Tana, Toulon and the expectation of success
Roar Pro
By James Mortimer, 27 Jan 2009 James Mortimer is a Roar Pro
With Toulon struggling to be remotely competitive in the Top 14, the premier division of French rugby, it is likely that the former All Black captain Tana Umaga will fall on his sword.
The French media have described the club as the ‘Harlem Globetrotters of Rugby’.
Unfortunately, this is not entirely apt. Opposition teams of the class of Toulouse and Stade Francais do not fold to the superstar laden team coached by Umaga, and this is a lesson that is being quickly found out by the faithful.
Or more to the point, it is a lesson that perhaps will never be learnt.
Mourad Boudjellal has tried to rejuvenate the club with little concern for the club’s rich history. Some of the wise-heads of European rugby regard the club as little more than a circus, or a country club for famous internationals wanting a rugby vacation.
Toulon, founded in 1908 is hardly some rich man’s fantasy team. They have won the French championship on three occasions, in 1931, 1987 and 1992. But modern history has seen them go in and out of the top flight (the Top 14) and the second division (Pro D2). Financially destroyed in the 1990s, they won promotion to the Top 14 in 2005 after winning the Pro D2.
However, as they are finding this season, there is a huge difference between the two divisions in France, and they were relegated back after just one year.
It was here the Boudjellal began to play fantasy football: George Gregan, Anton Oliver, Andrew Mehrtons, Dan Luger and Victor Matfield all signed contracts – as well as Umaga himself earning a reported 300,000 Euros for playing just a handful of games.
After being charmed by Toulon, Umaga returned to coach the star-studded team, who lived up to their globetrotter reputation by sweeping through the Pro D2 and once again gaining promotion the Top 14 championship.
But, despite the arrivals of former All Black Jerry Collins and high profile League convert Sonny Bill Williams, they have struggled at the premier level. Most of their initial glamour signings have departed, and despite still boasting a cadre of talent, the team still struggles.
Some argue that it is the fact that these players come so celebrated and are paid so much that they are never going to translate their performance to the park. Jerry Collins remarked after last year’s Barbarians match against Australia that he had not played to full potential in France.
Umaga has been assured he is safe, but one only has to remember Tim Lane to understand that such promises mean little to eccentric millionaires. Boudjellal wants success. He wants another Top 14 championship for the club.
When Eddie Jones Saracens played them last year, he remarked that they were hardly impressive. With the exception of Matfield and Oliver, there has not been considerable focus on the tight five of Toulon, an observation noted by Jones.
Superstars in the backs, and globally recognised (but declining) back-rowers do not make an exceptional rugby team.
The tragedy in this lies with Umaga. And it’s a tale the RFU and Martin Johnson may soon learn as well unless English rugby conjures a miracle in the next year.
Great captains are not guaranteed great coaches.
Umaga, who reportedly left New Zealand to escape the pressure of fame, has now paid the price of another kind. To win a second division competition with a galaxy of stars is one thing, to compete against top level teams and coaches in the Top 14 is all but impossible for a coaching novice.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Rugby Union articles
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (201)
- Will South African rugby force a Super 21 by 2018? (173)
- The real story of how John O’Neill turned Manchester City down (70)
- Dan Parks and the unsolved questions of expat rugby (65)
- Australian teams at Super disadvantage (58)
- Pocock set to be named new Force skipper (56)
- Can the ‘Tahs win the battle after losing the Waugh? (51)
- France turns to Parra and Trinh-Duc
- Rebels look to lift for formidable Blues in rugby trial
- Mr Fix-It Lucas wants to nail down No.10
- Force roost loses ‘Mother Hen’ Sharpe
- Victory beat Mariners with Kewell winner
- Waratahs romp to 83-5 trial win over Samoa A
- Quade Cooper’s return to the Reds goes up a gear
- Wales show Southern Hemisphere how to play running rugby (29)
- What opening matches of Six Nations taught us (19)
- Will Super Rugby crowds continue their slide? (202)
- Clinical Chiefs cost rusty Rebels in Corio (9)
- Six Nations shows rugby is a parochial game at heart (5)
- Goose’s Super Rugby up-and-comer XV for 2012 (29)
- What does the future hold for the Six Nations (50)
Crosscoder said | January 27th 2009 @ 7:12am | Report comment
Sorry,whilst I had a lot of time for Tana as a player,his efforts in getting SBW to go to Toulon,whilst he had a contract with another code,doesn’t sit well with me.I have no problem with legally done code switches.
SBW obviously wasn’t happy with the Bulldogs,but the day he exited stage left shafting his teammates,and prior to that telling
a team of junior rugby league players from Nth NSW “play as a team ,not for yourselves” or words to that effect,says it all.
It would appear to me a troubled confused young man,was enticed to Toulon,and Tana was the lure.
Here was the next big thing in rl,and apparently the next big thing in ru in France and eventually the ABS,accroding to the pundits.
The case of sow what you reap,springs to mind.
Nick_KIA said | January 27th 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
There’s nothing “illegal” about signing a contract while contracted elsewhere, as long as you compensate the first party adequately and they therefore agree to your release, as (eventually) occurred when SBW departed. Just because you have signed a contract doesn’t mean you must play out the contract.
Having said that, SBW’s behaviour was erratic and did disenfranchise his fans, to say the least.
It’s been announced that Umanga has been replaced as coach by Philipe Saint-Andre. Umanga is staying on as manager till 2010. Also, amazingly he’s going to play again – I’m not sure he’ll still be up to it (see other Roar story)
Keith said | January 27th 2009 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Crosscoder, that strikes me as a pretty self righteous take on Umaga. The guy is a professional coach, SBW is a professional player who made a decision he deemed best for him. The whole mock outrage that has surrounded his departure has revealed more about Australia’s league establishment than SBW. Apparently it would have been OK for SBW to abandon his mates after his contract expired – who knew mateship and legal documents were so closely intertwined?
As far as him telling a bunch of juniour league players to play as a team – I would have thought that was good tactical advice for any team sport…
Which leads me back to Tana and his coaching failure. Successful rugby requires co-operation, perhaps more than any other sport. Tana was able to inspire that teamwork on the field, but for whatever reason he hasn’t been able to do it from the sideline.
For me, and alot of other ABs fans, there’s a larger issue here. Tana captained the ABs 21 times. Under his leadership the ABs clean swept the Lions, won the second ever Grand Slam, took the Tri Nations back, and held the Bledisloe Cup twice. Not to put too fine a point on it, he’s built up a legacy. I’m hoping this latest incarnation at Toulon doesn’t tarnish that legacy.
But, like I say, the guy is a professional, he can do what he likes. I wish him the best.
Crosscoder said | January 27th 2009 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Ugh! I should have stated reap what you sow.
Nick_KIA
Depends on when the contract starts,if it starts once his current one expired no problems.You can sign a contract for 2010 now, if your current one expires end 2009.
My limited understanding for ending of contracts: mutually agreed upon,compensation,breaking of conditions in the contract.
From what I gather none of these were completely fulfilled.Certainly the compensation was far less than the bulldogs were entitiled.It was a case of take it or leave it.
Was it mutually agreed? no!
Did the player give notice? No!
Was there mutually agreeable compensation? No
Did he break the conditions in the contract by for example not attending training? Yes.
Agreed to the release please ,the Bulldogs had little choice,in reality a mild form of duress.The French ru at times have little regard for contracts particularly players from rland as history has shown for the game of rl.
It appears on your ideas,that contracts in reality are open slather.Remind me to renege in future on many contracts I have taken up ,and use the famous Aussie term “shove it”,and expect no legal repercussions.
Crosscoder said | January 27th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Keith
Self righteous ? Thanks for the put down.
Maybe I am old fashioned, but I believe your word or a contract is your bond,and only mitigating circumstances should change that view.
Tana was aware SBW was contracted to the Bulldogs and obviously unhappy.He apparently discussed SBW with the Storm’s assistant coach Kearney.
On that basis if Lote took up his ball,shafted the tahs and the Wallabies,and headed off to an English Super league club,without telling his mates/club or the ARU,ru supporters would be patting him on the back.
Mateship, growing out of being contracted (legally for a club) tends to be intertwine players.Its called being in a team together and experiencing the highs and lows of the game.Pro players are aware once contract ends,their teammates can and do go elsewhere.It is a no brainer.
Telling a bunch of schoolage kids about teamsmanship, 2 days before doing a runner,may be good tactical advice,but the messenger shoots himself in the foot by ignoring his own advice:not letting your teammates down.
Getting back to Tana.A good player does not necessarily translate into a good or successful coach.The world of rugby in both codes is littered with such examples.
Nick_KIA said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:25am | Report comment
CC,
It was clearly mutually agreed. If the Bulldogs thought they were owed more they would have persued him in the courts, they’re not a charity. I can’t see how ‘the poor old Bulldogs’ were pressured.
And contracts are “open” – we don’t live in a society where you can’t change your mind, for good reason or bad. Noone is bound by any contract. When you sign one, you agree to undertake your end of the bargain. It outlines what you must do (attend training, play, not get drunk) Conditions in which you or the club may break it (loss of form and being dropped, significant time out injured, ill discipline etc etc) are stipulated. Compensation for early breaking might be outlined. Certainly, courts exist to help sort out any compensation.
Have a look at your foxtel contract, or a phone/internet company etc, for example. You sign up, you get 24 months at some rate, and some freebees, but you undertake to pay for 24 months. If you get the stitch with their crap lineup you can stop early, but you’ll pay something.
“The French ru at times have little regard for contracts particularly players from rland as history has shown for the game of rl.” Er, I think RL and it’s supporters may have short memories. They have had scant regard for agreements in other codes when the economic shoe was on the other foot. I don’t remember them asking the NZRU if it was alright that they offer M Ridge, J Schuster, J Timu, M Ellis, D Halligan, F Botica etc contracts in the 80s and 90s when they were flush with cash relative to RU.
The only issue was whether ‘he did the right thing by his mates’. I agree what he did leaves a sour taste. This point was pushed in the media here (I’m in Sydney). If he had stood up at the end of training and said “Boys I’m off to France for a heap of cash and some french birds” would that have made it ok?? In the end these guys are playing for $$, it’s their perogative who they play for. It’s sad, and if I were a kid following the Bulldogs I’d feel gutted that my hero had abandoned my club, but it’s reality. Maybe they should support NSW cricket.
Oh wait a minute… didn’t they just buy a contracted player to play one game?
Westy said | January 27th 2009 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
Toulon certainly got good value out of Sonny Bill ? How many games did he play?
Nik- Kia certainly making good point and then you regress to ridge/halligan etc. In all fairness to Crosscoder they were not part of his concern. They like the other rugby league players obtained by rugby were never under contract and were fair game. My problem with SBW is a personal one not a legal one. He is rather immature although he seems a nice enough bloke. He had several opportunities to tell his teammates or broker a deal directly with the club and not lawyers at 40 paces.The saddest part is when he informed his captain Andrew Ryan he would definitely play that weekend. There are honourable people in league too and Ryan is one of them. Sonny had made his decision but still did not have the maturity to back them on his own to a person who made clear he was not representing his officials just his teammates..
The Link said | January 27th 2009 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
Agree Westy. Further to this Rugby made its own bed through its stubborn amateurism.
In hindsight the Dogs offered SBW fair value given he was injury prone.
I hope Sonny comes good and has a career benefitting his talents. In hindsight i’m sure he’ll look back with some regret at how he went about handling the situation (not the end result of him playing OS).
Its looking a long way back to representative football for SBW at present.
SouthernWaratah said | January 27th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
The problem here is George Gregan! and the lack of him!
Nick_KIA said | January 27th 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
I did and do agree with everyone here that SBW pulled a manouvre that lacked class, especially with respect to team mates and fans.
I just don’t agree at all with the perception that a contract is somehow a holy rit that can never be broken, as maintained by Crosscoder, and others in the popular media when the whole thing happened. There are clear legal and ethical principles for breaking contracts. The guy, and any other guy, can decide to go and play in France any time they like, they aren’t slaves no matter what bit of paper they’ve signed. As long as they/French club are happy with the personal/financial consequences.
I accept that Crosscoder wasn’t thinking about players acquired by league prior to 1996. That was my point – league, like other professional organisations, including French RU clubs, Indian Cricket, NSW Cricket, etc, etc, are out to make $$ and part of that is buying players. It’s the reality of professional sport, you can’t suddenly say French RU aren’t playing by the rules. Anyone’s fair game if you’re willing to pay. And they did pay the Bulldogs. They’d have factored that into the decision to offer him a contract.
I hope he’s enjoying himself in France. He was a fantastic league player, not convinced he’s suited to union. I don’t think we’ll be seeing him in the s14, or a black jersey any time soon.