Over the coming weeks rugby fans around the world are likely to be suffering the severe effects of withdrawal symptoms.
“I can’t wait for next weekend.”
Fortunately, the RWC is now so popular that there are all manner of medicines to stave off the worst effects.
First and most obvious, replays of whole matches or what are mysteriously called “full” highlights. Thank you, Rugby Canada.
Then you have a rich choice of back-up material. Competing nations are shovelling out interviews and discussions, podcasts, blogs and vlogs, right down to the most detailed stats about your favourite players.
If you’re lucky, you may discover what is likely to happen to the hair of Denis Fogarty, the Irish assistant coach, or who is the better oarswoman, Hannah Botterman or Amy Cokayne.
You may by accident stumble on similar offerings that date back a month or more. Then you can mock the pundits for getting their predictions so wrong.
Then little games within the framework of the tournament: how many teams have a head coach of the same nationality? It’s remarkably few!
Or, which nation has the most elegant outfit for formal occasions? This may well turn into a version of “Hit or Miss!” The same goes for the new playing kits, but national prejudice must be put aside here.
One moaning Kiwi couldn’t understand why the Black Ferns were playing in white against Spain. One rule for the rich…
Other games are available.
Attendances and viewing figures
These are now being published; for example French Television claims 3.2 million people watched the France-Italy game. The BBC calculates that around 3 million watched Round One on its various platforms- France wins again!
Now you can offer your estimates. How many people will have attended the matches by 27 September? The current figure is over 400,000 tickets sold. Likewise, what will be the worldwide viewing figures from sofas and such places?
That should keep you busy until tomorrow.
