All Blacks 2026
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@Nepia There are several factors stopping people going as frequently as they used to. The price, as you say - and not just the tickets. Better quality streaming and TVs. A bit of over-saturation of rugby. More competition from other entertainment. Lower-quality competitions, with no All Blacks in the NPC, etc.
This one might just be me, but Super Rugby seems to have lost its appeal a bit with all the changes to teams and competition structure, South African teams leaving, Australian teams underperforming.
I also think atmosphere decline feeds on itself. Smaller crowds create a vicious cycle: empty seats reduce atmosphere, poor atmosphere discourages new or casual fans and once a ground feels quiet, people assume it’s not worth going.
MY personal experience is also the time, we had so many years of night games creeping later and later, am i miss remembering they got to 805pm kickoff? it just became a thing lots of families wouldnt do....and if you dont go with your family i think your less likely to go as an adult, i dont have kids but i would struggle to get mate to come to the pub or even at someone's house...clashed with bed time or bath etc...and when people did come it was always talked about "beautiful day this avo and was looking for something to do with the kids"...now we're getting some more day games which is good but its definitely not peoples routine
Taking the kids to a night game does seem like it'd be a bit too difficult. Our one kid is too young to sit and watch a game and, yes, his bedtime is (conveniently for watching at home) bang on 7:00. But people must have used to either go with the family or without them. Something's changed there - the cost, time, a different attitude etc - that wasn't an issue before. There were more afternoon games pre-professionalism but that's now a long time ago.
The thing that has changed is the convenience of watching it at home, and the general attitude of convenience. Games at night it certainly a factor, but needing tv money since professional came is the big reason for this. TV pays the money, wants the product at night for good viewing times, and it pretty easy to stay at home and watch it in comfort.
I mean one of fasting growing things is uber eats, just sit at home and have everything brought to you there. Have a peek t how many music festivals etc are shutting up shop as well, it's too hard to go out for some.
Apart from young kids everything else about shit food and beer etc is just an excuse really. My experience is ( I been going to rugby, etc for long time), the food and even beer is probably better now than ever was, usually more choice in both, but crowds are still dwindling.No Dan. You are ignoring that the beer and food quality in NZ outside of rugby grounds has got a shitload better. Nobody is comparing the offerings at the footy and going "man, how lucky are we? this is way better than it was in the 70s!". They are comparing it to what they can have elsewhere now.
I understand that, but I go to concerts still, and beer isn't great. Mates that go to cricket reckon they don't get great beer either. What sports etc do you go to that has really good beer etc? Genuinely interested. I can get craft beer at a Naki game, and they have food caravans selling a reasonable selection. I will bet I probably get as good beer and food at stadiums in NZ as I got at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and cricket at the Gabba. You can't have or feed thousands of people like you do at a restaurant mate, it doesn't work. And you go to any game whether test, super or NPC in NZ and have a look at people lined up to buy a drink or food.
And if people aren't saying how lucky are we it's better than the 70s, they weren't going to rugby in 70s, as you couldn't buy any beers in stadiums then, and that was up until 90s, and don't even recall seeing food stalls there, though no doubt you could get hotdog on a stick. I still say if anyone says they not going to rugby because beer and food not up to standard is just not admitting really they just can't be bothered, which is ok. Just be honest.Why do you have to turn it into some 'these people don't care about rugby as much as I do' thing? The reason for anybody not going to anything could be classed as "couldn't be bothered", and there is a different threshold for everyone at which they can be bothered - some people have kids etc. One of the reasons people can't be bothered is because the food and beer is shit and/or overpriced - improving it would get more people to the footy.
Same thing with day games, but there is a bigger hurdle there with TV timing.
Food trucks are a good option, but the prices need to be reasonable, not venue-enhanced.
A chiller, mobile eftpos machines and a few people to hand out beer is not a huge expense.More people at the ground, no matter where rugby fits in their list of priorities is a good thing isn't it?
I haven't been to a test for several years, because CF Jr doesn't care for rugby, and the on field product is shit. It's bad enough that I pay sky to watch the shit that is served up, now they want me to go for a turgid display and little to no pre- March and halftime entertainment?
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I have no particular inside knowledge, but I really am surprised at the consensus among Kiwi commentators - like Devlin and TJ - that Robertson is safe till the World Cup. I think there is a fairly solid case - in the early exit of Leon MacDonald, the unexplained departure of Jason Holland, the unconvincing AB wins (particularly against Scotland), the capitulation to the Boks in Wellington, the klutzy and ill disciplined loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires, and their limp performance against England together with the ritual mid-game drift and now the talk in the Liam Napier story of real dissent in the ranks - suggests something is really rotten inside that camp. Knowing David Kirk, having seen him in action at Fairfax when I worked there, he is big on governance and accountability. The mates network, winks and nudges culture and cosy Canterbury relationships behind Robertson’s initial appointment left a bad taste in the mouth of Joe Schmidt and suggests to me something off in the whole set-up. In conclusion, I really wouldn’t be surprised if Robertson is gone within months. In fact, I think the only argument against his sacking being expedited is the fact that NZR is still looking for a new CEO. My two cents worth.
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Not saying I'm a supporter of Razor - far from it infact, but I too, would be surprised if he went before the 2027 RWC.
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@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
Victor Meldrew has become obsessed with having a go at Scott Robertson to the point it is getting tiresome.
God almighty, It's deja vu all over again.....have we met before?
I've consistently argued the problem with the All Blacks runs way deeper than who the Head Coach is, and the way NZR develops, selects and supports the coaching team is a recipe for disaster..
I was happy to give Robertson a free pass to learn the ropes in 2024, but after 2 years, it's pretty clear Robertson has serious changing-room issues, is unsure of his actual role and is looking increasing out of his depth at this level.
Whose fault is that then? Scott Robertson's or NZR?
Have you ever thought it could be both?
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
Not saying I'm a supporter of Razor - far from it infact, but I too, would be surprised if he went before the 2027 RWC.
He will be the first ever AB HC to be fired. Not sure the conservative NZR have the stones to do that
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
Not saying I'm a supporter of Razor - far from it infact, but I too, would be surprised if he went before the 2027 RWC.
He has a hell of a 2026 season to try and negotiate first.
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What is this shit about crowds being down because the beer is no good?
Fuck, name me a bad beer?
All beer is good.
Some are better than others.
But no fluffybunny is not going to the ground because the beer is Lion Red or Tui ...
There's some shit talked on this thread.
Afternoon games would help the gate.
I'd probably be able to get to games in Brisbane without having to book a night's accommodation if the game was a 2 o'clock kick off.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
Not saying I'm a supporter of Razor - far from it infact, but I too, would be surprised if he went before the 2027 RWC.
He has a hell of a 2026 season to try and negotiate first.
True. Really is make or break for him.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
Not saying I'm a supporter of Razor - far from it infact, but I too, would be surprised if he went before the 2027 RWC.
He has a hell of a 2026 season to try and negotiate first.
Status quo will get ugly
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
Not saying I'm a supporter of Razor - far from it infact, but I too, would be surprised if he went before the 2027 RWC.
He has a hell of a 2026 season to try and negotiate first.
True. Really is make or break for him.
But 2026 would be an uphill battle for almost any coach. Seems overkill to me. Hope it doesn't longterm injure any 2027 potential RWC ABs.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
Not saying I'm a supporter of Razor - far from it infact, but I too, would be surprised if he went before the 2027 RWC.
He has a hell of a 2026 season to try and negotiate first.
True. Really is make or break for him.
But 2026 would be an uphill battle for almost any coach. Seems overkill to me. Hope it doesn't longterm injure any 2027 potential RWC ABs.
Agree about the level of difficulty. On paper it is as difficult a year for the ABs as I can remember
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@His-Bobness said in All Blacks 2026:
In conclusion, I really wouldn’t be surprised if Robertson is gone within months. In fact, I think the only argument against his sacking being expedited is the fact that NZR is still looking for a new CEO. My two cents worth.
I sense another factor on deciding his future is how much capital the NZR Snr management making that decision have invested in their wunderkind. Then there's the press who fawned over his appointment. Are currently reporting the problems within the camp, but aren't calling for him to be sacked - yet. If that changes, I think he'll be gone.
As an aside, i'm not convinced sacking Robertson now (esp. with next year) would be any more a magic solution than dumping Foster. If he stays, then a clear set of changes and appointing someone with a big stick is probably a better, more likely solution
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I think he's safe for now; partly for PR reasons.
Imagine the media storm that would be created; sacked after he went 10 and three this season.
The non-astute GP wont see anything else.
That's a negative image for NZR; the PR dept cant have that.I think a contingency plan will be put in place.
If things go badly next season, I think he could go at anytime.
Especially if the media turn on him. Then his sacking could be deemed as a positive move . . .As for the CEO; i'd say all candidates will be quizzed big-time about their thoughts on the HC/elite program situation.
And that's where Kirk will come in; the new CEO's thoughts on that, would be lining up with his own. -
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:
Not saying I'm a supporter of Razor - far from it infact, but I too, would be surprised if he went before the 2027 RWC.
He has a hell of a 2026 season to try and negotiate first.
True. Really is make or break for him.
But 2026 would be an uphill battle for almost any coach. Seems overkill to me. Hope it doesn't longterm injure any 2027 potential RWC ABs.
Agree about the level of difficulty. On paper it is as difficult a year for the ABs as I can remember
And not just the programme. Unless the reports of in-camp problems are bullshit - or are true and solved - it could be carnage.
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:
But no fluffybunny is not going to the ground because the beer is Lion Red or Tui ...
Afternoon games would help the gate.
So being able to have better and cheaper piss and food elsewhere while watching the game isn't a valid reason to tip people over into not going, but a 7pm kick-off being after their poor little bed times is?
The positives need to outweigh the negatives, and better and/or cheaper piss and food would be a positive - simple as that. So would afternoon games.
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I know we are getting off topic here, but I've always been in the camp of the day and k/o times are probably the biggest issue.
I mean, mid-winter, Thursday at 7pm is always gonna suck...I assume the powers that be have the data on average crowd numbers, what days they get better attendances, times etc...weather is always a factor too.
Choice of beer at a game is certainly not a factor for me, there are numerous quality food caravans in attendance, but often big queues so I rarely bother.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:
But no fluffybunny is not going to the ground because the beer is Lion Red or Tui ...
Afternoon games would help the gate.
So being able to have better and cheaper piss and food elsewhere while watching the game isn't a valid reason to tip people over into not going, but a 7pm kick-off being after their poor little bed times is?
The positives need to outweigh the negatives, and better and/or cheaper piss and food would be a positive - simple as that. So would afternoon games.
"all of the above"
the casual fan if going to be swayed more by all the other small stuff around the rugby, the food and drink, stadium amenities, convenience, price and time etc
@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:
But no fluffybunny is not going to the ground because the beer is Lion Red or Tui ...
i would say when theyre 2-3 times the price of outside the ground....there very much are shit beers
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:
But no fluffybunny is not going to the ground because the beer is Lion Red or Tui ...
Afternoon games would help the gate.
So being able to have better and cheaper piss and food elsewhere while watching the game isn't a valid reason to tip people over into not going, but a 7pm kick-off being after their poor little bed times is?
The positives need to outweigh the negatives, and better and/or cheaper piss and food would be a positive - simple as that. So would afternoon games.
"all of the above"
the casual fan if going to be swayed more by all the other small stuff around the rugby, the food and drink, stadium amenities, convenience, price and time etc
Exactly. The whole 'who cares about that aspect' is the marketing equivalent of not worrying about scrum training because lineouts and rucks are more important.
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The broadcasters have a big say in the kickoff times as they want as many eyes watching (and people subscribing) as possible. Remember they moved games back to 7 pm to be more "family-friendly". Afternoon games are great for the spectacle and comfort but not so much for Sky in NZ. It also clashes with other sports, which can remove a significant number of your audience. Let's see what TVNZ does. I expect plenty of ads.
It is different across the major rugby nations too. NZ, Aust and France play almost all tests in the evening while SA and the home nations tend to have afternoon tests.
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Legendary All Blacks coach Gilbert Enoka names the best player, captain & person that he's ever worked with...
. https://wetalkrugby.com/gilbert-enoka-all-blacks-dan-carter-mccaw-mealamu/
