And by Couch Rugby, of course, we mean watching rugby from the couch. Yes, there’s a lot to be said for the thrill of being right in the thick of the game at the stadium. But if you take the time to set your living-room up for the optimal viewing experience, and you invite a few choice pals to share it with you, you’ll still be able to make the most of the Bounce, writes Ben Karpinski
In rugby there are certain old sayings and clichés you will hear a lot. “Anything can happen on the day”; “It’s not over until it’s over”; and of course the golden oldie, “It all comes down to which team wants it more.”
One old saying that does actually hold some value though is: “There is nothing better than watching it live.”
I used to say this a lot, believing that there’s simply nothing better than being in a stadium with thousands of other people screaming and shouting for your team as they do battle.
But after one too many stadium traffic jams, one too many wasted hours in the beer line, one too many heartburn burgers, and one too many inebriated fan’s insights on what is wrong with the team or the ref, my preference has changed.
As I venture further into my 30s, watching big games at home has become a real win. I love rugby. I really, really do. I have been to just about every ground in the country in support of my beloved (but heartbreaking) Stormers and the Springboks.
I even went as far as New Zealand once in search of the ultimate live experience. So please believe that my fondness for watching the game at home comes from paying my fair dues in the stadium trenches.
My typical home-based game day starts at leisure. Without the stresses and strains of having to be somewhere at a certain time with certain people, you suddenly have time to play with.
I head out to the shops and make sure my every home match desire is met. At the stadium you have to queue for bog standard drinks and take your chances with some sort of prepared meat. No such limitations with the home experience. I like to try a different beverage mix, get creative with the pre-game snacks, and make sure the halftime food is an event in itself.
At home by midday, I apply finishing touches to the viewing area. Your lounge is never more important than it is on match day, and with a few select friends coming around, it needs to be welcoming and comfortable.
This is your stadium for the day, so pack it all in. The first thing to sort out is the cooler box, making sure there will be no unnecessary walks to and from the kitchen for drinks once the game starts.
Viewing of the screen has to be nothing short of spectacular, so couch configurations are often altered for game days. My personal preference is a flying V with coffee table in the middle to hold the drinks and food. If there are additional people attending, a two tiered setting is employed whereby higher dining room chairs go behind the couches.
With the structure of drinks and seating sorted, a separate area for food is set up within a few meters of the viewing area. Pre-game snacks go here to welcome guests, and the halftime warm course is served from here. Again, it is vital to point out that the general lounge area must not be vacated or you will lose vibe.
But the big clincher for me when it comes to watching at home, is social media.
The TV commentary you hear is mostly white noise to remind you of moments in the match that are more important than others. The real commentary and entertainment is on Twitter. It’s like having an additional 100 fans in your lounge, and thanks to the following process, these are invited fans, and not your general stadium yobs.
All manner of insightful and entertaining scraps can be found here to enhance the viewing experience. Getting involved in it all is good fun too. Not to say I’m not interacting with my actual invited guests, they are always the primary concern.
With this winning game plan in place, the taste of victory is extra sweet as you can then celebrate without having to worrying about trying to find your way home. In the case of a loss, well what better setup to drown your sorrows?
This is how I like to do live rugby, and with the season about to start, now’s the time to craft how you are going to get the most out of being a rugby fan.
Leave a Reply