One of the oldest clichés in the book is that “rugby is a funny old game”

One of the oldest clichés in the book is that “rugby is a funny old game”, a reference to the weird things that can happen on the pitch, but this week we will see one of the stranger things to happen in rugby OFF the field.

Think about it. The Sharks will spend the week in Durban preparing for their away game against the Crusaders, which will be in London, while the Crusaders are in London preparing for their “home”
game against the Sharks. And this for crucial competition points, not a pre-season marketing exercise.

Desperate times often result in desperate measures and the Crusaders’ reaction to the financial crisis caused by the tragic earthquake in Christchurch has been imaginative and far-reaching.

The bottom line is that in taking the game to Twickenham, the Canterbury Union is charging between 30 and 50 pounds a ticket with the probability of a 55 000 sell-out crowd while if the game had taken place in earmarked Timaru, the asking price would have been 15 NZ dollars (six pounds) at a 10 000-capacity stadium. And if the 55 000 tickets looks to be insufficient , the RFU has agreed to release another 5000.

The Crusaders have been forced to use satellite stadiums in their region because of the structural damage to their AMI Stadium (30 000-seater), which has subsequently been ruled out as a Rugby World Cup venue.

England’s RFU initially turned the Crusaders down, but where there is a will there is a way, and the game will now be played on Sunday (to avoid a clash with the Harlequins game on Saturday in the greater Twickenham precinct) at a reduced capacity Twickenham (it can accommodate 82 000 but only selling 55 000 tickets will reduce public transport problems on a Sunday).

In securing the fixture, the Crusaders were helped by a big push from the British Red Cross, which has resulted in five pounds from every ticket going to the earthquake appeal, and that will certainly bring out droves of patriotic Kiwis.

Crusaders CEO Hamish Rioch reflected: “I won’t reflect publicly on the actual (financial) numbers, but it’s significant if we can get everything right and it will enable us to go a long way towards our financial needs for the year and enable us to play the bulk of our remaining home games much closer to home.”

Interestingly, the RFU in a statement last week, estimated that there were 900 000 South Africans in London, 600 000 Australians and 250 000 New Zealanders.

The game has huge appeal given that the Crusaders are the southern hemisphere competition’s most successful side, while the Sharks remain on top of the overall standings having won four of their five matches so far this season.

The losing bonus point they took from their 15-9 defeat in Hamilton on Friday means they return from New Zealand from their shortened tour with a healthy 11 points from a possible 15, with an opportunity of knocking over the Crusaders at a neutral venue this week.

The Sharks will depart for London on Thursday.

by Mike Greenaway www.iol.co.za