Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Tetera Faulkner, Phoenix Battye, Ben McCalman, Mick Snowden, Junior Rasolea, Jayden Hayward

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-match-preview/queensland-reds-v-western-force-20130314-2g2cz.html#ixzz2NZuoY3dI

Super rugby crowd attendance figures

Super Rugby often receives a lot of
criticism from its supporters, so much so
you would think it is losing its appeal to
the rugby watching public in South Africa,
Australia and New Zealand.

But when you look at the spectator
numbers this year, it took only 22
matches and four rounds of Super Rugby
to reach the 500,000 spectator mark.

In only four derby matches in South Africa
attendances have already reached 142,086
spectators, an incredible average of
35,521 spectators per match. Non derby
matches account for 90,885 spectators, an
acceptable average of 30,295 per game.

In total South African spectators make up
232,971 spectators in a mere seven
matches.

In Australia, 121,265 spectators have thus
far attended the seven derby matches,
with the Reds being the best supported
stadium with 35,801 spectators in their
only home derby match this season.

The same trend is shown when it comes
to cross conference matches where the
Reds had 30,995 spectators when they
hosted the Hurricanes. In total, 152,260
spectators have attended eight matches in
Australia for an average of 19,032
spectators.

In New Zealand, 72,089 spectators have
watched the four derby matches in New
Zealand, at an average of 18,022
spectators per match.

The three cross conference matches have
yielded 43,305 spectators for an average
of 14,435 per match. In total the numbers
of spectators in New Zealand has reached
115,494 for an average of 16,499 per
match.

The surprise packet thus far has been the
Kings, who currently sit on top of the list
with an average of 38,928 spectators per
match, which is an indication of how
deserved the Eastern Cape is of having a
franchise in Super Rugby.

What would be interesting to follow for
the rest of the season is whether this
number will continue to rise or slowly
whittle away as results begin to count
against them and the hype of Super Rugby
fades.

As always the South African franchises are
well supported with the Stormers, Bulls
and Sharks all averaging in excess of
30,000 spectators per match.

In Australia it is clear that apart from the
Reds being very well supported (average
above 30,000) and the Brumbies
averaging around 18,500 per match, the
rest of the teams are relatively poorly
supported and are close to the 10,000
spectators per match mark.

In New Zealand, the Blues are on top with
an average just over 28,000.
The Force and the Crusaders are yet to
play a home game. I will look at the
spectator numbers again in the middle of
the season to see whether these trends
continue.

I don’t have the viewer stats for the season so far, is that what you are after?

Cheers everyone. Catch up tomorrow.

This whole debacle will only be truly sorted out after 2015 and a shame for which every team has to sit out next year. Feel for them both, also the reason I said Kings must enjoy it, if they lose there must not be that extra pressure on them from the Aouth African crowd pointing fingers at them. They should be allowed to lose like other teams are that are new to this tourney, just that saru has messed it up making them having to play a relegation game after only one year. Unfair that. So they might not be here next year so just have a damn ball this year and enjoy it. We all behind them for their heroic start. Also want to see Lions do well in the tourney they playing this year. Supporting them there too like we all must. These are South African boys we must get behind them all of us.

i don’t know about “DECADES” when we were playing Super 10 in ’94. be that as it may, FRANCHISE super rugby as seen in Aus & NZ should effectively be separate from the UNIONS! which is why even when the Otago Rugby Union was facing liquidation the NZRU still maintained that the franchise will remain in Dunedin.

in Aus what corrupt or non-corrupt union is attached to the rebels franchise?

SARU in 2005 made 6 franchises knowing they only have 5 licences, the fact that EP’s nanagement at the time was chaotic is a bullshir/convinient excuse!

NO! They must plan to succeed (even though SARU planned for them to fail. One does not accept such an opportunity with failure in mind.
They can do it … but it requires strategic planning, esprit d’ corps, unsurpassed effort, discipline & single-minded purpose. And they have their people’s support.

OK, time for the ‘home run’
Ciao

Eventually put Saders by 4 and still think Bulls could win. Those two picks were the hardest.

Think the Kings have won many of us over in their ‘Never Say Die’ attitude. Also still feel for the Lions though.

Something for Kings and Lions to think about. Then for now Lions are hurting and probably wont think of doing it. But it makes plenty sense until both can play as seperate teams after 2015. Keeps all the players playing until then. Both stadiums working as well.