Reviving the spirit of Anzac rugby
Roar Guru By Rickety Knees, 21 Nov 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- 1980s, All Blacks, Bledisloe Cup, Deans, Giteau, MCC, robbie deans
A defining moment in the birth of Australia and New Zealand as nations has been been the Anzac spirit, which has seen many Australians and New Zealanders die together on foreign battlefields in wars where we have fought for the same cause.
In many ways, the Anzac spirit is at the base of the rivalry between Australia and New Zealand on the sporting field, with the Bledisloe Cup being the most fiercely contested of all.
The British Lions Tour is always a highlight of any Rugby Calender and creates great interest and flow on revenue for all concerned.
Back in the 1980s, an attempt was made to create a Anzac Rugby side, but it was left to players to choose and only Kieren Crowley and Steve McDowell from the All Blacks chose to play.
The idea fizzled out.
I believe it is time to revive the idea of Anzac Ruby and run a tour alternatively to the Lions and play the Lions when they tour our way:
Just imagine this line-up:
Muliaina, Sivivatu, Mortlock, Giteau, Hynes, Carter, Burgess/Cowan, So’oialo, McCaw, Horwill, Thorn, Smith, Woodock, Moore, Robinson. Coach Robbie Deans
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- Explore:
- 1980s, All Blacks, Bledisloe Cup, Deans, Giteau, MCC, robbie deans
November 21st 2008 @ 7:21am
Spiro Zavos said | November 21st 2008 @ 7:21am | Report comment
In 1899 when the Rev Matthew Mullineux brought out a British team to play the first rugby Tests in Australia, the NSWRU asked the NZ provinces if they wanted to contribute to an Austrasian side. There was no NZRU at the time and the NZ provinces, thankfully, turned down the offer. The Wallabies and All Blacks are just such strong brands/teams/concepts that they would weaken their integrity by combining.
There may be a case, occasionally, for a Barbarian type side made up of Wallabies and ABs, but even then I think keeping to the brand makes more sense.
For instance, a match between the Wallabies touring the UK and the Wallabies playing in Europe and Japan would be an interesting match for a Wemnbley venue
A similar NZ match, too would be fascinating.
November 21st 2008 @ 7:36am
Jerry said | November 21st 2008 @ 7:36am | Report comment
Not a bad selection, though I’d have Ali WIliams in ahead of Horwill. Robinson/Afoa/Tialata is a toss up really, but I’d be happy to have another Aussie in there for balance.
I’m not even gonna touch the Henry/Deans shitfight as to who coaches.
November 21st 2008 @ 8:24am
Blinky Bill - Bellingen said | November 21st 2008 @ 8:24am | Report comment
Anyone fancy the idea of a Southern Hemisphere team to take on a Northern Hemisphere team?
All Blacks, Giant Proteas, Pacific Islanders, Pumas and Wallabies. 3 Baa Baa style game played in Europe & UK. Sounds like a money spinner and could certainly help promote Rugby and provide much needed money to PI & Argentina.
November 21st 2008 @ 9:10am
lauboy said | November 21st 2008 @ 9:10am | Report comment
In the 90s, I was interviewing Leo Williams and mentioned the Anzac rugby concept; his answer was that while the concept had been deep-sixed by the ARU, it was not dead and buried.
I took that to mean that the ARU is hopeful one day of resurrecting the concept.
Given John O’Neill’s superb ability to tick off the Kiwis in more recent times, I fail to see how the concept may take off.
(And even if it did, I certainly wouldn’t want Deans to coach it!)
On the other hand, I’m a sucker for these invitational teams!!
November 21st 2008 @ 9:46am
sheek said | November 21st 2008 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Back in 89, the ABs refused to play ball with the ANZAC XV. Of the 3 kiwis who turned up (McDowell, Botica & Crowley) only McDowell was a member of the ABs starting XV. Originally, it was planned to have 6 ABs, but most pulled out, including skipper Shelford. Botica & Crowley were fill-ins.
Part of the excuse was that the ABs would be meeting the Wallabies in a one-off test in a few weeks, & they wanted to keep the Aussies at a distance, lest they decide they like the Aussies too much!
I think while this Babas style combo has merit, It’s unlikely to happen too often in the future.
November 21st 2008 @ 10:09am
allblackfan said | November 21st 2008 @ 10:09am | Report comment
The `89 team was too unplanned. The ARU thought they could just announce the team and expect the All Blacks to turn up.
Given the fact that John Kirwan was keen to play but didn’t have his passport renewed in time, I’m wondering just how much notice was given to the ABs.
I think there may be a place for such teams particularly if we want to spread the game to new markets (think Harlem Globetrotters). We can have a travelling tour — North vs South in places like the US, Brazil, Russia, Germany, China, etc.
We might not even need our frontline players; just our up-and-coming stars!!
Allblackfan (aka lauboy)
November 21st 2008 @ 10:26am
Greg Russell said | November 21st 2008 @ 10:26am | Report comment
I don’t mean to be nitpicky, but both Robinson and Woodcock, the two props in the above team, play only at loosehead, so they could not be the two props in an Anzac team. Yesterday there was an article by OldManEmu where he selected a “World XV to take on the Martians”. His two props were Baxter and Hayman – both specialist tightheads. Perhaps this is drawing a long bow, but when passionate Australian rugby supporters seem to know so little about scrummaging, is it any surprise that Australian scrummaging is weak?
(Could the two authors concerned please not take this as a personal attack on them – I am sure they are both very nice people. It’s just that I couldn’t help noticing that lightning had struck in the same place twice.)
November 21st 2008 @ 11:03am
Even looser said | November 21st 2008 @ 11:03am | Report comment
I’m with Blinky on the South v North idea. But I can’t see it happening.
IMHO there’s just no way will the ANZAC idea fly either. As mentioned by others, the brand name issue is one and NZRFU getting on with John O’Neill is a huge ask. Anzac or not we’re just way happier arguing with each other.
November 21st 2008 @ 11:20am
OldManEmu said | November 21st 2008 @ 11:20am | Report comment
Maybe you should read the whole thread and views I have expressed elsewhere – difficult I know unless you have all day – In an article “It was all about the scrum” I praised Baxter in overly glowing and patriotic terms
Also I said on the Martians v World XV thread that I had taken leave of my senses……
and elsewhere that I had picked Hayman at Loose so I could have Baxter at Tight – in any event I note Baxter started his career at Loose
As the bloke said in the King Gee ad “dont talk to me about boats fella” , and maybe get a sense of humour while you’re at it.
And while I’m at it I reject absolutely the suggestion Austrlalian scrummaging is weak.
And it is nonsensical to try in some way to draw some sort of nexus between knoweldge of supporters and performace of the elite team. That is EXACTLY like saying that because supprters of the labour party know nothing about economics it is no wonder the Australian economy is in the soup.
My ANZAC team including players still playing in NH would be
Leon McDonald, Sivivatu, Mortlock, Mauger, Howlett, Carter, Kelleher, Kefu, Smith, Elsom, Jack, Vickerman, Hayman, Moore, Baxter.
Cant see any other team coming close to them.
The selection of Baxter is for you Greg.
November 21st 2008 @ 12:23pm
Jerry said | November 21st 2008 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
McDonald’s quite likely done with all rugby and Mauger’s not in the best form this year apparently (and wasn’t in vintage form in 07 either).
And Kefu? Seriously? it’s not 2001 y’know.