Wallabies Kickstart New Era with Victory, but Viewership Remains a Concern

Wallabies Secure Win, but Audience Numbers Disappoint

The Wallabies secured a win over Wales on Saturday, marking the beginning of a new era under head coach Joe Schmidt. However, the television viewing figures for the match painted a concerning picture for Australian rugby union fans.

According to data released by News Corp, the Wallabies’ game was watched by 561,000 viewers on free-to-air television and streaming platforms. This number is approximately half of the 744,000 viewers who tuned in to watch the NRL match between the Broncos and Panthers on the same weekend. Additionally, the women’s State of Origin series decider attracted a larger audience than the Wallabies’ victory.

“It hasn’t just been swept under the carpet,” Wright said. “We’ve showed a lot of clips from that game; areas that we could have capitalised on but didn’t and areas that they capitalised on that we need to be wary of. The boys have really taken it upon themselves not to just hide away, shy from the fact, but to actually learn from it, grow themselves.”

While the viewing figures for the Wallabies’ match represented a slight improvement from the 520,000 who watched the Bledisloe Cup clash last year, the numbers still remain a cause for concern. New Wallabies captain Liam Wright acknowledged the team’s World Cup disappointments and emphasized the importance of learning from past experiences.

With the team’s focus on continuous improvement and the need to engage a wider audience, the Wallabies will be hoping that more wins and a successful World Cup campaign can help boost their viewership and capture the attention of Australian sports fans.

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