Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 2:32 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

you can stop with the OTT generalisation.

OTT generalisation you say?
Try this one on for size. The threads that invariably get the most traffic on supposed rlfans forums are the ones when anyone dares seem to defend union and a number of dribbling idiots start an imaginary troll hunt.
The FIRST poster........they guy who opened pandora box is the one who has gone for the OTT generalisation.
The posters who claimed burgess would be bored/play any position have also gone OTT with their ignorance of what's involved in playing union and now we've had the totally OTT claim that 82,000 at twickenham are all brain dead sheep.
As for me being mr secure? I am secure in that I know how much the RFU make from the sheep, how little many RL fans know about playing union and that I have never heard of any other person who doesn't like a sport going to the trouble of subscribing just so they can watch the sport they don't like......re-read the last bit and tell me that the op doesn't need their bumps felt!
The bbc and media don't need to be involved in an imaginary anti league campaign.......leagues own fans are it's Achilles heel. Who in their right minds would embrace a sport that has fans who spend their lives blaming public schoolboys for their sports inability to get even the basics right.....chippy doesn't do it justice

[PopTart]

Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 10:44 am  

gutterfax wrote:

................

If we devalue the product and if you take into account that 11 of the 12 teams are in one locale, then it gives the media perfect excuse to treat us as badly as they seem to. A ticket for a tenner to see Castleford v Wakefield is hardly NATIONAL news.

................

I agree with a lot of what you said, but I wonder why Castleford v Wakefield is not national news, when Gloucester v Bath is. It's not like those places are any more of a metropolis that Wakefield is. They market better to (probably) more affluent people and watch in a fairly nice stadium. But that shouldn't mean it is national news. It should mean they get good crowds though.....which they do.

Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 11:45 am  

gutterfax wrote:

What's happened here is that some idiots have subscribed to a channel to watch a game they don't like, some other bright sparks have chipped in with insane claims as to re prowess of Sam burgess and his ability to play anywhere in union and the rest of the brains trust have started to question the reason d'être of a person at an international at twickenham. The stench of insecurity eminating from those who feel the need to even mention union in a vain hope of making league seem bigger or better than it actually is, is quite overpowering.
In short, union generates more interest and associated revenue and is not as simple a game to master as league.
Your need to compound the comparison further increases the stink......better not to mention union at all.....as no quantifiable comparison works in leagues favour

Now you are intentionally ignoring the context and wording of the post you refer to or you're actually not clever enough to understand what was said.

I suspect it's the former because that helps you continue in your quest to paint RL fans as ignorant or deluded "moonies"

Transparent!

Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 12:30 pm  

PopTart wrote:

I agree with a lot of what you said, but I wonder why Castleford v Wakefield is not national news, when Gloucester v Bath is. It's not like those places are any more of a metropolis that Wakefield is. They market better to (probably) more affluent people and watch in a fairly nice stadium. But that shouldn't mean it is national news. It should mean they get good crowds though.....which they do.

I was on a stag do in Bath a few weeks ago and we went to watch Bath Vs Toulouse. The game itself was low intensity, error strewn and noticeably lacking game time atmosphere to say the scoreline was so close in the end (19 - 21).

My main observation was how fanatical the people of Bath were in their turning out for the game. The whole city seem to turn out and it creates a carnival atmosphere around the streets of Bath. We were out until about 2am and there were still loads of fans out in the pubs in their Bath shirts. It was comparable to Challenge Cup final day but on a smaller scale.

Whether these people are genuinely interested in the rugby or whether they see it as a social thing is probably the big question here. There were a hell of a lot of well dressed well-to-do looking folk who seemed more interested in the drinking and socialising than what was actually happening on the field. It kind of reminded me of Polo, more a case of a place to be seen than what's actually going on. That said, I was kind of envious when I compared it to our equivalent. The Rugby League attitude seems to be get in and get out as fast as you can without conversing with the locals in any way shape or form! I suppose comparing the city of Bath to the likes of Wakefield and Castleford is like comparing chalk and cheese but the product we have is far superior and I wouldn't swap a high intensity RL derby in a gritty Northern city for a hob nobbing RU borefest in an architecturally stunning Southern city.

Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 12:39 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

Ah......passionate fans at games eh! Have to ask, have you attended many NRL games over the years? Also, I've experienced more passion from fans at twickenham than I have at a state of origin match......and let's not even open the debate in London broncos games

I've been to 1 NRL game in Melbourne which was pretty flat, and the last SOO game at Lang Park, in the terrace behind the sticks, and the atmosphere was incredible - borderline frightening. London fans, while small in number, have always been very passionate about the game.

Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 12:39 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

82,000 at twickenham are all brain dead sheep.

Finally we're in agreement!

Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 1:53 pm  

King Street Cat wrote:

I was on a stag do in Bath a few weeks ago and we went to watch Bath Vs Toulouse. The game itself was low intensity, error strewn and noticeably lacking game time atmosphere to say the scoreline was so close in the end (19 - 21).

My main observation was how fanatical the people of Bath were in their turning out for the game. The whole city seem to turn out and it creates a carnival atmosphere around the streets of Bath. We were out until about 2am and there were still loads of fans out in the pubs in their Bath shirts. It was comparable to Challenge Cup final day but on a smaller scale.

Whether these people are genuinely interested in the rugby or whether they see it as a social thing is probably the big question here. There were a hell of a lot of well dressed well-to-do looking folk who seemed more interested in the drinking and socialising than what was actually happening on the field. It kind of reminded me of Polo, more a case of a place to be seen than what's actually going on. That said, I was kind of envious when I compared it to our equivalent. The Rugby League attitude seems to be get in and get out as fast as you can without conversing with the locals in any way shape or form! I suppose comparing the city of Bath to the likes of Wakefield and Castleford is like comparing chalk and cheese but the product we have is far superior and I wouldn't swap a high intensity RL derby in a gritty Northern city for a hob nobbing RU borefest in an architecturally stunning Southern city.

I'd think location of stadium has a lot to do with it, in the old days when Craven APrk was on Holderness road the fans would go in all the pubs before and after. Now its surrounded by fields and council estates everyone gets in and out as quick as possible. That and most northern pubs wont let you in wearing a RL/soccer shirt. The well to do gentry must be more civilised or get less drunk on their G&T's maybe?

Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 3:53 pm  

Tre Cool wrote:

London fans, while small in number, have always been very passionate about the game.

I know. Ask Hughes and that prick MacKay if there's one who is a little too enthusiastic from the far side of the world!

Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 4:08 pm  

PopTart wrote:

I agree with a lot of what you said, but I wonder why Castleford v Wakefield is not national news, when Gloucester v Bath is. It's not like those places are any more of a metropolis that Wakefield is. They market better to (probably) more affluent people and watch in a fairly nice stadium. But that shouldn't mean it is national news. It should mean they get good crowds though.....which they do.

The perception of bath v Gloucester in the eyes if the public is a romantic vision of upper middle class folk sipping champers from hampers on the tailgate of the range rover.
Pie and a pint in a back street boozer before ko may be what many of us prefer, but it's not aspirational in the eyes of middle England and if thatcher did anything at all, she made us all believe we could do better for ourselves.
And you're right about marketing......Sam burgess is the pin up boy of bath school kids at present.......given he's hardly touched a ball, thats pretty impressive

Re: Sam Burgess Union debut : Thu Dec 11, 2014 4:36 pm  

I agree with a lot of what you said, but I wonder why Castleford v Wakefield is not national news, when Gloucester v Bath is.

Maybe because the following week Bath will Play Northampton and Gloucester Sale and as such there is a national interest in the game/result.

Whereas Cas and Wakey are likely to play teams in the M62 Corridor the following week. Hence why we need teams in London, the SW. SE etc