CONCERNS about ticket prices, venues and the inability to sell out Bledisloe Cup Tests in Sydney were among the reasons the Australian Rugby Union yesterday called on spectators to help provide it with solutions.

The ARU will post an internet questionnaire next month, enabling spectators to tell it what has attracted or deterred them from attending Tests in various cities this season. It follows a considerable slump in crowds for Sydney Tests, while spectators have complained about the standard of facilities, increased ticket prices and varying standards of transport to venues.

In recent weeks, the Herald has received a wave of spectator complaints over ANZ Stadium, including overpriced seats where the view of the game is poor, parking problems, poor match entertainment, post-game transport difficulties, as well as the quality of food on offer. Many long-time rugby supporters claim they will never attend another Test at Homebush Bay.

To appease spectators, the ARU has called on their help with questionnaire answers to be used in a full review after the Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane on September 13.

Although the questionnaire is yet to be finalised, it is understood to cover venues, facilities, queues, toilet standards, food quality and available transport.

ARU chief executive John O'Neill said last night that as SANZAR was shortly "transforming Super rugby and potentially reshaping the international season structure in the not-too-distant future," feedback "from the rugby community was vital".

He added: "We want to know, at an operational level, what is and isn't working with our fans."

O'Neill said that although there were positive signs, as shown by the Springboks Test in Perth attracting the biggest crowd to Subiaco Oval this year, while the Brisbane Test was selling strongly, tomorrow night's Bledisloe Cup match at ANZ Stadium had not been sold out.

"That is disappointing," he said. "Even though we will have around 80,000 people there - which is a big crowd by any measure in world sport - we want to find out why there are tickets remaining two days before the Test."

Despite some believing the game had been sold out, O'Neill added: "I am sure other reasons are also at play and we want our fans to let us know - in an organised fashion - what those factors might be."

SANZAR also confirmed it had investigated the alleged shoulder charge by Springbok second-rower Bakkies Botha on Stirling Mortlock during last Saturday's Test which led to the Wallaby leaving the field with concussion and missing the Bledisloe Cup Test.

Despite numerous camera angles, the citing commissioner couldn't be sure Botha contacted Mortlock so decided to take no action.