Legendary All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer feels that the game in the Southern Hemisphere has lost its Super status - at least for the fans.

Speaking ahead of the Lions' Super 14 Round Five match against the Waratahs on Friday, Spencer noted that thew crowds have dwindled dramatically in the five years that he played in Europe.

The 34-year-old, who signed with the Lions after a five-year stint in England, said the games lacks ''atmosphere'' and ''buzz''.

He is grateful for the opportunity offered to him by the Johannesburg-based outfit, the Lions, after stints with Gloucester and Northampton - a two-year deal that will incorporate him coaching their Golden Lions team in the Currie Cup - but he remains perplexed by Super Rugby's failure to attract the healthy crowds it once did.

''One thing I have noticed is that [Southern Hemisphere] crowds are definitely not as big as they used to be five, six or seven years ago,'' Spencer told the Sydney Morning Herald.

He began his Super Rugby career in 1996 with the Blues.

''When I left New Zealand ? we used to get 20 000-30 000 every [home] game. Now you struggle to get 10 000. Are we playing too many games and people getting bored of rugby? It is a question that we have to find out [an answer to] and fix. I suppose you have to ask the fans.

''We would pack out Eden Park every home game. Then I used to watch it on TV in the UK. I saw so many seats and thought: 'What's happening?','' he added.

Spencer, who has 99 Super caps to his name after earning three with the Lions this year to add to his impressive tally with the Blues, says most players ''thrive'' off playing before a full-house.

''That's what we play for - to run out through the tunnel and hear a full stadium,'' he says.

''It was even better when we went to South Africa. Those stadiums are right on top of you. Mate, there is nothing better than playing in front of 40 000-50 000 South Africans cheering for your blood.''

The likelihood is that Spencer won't get to celebrate his 100th Super game before such a crowd against the Waratahs at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday.

The Waratahs, 10th on the ladder, attracted just 20,651 to the 44,000-capacity SFS for their first home game of the season against the Sharks last Saturday.

After being booed despite their win, the Waratahs will be pressed to match that number against the 13th-placed Lions - even though their captain, Phil Waugh, will surpass Chris Whitaker as the most capped Waratah by playing his 119th game.