Rugby no match for soccer, say readers

nzherald.co.nz readers say rugby lacks the passion of soccer. Photo / Mark Mitchell

In the wake of the All Whites' surprise victory over Bahrain on Saturday, cementing their second ever trip to the World Cup finals, nzherald.co.nz decided to conduct a tongue-in-cheek survey to find out just which sport our readers prefer: rugby, or football?

So far football-lovers are dominating the debate, arguing that rugby lacks passion and is dying a slow death.

"New Zealanders have been brought up believing the world plays rugby and it's not until they go overseas that they realise what a lie this is. Rugby on a global scale is a drop in the football bucket," wrote Rugby is dying, from Bethlehem.

Ex-rugby supporter Kodiac from the Waikato mourned the "good old days" of rugby.

"Once a great rugby supporter, now I wouldn't bother to go to Rugby Park to watch a professional game being played even if I lived next door...Frankly I think professional soccer is a better spectator sport, but I still reminisce over the good old days of the true All Black rugby supremacy."

Bruce from Wellington said football was "real edge of the seat stuff", where rugby matches tended to be predictable. And Crucie Fiction, of Te Kowhai, praised the passion of the game.

"One of my friends calls rugby "kick and clap". Scoring a goal is hard in football, unlike a try in Rugby. That's why its special, that's why the players are so passionate when they score."

Level Headed of New Plymouth chimed in: "I used to think that rugby was a more interesting game than soccer. Watching recent rugby internationals has changed my mind. It doesn't mean that soccer has improved. It just means that international rugby has gone downhill."

But staunch rugby fans are standing their ground, including Kathy from Tuakau.

"Can't understand the people who get carried away with this game they call soccer, grown men running up and down a paddock for two hours and not even a score at the end," she wrote.

Papakura's Davedog watched 10 minutes of the All Whites game before giving up.

"While I admit rugby has some serious problems with the current rules favouring a kick and chase game, I watched 10 minutes of the soccer on Saturday hoping to see Bahrain knock us out, and was so bored I switched over to Grand Designs."

Meanwhile, Karlos of Kaiapoi enjoys watching soccer but said he would always pick rugby if forced to choose.

"Rugby is what I grew up playing and watching and will always be my favourite. Plus I've seen too many football games decided by a penalty or free kick that was awarded because of a Hollywood player deliberately taking a dive."

Some have also weighed in with the view that there is a place for both sports to co-exist.

"Many NZ children play soccer as their first sport, which gives them good grounding, versatility and ball skills, before they try out contact sports, such as rugby and rugby league. In my opinion the three go hand in hand, before a decision is made at a later date as to which sport they will pursue," said Kingi of Auckland.

Andy, from the Kapiti Coast, said even as a "100 per cent rugby fan" he was completely swept up in the All Whites' game. "And so what? Am I not allowed to enjoy more than one sport?"

And a few die-hard dissenters simply refused to take a side, such as Ultimate Warrior from Otara.

"None of them live up to LEAGUE - the greatest game of all. The NRL is the most physically demanding competition in the world!"

- NZ HERALD STAFF