Deans plea falls on deaf ears as Tens struggles
Before the start of the Global Rugby Tens in Brisbane on Friday, former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans urged locals to get behind the second edition of the tournament.
Teams had travelled halfway around the world to be part of the fun at Suncorp Stadium, he said, while Duco Events had substantial ‘‘skin in the game’’ as they stumped up the cash to try and make it a permanent part of the rugby calendar.
The evidence on day one suggested not that many people were listening. Even with a shift to a day-night format to help avoid the stinging February heat, only 11,430 punters made their way through the gates. Hectares of spare seats were left to bake in the sun.
It was a disappointing result, to say the least, although indications yesterday were that the final tally would be healthier. This was ‘‘party day’’ and organisers had pinned their hopes on a showing of 20,000-plus, many of whom Tourism Queensland had hoped would then spend their hard-earned at nearby Caxton Street.
Talk of the immediate future of the tournament looks decidedly premature, given it has been locked in by the Queensland Government until 2020, as part of an initial fouryear deal.
There has also been speculation that next year’s event could head to Auckland in exchange for rugby league’s pre-season Nines. That would play to the various heartlands of the rival codes but, as it stands, the Nines doesn’t exist after being cancelled for 2018 due to poor crowds in New Zealand.
It may not return in either country, while the general feeling around the Tens is that the product is worth persevering with, even if improvements need to be made to rekindle interest in the format, which has been universally embraced by the players and coaches, if not fans.
Some of the hurdles for the Tens are obvious and have already been addressed, although certain issues can only be alleviated, not avoided. Such are the pitfalls of hosting rugby in Brisbane close to the height of summer.
A move to day-night was supposed to help players and fans, but a 1pm start on Saturday ensured the action would unfold right at the peak of 33-degree day. You could hardly blame ticket-holders for indulging in an extra cold drink or two before finding their way to their seats.
Moving to Saturday-Sunday, rather than Friday-Saturday, might provide an immediate crowd boost, but that won’t help Duco convince the game’s top-line players to take part in the event, rather than be held back for Super Rugby trials.
A sprinkling of big names played in 2017 but this year, current All Blacks and Wallabies were thin on the ground. Every squad focused on youth, with players like Will Genia the exception rather than the rule, when it came to the participation of blue-chip talent.
Some would argue that it matters little at these sort of tournaments. Sevens, after all, entices with the product, rather than the players, and has managed to thrive, even if crowds in Sydney would suggest that format too could do with a tweak. But in terms of promotion, every bit helps, especially given the soul-crushing year the code endured in Australia. A dash of Israel Folau, Sonny Bill Williams or, dare we say it, Quade Cooper might work wonders.
As it stands, coaching staff have pencilled in this tournament as a chance for young players to press their cause. That has an impact on the standard of rugby, which has been interesting enough without being overwhelmingly spectacular.
Only 11,430 punters made their way through the gates.