networkn:
Handsomedan:
Overall, despite the fact that the AB's lost, I have to say as a casual rugby viewer, the rules and the constant stopping and starting, the changes to scrums, the interference by TMO etc have made rugby a boring watch for me and many like me.
It's a really hard watch now and has little flow and very little to attract the casual fan.
If the global powers that be do not address this, I fear for the future of the game. It's become stale, slow and boring.
World cup finals games are often like this, defensive low scoring events. Same is true in many sports.
2015 AB's was an anomaly, we scored lots of tries and it was running rugby.
I don't think the Rugby Championship was like that, nor Super Rugby. NZ wants to play Rugby, SA wants to win and won't care one Iota how they do it :)
This feeling isn't confined to a RWC final. It's not even the tournament. It's international rugby as a whole - it's becoming really really hard to watch.
I've been to a few live games and there's long periods where not a lot happens - at least on telly, that's a time you can pick up your phone and browse or go make a cuppa.
I just don't think that the "player welfare" changes have made for a good spectacle at all.