Why Ulster may find that less is more
IN those early days of lockdown, there was little to distinguish one day from the next.
For those of us who gauge a week’s progression from pressers, to previews, to games, it took some getting used to, for sure.
It was oddly comforting, therefore, two Saturdays ago to set an alarm and mark it ‘rugby’.
While such rude awakenings from weekend slumber are rarely welcome, rugby fans across the globe were surely bouncing down the stairs in anticipation of Highlanders v Chiefs and the start of Super Rugby Aotearoa earlier this month, the Kiwi-only version of the southern hemisphere’s premier club competition.
While absence making the heart grow fonder could be a factor — the friction between players and referees as the former take longer than perhaps reasonably expected to adjust to new breakdown rules has made for a few penalty-fests — on the whole, it’s been entertaining fare.
From Bryn Gatland’s dramatic late drop goal to beat dad Warren and his Chiefs, the resurgence of the Blues with new full-back Beauden Barrett, last week’s re-emergence of Crusaders as they look to strengthen their case as the best club side in the world, and the performances of All Blacks in waiting like Hoskins Sotutu, Tupou Vaa’i and Naitoa Ah Kuoi, there have been storylines aplenty. All this without Dan Carter’s return having really began in earnest.
Crucially, the New Zealand public have responded. Attendances have more than doubled to an average of 26,000, while bumper crowds are expected in Auckland and Canterbury again tomorrow and Sunday. Television viewing figures are up 88%.
“It’s brilliant news,” NZR’S Mark Robinson told Kiwi reporters on a conference call on
Thursday. “There is a real excitement building and we have some real momentum.”
Should that momentum continue to build right to the end of the 10-week tournament, there will likely be one unavoidable question — why go back?
Super Rugby in its usual incarnation is an increasingly unloved beast. Those improvements in TV numbers and ticket sales are coming from a low base. What was once Super 12 has become increasingly diluted in quality and swathes of fans have turned away. There’s no reason to think they’ll be back in droves once cross-border travel resumes, especially if they feel lockdown has unwittingly offered them a more satisfying alternative. While a turn in northern hemisphere is still a little bit further down the track, one wonders if Irish fans could find themselves having a similar debate come August.
The Guinness PRO14 has never been universally embraced by the rugby public. Its issues include — but are not limited to rethe
— too many non-competitive teams, falling Welsh crowds and a television deal that is dwarfed by what is on offer in France and England.
Defenders of the competition have long said spectators know what they’re signing up for when they complain about the frequent absence of Test stars and full-blooded contests, but with all four Irish sides expected to be locked and loaded come behind-closed-doors games in the Aviva, they’ll offer a reminder of what too often is missing.
Imagine for a moment a slate where, like Aotearoa, the provincial game is limited to highstakes Irish derbies played home and away with every team sheet close to full strength. While New Zealand has the benefit of an extra round of fixtures thanks to five teams, there are certainly enough players produced by the surplus in Leinster alone to field a ‘fifth province’, be it London or elsewhere should sufficient investment be found come more financially secure times.
Eight games of an inter-pro series plus a grand final, along with the pool stages of Europe, would amount to 15 games, 18 should your province advance in continental competition. For the likes of Iain Henderson and Jacob Stockdale, throw in another 10 for Ireland Tests and you have an almost ideal calendar.
Those not involved in the Irish set-up could top up their own match minutes with more regular action in the All-ireland League.
Annual matchday revenue would be reduced but not by as much as one might expect given the scarcity of home games would surely lead to sell-outs, while TV companies could be convinced that, with fullstrength sides much more likely, this is one case where less really is worth more.
Fewer games would also in turn reduce matchday costs, travel costs, require smaller squads which in turn would lower the wage bill, and lessen the calendar log-jam as well as one aspect of the case for summer rugby.
Nor should it be forgotten that Ulster, with one of the most dedicated fan bases in the league and topped up by the IRFU, lost money the past two seasons. If they can’t make the status quo work, can it work?
These are extraordinary times, why not discuss extraordinary measures?