Rugby rocks the world
19 Oct 2011
It seems the entire rugby world is watching New Zealand at the moment – at least on World Cup weekends.
RWC 2011 confirmed the viewership figures of the semi-final play-offs and the greatest numbers were a 73% audience share in France.
Les Bleus may have played the worst rugby at this tournament, but the French public interest in their performance was at a record high.
Among the records broken included:
*Record New Zealand television audience watch New Zealand defeat Australia
* Biggest Australian television audience since RWC 2003
*73 per cent audience share in France as Les Bleus book Final place
*Highest audience of RWC 2011 in UK sees France beat Wales
In New Zealand a record 1.97 million cumulative television audience tuned in to the host nation’s 20-6 semi-final victory over Australia via TV One, SKY, TV3 and Maori Television, not including the significant number who would have watched the compelling action in public venues across the country or online on demand.
Australians also tuned into the match in record numbers. A massive nationwide television audience of 3.23 million people watched the match – smashing the all-time Pay TV viewership record for Fox Sports and topping the free-to-air ratings on Channel Nine.
No Rugby match since the Rugby World Cup Final in 2003 has delivered an audience of the same magnitude in Australia. The tournament decider in Sydney eight years ago was watched by more than 4 million Australians. Channel Nine’s free-to-air broadcast attracted 2.5 million viewers.
It was a similar picture in France where TF1 attracted an audience of 9.5 million for the semi-final between France and Wales despite the 10:00 kick-off time. The average audience for the match, which saw France secure their first place in a Final since 1999 was equal to a viewing share of 73 per cent.
In the United Kingdom, ITV registered its highest audience of RWC 2011 with an average of 5.9 million viewers watching France’s 9-8 victory over Wales. The last 15 minutes of the match netted a peak audience of 6.6 million – a 58 per cent share.
163 Comments
19 Oct 2011, 03:09 am
Regardless of the outcome this tournament has done a great job in promoting the game for us and the benefit of rugby world wide.
For New Zealand, it will be great to for tourism and the flow on that ensues.
Well done NZ and all the participating Nations.
19 Oct 2011, 03:35 am
*ahem*
19 Oct 2011, 03:43 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-2: Just softening up the Frogs for the inevitable.
19 Oct 2011, 03:47 am
@captain fantail(captain fantail)-3:
yer right, its been great fer the country. Sad when its over, has been one LONG par-tay !
And Summer just around the corner !
19 Oct 2011, 03:48 am
Yeah, kind of makes arses of all the whingers complaining about this being the worst RWC ever. Seems the rest of the world didnt get that memo and arent nearly as disappointed as the cycloptic fanboys from the Republic.
19 Oct 2011, 03:51 am
For me the highlight has been the improved performances of many smaller nations. A lott of the games were very closely contested and this bodes well for future cups. Biggest disappointments were England and Fiji apart, of course, from the Boks. Overall a very good tournament. Well done Kiwis.
19 Oct 2011, 04:01 am
Errr the official Oztam numbers were as follows:
1. Nine’s Rugby: World Cup: SF2 Nine New Zealand Vs. Australia 1,788,000
and…
The Rugby World Cup Semi Final between Australia and New Zealand has set a new Subscription TV record with a whopping 719,000 viewers…
= 2,507,000
But who cares about 700k this way or that way…
19 Oct 2011, 04:07 am
One thing that continually amazes me on this site is the amount of people that profess to know their rugby and highly opinionated on every subject connected to it and yet totally miss majority of strategies being played out in front of them.
I recall the AB / Arg game a person I was with kept commenting on how little progress we were making in terms of points on the board.
The reality was that the AB’s were using this game for what they could gain from it apart from a win. We fronted up in that game to contest the scrum, ruck, maul as a priority and a major hit out for our forwards prior to the semis. Which better team than to do so than against the Argentinians who have one of the most solid scrums in world rugby.
I explained what was happening and happening without disrespect to Argentina, but at the professional level this is what great teams can do and have good reason to do so. Why, because of who we were to face in the semis and possibly in the, and how the forward pack is the weapon of choice in the sudden death play offs.
The proof of the pudding was in the eating on destroying the Wallabies scrums and totally dominating the game from there.
Our next test is against France and we couldn’t be any better prepared for them.
Strategy is key that has many layers, not just a pile of fancy moves for criss-crossing back lines. I think that this is a major point of difference for us, that we back ourselves to have a personal test within a test.
19 Oct 2011, 04:11 am
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-6: Absolutely, they have been fantastic and bought so much to this tournament. The improvement, tenacity and desire of the so called minnows have made this tournament.
they have been the spectacle, instead of waiting out the quarters and semis for the ‘big guns’ i could have sat through another few weeks of these guys trying to bring down the house.
19 Oct 2011, 04:19 am
I’ve just returned from 2 good weeks in New Zealand. Not only (in general) were the people delightful, friendly and accommodating, but the festivities in Auckland were great. Idiots proclaiming this World Cup a failure are just that. I ran into a couple of nasty Kiwis, but I also ran into 10x more nasty South Africans and Poms. Seems like most of the nasty myopic people are attracted to this forum and those that make the efforts to support their teams overseas are more genuine rugby folks who can share a beer and a laugh after a game, irrespective of the outcome.
Only drawback was that when traveling in South Island, particularly Canterbury, people were disappointed that they had basically been forgotten by the IRB, local organizing committee and the NZ government. Given what has happened to Christchurch I have to agree a greater effort could have been made to include South Island at the business end of the competition.
Take a bow New Zealand. You probably deserve our trophy based on the play, but I would have been much happier if you had beaten us on the field to get it.
19 Oct 2011, 04:35 am
@Chairman Mao(Chairman Mao)-10: I have been watching it in New York. In general the coverge in the US has been pathetic and it is a waste of time trying to grow the game over here. The big networks are not interested in promoting rugby at all. But I found an Australian pub to watch the games at and I must say the atmosphere was great. There were people from all over the world watching and shouting for their teams but afterwards everyone had a laugh and a beer and there were no (or very few) bad losers. Even the many poms behaved very well.
19 Oct 2011, 04:49 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-7:
A negative p rick like you obviously, why are you constantly trying to spoil the party?
19 Oct 2011, 04:53 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-7:
lol
Did you really go out of your way to try and prove what was said was wrong??
Wow, i wish i had time on my hands like you do.
19 Oct 2011, 04:55 am
@Chairman Mao(Chairman Mao)-10: And we would have liked to have played you too. When SA played Aus, most of us wanted SA to win so that we would play you in the semi, not Aus.
It wasnt that you were perceived as being easier, rather, more predictable, with which we could build a more knowledgeable defence and attacking platform from.
Well, we neded to do that against Aus, and in a way, – with all due respect – it was slightly more satisfying. Had we played SA and won, then go on to meet Aus in a final as the script was originally written, then this weekend would have amped to one hell of a RWC final.
It will still be a sensational occassion, and if France do bring their A game, it will be a massive challenge for us.
They still havent played that one big conquering game yet.
19 Oct 2011, 04:58 am
@Chairman Mao(Chairman Mao)-10:
I live in Christchurch and it does feel as though the RWC is played in a different country to be honest.
I know not much could have been done but there is that feeling of being left out.
In fact i think it may be a couple of years before Christchurch gets into the vibe of live rugby again
19 Oct 2011, 05:05 am
@KiaKahaNZ(KiaKahaNZ)-14: Yeah. Almost every Kiwi I spoke to wanted us to beat Australia. What was more surprising was that when we lost the bar gave us a free meal, the NZers behind us bought us a round of drinks, and then later that night a rather wasted Dunedin student offered me a consolation shag if I was sad. I turned her down…..
I do hope that France show up on the weekend. A one-sided cakewalk will take some gloss off the occasion.
19 Oct 2011, 06:01 am
Ahhh knobbie, no surprise you know all about p ricks!
19 Oct 2011, 06:02 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-15:
Thinking about it now, I don’t know why the quarter-finals that were scheduled for Christchurch were not moved to the new stadium in Dunedin instead of being given to Auckland. I think the NZRU missed a trick there.
19 Oct 2011, 06:06 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-13:
Actaully Hurri, call it a little hobby but I actually check daily tv numbers on a regular basis and was particularly interested in the numbers and how they would stack up against the last SOO numbers the leagie were so quick to throw around. So I was aware the numbers above were wrong, but hey, if you are happy with incorrect reporting be my guest.
19 Oct 2011, 06:10 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-2:
Got a Frog in your throat…
19 Oct 2011, 06:28 am
Another day of SAFFA moaning about to start.
19 Oct 2011, 06:35 am
2011 was a success.
19 Oct 2011, 06:38 am
This RWC has saved the NZRU from their downward spiral in the nick of time…
19 Oct 2011, 06:43 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-23:
Running the risk of knobbie telling me how negative I am I would still like to know how success is measured? The last article I saw, which was before the 1/4 finals, stated a shortfall of close to $50m expected, how is that helping them out?
19 Oct 2011, 06:49 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-24:
ticket sales have been superb, the govt put some in, it will run at a small loss, how is success measured 4 million + Nzers going bananas late Sunday night
19 Oct 2011, 06:52 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-12: Why are you trying to make it out like the party was even a party? This has been proven to be the worst world cup ever.
19 Oct 2011, 06:54 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-26:
Rating a tournament based on the limitations of your own team is not a recognised yardstick used by most folk.
19 Oct 2011, 06:55 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-26:
looked like the united nations of England were having a great party, perhaps that’s why they were eliminated in the 1/4′s?
19 Oct 2011, 06:58 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-22:
Most are more relieved than satisfied. In South Africa it’s par for the course that we pull off these events with ease.
Your Oz cousins are just as relieved that they didn’t have to step in like the shambles in 2003 where they were left to pick up the tab and go it alone.
19 Oct 2011, 07:11 am
Those TV audience figures, whether slightly inflated in Aus or not, were achieved through local and visiting fans accommodating the demands of the IRB.
19 Oct 2011, 07:17 am
@Brads(Brads)-27: @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-28: Precious little Kiwis trying so hard to proclaim this tournament a success. Its so desperate its tragic. The first and most important criteria needed to be fulfilled to constitute success is profit. You failed spectacularly at that and the rugby world is now at a loss to this sentiment and development has regressed 8 years as a result.
Maoris in thongs blowing pipes may be your cup of tea, but it doesn’t equal a success.
19 Oct 2011, 07:19 am
Brilliant WC….and the best team on the Planet by a country mile about to be crowned worthy world champions…..awesome job Kiwis.
Biggest dissapointments….
Boks…
Poms…
19 Oct 2011, 07:21 am
All this tournament has done is show the IRB up for the F@#$%ERS that they are.
The best 2 teams in the world are out with one of the worst in the final.
The refereeing has been downright crooked. No, I am done with this farce and couldn’t care less who wins on Saturday.
I most certainly have better things to do with my weekend.
19 Oct 2011, 07:30 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-31:
RWC011 Ltd budgeted for a 68 million dollar loss.
That is likely to be under 50 million.
A success in my book.
Bejing ran the best ever Olympics and it cost them 50 billion.
London will not make the same loss, but they will make a loss hosting the same event.
19 Oct 2011, 07:34 am
I’m sure for people in Kiwiland and Oz the world cup has been fantastic.
For the majority of fans on or around the Greenwich meridian it has been a complete balls up. Games starting at 6am hardly gives you the opportunity to enjoy a few bevvies with the boys during the match.
Future world should be held in South Africa, UK and France. Bugger everybody else!
19 Oct 2011, 07:37 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-25:
middle earth economics involving magic rings and powerful potions is one thing…but real world economics involving real capital is an all together other….
you can make wishy washy statements till you’re blue in the face but you’re in the real world now….
oh, and the officiating robbed it of any validity…
19 Oct 2011, 07:37 am
@JEZ(DEE DAH)-35:
Based on your lack of gratitude, I would pump for the next time any match is played in our time zone it is played at 2.30 in the afternoon local time, not 9.00pm so as to make it comfortable for you ingrates to get out of bed.
19 Oct 2011, 07:41 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-36:
Not strong on economics are you.
SA lost money from directly holding the FIFA World Cup. However, the wider economy benefited by an estimated $20 billion with having the tournament in the country.
19 Oct 2011, 07:42 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-36:
middle earth economics involving magic rings and powerful potions is one thing…
19 Oct 2011, 07:43 am
@Brads(Brads)-34: How many countries already competing at the Olympics? Don’t think it really needs to develop all that much does it?
@JEZ(DEE DAH)-35: If this world cup had been in Japan, like it should have been, the audience figures would have been huge.
19 Oct 2011, 07:44 am
I still rate France07 as most likely the best world cup in terms of spirit and vibe, but in terms of performances I would rate NZ as the better one, the minnows played good rugby and the top tier teams also stepped up (except France). The only disapointment was that Cristchurch could not join the party and the horrible ref’s that messed up a otherwise awsome WC. NZ did a great job and I think NZ will deserving winners, but that doesn’t change the fact that they played the weaker team in the SF and will play a weaker team on Sunday. Not their fault and won’t make them any less champions then if it was otherwise.
The IRB just messed up two great possible match ups because their refs are just not up to par.
19 Oct 2011, 07:46 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-40:
Don’t change the direction of the debate just because you are losing it.
19 Oct 2011, 07:47 am
@JEZ(DEE DAH)-35: You suck so much right now.
19 Oct 2011, 07:48 am
@Brads(Brads)-38:
you keep convincing yourself of that brads…i’m pretty sure the smarter kiwi’s running your countries finances know well what the actual cost of the thing was and i’m pretty sure the loss was even higher than the projected loss expected.
but ja no hey….you keep convincing yourself…
19 Oct 2011, 07:49 am
@Brads(Brads)-38:
$20 billion, you mean like in R140 billion?
19 Oct 2011, 07:51 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-39:
these kiwi’s are so silly sometimes.
19 Oct 2011, 07:53 am
I enjoyed the WC. I was just a mission with this early games but the PVR came in handy. Biggest mission was to avoid the TV screens in the shops and the radio because it was WC fever everywhere. Well done NZ. Good job.
19 Oct 2011, 07:56 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-45:
i know hey…i know…
these guys cook the finacial and viewership numbers not to fool others but seemingly to fool themselves.
its weird…
19 Oct 2011, 07:56 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-46:
Hehehe you know, expected loss was $60m and the actual will be closer to $50m = success!
Bit like my wife saying…but it was on special, we saved $x!!!
19 Oct 2011, 07:57 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-44:
Well I am pretty certain you are wrong.
In fact the parliamentry opposition are so dismayed over the success of the tournament and the rub off feel good effect it will have on the government leading into the elections in a few weeks time, they would quietly rejoice if the AB’s lost on Sunday.
19 Oct 2011, 07:57 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-48:
Small country syndrome I think….
19 Oct 2011, 07:58 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-45:
Yes
19 Oct 2011, 08:05 am
I miss say this was a great world cup. What i saw of nz was great. This world cup has changed my perception about nz. Great stuff.
19 Oct 2011, 08:10 am
All of these stats have rational explanations though:
Record New Zealand television audience watch New Zealand defeat Australia – New Zealand’s first tough game of the tournament plus they are hosting so RWC excitement is far higher than usual within the country.
* Biggest Australian television audience since RWC 2003 – The main League season is now finished so there is a massive rugby watching audience available that don’t normally care 2 hoots about Union.
*73 per cent audience share in France as Les Bleus book Final place – first time the Frogs have been able to watch an international match whilst dipping croissants into their bowls of chocolate milk at 10:00am.
*Highest audience of RWC 2011 in UK sees France beat Wales – First real NH matchup the Poms have had to watch given their own side’s shocking performances and subsequent exit.
19 Oct 2011, 08:15 am
Will the Bokke & the poms be seeded 7th & 8th at the next WC?
19 Oct 2011, 08:18 am
I do think it was a very good WC, weather was not the most pleasant though !!
It all could end on a whimper though unless France can find a miraculous way to turn things around.
Also will not be sorry to see the end of tongue pulling and hakas but overall a big thumbs up !!!
19 Oct 2011, 08:18 am
@Brads(Brads)-50:
no brads, i am absolutely certain you are wrong.
your government has spent a whole lot more money on this thing
(think stadium as well as infrastructural costs plus hosting for starters) and as well on the nzru in order to win this thing (point to consider is your rugby chiefs recent moaning about not going to the next one because of the high cost and money lost participating) than it will make back in any profits derived from it.
its no different to our hosting of the football wc except ours cost even more as there is more hype and numbers around football than there is around rugby. generally, any country hosting a football wc spends way more than any country hosting a rwc.
you put on a great show as did we with the fwc…just leave it at that…when you start saying things that cannot possiblt be true…well, then you just ruin the moment.
19 Oct 2011, 08:23 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-55:
Dunno knobbie, was NZ and the Wallabies seeded 7th and 8th for this WC?
19 Oct 2011, 08:23 am
Thumbs up for the tournament.
The rugby was great.
Pity the boks are out, but that is sport for you. Unpredictable at best.
I hope that the French can make a fight of it in the final, not to win, but would not like to see a runaway victory.
19 Oct 2011, 08:27 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-57:
Not sure why they don’t just enjoy the moment rather than trying to convince the rest of the World of whatever they think we should be convinved about.
End of the day who cares what the rest of the world think, as long as the locals and the majority of the visitors had a lekker jol who cares about the rest?
19 Oct 2011, 08:27 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-58:
Good comeback
19 Oct 2011, 08:28 am
the next one should reflect reuslts between wc’s so 7th or 8th would be fair otherwise we’ll have english club sides making the wc
19 Oct 2011, 08:29 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-57:
You are mistaking investment in infrastructure like new stadia as a straight cost to the tournament.
Did all the new stadia in South Africa get pulled down after the WC?
19 Oct 2011, 08:36 am
@Brads(Brads)-63:
They are thinking about pulling down the one in Cape Town.
19 Oct 2011, 08:39 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-60:
agreed.
it was a great wc except for the shocking officiating.
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-59:
agreed, mostly.
it was a great cup for sure but the officiating was disgusting. more importantly officiating shouldn’t be ‘unpredictable’ at all.
am too hoping the french pitch and make it a humdinger of note. ab’s should close it out but i would be happy with a result either way.
19 Oct 2011, 08:39 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-62: so what were the rankings going into this world based on genius, stadium attendace?
19 Oct 2011, 08:41 am
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-64:
Don’t worry Blackie, Brads is clever enough to know it is flawed to compare a 1st world country with what is essencially a 3rd world country. For this ‘argument’ he chose to ignore it all and also to mix in a few untruths!
I put it down to nerves…
19 Oct 2011, 08:45 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-66:
Don’t be to harsh on knobbie, yesterday I worked out he was born after the last time the AB played in a WC final. Add in the fear of choking on the small bones found in frog legs and he is just not himself….
19 Oct 2011, 08:52 am
I’m very pleased to hear that RWC has done so well. So we won’t hear any more plainative bleatings from the NZRFSTFU about running short of lolly? Yeah right!
19 Oct 2011, 09:00 am
@Brads(Brads)-63:
no they did not.
and those stadia actually run at losses since the event (i mean keeping them going and operating them on a day to day basis) so not only were they outrageously expensive to build but also cost money going forward.
its in fact an ongoing issue in sa where the parties involved are trying to get the rugby stadia owners to divest from our ‘old’ rugby stadia and move over to the newly built multi-purpose stadia post fwc. bear in mind we are a 50mil+ population.
how will such a small population (nz) with already dwindling crowd attendance figures overall (when counted in s15, 3n and internationals) be able to generate the revenue anywhere near needed to cover those costs?
so when you say “investing in infrastructure” just where do you think the money comes from and just who do you think is liable for its settling?
19 Oct 2011, 09:01 am
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-64:
huh?
are you for real?
19 Oct 2011, 09:04 am
TBH I can’t say that I watched many games … I only watched 3 Bok matches and 3 others, I do not know if I will watch the final.
I think may apply to millions more.
19 Oct 2011, 09:08 am
Yip!
19 Oct 2011, 09:08 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-70:
We didn’t build several new stadia. The only new one was in Dunedin.
All the others were upgraded to what will be best expected crowds for future fixtures.
I am surprised though.
Based on all the ballyhoo coming from some Saffa’s in the last year or so about New Zealand’s small stadiums and how they pale into insignificance campared to everything SA has, you folk were all as one in your delight they were built.
19 Oct 2011, 09:13 am
Well that’s it. I’m canceling the cheque I sent to the NZRU. If they can’t make money out of that kind of interest and those kind of figures, they don’t deserve to get to 2015.
I urge you all to boycott the “Bald Blacks” shave-a-thon too. I think it’s a scam.
19 Oct 2011, 09:19 am
@RL(RL)-72:
Did you watch the Lions vs Sharks game last weekend.
19 Oct 2011, 09:21 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-75:
You bast ard!
The NZRU were relying on your contribution.
19 Oct 2011, 09:22 am
These stats are meaningless; bit like saying there was more daylight in the summer compared to the winter
19 Oct 2011, 09:27 am
@Brads(Brads)-74:
ok.
but those refurbishments ran into many millions and possiblt hundreds of millions. will you agree that crowd attendance in nz is a problem? the estimates made before these things are consstructed are always made in the most optimistic (even though unlikliest to be true) manner.
also consider all the other non (immediately related to) stadia infrastructural developments that were undertaken. i cannot recall the bulk of it off the top of my head right now but had followed your papers at the times they were being discussed. two thatcome to mind are a waterfront/ship berthing development and i think an airport development which were soley undertaken as a result of the rwc hosting and it needs.
i can go through the archives if you want but there were many, many more.
yes, of course we want you guys to have good stadia and more importantly to fill them up while watching/supporting the game we love as much as you do.
all i’m saying is there’s no need to make it out to be something its not in terms of the costs involved in putting these things on.
believe me, we know well the costs of such and are/have in no way sugar coated it.
19 Oct 2011, 09:28 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-66:
19 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-75:
fair enough.
it probably would have bounced anyway.
I don’t think those old Volkskas Bank accounts are active anymore.
19 Oct 2011, 09:34 am
See post 22.
19 Oct 2011, 09:35 am
Wee man
You forgot to mention how the weekends WC viewership records were shattered here in Spain
A mighty total of one person watched the weekends action on a dodgy stream that crashed more than it worked
19 Oct 2011, 09:35 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-79:
Yes and no.
The stadia were definitely set at the high end of what would normally be expected for a best event in the regine where the venue is.
However, the sheer cost of the tickets was appalling, hence the empty seats.
That said, RWC11 Ltd budgeted for a $68 million loss from the outset. That figure relates to staging the event, but excludes infrastructure. On the income side the only source of this was ticket sales.
Everything else went directly to the IRB.
So the loss is now estimated to be $50 million, which to a non sports person is terrible, but to everyone else it is better than planned and that must be hailed as a success.
19 Oct 2011, 09:36 am
See post 29…
19 Oct 2011, 09:39 am
@Bod(bod)-83:
serves you right for trying to piggyback your neighbours interweb and his wife.
19 Oct 2011, 09:40 am
@Brads(Brads)-74:
Are you telling me thats a new stadium in Dunedin???
Yegads
Maybe the architect did have a plan to try and recreate the old Soweto Staduim… or maybe there was just no architect…
19 Oct 2011, 09:43 am
@Gunther(gunther)-86:
My neighbours internet and wife are out….. fullstop
ol Miguel has four 16 bore shotguns and a pack of rabid hunting dogs and his wife has a beard
19 Oct 2011, 09:46 am
@Bod(bod)-87:
The Poms seemed to think it was the best thing next to tossing dwarfs.
Fully enclosed stadium with natural grass, not some thin vaneer over a concrete base a few inches below the surface.
Brilliant
19 Oct 2011, 09:47 am
@Gunther(gunther)-81: It was a Saambou account. And there should still be R75 in it.
And anyway, I’m not using it. I’m simply channeling the funds from my dead uncle thrice removed in Lagos (who I only learnt about last week). I’ve given the friendly gentleman who emailed me the NZRU’s banking details to use.
Have I done right?
19 Oct 2011, 09:49 am
@Bod(bod)-88:
well.
at least a beard gives you soemthing to hang on to.
@>^..^< katman(katman)-90:
absolutely.
make da circle beeega.
19 Oct 2011, 09:51 am
Who’s playing in the curried cup this weekend, viewing numbers in sa will be through the roof
19 Oct 2011, 09:52 am
@Brads(Brads)-84:
goodness brads,
you know better than this man, why make it into an argument? or at the least, why drag it out?
we/i are/am saying that the whole show has cost you a helluva lot of money…like the fwc cost us…and thats because you add up the infrastructure + hosting + nzru (the price it takes as a whole to make the black machine so successful) costs all together and that this is the true cost of the bladdy thing…dont do a smoke and mirrors…there’s no need to.
we spent a helluva lot more money than we were ever going to make back on the fwc…we admitted it from the get go…you, in turn, have spent a helluva lot more money than you were ever going to make back on the rwc…why have a problem with admitting it?
yes, you budgeted for a loss (remember a LOSS) but thats just a loss for the ‘company’ hosting/putting on the party…i.e: the rwc show as we’ve experienced it over the last two months.
19 Oct 2011, 09:52 am
@Brads(Brads)-89:
mmmmm…….. so the Poma enjoyed it eh?
Kinda puts it into perspective…..
19 Oct 2011, 09:57 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-93:
I fail to see the issue.
We knew it was going to cost an arm and a leg from the outset.
Except it has only cost an arm and half a leg.
19 Oct 2011, 09:57 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-92:
Indeed Chinakins, especially when you add the regulars being yourself, Tackles and Pops to the figures
19 Oct 2011, 09:59 am
@Gunther(gunther)-91:
You seem….. er……. well versed in these type of things
19 Oct 2011, 10:02 am
@Bod(bod)-94:
Well you do have a valid point there.
But to be fair, playing sport in Dunedin in the middle of winter would have been a dire experience for all teams, including the locals when the venue was the Brook.
We just need to come up with a nick name for the place. Preferably one that pisses off the owners, like the Cake Tin does to the Wellington City Council.
19 Oct 2011, 10:03 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-93: well said. this was even factored in by the irb when awarding NZ the world cup.
The IRB had made a calculated decision to pair a return to New Zealand – a spiritual home of rugby but yielding lower revenues – with a high-grossing event in England. Deciding two World Cup hosts at a time allowed some risks to be taken, he said.
“I think it’s good that in this modern era, the council was prepared to take a decision that wasn’t just based on, ‘where can we get the most money?’,” he said. “Whether we come back to New Zealand at some point? Look, I’m sure the World Cup will come back here at some point. It’s just that there are so many other countries that want to host now that it will be a while.”
19 Oct 2011, 10:03 am
@Bod(bod)-94:
indeedy.
all of a sardine a poms opinion counts for something.
we live and learn.
19 Oct 2011, 10:07 am
@Bod(bod)-97:
indeed.
a young senorita granted me my brown wings on a windswept ibizan beach.
if it weren’t for her moustache and mutton chops I would have been blown away.
19 Oct 2011, 10:07 am
how come viewership numbers in SA are not quoted in this report, we’re part of the ‘world’ too
19 Oct 2011, 10:09 am
@Brads(Brads)-95:
wow!
18mil off many, many hundreds of millions is how you calculate half a leg?…
wow!
19 Oct 2011, 10:10 am
@Brads(Brads)-98:
House of Plain…..
19 Oct 2011, 10:13 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-102:
Suspect the numbers were poor and didn’t gel with the story that was being painted.
Which of course suggests, confidence in the Bokke was only so so from the outset and never improved leading into the playoffs.
Hard work getting up at 6.00am to watch a team you think will probably lose.
But I am only guessing.
19 Oct 2011, 10:16 am
@Gunther(gunther)-101:
Brown wings you say?
Was that your first dip into the mud box??
I always thought of you being more of a chutney pot kinda guy
19 Oct 2011, 10:16 am
@Bod(bod)-104:
Yeah thats a start.
House of Bill and Ben
The garden shed
Plain ugly
19 Oct 2011, 10:16 am
@Gunther(gunther)-101:
Your Ibizian dream is about to turn into a nightmare….
There are no Spanish senoritas/chicas down at Ibiza, only hordes of Puking Poms.
‘Twas not a Spanish senorita/chica tash and chops you were experiencing, but indeed a Liverpool lass regurgitating her night before…
19 Oct 2011, 10:19 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-99:
but for some reason brads will not/cannot easily see it this way.
i don’t understand why….
19 Oct 2011, 10:21 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-102:
saffers don’t count because we went home in the quarters.
so they only quoted nations involved in the semis.
a self fulfilling prophecy.
19 Oct 2011, 10:23 am
@Brads(Brads)-107:
You seem too decent to be a NZ brother… in fact if you add Cane and Hurricane to the mix its starting to become scary. Far too many of you!
Bod out..
19 Oct 2011, 10:23 am
@Bod(bod)-108:
no.
she was definitely spanish.
she lisped when she slurped.
19 Oct 2011, 10:23 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-103:
What are you talking about.
There was something like $500 million spent on infrastructure that was way over due being invested in.
Councils around the country had resisted spending on sporting venues for years and years. Finally they had an excuse to do something different .
The worst of the worst though is spending any money at all on Eden Park.
There were far better long term options, but they all cost more, instead the council decided to waste money on that **** house. There in I will agre ewith you.
19 Oct 2011, 10:24 am
@Brads(Brads)-105: i’ve watched 90% of the games this rwc, even the 4am ones on the weekend where the boks were not playing. it was just too good.
19 Oct 2011, 10:25 am
With all due respect.
I don’t want to see another haka! It was overdone and devalued.
19 Oct 2011, 10:26 am
gees. look at all the saffas whinging. as someone who experienced the vibe IN Nz during this world cup, I can only say that those dissing it who weren’t in the country are sour, bitter people.
the experiences of the majority of travelers will determine the success of the tournament, even if it runs at a loss.
19 Oct 2011, 10:26 am
@Gunther(gunther)-110: oh i see
19 Oct 2011, 10:27 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-115:
how many hakas have you seen sitting in Benoni?
19 Oct 2011, 10:30 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-116:
who is whinging?
19 Oct 2011, 10:31 am
@Gunther(gunther)-118:
Brakpan mate! You thought I was related to Charlize ne!
19 Oct 2011, 10:33 am
@Gunther(gunther)-118:
I give up tell me?
19 Oct 2011, 10:34 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-120:
Brakapan – Benoni
Tomato – Tomato
19 Oct 2011, 10:36 am
@Gunther(gunther)-122:
Off to Danville soon. Worried about the colour of my blood though.
19 Oct 2011, 10:36 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-114:
Apart from games in Aus or unusual places like Hong Kong or other exotic spots, most away games for the AB’s involves us fans getting up in the early hours of the morning, like 3.am
The French are good, for some reason they like playing games late at night, whether to accomodate us Kiwi’s or not I don’t know, but they are the only ones.
Anyway, I will always get up to watch.
I am such a hopeless case when it comes to watching something I have taped. I can’t help myself from fast forwarding the static bits of play and losing the feel of the game.
19 Oct 2011, 10:37 am
@Gunther(gunther)-112: Sounds Cape Spanish to me. Plagued by dental problems.
19 Oct 2011, 10:37 am
@Brads(Brads)-124:
Has the PVR not reached NZ yet?
19 Oct 2011, 10:38 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-115:
I am in your camp.
When the haka starts is when I refresh my drink.
19 Oct 2011, 10:39 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-126:
PVR?
Clearly not. What is it.
19 Oct 2011, 10:40 am
@Gunther(gunther)-118:
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-120:
X 2
@poppa69(poppa69)-116:
please, please, please explain that to brads…pretty please…
19 Oct 2011, 10:42 am
@Brads(Brads)-128:
Personal Video Recorder
19 Oct 2011, 10:43 am
Devalued? I think the haka has been pegged with the Zim Dollar.
19 Oct 2011, 10:45 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-125:
you know what?
you might be right.
I’m always getting Playa d’en Bossa and Strandfontein confused.
19 Oct 2011, 10:45 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-92:
Always are. The ‘Curried’ Cup is named after a Pom….the same people that sent your mates to that side of the world…..
Wouldn’t mind being home to see The Sharks playing at Kings Park…the atmosphere there is carnival-like every game…like mini RWC’s every weekend.
Imagine Hamilton having a social atmosphere…naaaah….eggaggeration is not my style.
19 Oct 2011, 10:46 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-129:
Have we been arguing over different issues?
Becuase I entirely agree with post 116 by poppa69
19 Oct 2011, 10:47 am
Hey WPTID this is for you.
Angry fans prank call wrong Lawrence
Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:23
South African rugby fans still blaming New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence for the Springboks’ World Cup quarterfinal defeat have been prank calling his home.
Trouble is, they’ve been phoning the wrong Bryce Lawrence.
The Bryce Lawrence who wasn’t a referee told the New Zealand Herald in Friday’s edition that his listed number in Auckland had been ringing virtually nonstop since it was posted online in a viral campaign against the ref.
He told the Herald he’s spoken to his telephone provider and the police, and believes his number has been removed from websites.
Since defending champion South Africa’s 11-9 loss to Australia last Sunday, more than 66,000 people have signed on to a Facebook petition “to stop Bryce Lawrence ever reffing a rugby game again.”
The Springboks commanded possession and territory but couldn’t score a try, and Lawrence has been accused of failing to properly whistle the breakdowns, where the Wallabies crucially won a flood of turnovers.
One online video records a prank call apparently to Lawrence in the middle of the night, with someone saying, “This is a little bit of payback, just to let him know how South Africa feel about him.”
Afterwards, the narrator adds, “At least he knows how we feel … I’ve got his number if you want it.”
The Bryce Lawrence who was not a referee said he was taking all of the abuse in stride.
“Well, these things happen,” he said. “It’s one of these things in life.”
SAPA-AP
19 Oct 2011, 10:49 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-131:
How do the opposing teams manage to stop themselves from laughing….I get an urge to laugh when I see those silly faces with the bulging eyes and tongue action….no wonder the Poms were able to colonise the islands…once they’d stop rolling around on the floor they proceeded to wipe out the local indigenous population and take the islands away from them.
19 Oct 2011, 10:50 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-130:
Unless it is a new thing or you meant VCR?
Nah, these days it is all digital recording.
Doesn’t make any difference what it is, I have always messed about with the fast forward and back play modes when watching recorded matches.
Seems to annoy the hell out of others watching as well for some reason.
19 Oct 2011, 10:53 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-131:
19 Oct 2011, 10:53 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-136:
there is always one twatstick that spoils a bit of banter.
19 Oct 2011, 10:54 am
@Gunther(gunther)-132: In future, should you require clarity, you must pay closer attention to the authenticity of the Barca top. Dead giveaway.
Also, try to take a swig of her drink. In Spain they don’t say those kinds of things about your mother.
19 Oct 2011, 10:57 am
@Gunther(gunther)-139:
Still whining and whinging ouma Gunts…
19 Oct 2011, 10:59 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-140:
come to think of it.
her fino was on the sweet side.
i just assumed joumatheputhaare was some sort of Andalucian dialect.
19 Oct 2011, 11:01 am
@Brads(Brads)-113:
ok.
i think you are making progress on accepting the truth to the following statement that:
‘though this rwc is an unqualified success in terms of the spectacle put on as an event, it has been a very expensive finacial loss making event for the nz people all the same’
this is all we were saying and all we/i wanted you to accept…nothing more, nothing less.
glad we’re on the same page.
19 Oct 2011, 11:03 am
Hope Australia get a mention for this RWC…they did after all lend their greatest minds to the special effects on the opening night.
19 Oct 2011, 11:10 am
@Brads(Brads)-134:
well then, just to be clear i’ll restate what pops said, and which you and i agree with:
.
yes – there are some saffa’s whining and dissing.
yes – the tournament is a great success because thats what the majority of travellers as well as viewers around the world think it is (including me, even though we were cheated).
and yes – it was a helluva expensive event which had run at a helluva loss.
.
there then…simples…ja…
19 Oct 2011, 11:16 am
Got to laugh at some of these…ahem… “records”.
Specially the highest NZ and Aus TV audience…
When its played in a convenient time in a particular timezone of course viewership will be higher…Except this timezone, though beneficial for the antipodeans, is a fckup for potential viewers in the rest of the world
But we shouldn’t let the facts get in the way of some “exciting” records…
19 Oct 2011, 11:19 am
I see Will Carling is subtly punting Nick Mallet for the England coaching job.
19 Oct 2011, 11:20 am
And Robbie Deans reckons Nathan Sharpe rates alongside Matfield as the best line-out locks of the decade.
19 Oct 2011, 11:22 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-147: Not just Will Carling… Guscott and a few others too.
19 Oct 2011, 11:24 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-149: Sounds like Nick finds himself in a seller’s market.
19 Oct 2011, 11:29 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-150: Hehehe. Dont know which is more muddled or fcked up – RFU or SARU.
19 Oct 2011, 11:42 am
France coach Lievremont a Yorkshire lad?
DUNCAN JOHNSTONE IN AUCKLAND
Last updated 05:00 19/10/2011
It takes an Englishman to see some logic among all the French madness.
Dave Ellis is that man.
The Yorkshireman is Marc Lievremont’s defence coach. He’s on his third World Cup campaign with France after holding down the same job with Bernard Laporte in 2003 and 2007.
As Kiwis try to decipher some of Lievremont’s whacky outbursts in his ongoing battles with his players ahead of Sunday’s title match with the All Blacks, Ellis insists the head coach is as serious as he is honest.
“Some of the things he said, I would never say. Never,” Ellis said of Lièvremont’s tirade against his partying players after their shoddy semifinal win over Wales.
“But he tells it as it is. I think part of him must come from Yorkshire. He got stuck into the players because that’s how he felt. And when you ask him a question about it, he tells you how he feels.”
And Ellis was quick to point out the sense of France playing Morgan Para at No 10. That was Lievremont’s genius, converting the halfback to push out a position when France hit an early injury crisis.
Lievremont copped a ton of criticism for the shuffle and has received little praise as Parra has guided the team to the final.
“Everybody criticised Marc about Morgan Parra playing at 10. But you’ve got to take your hat off to him. It was a hell of a choice,” Ellis said.
He was happy to put his hand up for Parra, a player he has worked hard with in the miserly French defensive line.
Ellis pointed out that Parra had made 14 tackles against Wales. That was third only to loose forwards Thierry Dusautoir and Julien Bonnaire on a night when the Welsh threw everything at the French, requiring them to make 184 tackles.
To their credit they only missed eight and conceded one soft try to Welsh halfback Mike Phillips.
“It’s my third World Cup and I wanted to make it my best,” Ellis said of this tournament.
“I just wanted to give 100 per cent concentration to the job in hand. I was determined that we were going to go further than we did in the last two, and we have. I put every single minute into it.”
Not that his work has finished. He knows the All Blacks will target his area more than any team has – because they already have.
The All Blacks ran in five tries in their 37-17 pool win over France. That was more than half the tries France conceded in pool play and they have only given up three in winning their two knockout matches.
Ad Feedback With their attack spluttering, defence has been a major ingredient in getting them into their third final.
Ellis acknowledges there might be another factor in the French making the final. He happily admits that they do indeed have a guardian angel with them this time, a point emphasised by Lievremont.
“We didn’t have much luck in 2003 or 2007. We’ve had a bit of luck this time around. So you just take it.”
Ellis has learned to ride the roller-coaster that is French rugby. It certainly makes for a dramatic existence.
“With the French, they have ups and downs but they can always pull one out of the bag.
“They can have a shocker but then the following week they can come out and raise the standards and beat the best in the world.
“I think that’s the worrying factor for the other teams, knowing that while France are in the competition, that could happen to anybody.”
Ellis’ contract finishes after the final. He’d love to get a job with the embattled English team and he’s open to offers.
“You never know where the next challenge is and I’m quite excited about where it may come from. I deliberately cut my ties with London Irish earlier in the year so I could start afresh.”
- Stuff
19 Oct 2011, 11:48 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-7: Apologies for being so late in the action, but from what i read, you’re right but you’re neglecting to take into account the free to air broadcast. If this is a hobby of yours, you probably have better access to information but my take was the report as published was correct.
19 Oct 2011, 12:01 pm
Well living here in Oz..those figures must be pretty close to right…I was even hearing Aussie female collegues going on about the Wallabies game at work…and how the kiwi players are hot……and every bar i went to in the city was full of them watching the game…after the game at work they could’nt help to tell me…”I hope th Ab’s win”…which I found a bit strange…I’m used to getting a hard time usually….
19 Oct 2011, 13:28 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-136:
Really??
Is that the way it happened?
As we can all see you absolutly have no clue at all.
I suggest sticking to rugby.
19 Oct 2011, 13:32 pm
@toby(toby)-154: Here it is I hope the French win as the Kiwis are cheats… Funny world we live in lol
19 Oct 2011, 13:33 pm
Me personally I don’t give a toss as long as Bryce never referee’s again in his life.
19 Oct 2011, 13:39 pm
@Airwell(Airwell)-157:
hmmm after post 156 i think you do give a toss.
19 Oct 2011, 18:36 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-158: I really do not the AB and French Rugby team have done nothing wrong so either way I do not care who wins.
19 Oct 2011, 22:57 pm
So logically speaking, why dont the rest of the world get set up with their PVR’s and watch the game at a more convenient time?
This is a WORLD CUP not a tournament to make everyone living 4 hours either side of GMT happy.
We have MySky here, with around half the pop using it, and as a motor racing fan, if the Monaco Grand Prix is on at 3am my time, I record it and watch it the next morning with my croissants, OJ, and espresso.
Seems the only people pissed off about things are some saffas – why is this, still grumpy you got rolled in the quarter?
19 Oct 2011, 22:58 pm
@Airwell(Airwell)-156: Why are we cheats? Where does this come from? F’n hell, watch the games again, and if that doesnt work I suggest you follow another sport, as rugby is clearly too articulate for you.
20 Oct 2011, 04:14 am
@Brads(Brads)-113: Brads, you seem to have an interest and a more accurate assessment than some of the naysayers in the financial side of RWC 2011. You may be interested in the NZ Reserve Bank estimate of the spend by the 85 to 95 000 foreign supporters at RWC 2011: an astounding $700m. Sort of puts the other figures in perspective and should shut up those of my countrymen who for some bizarre reason want to see RWC 2011 being perceived as a failure. Ask anyone who has actually attended the games and visited NZ during RWC 2011 what the experience was like and don’t worry about ill-informed comments of those who never left their sad lounges. In the words of one of my Saffer friends now back home in SA – he was “moerse” [slang for extremely] impressed by the people, the country and the RWC experience.
21 Oct 2011, 08:31 am
@airwell,
Get over it. You lost. If you had been ranked at 1 or 2 instead of 3, maybe you would have faced the AB’s instead of Australia. Or did all the referees you ever faced cheat you out of rankings too?
We in NZ like the Haka – get used to it and stop whining.
Agree the ref for SA vs Oz was not the best. You STILL should have won.
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