'People are getting bored': Former All Black makes startling admission that NRL has overtaken union
Former All Black fullback Israel Dagg has made a startling admission that rugby union is being ‘absoluted dominated’ by its rival code, with rugby league commanding more of an audience in New Zealand.
Dagg surmised that sport fans in general are becoming disenchanted with the game of union as a result of the cardfests that have been issued in order to crack down on high contact and other indiscretions at the ruck.
Thus the game of union is constantly in stop-start mode due to referee and TMO intervention, compared to the NRL which has decided to continue on with lesser in-game punishments for such discretions.
As a result rugby league is enjoying a much higher ball-in-play time and regular free flowing action which is appealing to fans. As a spectacle, league has surpassed what rugby union is offering.
“We’ve got a real situation at the moment where rugby league and rugby union are competing and rugby league is absolutely dominating,” Dagg said on The 42.ie’s Rugby Weekly Extra podcast.
“If you want to go and watch sport for entertainment, you go and watch league at the moment.
“They’re ticking all the boxes and one of the biggest factors is that they have got clarity in how the game is being played.
“The game [union] is just… the rules, the officiating – it’s confusing. It’s so stop-start and there’s no ball in play.”
The All Blacks three-match test series against Ireland was a quality spectacle from a historical sense, however the second test was influenced by a host of cards issued in the first half including a red card to prop Angus Ta’avao.
The TMO interventions in rugby are adding significant time to the overall broadcast where an 80-minute game can take well over two hours to finish in some cases.
The brutal State of Origin decider which saw the return of explosive fights and vicious tackles in a gladiatorial spectacle, Dagg said the centrepiece series of rugby league commanded much more interest by comparison.
The former All Black said that the game has become ‘too confusing’ and is in ‘dire need of change’.
“You want to see the ball in play,” Dagg said.
“You don’t want to be watching players get ready for a line-out or a scrum going down or the ref going up to the TMO. The TMO is p—– me off.
“I just think the game of rugby is too confusing and there’s too much of it on our TVs and people are getting bored.
“It’s in dire need of change. How we go about it I am unsure but a good start would be to get some common sense in the officiating.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments