Rugby Autumn internationals

[Bledlow]

Did anyone notice that England beat the Wallabies today?

[Wowbagger]

Yes, but it didn't seem to be televised. All I could find was audio commentary and "live text".

I also looked at the fixture list. I could not find Wales v New Zealand. Am I missing something? One would have hoped that the N. and S. Hemisphere champions would play each other.

[Tewdric]

No Wales All Blacks this year.  Thanks to Sky and the unions following the money.  England May be dull but they have a larger couch potato following.

[Wowbagger]

Have the BBC even lost the rugby internationals? Or is it just some matches? I haven't followed this at all. What is happening with the home internationals?

[Tewdric]

I think Sky have the rights to England games.  The Wales games are going to be shown live, although I'm going to be at the stadium for at least one.

[Wowbagger]

Oh well, a very clear and tangible reason to want England to lose then. Greedy bastards.

[mcshroom]

As has been the case for years, Sky get the Autumn internationals, but BBC get the 6 nations.

[Andrew Br]

Highlights were shown on BBC3 last night and they may be repeated (BBC2 ?) later today.
We managed to avoid hearing the score so we didn't know how it ended.

[Wowbagger]

As has been the case for years, Sky get the Autumn internationals, but BBC get the 6 nations.

Does Sky get all of the autumn internationals or just the English home matches?

[Tewdric]

The Wales games are all on BBC Wales.

[Si]

Have to say that I'm not keen on how the BBC do high lights.   Not that I've seen many rugby games as high lights...but when I used to watch MotD years ago each segment of play tended to start in a neutral situation and so you didn't know who, if anyone, was about to score or have a crack at goal.  With the BBC rugby highlights they always seem to start from a position where it's pretty obvious who is about to score and the only question is....try or penalty?  Same with the ITV4 highlights but at least they are cramming a number of games and adverts into the same time that the BBC do one game....and so have some excuse.

Anyway, good to hear that the important games (Wales matches) will be shown live.

[Bledlow]

Oh well, a very clear and tangible reason to want England to lose then. Greedy bastards.

When did you ever need a reason?

[Wowbagger]

Oh well, a very clear and tangible reason to want England to lose then. Greedy bastards.

When did you ever need a reason?

I like to have a reason for everything I do.

[mattc]

Oh well, a very clear and tangible reason to want England to lose then. Greedy bastards.

When did you ever need a reason?

It's rather sad, sports fans whose main desire is that another team lose, whomever they are playing.

[Wowbagger]

Oh well, a very clear and tangible reason to want England to lose then. Greedy bastards.

When did you ever need a reason?

It's rather sad, sports fans whose main desire is that another team lose, whomever they are playing.

Which of course is not what I said.

When England beat New Zealand last year I seem to recall that I was the first on this forum to offer congratulations.

However, there are certain teams in certain sports whom one would prefer to lose under pretty much all circumstances - one where the interference of huge business wealth has all but cut any local tie that that team may have once had. That's quite close to England rugby team chasing the money rather than ensuring that as wide an audience as possible has access to their games.

[Psychler]

However, there are certain teams in certain sports whom one would prefer to lose under pretty much all circumstances - one where the interference of huge business wealth has all but cut any local tie that that team may have once had. That's quite close to England rugby team chasing the money rather than ensuring that as wide an audience as possible has access to their games.

I can't see how this applies to the England Rugby Team.  They didn't negociate any TV or sponsorship deals, that was done by the RFU, a national sport governing body.

Does your dislike of people seeking money deals rather than being loyal to a fan base apply across the board, if so I assume you won't be cheering on those Welsh players who decided to go and play in France [to which list I should add George North at Northampton].

This is professional sport, it's all about money.

[Wowbagger]

There are different levels of "professionalism".

A national team should be available to the greatest part of the nation possible. Right from the very start of the BBC, my dad used to listen to and watch sport because it was available and expected to be so. Towards the end of his life he was deprived of one of his great favourites, test cricket, because the greedy bastards who ran it did so for the benefit of a US citizen who had no other interest in it than money rather than the British ones who wanted their team to win.

Of course I would prefer the Welsh players to play for Welsh clubs but at least when they play for Wales it's possible to watch them without passing yet more money to bloody Murdoch.

[Psychler]

But as soon as the WRU have sorted out the central contracts and need more money to pay for them, they'll be off to talk to Sky or BT Sports or whoever will pay them the most.

At that point would you prefer them "to lose under pretty much all circumstances".

[Wowbagger]

But as soon as the WRU have sorted out the central contracts and need more money to pay for them, they'll be off to talk to Sky or BT Sports or whoever will pay them the most.

At that point would you prefer them "to lose under pretty much all circumstances".

At that point I will stop watching rugby, in exactly the same way as I stopped watching cricket, and will be disappointed in that I just won't care any more.

To be honest, I will be somewhat surprised if Wales does go down the Murdoch route. It's fundamentally a socialist country, its rugby is mainly played in the old mining areas and far fewer people will be able to stomach what is going on.

[Psychler]

They stomached the "shamateurism" of the 1970's so why wouldn't they?  Then anything was ok to stop players going to rugby league , even though many still did.

They'll stomach Sky if it's stops Welsh rugby players going abroad.

[Wowbagger]

There will be much greater resistance, for the reasons I've mentioned. In addition, I don't know the details, but there's a Welsh language requirement which national broadcasters are required to meet but which currently I don't think Sky does.

Either way, if it's a choice between no rugby or paying Murdoch, I'll choose no rugby.

[mcshroom]

They 'stomarched' Wales international football matches being on sky for many years.

[Polar Bear]

I'm a bit confused by this debate.

As I understand it, Wales could have played NZ if they'd stumped up the asking price of £1.5m.   The Welsh Union chose not to pay, other Unions, not just England, chose to pay.   Are Wales playing South Africa, Argentina, Tongan and the Quantas Wallabies on a 'not for profit' basis'?   I'm pretty certain that there is a profit motive.

Oh well, a very clear and tangible reason to want England to lose then. Greedy bastards.

I am saddened to read such comments.   I have sat amongst the fans of home and away fans regularly at Franklins Gardens and the one really big thing about Union fans to my mind is that they love the game and applaud the best team regardless of the shirts on their backs or the sponsors logos on their chests.   

It doesn't sound at all clear and tangible Wow, it sounds bitter and twisted.   Knowing you, I know that you are usually far more rational and balanced in your views, if not a little forthright.        Perhaps your words don't really express your true feelings about any team that takes Murdoch's money?   British cycling is screwed then 
 

[Psychler]

Either way, if it's a choice between no rugby or paying Murdoch, I'll choose no rugby.

...and if the WRU decide to go with BT Sport [for example]?

[Wowbagger]

Either way, if it's a choice between no rugby or paying Murdoch, I'll choose no rugby.

...and if the WRU decide to go with BT Sport [for example]?

Do you have to pay a premium to watch?