Wellington have had their best NPC season in years. They’ve just won the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in over a decade, it’s a sunny warm day and there are 5 people in the stadium. Rugby in this country is in trouble.
@@Rayzajw The thing is the trend under which it was built for - multipurpose - was a flavour of the month idea about 20 years ago and it worked for 5 minutes when it was built for rugby and cricket. But also rugby crowds have been down for years across the country outside of test level. Not even super rugby hits those highs of the early years anymore apart from playoff matches. There’ll prob be more people for the Phoenix on Sunday. That’s embarrassing for rugby.
All the NPC teams in the big cities should be playing in smaller stadiums. You can see how much better it looks when games are played in the provinces. Wellington should play their games at Jerry Collins stadium.
Obvious shoulder charge off the ball. Marshall: ‘He’s just holding his ground!’. Why do former player commentators go out of their way to contradict the ref’s calls and minimise foul play?
Probably the most amateur looking game I’ve ever seen. 40 odd handling errors ffs 🤦🏽♂️ on the most perfect day for fast running rugby. But still, up the Lions lmao lessgooo
@@bigsmoke4987 first game of rugby you watched yesterday? It’s a great sport to watch for sure, well, it used to be. Glad there is some new blood getting into the game.
The yellow card bullshit and penalty try crap has to stop on mauls. The whole concept of rugby is to tackle and put your opponent on the ground . Yet you are penalized and carded for basically playing rugby and stopping a maul . It is getting pathetic.
The quality of rugby here seems oddly low especially when you realise there are All Blacks playing. Putting any of these two against La Rochelle or Exeter Chiefs for example would guarantee a flattening for the New Zealanders.
This is NPC, essentially the minor league feeder clubs for the much stronger Super Rugby sides if you want to compare apples with apples. The few AB's currently playing NPC are spread far and wide across the 7 first division sides so have only a minor influence on the NPC. Crusaders, Blues, Chiefs and the Hurricanes would all provide serious competition for any club side in Europe, but I would never be so arrogant to guarantee a flattening.
@@francoisb.1513 Many of these guys are only semi-professional, a Super Rugby retainer contact is only around $75 000 NZD so an NPC contract would typically be significantly less than that. Without a Super Rugby contract an NPC player would have to have a second stream of income, many would likely hold down full-time jobs. To qualify for AB selection you have to be playing in NZ so NZ rugby players stay in NZ to chase the dream of being an AB not so much for the money. The real money is in Europe (notably French & English clubs) although a number of AB's now do short stints in the Japan League and earn pretty crazy money.
Wellington have had their best NPC season in years. They’ve just won the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in over a decade, it’s a sunny warm day and there are 5 people in the stadium. Rugby in this country is in trouble.
Wellington shouldn't play at the cake tin. It's too big of a stadium
@@Rayzajw The thing is the trend under which it was built for - multipurpose - was a flavour of the month idea about 20 years ago and it worked for 5 minutes when it was built for rugby and cricket. But also rugby crowds have been down for years across the country outside of test level. Not even super rugby hits those highs of the early years anymore apart from playoff matches. There’ll prob be more people for the Phoenix on Sunday. That’s embarrassing for rugby.
@@EvilKiwi76 as long as people are watching at home, who cares?
All the NPC teams in the big cities should be playing in smaller stadiums. You can see how much better it looks when games are played in the provinces. Wellington should play their games at Jerry Collins stadium.
Blame NZRU for not advertising the NPC
What game! I don’t think any other tournament running currently is producing more exciting rugby..
Nice match, Wellington can thank the ref for their first 8 points, again unlucky pies
First 18 points.
another epic battle between these 2 sides.
gg.
Bugger HB.. Awesome season despite this result
That's good
Obvious shoulder charge off the ball. Marshall: ‘He’s just holding his ground!’.
Why do former player commentators go out of their way to contradict the ref’s calls and minimise foul play?
Marshall hates wellington. I know cause I do too
And because ex players like how the game used to be played
That's awesome rugby !
Surely Mikaele Tu’u should be in the ABs frame for blindside flanker
Yeah baby Lions all day
Outstanding refereeing!
was that knock on by Wellington not actually a knock on, or was it so blatant that they thought yeah nah
Super sub Juddy. Go hard !
Last scrum of the game, for Wellington, was that feeding?
Probably the most amateur looking game I’ve ever seen. 40 odd handling errors ffs 🤦🏽♂️ on the most perfect day for fast running rugby. But still, up the Lions lmao lessgooo
@The LIM Report bro what are you talking about
Must be nice having 16 players on the field Wellington..
Ohhh boo hood hoo
It’s all “flip of the coin” calls these days. Refs are so inconsistent. Wasn’t a gold watch game but some of the calls were mind boggling.
Cry more👏
@@bigsmoke4987 first game of rugby you watched yesterday? It’s a great sport to watch for sure, well, it used to be. Glad there is some new blood getting into the game.
@@Mr9mm i didn't watch the game yesterday but im happy lions won
The commentary on this match was unpleasant to listen to - so biased
Go hawks Bay.
At the end of the day, my lions won. That's all that matters lol
2 much Boyz.
Hawks Bay were horrible in the first half. Didnt deserve the win. @6:23 Finzup Webber.
what come back pies
why is the stadium so empty?
Because not many people were there
Cos is a white sunday 😜 people busy shopping food for the Sunday hh
Hawkes Bay lost in the first half.
Always penalties couple of minutes into games..see these all the time.
The yellow card bullshit and penalty try crap has to stop on mauls. The whole concept of rugby is to tackle and put your opponent on the ground . Yet you are penalized and carded for basically playing rugby and stopping a maul . It is getting pathetic.
Wellington pulled down magpies Rolling Maul twice and didn’t get carded 💀💀💀
Wellington we're off side three times on their goal line and no card, doesn't make sense
Horrible display of officiating
)
Npc lol
The quality of rugby here seems oddly low especially when you realise there are All Blacks playing. Putting any of these two against La Rochelle or Exeter Chiefs for example would guarantee a flattening for the New Zealanders.
This is NPC, essentially the minor league feeder clubs for the much stronger Super Rugby sides if you want to compare apples with apples. The few AB's currently playing NPC are spread far and wide across the 7 first division sides so have only a minor influence on the NPC. Crusaders, Blues, Chiefs and the Hurricanes would all provide serious competition for any club side in Europe, but I would never be so arrogant to guarantee a flattening.
La Rochelle is a 30,804 M€ budget. What about those teams ?
@@francoisb.1513 Many of these guys are only semi-professional, a Super Rugby retainer contact is only around $75 000 NZD so an NPC contract would typically be significantly less than that. Without a Super Rugby contract an NPC player would have to have a second stream of income, many would likely hold down full-time jobs.
To qualify for AB selection you have to be playing in NZ so NZ rugby players stay in NZ to chase the dream of being an AB not so much for the money.
The real money is in Europe (notably French & English clubs) although a number of AB's now do short stints in the Japan League and earn pretty crazy money.
What a weak crowd come on Wellington