If You Can't Beat 'Em - Tickets for Sale (First Episode)

In the first episode of comedy series If You Can't Beat 'Em, the Irish rugby team are set to play the All Blacks at Athletic Park, and social rugby team members Tom, Matti, Richard, Skip and 'Killer' are left scrambling for tickets. Under pressure to come up with tickets for friends from out of town, Matti (Don Selwyn) thinks outside the law, while Ces (Alex Trousdell) is outraged that his 'coach's pass' doesn't cover international matches. The cast also includes John Bach (Duggan) playing the naive Richard. Filmed mainly at Avalon Studios, If You Can't Beat 'Em was one of the earliest Kiwi comedy series to be shot in front of a live audience.

Oh that Irish pack was too long in the tooth. By the time a forward gets past 30 he should pack it in.

– Rugby coach Ces (Alex Trousdell) on the last Ireland versus New Zealand match, at the start of this episode

Key Cast & Crew

John Bach

As: Richard

Judith Fyfe

As: Nora

Peter Coates

Producer

Kevin Boon

Writer, Original Concept

Don Selwyn

As: Matti

Alex Trousdell

As: Ces