The new season might be interesting if the referees control the rucks & breakdowns. otherwise it is borin to watch. There is too much kicking and not enough running with the ball. I agree with #1. I never listen to the commentators, the sound is always turned off. Much of what the commentators talk about is absolute rubbish.

Jumbodancer

Totally agree with #28 AJ. This would diffently get the crowds back to the grounds! People find it too easy to just sit at home and watch the game.

You know a sports in trouble when it's trying to make the referees stars! Take a leaf out of the American playbook...can anyone name the referees/officials in the Super Bowl played a few days back? Does anyone know who the homebase umpire was for the last game of the World Series, and more importantly does anyone care? The referees should be anonymous, the players are the stars not the officials. Unfortunately, Rugby Union has so many "grey" rules open to interpretation that players, spectators, and commentators are often left confused...drawing attention to the referee. It doesn't help that the commentators often dwell on these decisions drawing more attention to the deficiencies in the game. I would take the complete opposite approach to SANZAR and Sky, I would concentrate on the positives and take the limelight away from the refs. I look forward to the day when we can't name any refs and don't care who is officiating match. The players are the stars and the focus should be on them. I see more kids wearing NFL and NBA gear than AB and Super 14 jerseys...that is because the Americans "get it". They make superstars of their players. The Marketing, promotions and focus is on the players and the matchups..who better to promote a game than the players. But I guess for some hearing Kelvin Deaker or Steve Walsh before a game really gets them excited...but not me.

Interviewing the refs may have a positive effect. They will now be very careful not to have a shocker, and hopefully they will now be more accountable as a result. It might stop brain explosions from certain individuals and make them concentrate on a free flowing match, otherwise it's their nuts in the vice post match.

Super 14 will be never be as popular as Air NZ Cup because people have far more attachment to their province than their franchise, particularly when that franchise only plays in the city. Something NZRU could consider is listening to the music at a the 7s and at an AB's match, and then listen to the inane banter thats at S14 and Air NZ Cup, and see which has better atmosphere and which one the crowd is into the most

Anyone else unhappy about the growing amount of ads taking place during sporting events, etc on SKY ?

Have television blackouts in each region like other sports in USA and UK. Only show it live in that region once the ground is nearly full. That would make people go to the games, and if people don't fill the stadium people at home don't get to see it and don't get rugby burnout.

Face fact, the games are never going to be played at 3pm (I do whole heartedly agree though that would be a better time), as television funds this competition. The fact that they (Sanzar or NZ Rugby) have spoken about ways of bringing back people to the stadiums and actioned this by reducing ticket prices and allowing food to be brought into the stadiums is great. Also I do think the rule change around the ruck will provide us with a less kicking orientated game. Regarding having the Referee and subsituted players interviewed lets just wait and see.

I agree with Simon#8

Play games at 3pm in the arvo and watch the families come... Rugby will certainly not attract any extra viewers giving interviews to Ref's (or Coaches)... a dying sport in NZ sadly and the NZRU don't have a clue what to do, nor do I really but less is more is probably a good place to start...and remember it is only February, too early for footy.

As far as I am concerned they could interview a different member of the royal family after each game. This will not add anything to the interest factor at all.

To get people attending the games and watching them on TV they need to look at the product they are trying to market. At present the game is too stop start, the ball gets kicked into touch it takes 2 minutes to set the lineout throw the ball in and get play going again, although half the time there is some form of infringement that results in a freekick, scrum penalty etc. Scrums are an abomination, and when the ball is in play it spends most of the time either tied up in a mall or at the botom of a ruck somewhere.

Till the game of rugby is improved as a viewer spectacle all that Sky and SANZAR are doing is window dressing.