Better Rugby Rules

Source: Struggle to give away tickets for Crusaders-Canes’ semi – The Press

Canterbury rugby officials have had trouble even giving away tickets for the Crusaders’ Super 14 semi-final against the Hurricanes in Christchurch tonight.

The Canterbury Rugby Union (CRU) and radio station More FM staged a promotion yesterday giving away a ticket with each one sold to boost flagging sales to the game.

Union chief executive Hamish Riach said last night that the promotion had generated some sales and extra interest in the match but was “not hugely successful”.

By late yesterday 16,400 tickets had been sold for the 25,000 capacity AMI Stadium. Riach said the response was “puzzling and really frustrating”.

“We have been a little bit caught by surprise at the response.

“The Hurricanes have always been a really good drawcard and we were pretty hopeful of a big crowd.

“It could be Robbie Deans and Reuben Thorne’s last appearance and we know how much they have contributed to the Crusaders’ success.”

Riach said the demolition of the old East Stands at AMI Stadium was a significant factor in crowd attendance.

Many of the seats in the old stands were under cover and were filled by more traditional fans, some of whom said they would not return until the new stand was built. A late surge in sales today could depend on the weather but the forecast is not promising cloud, light rain and cold south-westerlies.

Canterbury Rugby Union president Tane Norton said the shocking weather against the Sharks three weeks ago would have put a lot of people off.

“So they will leave it until the last minute and see what the weather’s like,” he added yesterday.

He said rising costs and the run of home games could also be the cause.

“There’s that old thing of money starting to tell.”

MY COMMENTS: I was at the Holy Grail in Christchurch to watch the game and I had the opportunity to speak to some of the locals. Yes part of the reason was the construction and another was the new style of rugby that does not sit well with the seasoned crusaders rugby viewer. They don’t like the force back and touch football (broken play or non structured) style either. Most of the tries in the Crusaders final was the result of run and bash, there was one excellent back line move by the Hurricanes that was just short of  try. The reviews of this game have re enforced the need for a smart kick and chase game otherwise your not going to profit under the ELV rugby, yes this is just like force back. If this information is hitting the NZRU desks I bet its being ignored and hoped that ‘She will be right’ after time. I guess ticket sales will be the ultimate judge.