Australian players give cold shoulder to playing night Test matches
By Iain Payten
June 16, 2009 Australia players have urged SANZAR to consider bringing back day matches after Canberra Stadium literally froze over in their Test win over Italy on Saturday night.
The peril of playing evening matches in cold winter climes went a step further than dew or fog late in the Wallabies' 31-8 victory when the chilly temperatures turned the heavy dew on the ground into ice.
The Antarctic development topped off a difficult night for players in which the slippery surface and greasy ball made footing and handling tough and prevented an expansive spectacle.
It also stirred up debate about the sense of playing mid-winter matches at night in cold-climate locations such as Canberra and New Zealand. Though such fixtures are scheduled to meet the demands of TV broadcasters - who get better ratings at night - Wallabies prop Al Baxter is one of many players who believe day football is far more conducive to entertaining rugby.
"As players we understand the need to have the games at night, because it is easier to draw television crowds, but we'd love to have a couple of Tests in the day because it is great to play during the day," Baxter said.
"I know when we play in Africa it is great, because a lot of their games are 3 o'clock in the afternoon. It is excellent playing in the sun and the warmth, and dry conditions.
"The commercial reality is it has to be at night but I would love to play afternoon games because they're the perfect conditions."
Far different from Canberra on Saturday night, when even the longest studs in Baxter's kit bag (21mm) couldn't grip the sodden turf.
"At the end of the game, there was actually ice forming on the grass," Baxter said.
The push for day matches is topical given SANZAR are deep in their re-negotiations with broadcasters over the new Super 15.
With the expanded competition to play in the chillier winter months of June and July, many more matches in Canberra, New Zealand and potentially Melbourne will have to be scheduled.
There is a strong feeling that SANZAR should bring back afternoon games to ensure crowd comfort and good spectacles.
The Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors successfully petition the NRL for afternoon matches during the colder months. All four Raiders home games in June-July are day games.
"There's no doubt the players and the fans have a preference for playing in the day," players' boss Tony Dempsey said. "It is a matter of working with the broadcasters to get the right mix. Now is a wonderful opportunity to do that."
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