Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Winning the RWC: it's complicated

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  • Emma Hart, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    You may not have, specifically, but a bunch of other people definitely have said things along those lines.

    And "performative disinterest" is a great phrase. I'd add "performative ignorance" as well.

    Weeks and weeks ago - like, before the games actually started - I suggested in a tweet that perhaps people who were sick of hearing about rugby (which I completely sympathise with) not read or comment on rugby-specific columns or articles. (I mean, if I genuinely don't care about something? You can tell, because I don't read or write about it.)

    Now, I've talked a lot about sex, about kink, and gay rights, and feminism, and I have NEVER had anything close to the torrent of abuse I took for saying that. I'd get up in the morning, peek at my @replies, see it was still going, and close them up again.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Ana Simkiss,

    Well, oil be damned...

    “Better take that one down to the metaphor shop”

    I liked that one, too - and ya can imagine that as a full service station they are pumping with gas out on the metaphorcourt as well...

    Throw in, the towel...

    Christmas has nothing to do with rugby...

    A lot of people have a ball at christmas, can be seen rolling in malls, kissing under the sprigs and eating scrummy food...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And a word about the specialness of New Zealand rugby in the context of this tournament ...

    Not only are three of the four teams to reach the semis coached by New Zealanders, there were 38 New Zealand-born players and several other coaches scattered through through the other teams.

    Given the size of the player base and the financial resources available in a small country, that's remarkable. We really are bloody good at this game.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Weeks and weeks ago - like, before the games actually started - I suggested in a tweet that perhaps people who were sick of hearing about rugby (which I completely sympathise with) not read or comment on rugby-specific columns or articles.

    Which is more or less what I did. And having not watched any of the games up until the semis, I'm really enjoying this world cup thing.

    Less is more, and all that.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Marcus Turner, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    I'd agree with Jackie's comment. And I was impressed to hear Peter Fitzsimons learning some Maori language. Rugby might yet be as influential as music in interesting people in the language.

    Since Nov 2006 • 212 posts Report Reply

  • Marcus Turner, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Do you ever worry that we might do to rugby what we did to kiwifruit, by exporting the expertise?

    Since Nov 2006 • 212 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard, in reply to Emma Hart,

    I suggested in a tweet that perhaps people who were sick of hearing about rugby (which I completely sympathise with) not read or comment on rugby-specific columns or articles.

    Not all that easy (apologies for the FB link: I'm not sure if it's been posted elsewhere).

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to John Armstrong,

    Absolutely. I’ve developed a strong loyalty to Maori TV’s coverage during this tournament

    You're not alone -- insofar as the ratings system can give an answer, Maori Television actually had the biggest free-to-air audience for the ABs' quarter-final.

    It was a bit different for Sunday's semi:

    TV ONE 659,400
    Sky Sport 653,300
    TV3 397,800
    Maori TV 262,700

    I suspect a good degree of the public engagement has been related to the fact that rugby is, for these few weeks, available live on free-to-air television.

    But although I've enjoyed dipping into MT's coverage occasionally, the dreadful picture quality has precluded me watching any big games there.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Marcus Turner,

    Do you ever worry that we might do to rugby what we did to kiwifruit, by exporting the expertise?

    Yes. That's why the NZRU has to stick to its policy of picking only domestic players for as long as possible. It will never be able to match the salaries offered by northern hemisphere clubs, so it has to make eligibility for the All Blacks the prize for staying here and playing domestically.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • John Armstrong, in reply to Russell Brown,

    the dreadful picture quality has precluded me watching any big games there.

    As the owner of a box-shaped TV, this has not been so much of a factor for me:)

    Hamilton • Since Nov 2007 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • John Armstrong,

    Having said that, I was this close to buying a flat-screen jobby the other day solely for the purposes of seeing the outside two inches of the semifinal coverage. Mercifully my anticonsumerism and general tight-arsedness stayed the madness just in time.

    Hamilton • Since Nov 2007 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    we might do to rugby what we did to kiwifruit, by exporting the expertise?

    The desire to retain earned value in the NZRU (via brand revenue) rather than handing it over to the IRB is part of that manoevring we saw recently about the revenue model for the next tournament.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    the dreadful picture quality

    No HD or even digital receiver here, and Maori TV's picture was actually better than the other free-to-air channels. More recent analogue transmission gear perhaps?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    No HD or even digital receiver here, and Maori TV’s picture was actually better than the other free-to-air channels. More recent analogue transmission gear perhaps?

    Intriguing! Because on both Sky and Freeview it looks markedly worse than their usual picture.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Marcus Turner,

    Do you ever worry that we might do to rugby what we did to kiwifruit, by exporting the expertise?

    I'm not sure that's a particularly sound analogy, and even if it was what exactly are "we" supposed to do - start drawing up lists of rugby players who can't leave the country without leaving hostages to ensure their return? :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Now, I’ve talked a lot about sex, about kink, and gay rights, and feminism, and I have NEVER had anything close to the torrent of abuse I took for saying that.

    You're just not trying. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to John Armstrong,

    Having said that, I was this close to buying a flat-screen jobby the other day solely for the purposes of seeing the outside two inches of the semifinal coverage. Mercifully my anticonsumerism and general tight-arsedness stayed the madness just in time.

    I was talking to someone in the business recently who said that new TVs were cheaper in NZ than pretty much anywhere else in the world. You can buy a 720p set with built-in Freeview and various other do-dads (like playing your internet files off a flash drive) for under $500 now. There's actually a massive e-waste problem with old CRT sets developing -- they're valueless and people just throw them out.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Marcus Turner, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    To be honest, I don't know what anyone would do about it. I don't even know if there's a problem. It might be NZ's destiny to originate some things that will be taken on by the world, so that we're no longer leaders in the field (Have Argentina ever beaten the All Blacks yet?).

    I suppose that might be part of the feeling against Quade Cooper, but I don't know. I do wonder, though, whether there'd have been quite the same fuss if he'd been pakeha.

    Since Nov 2006 • 212 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Better take that one down to the metaphor shop”

    I liked that one, too – and ya can imagine that as a full service station they are pumping with gas out on the metaphorcourt as well…

    oooo that'll be one of 'em modern metaphors, all 'puters and software ... you'll need the special gnostic machine for that one you will ... if I try and fix it 'ere I'll bugger it up fer sure

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    There's actually a massive e-waste problem with old CRT sets developing -- they're valueless and people just throw them out.

    I'd throw mine out, if I could lift it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • John Armstrong, in reply to Russell Brown,

    You can buy a 720p set with built-in Freeview and various other do-dads (like playing your internet files off a flash drive) for under $500 now.

    Mmm, do-dads. I'd probably have gone ahead and bought one if it came with the cool documentary they were playing in the shop. Galapagos lizards swimming underwater in HD was just ace.

    As it stands, we will have to recast our box ownership as evidence of our impeccable eco-warrior credentials.

    Hamilton • Since Nov 2007 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Go the canes and other warm fuzzies...

    Do you ever worry that we might do to rugby what we did
    to kiwifruit, by exporting the expertise?

    They were known as Chinese Gooseberries when I first tasted them, and they were stolen from China by a visiting Wanganui headmistress, who brought them back with no worries about introducing agricultural species to NZ (shades of the Christian monk silk worm smugglers)...
    Then again, I guess rugby was transplanted here from England (and there's that yellow/green variety in Australia)...
    So maybe the IRB is like PSA and it could kill it on the vine
    or shrivel its roots...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Marcus Turner,

    I suppose that might be part of the feeling against Quade Cooper, but I don’t know. I do wonder, though, whether there’d have been quite the same fuss if he’d been pakeha.

    Nah. That absolutely not it.

    There's probably a little of the fact that he was born here, but mostly it's this:

    And this:

    A little upstart repeatedly taking cheap shots on a man with McCaw's mana isn't going to end well. And that fact that he's shown he clearly can be rattled in a game only encourages it to continue.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to BenWilson,

    http://www.ewaste.org.nz/sched.htm I love recycling ewaste. Shame the Govt. doesn't see a place for battery recycling.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to John Armstrong,

    Mmm, do-dads. I'd probably have gone ahead and bought one if it came with the cool documentary they were playing in the shop. Galapagos lizards swimming underwater in HD was just ace.

    Without wishing to deter you from your noble path, TV does look bloody good these days.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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