Legend, the ARU will have a windfall of close, if not over $100 million by the end of this year, including the revenue from the world cup.
They will not waste this money. Mark my words, the money will be used to expand the game; increasemarketing, fund junior development programs, fund a national club competition and a 4th super 12 side and invest for the future.
The television contracts will be smaller, but from the money the ARU will make THIS year it shouldn't be too harmful to them, while the sponsorship in rugby union has increasedimmensly every year sincethe game wentpro. Althoughtherise will undoubtedly begin toflatten in the future, at the moment it is still growinghealthilyand looks like it will continue.
The Super 12 would rate if it was showed live on free to air, with a delayed coverage on fox. A game like NSW v ACT or QLD would be very successfull for channel 7 or anyother channel that showed it, especially if they were played on a Friday night, I think Saturday night hurts its ratings (although I definately would prefer big crowds to high ratings, if I could only get one of the two)
I think that's one reason why the big league games like origin and the kangaroo testsmay get huge tv ratings but not sell out. I bet if they played the state of origin on Saturday nights instead of Wednesday or Tests on a saturday instead of a Friday they'd all get sold out but their viewing numbers wouldn't be as high.
I'd think it would be embarrassing forthe Rugby League ifthe showpiece of the game is seen by millions of people with empty seats in the background. Even if the ratings are huge, people who do not know much about the game will perceive the event not to be as big as its been hyped up to be if they see its not sold out.
Anyway, I guess they're are pros and cons on both sides.
Also Legend, I dont think its fair to say Ireland are in front of Australia. They are improving and definately have the ability to upset any side in the world on a good day but Australia are just a superior side. They beat a wallaby side that weren't at full strength, at their home ground, in the freezing cold when it was raining and they didn't exactly flog us either.
In Australia we'll beat them by 20 (unless theytake a dose of that luck the Irish have on occasion)
BTW, the mass exodus of players? There'll be like6 or 7 top playersat the most.
We may struggle in 2004, 2005 but as Markus said we'll be working towards 2007.
The Wallabies need to blood some of the younger guys anyway.The teams getting a little old and stale now.