IF THE Australian Rugby Union believed the first Test against France would convince Sydneysiders to again head out in droves to Homebush Bay, they would have been bitterly disappointed.
It was just another forgettable international that lacked edge at a venue many rugby diehards don't want to go to.
And with it was yet another poor crowd figure that can only concern those at the ARU, who for good reason have thrown it around that they are at the mercy of that gorilla in the room wearing an AFL jersey.
Well they will be worried if attendances continue to plummet in Sydney for any international other than the Bledisloe Cup. The statistics don't lie: Sydney crowds for the next-best Tests have in recent years dropped by 15,000-20,000. These are not the figures those in the ARU pushing for more Sydney Tests want to see.
Attendances for Tests against South Africa have slumped from 77,048 in 2000 to 51,174 last year, while internationals against Wales have experienced a drop from 63,688 in 2003 to 40,827 last year.
It was only marginally better on Saturday night, but the 48,899 crowd figure was dismally short of the 64,703 in attendance for France's previous Sydney match in 2002.
The reasons are many, including the Wallabies' recent inability to provide value for money. But the ANZ Stadium venue - and what happens on many Test nights - also is a major problem.
Many rugby fans mention their aversion towards the Olympic venue. They say the seats are too far away from the action, it is a pain in the neck to get to, parking is inconvenient, it is near impossible to get a taxi out of the joint and there is little to no atmosphere.
Also not helping is that often on Test nights important railway lines are out of action, making it more of a torture getting to and from the venue. On Saturday night, the North Shore line was once again closed for upgrading work.
Then there's what occurs on the night. It is all so flat. The general tone is on show when something supposedly exciting happens, such as a try being scored. One would expect this moment to be greeted with gladiatorial themes. Instead, Katrina and the Waves's Walking on Sunshine blared out of the loudspeakers. What next, "Andy Pandy's coming to play"?
This is as irritating as the fingers down the chalkboard rendition of Waltzing Matilda just before every Test kick-off. No wonder the Wallabies played like hungover swaggies in the first half.
Please ARU, enough is enough!
Compare this to Tests, both interstate and overseas. Go to an international at Twickenham, Millennium Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Carisbrook, Loftus Versfeld, Newlands, Stade Velodrome in Marseille, Ellis Park, and it is an occasion. It is impossible not to get caught up in the fervour.
Go to a Test in Brisbane, and with everyone on top of the action, the occasion is always gripping. Maybe not quite so in Perth or Melbourne, but like Brisbane, you can get to the venue quickly, and get out just as swiftly. ANZ Stadium cannot boast any of that.
The ARU is stuck through contractual obligations with the Olympic stadium until 2011, but it won't stop them thinking about moving their next-best Tests to a more suitable venue, to a place where seats are at a priority and you don't need a high powered telescope to see the game.
The Sydney Football Stadium is not perfect, because of the exorbitant car parking prices and the traffic snarls around Moore Park but we hear it may soon be expanded to hold between 50,000 and 55,000, making it even more alluring to the ARU.
And the SFS does have one big factor in its favour. Atmosphere.
