O'Neill: Vic team will happen

[Burgs]

I am frankly surprised that Petrh people aren't outraged at the poor support from true "VIctorians". After all, it seems that you guys are more deserving of the occasional Bledisloe than Melbourne - it would really be a great reward for the genuine acceptance of the Force on the local scene. After all, this shouldn't always be about the bigger gate and the the bigger revenue - NZ rugby well understands this fact.

I think you will find it is more of a seething acceptance tic as, unfortunately the ARU do see it being about the bigger gate and bigger revenue.
While Subiaco is our main Rugby stadium our only hope in getting a Bledisloe is in the years when Australia host two fixtures in a three round Tri Nations format.
By my reckoning Australia should host NZ twice next year and SA once if we return to the three round format.
While Melbourne can continue to drag in 80,000 from around the globe to line the ARU's coffers, we are going to have a hard task getting to see them in WA.

[Thequeerone]

Don't reckon the players rated Melbourne much either - you couldn't miss the Kiwis booing Morlock on his frist kick - disgraceful for what should have been a home fixture

[tic]

I agree with that. And much as the MCG is a great arena, it aint a good rugby venue.

[felixnelson]

yes i do contend that. why would that mean that two-thirds were bought by expats? two-thirds, thats two in three, it seems like massive shooting from the hip to me. anyway if fairfax was gonna come up with a figure as low as 20% u would think that they may have already compensated for these expat numbers. if they didnt there is no way that the number would be anywhere near that high....

[AndyS]

Actually, I wouldn't doubt that they sold at least 10,000 tickets to Melbourne based expats - there would have been at least that for the last Wallabies/Maori game here and that's for both a smaller venue and population base. The Crusaders wouldn't be thinking about using Melbourne for some of it's home games if it didn't think it would get a very strong expat support.

What I would question is whether there can be any significance attached to 80% of the tickets being "sold" in Sydney and NZ...I think that is probably reflective of nothing more than where the major processing centres are for sales. Certainly when I was buying tickets for the Force's NZ tour I did it through the NZ website and there would have been no indication that I was coming from Perth. I suspect the limited local sales only reflects the tickets bought through rugby clubs and the like, with everything else falling into the Sydney numbers. If not, I'm surprised Qantas managed the pressure of so many Sydney-siders all simultaneously wanting to descend on Melbourne.

[JediKnight]

Going off track somewhat, but does anyone else agree that some of the poor touch kicking (out on the full etc) is due to the a rugby pitch being set on an oval ground. It must be hard for the players to sight the touchline easily in that situation.

Regarding hosting 2 NZ matches next year, I certainly hope that we do not return to a 3-match basis in the Tri-Nations. What is wrong with playing each team on a home & away basis. This sort of commercialism is all that is wrong with SANZAR &/or IRB (meaningless pre/post season tours with 2nd string sides) and will ultimately lead to player burnout.

[Burgs]

I'm not in favour of it either JK but I think we will find it happens, they were pretty determined it would return for all non RWC years.

As for the oval-touch etc, I dunno, there are posts along the sidelines?
Australia isn't the only country with irregular shaped Rugby venues.

[shasta]

does anyone else agree that some of the poor touch.............

I certainly hope that we do not return to a 3-match basis in the Tri-Nations.

You're on the right track with the kicking, I think, and not only for touch. We've seen it at Subi as well. Remember Carter missing all those shots at goal in 2006. He was almost flawless everywhere else.

3 matches each year might end up killing the goose.

[hopep]

Subi is probably worse than the 'G' but most footy ovals are desinged with a camber, for drainage, to both sides and up-down field.
It has been a problem for Force players seeing the line and judging weight.
But, its not a new problem.

Kick tecnhique has more to contribute than ground shape

[Burgs]

At least one of Bernies ones was just simply coming off the side of the boot, as hopep suggests a technique issue.
Huxley is a 50/50 proposition anywhere so I wouldn't include him on either side of the argument...

[Thequeerone]

I got the impression last year that the oval pitch was more of a problem for visiting teams - WF players got used to it - I do know that RugbyWA have to have rectangular hoarding to give the impression of a rectangular pitch -