Jeba
International
- Mar 4, 2008
- 6,501
- 244
I want to persue this debate so as per admin request have opened this thread.
Let's get one thing straight, it is 3. Australian, New Zealand, Great Britain. No doubt.
Now, have a look at all the other World Cups. Out of the popular or "mainstream" ones, the only ones that have more than 4 serious contenders are Soccer and Cricket. Now the Rugby World Cup is regarded as the 3rd best tournament in world sport, with what, 5 serious contenders - Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa and France. Other teams like Ireland, Argentina, Scotland and Wales are all good against each other, but realistically when they come up against the 5 contenders they are cannon fodder. Not so different to the RLWC, all things considered.
Rugby League is more a club level and Origin level game, and a very successful one at that. When you consider that an Origin game between Queensland and New South Wales gets the same crowds as a Bledisloe Cup game, why does the International game need a rocket up the arse? Origin is the pinnacle (more than some want to admit) and is the equivalent of a Bledisloe Cup game in Union and has the same amount of success.
People look at our game and say that just because we can't get 80,000 people to a Test Match or more than 3 competitive teams in a World Cup, that we are a laughing stock. But what they need to realise is that the true measure of our game's success is through club and Origin level. Look at the other competitions on a domestic level in Australia - A-League, Super 14, Sheffield Shield and Ford Ranger Cup - all of them have ordinary standards across the board, but it's not really relevant to the debate because like I said, they are not as highly regarded in their sport as the club competition in our game.
broncospwn said:That statement is laughable. There's only 2, maybe 3 countries who are serous contenders at international level.Jeba said:The International game is fine anyway and IMO doesn't need strengthening.
Let's get one thing straight, it is 3. Australian, New Zealand, Great Britain. No doubt.
Now, have a look at all the other World Cups. Out of the popular or "mainstream" ones, the only ones that have more than 4 serious contenders are Soccer and Cricket. Now the Rugby World Cup is regarded as the 3rd best tournament in world sport, with what, 5 serious contenders - Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa and France. Other teams like Ireland, Argentina, Scotland and Wales are all good against each other, but realistically when they come up against the 5 contenders they are cannon fodder. Not so different to the RLWC, all things considered.
Rugby League is more a club level and Origin level game, and a very successful one at that. When you consider that an Origin game between Queensland and New South Wales gets the same crowds as a Bledisloe Cup game, why does the International game need a rocket up the arse? Origin is the pinnacle (more than some want to admit) and is the equivalent of a Bledisloe Cup game in Union and has the same amount of success.
People look at our game and say that just because we can't get 80,000 people to a Test Match or more than 3 competitive teams in a World Cup, that we are a laughing stock. But what they need to realise is that the true measure of our game's success is through club and Origin level. Look at the other competitions on a domestic level in Australia - A-League, Super 14, Sheffield Shield and Ford Ranger Cup - all of them have ordinary standards across the board, but it's not really relevant to the debate because like I said, they are not as highly regarded in their sport as the club competition in our game.