearly, fans were falling out of love with Super Rugby. It was a major factor in Saru seeking alternatives in the northern hemisphere when New Zealand broke away from their Super Rugby alliance midway through the pandemic.

The change from Newlands to CT Stadium and change of season also hurt. Our schoolboy rugby attracts lots of Paarl Stellenboch (Paarl Boys,Gimnasium, Paul Roos) supporters. to schools around Newlands (Bishops/Rondebosch/Sacs/Wynberg) playing on Saturday mornings and would attend Newlands afterwards. Now it's different season and Greenpoint is a distance away from the boerewors curtain.

Still CT Stadium attrack the biggest crowd (30,000)in URC in December.

Playing in the big stadiums also don't help.But we are getting there

Good stuff.

1) Have long been a huge critic of rugby ticket prices in England. For a long time I could get cheaper tickets for a Fre intl game than a club match at, say, Welford Rd. Of course, rugby being a toffs game ( ) in Eng meant the English thought they could get away with it.

Anyway, it's basically mental as that SA article shows. You don't make your money on gate receipts but in peripherals like grub, beer, shirts etc.

2) Soup became a bore (as did the 3N). Took plenty of cop on PR over the years for criticising Soup for pursuing quantity over quality** and how that would come to a bad end.....

** Remember a right old ding dong with some indignant Aussie posters when I suggested they could not support more than 3 teams.

[Tichtheid]

Zebre, that's Zebre, are leading Bristol 6 - 0 at HT

[Torquemada 1420]

Zebre, that's Zebre, are leading Bristol 6 - 0 at HT

Won't last but shows what a mess Bristol are in.

[Tichtheid]

Silly penalties are costing Glasgow dear 19 -28

[Paddington Bear]

Proper comeback from Lyon here

[ASMO]

Sarries just falling apart, they are so porous these days, this is why they wont win the cup, or the league.

[Torquemada 1420]

How TF spoofer PSA and his rugby cancer won the T14 still bemuses me.

[Tichtheid]

Good quick hands from Glasgow, 19 - 33

[_Os_]

2) Soup became a bore (as did the 3N). Took plenty of cop on PR over the years for criticising Soup for pursuing quantity over quality** and how that would come to a bad end.....

** Remember a right old ding dong with some indignant Aussie posters when I suggested they could not support more than 3 teams.

The problem was that the ARU didn't have a domestic comp, and tried to inject one into Super Rugby. This then reduced the CC window and devalued the CC, which meant SARU needed to find a meaningful comp for our provincial sides, so SARU also demanded more Soup teams. The SARU strategy is to support the broadest player base possible, at the expense of keeping all the very best players in SA. NZRU were/are pursuing a strategy of looking after the very top (keep all their test players in NZ etc), so were happy with 5 pro franchises and a near amateur NPC, they have the opposite strategy to SARU. They each had opposing ideas about expansion too, SA wanted the Argies, Aus the Japanese, NZ the PIs. This all ended up in a tournament that was like a Homer Simpson clown car.

It's still an unknown who will come out on top. My gut feel is that the ARU and NZRU have picked a poor strategy for countering the financial strength of Europe, they've failed to include SA/Arg/Japan outside test matches, and have even managed to lose SA directly to Europe. They seem to have isolated themselves and are hostile towards including larger markets outside Aus/NZ.

[Dogbert]

After a slow start to the 2nd half , and Gordon being sin binned - Glasgow back to full flow rugby

[Tichtheid]

Glasgow in again with a brilliant move up through the middle of the park 19 - 40

Glasgow have perhaps half a dozen from their starting 23 in this squad as far as I can see.

[Tichtheid]

After a slow start to the 2nd half , and Gordon being sin binned - Glasgow back to full flow rugby

What happened to Miotti?

[Torquemada 1420]

2) Soup became a bore (as did the 3N). Took plenty of cop on PR over the years for criticising Soup for pursuing quantity over quality** and how that would come to a bad end.....

** Remember a right old ding dong with some indignant Aussie posters when I suggested they could not support more than 3 teams.

The problem was that the ARU didn't have a domestic comp, and tried to inject one into Super Rugby. This then reduced the CC window and devalued the CC, which meant SARU needed to find a meaningful comp for our provincial sides, so SARU also demanded more Soup teams. The SARU strategy is to support the broadest player base possible, at the expense of keeping all the very best players in SA. NZRU were/are pursuing a strategy of looking after the very top (keep all their test players in NZ etc), so were happy with 5 pro franchises and a near amateur NPC, they have the opposite strategy to SARU. They each had opposing ideas about expansion too, SA wanted the Argies, Aus the Japanese, NZ the PIs. This all ended up in a tournament that was like a Homer Simpson clown car.

It's still an unknown who will come out on top. My gut feel is that the ARU and NZRU have picked a poor strategy for countering the financial strength of Europe, they've failed to include SA/Arg/Japan outside test matches, and have even managed to lose SA directly to Europe. They seem to have isolated themselves and are hostile towards including larger markets outside Aus/NZ.

I'm with you 100% on all of this. If the old PR board still existed, in the early days of Soup I opined it was all a con by the Aussies because they had no viable domestic comp and realised they were dead as an intl force without addressing it in some way. So they blagged the keewees into backing them (and the finest domestic comp in the word, NPC, has paid the price) and the safas too who, as you say, had CC and the money. I also pointed out that the travel would always put SA teams at a disadvantage and that they'd be better joining Europe.......... ironic that, eh?!

[OomStruisbaai]

What’s happened to SA club rugby? Just turned on the last five mins, I probably last watched a SA club game in the Super 12 era but my memory was full houses, stadiums rocking, and of course the cheerleaders. Now looks funereal.

Soup killed our rugby.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinion ... er-bullet/

A document circulated to the South African Rugby Union (Saru) general council in late 2020 highlighted alarming attendance and viewership trends before the pandemic hit.

Attendance figures at Super Rugby matches had dipped massively. In 2015, the Stormers’ average home crowd was almost 33,000 and, by 2019, it was 16,000 — more than a 50% decline in four years. The Lions were averaging 23,300 in 2015 and, by 2019, only 13,400 fans were attending home games. The Bulls and Sharks attendances fell by nearly 3,000 people per game.

Even more alarming was the decline in TV audiences. The Stormers were, unsurprisingly, the most-watched team on TV, in line with their status as the team with the best attendance figures.

In 2015, the Stormers averaged 635,000 TV viewers per Super Rugby game. By 2019 that had declined to 261,100. The Bulls went from an average of 591,000 viewers in 2015 to 253,000 in 2019 and the same trend followed the Sharks (534,550 to 257,000) and the Lions (494,000 to 218,000).

Clearly, fans were falling out of love with Super Rugby. It was a major factor in Saru seeking alternatives in the northern hemisphere when New Zealand broke away from their Super Rugby alliance midway through the pandemic.

The change from Newlands to CT Stadium and change of season also hurt. Our schoolboy rugby attracts lots of Paarl Stellenboch (Paarl Boys,Gimnasium, Paul Roos) supporters. to schools around Newlands (Bishops/Rondebosch/Sacs/Wynberg) playing on Saturday mornings and would attend Newlands afterwards. Now it's different season and Greenpoint is a distance away from the boerewors curtain.

Still CT Stadium attrack the biggest crowd (30,000)in URC in December.

Playing in the big stadiums also don't help.But we are getting there

Good stuff.

1) Have long been a huge critic of rugby ticket prices in England. For a long time I could get cheaper tickets for a Fre intl game than a club match at, say, Welford Rd. Of course, rugby being a toffs game ( ) in Eng meant the English thought they could get away with it.

Anyway, it's basically mental as that SA article shows. You don't make your money on gate receipts but in peripherals like grub, beer, shirts etc.

2) Soup became a bore (as did the 3N). Took plenty of cop on PR over the years for criticising Soup for pursuing quantity over quality** and how that would come to a bad end.....

** Remember a right old ding dong with some indignant Aussie posters when I suggested they could not support more than 3 teams.

I have been a Newlands faithfull for ages. It's not just a rugby game watching the Stormers. It's more supporting your kid playing The big rugby schools have 20 + teams from u14-u19. All age groups support the 1st team around 12 and then a walk to Newlands, having beers and braai before the main game around 16h00. It's a day out with the kids and family.

[Torquemada 1420]

Carbonel showing what a f**k up Toulon made in ejecting him.

[Jim Lahey]

Why are Lyon playing their sub prop at 9?

[Torquemada 1420]

I’m sure we’ll slow down but there’s little stopping this being a ton at this rate,

Yours

[Torquemada 1420]

Why are Lyon playing their sub prop at 9?

Not watching that one but I'm assuming Do-sans has come on and he almost makes Weepu look slim.

[Torquemada 1420]

I have been a Newlands faithfull for ages. It's not just a rugby game watching the Stormers. It's more supporting your kid playing The big rugby schools have 20 + teams from u14-u19. All age groups support the 1st team around 12 and then a walk to Newlands, having beers and braai before the main game around 16h00. It's a day out with the kids and family.

Same reason so many Fre fans would rather watch club rugby than intl and care more about local comps than stuff like the HEC.

[Tichtheid]

The Perpignan Tuilagi is huge, but he's been on for ten minutes and he's already blowing out his arse

[Paddington Bear]

I’m sure we’ll slow down but there’s little stopping this being a ton at this rate,

Yours

Yes both teams completely unrecognisable from their first halves, very strange

[Tichtheid]

He may have waddled over for a try now

[Torquemada 1420]

The Perpignan Tuilagi is huge, but he's been on for ten minutes and he's already blowing out his arse

The kid who is 8? I've not even seen him play a game but by all accounts he makes Basta look svelte.

{EDIT} According to USAP, he's 23 stone

[Tichtheid]

The Perpignan Tuilagi is huge, but he's been on for ten minutes and he's already blowing out his arse

The kid who is 8? I've not even seen him play a game but by all accounts he makes Basta look svelte.

18 years old, six foot four and 23 1/2 stones

[sockwithaticket]

Can it count as a hand off when done with a closed fist?

We eventually get to a card, but from the officials' discussion it seemed like they were trying to excuse it.

[Dogbert]

After a slow start to the 2nd half , and Gordon being sin binned - Glasgow back to full flow rugby

What happened to Miotti?

Went off injured , looked like a back strain of all things - was a shame , as he was looking really good for the time he was on

[fishfoodie]

I see the Bath game has been moved to Glaws. Will this get played behind closed doors like the Ulster game ?

[Torquemada 1420]

I see the Bath game has been moved to Glaws. Will this get played behind closed doors like the Ulster game ?

Still don't understand that one. Wasn't it Ulster's decision? So no reason for this one to be a shut out?

[fishfoodie]

I see the Bath game has been moved to Glaws. Will this get played behind closed doors like the Ulster game ?

Still don't understand that one. Wasn't it Ulster's decision? So no reason for this one to be a shut out?

I think teams have to designate an alternate site. But designating it won't mean they had stewarding, etc lined up for the alternate.

It's a lot easier to organise 10-20 cameras, than several hundred stewards & all the associated people

[OomStruisbaai]

Ospreys beating Montpellier. Through to next round.

[Sards]

Congratulations to all the teams through to the round of 16

[assfly]

Good result for the $harks. It's a pity we took our foot off the gas, we should have put 50 points past that rabble.

Pity about the injuries to Boeta, Bongi and Curwin, that could really hurt us.

Kolisi playing the best rugby I've ever seen, what a joy to watch.

[Torquemada 1420]

I see the Bath game has been moved to Glaws. Will this get played behind closed doors like the Ulster game ?

Still don't understand that one. Wasn't it Ulster's decision? So no reason for this one to be a shut out?

I think teams have to designate an alternate site. But designating it won't mean they had stewarding, etc lined up for the alternate.

It's a lot easier to organise 10-20 cameras, than several hundred stewards & all the associated people

Looks like tickets available for the game at Glaws.

[Torquemada 1420]

Ospreys beating Montpellier. Through to next round.

Pity that MH will probably make it too with these dim comp rules.

[Torquemada 1420]

Those who watched the Sarries game, how did Dumortier go for LOU? A fair bit of chat around him this season.

[Sards]

Good result for the $harks. It's a pity we took our foot off the gas, we should have put 50 points past that rabble.

Pity about the injuries to Boeta, Bongi and Curwin, that could really hurt us.

Kolisi playing the best rugby I've ever seen, what a joy to watch.

It's all the talk currently. Kolisi. He is playing the best rugby of his life.

[sockwithaticket]

Those who watched the Sarries game, how did Dumortier go for LOU? A fair bit of chat around him this season.

He was good, dragged them back into the game with a couple of solo tries either side of half time.