Better Rugby Rules

Or did anyone notice that there was actually a NPC on this year, did anyone actually go to a game ?$#!$!??##

Dan Carter is too busy (cotton wool club) to play in the Final, god bless him. The NPC used to be a premier event, now it ranks less than secondary school rugby, as its not the best versus the best by region. I believe that’s why crowds are not what they used to be. (Note: Secondary school rugby is fierce and no quarter is given and a great watch.)

The NPC will be a pure non professional competition running along side more and more super rugby, maybe next year or latter. The Ranfurly shield gets as has much National fever as as the Ellerslie flower show, I mean who really cares.

The NZRU must realise that the rugby fan is intelligent and wants the value competitions with strong match ups by the best in the business (NZ Players). Why, cause that’s what we had before rugby went professional, so we want it back, god dam it !

UPDATE1: Source – Wallabies fit, All Blacks match fit – Duncan Johnstone

..”The All Blacks wider training squad went through two tough sessions on Auckland’s North Shore on Tuesday and face a game against the New Zealand Barbarians in Henderson on Wednesday.”.. [While NPC finals are on]

My Comments: As you can see training runs are more important than NPC games. The money sought from the Honk Kong match for the NZRU is deemed more important than that for NPC final revenues to the regional unions. Henry has said the game in HK is too important to allow his players play in NPC.  So more matches in far off lands, means more diluted competition strength for the local fans, good on ya NZRU, shaft the local fan why don’t you !

[Note: The reader must realise that the revenue earnt by the NZRU in NZD peso is not as attractive as revenue in EURO, USD or POUND. Dear NZ fan, you are just not wealthy enough to get the cream of the sport you love, that will now be sold elsewhere for real cash.]

I remember the great Colin Mead’s saying he played a test on the weekend, club rugby in the middle of the week then a regional game the following Saturday. Why have things changed so much, well its down to: over preparation, over analysis, more control to coaches, less delegated responsibility to leading players. More live action in real game time is more than enough for player fitness and training. This is of course how the massive local fan base in New Zealand started, ever wonder were its going now, not so massive local fan base, that’s what !