Is the NZRU Turning into Fifty-seven Old Farts?
2By The Spotter
NZRU, you are hereby charged on two related counts for the offence of supporter negligence.
On Count One: Neglect of your most important stakeholders. No, not AIG, not Sky. Not even close. I’ll remind you then, shall I? Does approximately two million avid Rugby Union fans alive and well n New Zealand ring any bells for you?
On the related Count Two: A lack of duty of care in regard to your two offspring- the NPC/Mitre 10 cup, and the most prestigious trophy in all of NZ domestic sport, the Ranfurly Shield.
The evidence will show that on Sunday, 18 September you scheduled a Ranfurly Shield clash in Hamilton between two proud Rugby provinces with an illustrious Shield history, Waikato and Taranaki at the hopeless hour of 4.35pm on a Sunday. As a result, you attracted less of a crowd there than for a fleamarket in Morrinsville.
Even worse, in your infinite lack of wisdom you have decreed that the biggest provincial game of this year, Waikato versus Canterbury (also for the Shield) will take place this week on Wednesday night at Waikato Stadium. Are you in fact trying to kill off the aura of the Log of Wood in its perennial format? It almost seems like it.
Stop treating your SUPPOSEDLY most valued stakeholders, the Rugby supporters of this country, like the shit from the bottom of your shoe and from next season please allocate major Ranfurly Shield games to 2.30 or 3.00pm on a Saturday afternoon (or a Sunday at least).
Any feeble arguments you may wish to put about clashing schedules/logistics just will not wash because we all know the club rugby season is well and truly done and dusted by September and the All Blacks always play in the evening.
So come on NZRU do the right thing for once by your enormous supporter base and give Kiwi Rugger fans back their traditional big Saturday afternoon Shield Rugby.
Then we can hope once more to see more scenes like this:
As for your cock-eyed and completely warped breaking up of our beloved NPC First Division into two separate groups, you really need to listen to what the supporters are saying- everyone hates it. What part of ‘dislike’ do you not comprehend?! Are you really just that pig-headed? You need to do the right thing here also. Do not become an incarnation of the ‘fifty-seven old farts’ syndrome, for heaven’s sake.
To sum up my closing argument, for once I agree with Mr contrariness personified of the Herald, Herr Rattue, that the NZRU more and more acts like the Kremlin. Let’s just hope that Steve Tew doesn’t turn into as much of a dictator as Putin has.
talltree@xtra.co.nz if you wish to email.
In light of a couple of responses- Realistically I’m aware with the current scheduling ‘window’ (and just btw, I loathe that term) that it’s not feasible for the Shield to be on the line every Sat. at 2.30 or 3.00. Read more closely and you’ll notice I specifically said that that time should be used for BIG shield clashes- and the NZRU and all supporters know full well which clashes those would likely be when the schedules are released. The Shield could be gone from the holders by then, but that’s not the point at all.
Anyway I know I’m not happy with the status quo. The Log o Wood deserves a hell of a lot better with the mana it has and the provinces need a good shot in the arm besides.
Finally, just a thought or two..even if we had a bit of a return to Sat afternoon major Shield games, the crowds might still not come. It’s more complex than just time and day:
1. So many people like the comfort of their armchair and their massive TV now. Picture quality, camera angles so much better now etc.
2. So much more to do on Saturdays and shops are open all day, unlike years ago
3. As a consequence of that and people more people working weekends in general.
4. Something not much talked about, but which crossed my mind: There’s so much drift now to more affordable housing, more transient jobs etc. that transplanted people couldn’t care less about supporting the home team; they have no real allegiance.
Having said all that however, the NZRU still seem content to marginalise a once-great trophy with their thoughtless scheduling.
That’s all, no more. Cheers.