NZRU's persistence for scheduling test matches at the cursed Westpac Stadium

[wet-socks]

This is a very important issue that needs to be addressed. The All Blacks are quite simply cursed at Westpac and it just gets worse every year.

Why on earth do the NZRU keep ignoring Forsyth Barr as a test-venue. The All Blacks could've avoided this very result in 2020, another low-scoring draw against SA in 2019, another loss to SA in 2018, and finally the ugly loss to the B&I Lions in the streaming rain in 2017.

When are NZR going to learn to stop scheduling test matches at Westpac stadium? The wellington crowd never sell-out, it's always shithouse weather, constant stoppages & notoriously messy, scrappy, low scoring games. Look at the All Blacks last several performances at Westpac - the majority are low scoring losses and draws.

The NZR could automatically ensure a higher winning percentage for the All Blacks, if only they organised 2-3 matches per-year under the roof instead of Wellington and the two extra unnecessary tests at Eden Park every year.. It just beggars belief. Because this is a variable you can control!

The All Blacks average only 18 points at Westpac Stadium since 2011, and get this - 47 points at Forsyth Barr.

[Carter's Choice]

Why on earth do the NZRU keep ignoring Forsyth Barr as a test-venue.

Westpac Stadium seats 39K, Forysth Barr seats 22K.

[wet-socks]

Why on earth do the NZRU keep ignoring Forsyth Barr as a test-venue.

Westpac Stadium seats 39K, Forysth Barr seats 22K.

Forsyth Barr seats 31,000.

Wellingtonian fans are statistically the most unreliable when it comes to All Black test matches. They can't even get 20,000 for All Black's games in regular years. The 2019 match (a 15-15 draw) against South Africa only had an attendance of 18,000 people.

This year they couldn't even sell-out the first international rugby match in the world (in over a year) since the World Cup and Covid disruptions.

5,000 tickets were left unsold.

[wet-socks]

The All Blacks haven't won a test in Wellington since June 2018 - against France.

And I'm sure you all remember what happened in that French Series...

We scored 49 points in the first test at Eden Park, 55 under the roof in Dunedin, but only 24 at Westpac (Despite the French playing with only 14 men for 70 minutes). Are you all seeing the trend now?? This is far beyond a coincidence.

Wouldn't it be in the national team's best interests to stop giving Wellington test matches??

The All Blacks perform considerably better (and score far more points on average) at Eden Park, Forsyth Barr and Elsewhere.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

I'm inclined to agree.

It's time to throw out the Cake Tin, Alison Holst.

It's a write off.

Like Dunedin, Wellington doesn't really do summer, but unlike Dunedin,. the Cake Tin doesn't have a lid.

[wet-socks]

I'm inclined to agree.

It's time to throw out the Cake Tin, Alison Holst.

It's a write off.

Like Dunedin, Wellington doesn't really do summer, but unlike Dunedin,. the Cake Tin doesn't have a lid.

bloody ridiculous eh?

It's clear blues skies, in both Dunedin and Chch currently. Plenty of other test venues in NZ but you choose Wellington - in the middle of the storm/rainy season..

The South Island hasn't hosted a test match in over 3 years now. We are in drought most of the time down here, FFS. It barely ever rains.

[Not_Couch]

I'm inclined to agree.

It's time to throw out the Cake Tin, Alison Holst.

It's a write off.

Like Dunedin, Wellington doesn't really do summer, but unlike Dunedin,. the Cake Tin doesn't have a lid.

bloody ridiculous eh?

It's clear blues skies, in both Dunedin and Chch currently. Plenty of other test venues in NZ but you choose Wellington - in the middle of the storm/rainy season...

The South Island hasn't had a test match in over 3 years now. We are in drought most of the time down here FFS. It barely ever rains.

The Sky Stadium pitch is one of the best kept in NZ, the weather shouldn't be an excuse as this hinders both teams.

The only real conclusion is Wellington is just a better city than Christchurch and Dunedin.

Suck it up princesses or better yet, move to a better part of the country

[Jb1981]

You guys reckon big tests could go the way of the Sevens and be moved away from Wellington?

[wet-socks]

I'm inclined to agree.

It's time to throw out the Cake Tin, Alison Holst.

It's a write off.

Like Dunedin, Wellington doesn't really do summer, but unlike Dunedin,. the Cake Tin doesn't have a lid.

bloody ridiculous eh?

It's clear blues skies, in both Dunedin and Chch currently. Plenty of other test venues in NZ but you choose Wellington - in the middle of the storm/rainy season...

The South Island hasn't had a test match in over 3 years now. We are in drought most of the time down here FFS. It barely ever rains.

The Sky Stadium pitch is one of the best kept in NZ, the weather shouldn't be an excuse as this hinders both teams.

The only real conclusion is Wellington is just a better city than Christchurch and Dunedin.

Suck it up princesses or better yet, move to a better part of the country

The All Blacks play extremely poor every time they come to Wellington. Rain or shine. Those are the inescapable facts of the matter.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

You guys reckon big tests could go the way of the Sevens and be moved away from Wellington?

Give it a spell for a while I reckon.

It's a wrong 'un.

[wet-socks]

You guys reckon big tests could go the way of the Sevens and be moved away from Wellington?

Give it a spell for a while I reckon.

It's a wrong 'un.

yep, it's fucking cursed mate.

[wet-socks]

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

I'm inclined to agree.

It's time to throw out the Cake Tin, Alison Holst.

It's a write off.

Like Dunedin, Wellington doesn't really do summer, but unlike Dunedin,. the Cake Tin doesn't have a lid.

bloody ridiculous eh?

It's clear blues skies, in both Dunedin and Chch currently. Plenty of other test venues in NZ but you choose Wellington - in the middle of the storm/rainy season..

The South Island hasn't hosted a test match in over 3 years now. We are in drought most of the time down here, FFS. It barely ever rains.

As in, the calendar year?

[wet-socks]

To add to this, I think we should reserve our judgement of the new coaching group until the end of the year.

Because FYI, the All Blacks haven't won a test match in the rain at Westpac Stadium since bloody 2014.

There's clearly external factors (micro-conditions/weather inside the swirling Cake Tin, sub-standard Wellington training and accommodation facilities etc..) having an impact here.

[wet-socks]

See here - even the players voice their vehement disapproval of playing at Westpac:

[GiJoint]

Disagree. We need to learn how to win in low scoring scrappy games with shit weather, shouldn’t rely on the lid for help.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Disagree. We need to learn how to win in low scoring scrappy games with shit weather, shouldn’t rely on the lid for help.

I wasn't serious about taking games away from Wellington. It would be nice to improve the shite recent record though.

[wet-socks]

Disagree. We need to learn how to win in low scoring scrappy games with shit weather, shouldn’t rely on the lid for help.

I wasn't serious about taking games away from Wellington.

Why? There is overwhelming evidence that suggests those losses (and draws) could've been prevented simply by playing those tests elsewhere.

NZRU can't play the money excuse. The regional stadiums always sell-out All Black matches. In contrast, Wellington only managed 2/3rds capacity in 2018 and 2019. Forsyth Barr holds only 3,000 less seats than Westpac, while both Waikato & North Harbour stadiums seat over 26,000. Those stadiums were always more likely to sell-out prior to Covid because Wellington has always been the most unreliable with regards to bums on seats. The most unenthusiastic, least passionate, disloyal, fickle, and unfaithful rugby fans in the country.

[Monkey Magic]

Disagree. We need to learn how to win in low scoring scrappy games with shit weather, shouldn’t rely on the lid for help.

I wasn't serious about taking games away from Wellington.

Why? There is overwhelming evidence that suggests those losses (and draws) could've been prevented simply by playing those tests elsewhere.

NZRU can't play the money excuse. The regional stadiums always sell-out All Black matches. In contrast, Wellington only managed 2/3rds capacity in 2018 and 2019. Forsyth Barr holds only 3,000 less seats than Westpac, while both Waikato & North Harbour stadiums seat over 26,000. Those stadiums were always more likely to sell-out prior to Covid because Wellington has always been the most unreliable with regards to bums on seats. The most unenthusiastic, least passionate, disloyal, fickle, and unfaithful rugby fans in the country.

The writing was on the wall after the Eales kick, but the firestarters should have been brought in after the abortion of the 03 test. Not just the result but the whole match

[Gumboot]

I wasn't serious about taking games away from Wellington.

Why? There is overwhelming evidence that suggests those losses (and draws) could've been prevented simply by playing those tests elsewhere.

NZRU can't play the money excuse. The regional stadiums always sell-out All Black matches. In contrast, Wellington only managed 2/3rds capacity in 2018 and 2019. Forsyth Barr holds only 3,000 less seats than Westpac, while both Waikato & North Harbour stadiums seat over 26,000. Those stadiums were always more likely to sell-out prior to Covid because Wellington has always been the most unreliable with regards to bums on seats. The most unenthusiastic, least passionate, disloyal, fickle, and unfaithful rugby fans in the country.

The writing was on the wall after the Eales kick, but the firestarters should have been brought in after the abortion of the 03 test. Not just the result but the whole match

Yep, and those feckin' yellow seats - it's a shithole. The Cake Tin Curse is real. Time to dynamite the joint!

[Jb1981]

A sacrifice will sometimes lift a curse. Chuck Foster in a Wicker Man type contraption on Wellington’s fabled turf and the AB’s are bound to start playing better - if not in Wellington, at least everywhere else.

[wet-socks]

Why? There is overwhelming evidence that suggests those losses (and draws) could've been prevented simply by playing those tests elsewhere.

NZRU can't play the money excuse. The regional stadiums always sell-out All Black matches. In contrast, Wellington only managed 2/3rds capacity in 2018 and 2019. Forsyth Barr holds only 3,000 less seats than Westpac, while both Waikato & North Harbour stadiums seat over 26,000. Those stadiums were always more likely to sell-out prior to Covid because Wellington has always been the most unreliable with regards to bums on seats. The most unenthusiastic, least passionate, disloyal, fickle, and unfaithful rugby fans in the country.

The writing was on the wall after the Eales kick, but the firestarters should have been brought in after the abortion of the 03 test. Not just the result but the whole match

Yep, and those feckin' yellow seats - it's a shithole. The Cake Tin Curse is real. Time to dynamite the joint!

couldn't have said it better myself..

[Ata Rangi]

What is the record in NZ this century?

Wellington 4 losses 2 draws
Hamilton 1 loss
Dunedin 1 loss (so they appropriately tore down the stadium and built a new one)

And it’s a Wellington curse, not just the Cake Tin. They moved there after losing at Athletic Park in 98.

The government should be funding the new covered stadium in Christchurch as a national priority.

[wet-socks]

I just rewatched the game. I couldn't believe the amount of time on the clock that was needlessly chewed up. the stop-start nature of the test was most extreme case I've seen. Which says a lot, as it's usually like this when the All Blacks play in Welly. But this was simply on another whole level...

The All Black wingers touched the ball once each in the second half.

The Cake Tin is a national disgrace. It needs to be leveled at the earliest opportunity.

[wet-socks]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all ... cks-venues

Sports psychologist and former Wellington player, Dr Gary Hermansson, pointed to both conditions and the stadium being factors.

“Wellington weather can be quite a feature, whether it’s at Athletic Park or the stadium,” he told Stuff.

“I say this with respect, but the place, from a playing point of view, is pretty characterless. It’s a big round yellow bowl.

“It doesn’t sort of excite that sense of ‘ah, we’re playing at this specific ground that has this character and this history. It’s almost like this is a ground which is like a collective stadium, it’s like a stadium which is up for grabs, as it were.”

And last weekend’s stunning stalemate just added to what seems to be a pattern of drama for any recent Wellington test.

Prior to that game was the draw (also 16-16) against South Africa last year, then there was the high-scoring (36-34) defeat to the Springboks a year before, and red cards in each of the two tests before that (Benjamin Fall in France’s defeat in 2018 and Sonny Bill Williams in NZ’s draw against the Lions in 2017).

Wacky Wellington indeed.

In Bledisloe Cup games, the All Blacks’ Wellington record is now at a lowly 60 per cent (12/20).

And that failure to secure victory last Sunday now makes it a worse Bledisloe venue for them than both Sydney (28/46 for 60.87 per cent) and Australia overall (43/70 for 61.43 per cent).

That's really quite staggering isn't it?

[Ted.]

A sacrifice will sometimes lift a curse. Chuck Foster in a Wicker Man type contraption on Wellington’s fabled turf and the AB’s are bound to start playing better - if not in Wellington, at least everywhere else.

This, would be well worth it.

[wet-socks]

A sacrifice will sometimes lift a curse. Chuck Foster in a Wicker Man type contraption on Wellington’s fabled turf and the AB’s are bound to start playing better - if not in Wellington, at least everywhere else.

This, would be well worth it.

Username does not check-out..

[Gumboot]

A sacrifice will sometimes lift a curse. Chuck Foster in a Wicker Man type contraption on Wellington’s fabled turf and the AB’s are bound to start playing better - if not in Wellington, at least everywhere else.

This, would be well worth it.

Hammer will do.

I vote for a gigantic kick-arse Guy Fawkes Day bonfire.

[Jb1981]

[wet-socks]

The ABs should never play in Wellington as their winning percentage is better at Newlands & Twickenham than the Cake Tin.

Brainless NZR. When will they learn?

[NotNaki]

Disagree. We need to learn how to win in low scoring scrappy games with shit weather, shouldn’t rely on the lid for help.

I wasn't serious about taking games away from Wellington.

Why? There is overwhelming evidence that suggests those losses (and draws) could've been prevented simply by playing those tests elsewhere.

NZRU can't play the money excuse. The regional stadiums always sell-out All Black matches. In contrast, Wellington only managed 2/3rds capacity in 2018 and 2019. Forsyth Barr holds only 3,000 less seats than Westpac, while both Waikato & North Harbour stadiums seat over 26,000. Those stadiums were always more likely to sell-out prior to Covid because Wellington has always been the most unreliable with regards to bums on seats. The most unenthusiastic, least passionate, disloyal, fickle, and unfaithful rugby fans in the country.

I don't like the Cake Tin much, but why are you making things up?

The 2019 Bok test had a 35k+ in attendance. The 2018 test had 34k+. The fact that they managed to get 31k+ to this one is impressive given the tickets had only been on sale for a couple of weeks and they didn't have the usual months of build up and non-regional visitors.

The lowest ever attendance for the ABs at the Cake Tin was that one-off warm up game against Fiji in 2002, which had 24K. Every other test has had a 30k+ crowd, even that shitty 2011 Tri-Nations game against the Boks where they send a C-team before the WC.