Attendances at rugby Test matches has become a hot topic lately, with some suggesting a local TV blackout would increase crowds, while others insist there is so much rugby being played lately that many fans have become apathetic.

Speaking to fans around Christchurch, there were two common reasons for not attending last weekend's All Blacks v Springboks Tri-Nations game. First, the price. The cheapest adult tickets cost $45 for seats at the end of the ground in an uncovered stand. The most expensive were $115 for seats side-on to the ground and under cover.

For a father to take his two sons to the game would cost at least $95 before even having a chance to be gouged when buying food. As the game is broadcast live on pay TV and delayed on free-to-air TV, many families are finding it far more economical to stay home and watch the game on television.

'Playing games on cold winter evenings, pricing the game out of the reach of the average fan, and the continued saturation of the product have made fans cynical'

A more common reason given is simply the weather. To play an outdoor sport in the middle of winter at night does not exactly make for a comfortable experience for the fans. At kick-off time the temperature in Christchurch was a mere five degrees, dropping to three by full-time.

Many have said that Test matches played in the South Island should be played in the afternoon, but broadcasters would prefer to continue with the evening games so they can cash in on the international audience. And since the broadcasters control the purse strings, they have far more pull than the local fans.

The claim of fan apathy does hold some weight, as fans this year have seen 16 weeks of Super 14, three warm-up Tests against France and Canada and then three Tri-Nations Tests so far. Of course, if fans are apathetic about Tri-Nations matches already, this does not bode well for the upcoming Air New Zealand Cup which has each round spread out over four days to ensure maximum television coverage.