Half-time extension: Super Rugby
SANZAR has announced a change to the Super Rugby season in that half-time intervals for the 2013 campaign would be extended to twelve minutes.
SANZAR also confirmed the draw and all venues for the 120 regular season matches to be played.
The eighteenth year of the competition kicks off on Friday, February 15 with the Rebels hosting the Force at AAMI Park in Melbourne. Only the Australian Conference will be in action in Round One (due to the British and Irish Lions Tour), with the New Zealand and South African teams commencing their season in Round Two.
From the draw released on September 21, 2012, the following updates have been made to finalise the draw.
Amended kick-off times for Round Three matches on Friday, March 1 (local time):
Blues vs Crusaders, Auckland, will now kick-off at 7.30pm
Waratahs vs Rebels, Sydney, will now kick-off at 7.20pm
Reds vs Hurricanes, Brisbane, will now kick-off at 8.20pm
Comments
hellovanite says...
Seems some are more interested in the crowds that attend rugby games than the quality of rugby. While I appreciate good crowds give something to the game, this would be in the form of atmosphere and occasion and has nothing to do with the inherent quality of rugby. To all those "We won one at last, now we can talk smack" NH posters... Check the overall stats of the games played, won and lost between the NH and SH, then promptly give yourself an uppercut.
Posted 07:26 11th January 2013
Headhunter99 says...
I've heard that the extra 2 minutes are on instructions of the health & safety committee... it gives the bored stiff fans the chance to exit the stadium at half time safely rather than go into a coma during the second half.
Posted 20:02 10th January 2013
JayStarr says...
@ APV1: Great, he can be the little mascot as a Stormers v. Sharks game then... They need boys who can stand the sight of blood and stay on their feet when Eben Etzebeth and Bismark du Plessis starts bashing into each other. Most other mascots faint or fall over after 5 minutes...
Posted 19:10 10th January 2013
Chubbylugs says...
I read the link as 12 minute breaks for second rows! I thought at last recognition for the hardest working position in rugby!
Posted 18:14 10th January 2013
APV1 says...
@ JayStarr - you've not met my 4 year old. He's a nippy little bugger and fearless with it.
Posted 16:56 10th January 2013
Realbull says...
Now they sucking the last life out of a dying competition!!! Stop this nonsense and revert back to a super 12!!!
Posted 16:53 10th January 2013
JayStarr says...
@ Number8: Uhm, were those not record/near-record crowds last season..? Either my eyes were deceiving me or you didn't watch last season.
@ APV1: If you're going to stir, at least make it believable...
Posted 16:15 10th January 2013
Number8 says...
Sanzar doesn't get the any of the ad revenue the broadcaster gets it all. So did sanzar give a reason why they are extending the break? No. Why tell the fans? Are we are not important.
I was happy with keeping the players on the field and a 5 minute break. It's not much fun standing around a cold stadium at night in New Zealand for 12 minutes waiting. Perhaps this will genius decision will reduce the crowd numbers even further; if that's possible. The super stadiums are pretty much empty anyway. Super rugby isn't all that super. APV1 might be on to something...
Posted 14:57 10th January 2013
APV1 says...
We all know that this is to get extra adverts in and create revenue. But putting that aside, I think I'll just say,
"Waaa-waaa-waaa! Mummy, the games too hard! Can I have an ickle lie down at half time for a couple of extra minutes because I'm too weak and puny and can't cope anymore? Waaa-waaa-waaa!"
Who cares about this dreary competition anyway? With the most dreary players in the world, competing in the most dreary stadia, with such low skill levels, my 4 year old could take the whole lot on and win.
Pah!
Posted 12:13 10th January 2013
daibok says...
Good for the players but I record everything and never watch adverts and often skip the analyses as well so no change for me.
Posted 10:51 10th January 2013
KingShark says...
12 minutes might benefit player wellfare. I will definitely benefit SANZAR's coffers with the extra tv advertisements. At least I will be in less of a rush to obtain my next beverage...
Posted 10:09 10th January 2013
mrbligh says...
Interesting, another win for the TV broadcasters I imagine. Oh well, makes it easier to go to the bathroom AND get another drink in the half time break now.
Posted 10:09 10th January 2013
passtheball says...
Good chance to slip in another 2 minutes of adverts. Lets hope there are more Sat afternoon games, especially during the winter period.
Posted 09:52 10th January 2013
JayStarr says...
Why the 12 minute breaks? Let me guess - the advertisers. Well advertisers, I have a PVR... so this just means I'll skip 2 more minutes of adverts. Mwha ha haaaa! YOU WILL NEVER WIN !
Posted 09:33 10th January 2013