Tana, Toulon and the expectation of success
Roar Guru By James Mortimer, 27 Jan 2009 James Mortimer is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Eddie Jones, Galaxy, George Gregan, Gregan, Martin Johnson, Matt Henjak, Mourad Boudjellal, New Zealand, Sonny Bill Williams, Tana Umaga, Toulouse
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.
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January 27th 2009 @ 2:05pm
Keith said | January 27th 2009 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
Crossover,
Bro, I apologise for calling you self righteous. I just think the hysteria surrounding the SBW departure was way out of proportion to what he did.
Nik_KIA,
Agree SBW might not have what it takes to suceed in rugby – but to be fair I don’t think anyone has seen enough of him play to make that call. I’d be surprised if someone with that little emotional maturity is ever invited to pull on a black jumper. Then again…Jimmy Cowan.
For me, the biggest question is whether Tana will be a success playing again. The guy is 35 years old, hasn’t played in two years, and comes into the role having to face a ridiculous amount of pressure. It would be easy to write him off, but I’m going to reserve judgement till the end of this French season in May. Let’s not forget he is still Tana.
January 27th 2009 @ 2:42pm
Nick_KIA said | January 27th 2009 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
I was a huge Umaga fan when he was in the ABs, he was all class. But I think he was past it in his last season for the Canes, so I’d be (pleasantly) surprised if he’s got game now. Agree will be interesting to see…
January 27th 2009 @ 4:37pm
rami said | January 27th 2009 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
“Give me a champion team not a team of champions” was one of the first quotes told to me as a schoolboy player by a Johnny Niwa our senior coach Waitara .It is a lesson all coaches should keep in the portfolio not the wallet.Second Tuna dont get caught in the web of top players become top coach’s not many make it to grand finals.If we look back to famous All Black players Colin Meads,Waka Nathan,Wilson Whinery even John Kirwan with Italy and Japan with the former 3 mentioned they became very good team managers.We look at french rugby at the set up from players,coach’s and owners(millionaires)success must come at once otherwise the investment is wasted.For Umanga to bring in SBW from league was a disaster to happen cause reson being SBW never played Union,had a poor injury record,went for the wrong reason’s and a League boy at heart but he loved Umanga as a player like SBW Tana was Junior Kiwi RL Rep.
As Jerry Collins admitted he never played hard at Toulon so the problem must lies with the players and coach must a have good man mangement and the balls to be hard but in Umanga he played with most of the players.Ian Watson
January 27th 2009 @ 7:26pm
Steffy said | January 27th 2009 @ 7:26pm | Report comment
“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”
Those were playing contracts not employment contracts – by playing rugby league those players were deemed to be professional rugby players and as such weren’t elligible to play “amateur” union – so the contract breaking came from the unions.
As for the comments that suggest Toulon were right in hiring SBW while he was still under contract with the Bulldogs – that’s utter nonsense – it doesn’t matter how much compensation they eventually stumped up – if the Toulon union club were an honourable organisation they would have paid a transfer fee before SBW left not encourage him to break his contract then pay up.
January 27th 2009 @ 9:09pm
Keith said | January 27th 2009 @ 9:09pm | Report comment
Steffy, I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore. SBW is a professional athlete who has made a decision that he deems best for his career. He’s in Toulon now and no amount of hand wringing is going to change that. There’s a more interesting question now – is he going to be any good at rugby?
January 27th 2009 @ 10:18pm
sunshinecoaster said | January 27th 2009 @ 10:18pm | Report comment
Rugby union is only doing what league did to them in the 90s,all this dribble people are spouting about contracts is just an excuse to get bitter at Sonny Bill,there just slagged off they lost him and its become personal.
I like both codes but the facts are Union is the bigger game now and is only getting bigger,now its there turn to throw the money around and dont expect after what league did in the 90s for them to show any mercy,hearing statements like Toulon were not honorable is absurd.
Im not even sure why people are talking about Sonny Bill in this topic,Toulon were struggling before he arrived and hes been there for five minutes,Toulons current state has nothing to do with Sonny Bill they brought him to develop not get off the plane and perform miracles
January 27th 2009 @ 10:53pm
rami said | January 27th 2009 @ 10:53pm | Report comment
The issue is can Tana coach not SBW he was signed to help shore up Toulon.
CAN you coach Toulon let us know how would you attack the job?
Answer the 6 issues first.
1/ Retainment and sacking of currant squad.
2/Your team game plan?
3/Who would you appoint to your Roster eg., 2players,1 team staff.
4/Club plan say 3 years or 2years.
5/How much Remuneration $$$ or would you go for incentives?
6/ How would you handle the BOSS the money man?
IAN WATSON
January 27th 2009 @ 11:26pm
rami said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:26pm | Report comment
When Union went pro it forced there hand to come clean as they payed the top past players under the table ,in the Northern Hemishere it was like a cattle market Mike Gibson,Gareth Edwards,JPR Williams,Serg Blanco,Jo Maso and Barry John were a few who were payed to play Union.
In Australia the great scab came in 1907 started over non payment of insurance for Alec “Bluey” Burdon who was injured in Union match NSW v Qld where the gate takings was over !0,000 pounds and NSW Metro RU declined to pay Burdon medical fees etc., total cost !pound and 4shillings.
From that time to when rugby went pro league poached the union boys but it has only attracted the proven league convert mainly backs (The same as league they signed backs the exception was Dick Thonett became a great league forward Dick Valentine From Scotland,Rex Mossop and Johnny Simpson(F),Bob Scott were very good 1st grade league players for Ponsonby Auckland and became stars for the A/Blacks so nothing has changed in 100yrs only the size of the $$$$$ Ian Watson.
January 27th 2009 @ 11:28pm
Westy said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:28pm | Report comment
Sunshinecoaster you should say bigger game “in France” I would not want to have my contract with Bristol Shoguns or the Newcastle Falcons. bristol probably bankrupt and at any rate should be relegated ( the promotion team better pass the financial?)and Newcastle Falcons at the very least facing a substantial paycuts. most guiness Cup teams will be cutting squads to 38 ( aloss of 10 players for some clubs). By the way the average players salary in the Guinness premiership is currently 70000 pounds and is expested to be reduced to 60000 pounds next season.( Source Damien Hopley Professional players rugby association executive). We have a dangerous tendency in the Australian rugby community to mouth platitudes and ignore reality.It is France which is the real wild card with its sugar daddy funded rugby,
Six of the current Guinness Cup teams will run substantial losses waiting to be saved by the renewed and increased tv deal in 2010. The problem is for some clubs it may be to late. newcastle’s home crowds of 4000 make the NRL look good.
January 27th 2009 @ 11:44pm
Westy said | January 27th 2009 @ 11:44pm | Report comment
Rami the Burdon incident created serious discontent in amateur rugby circles in suburban Sydney especially when at other times some “lucky” or well connected players players were compensated. This arbitrary and sometimes discriminatory payment of medical fees cost Australian rugby. We do not like to hear it. What was a battle over rules in UK was a little uglier in Australia .Despite strong condemnation in the herald that it would only encourage certain types of men not to return promptly to work it created public sympathy for the players. It was the real catalst for us losing whole regions of AMATEUR rugby players to AMATEUR rugby league clubs after 1908 breakaway.. By the way The amateur league clubs paid some medical insurance. No pokies in sight. Sometimes we in Australian rugby protesteth to much. We deserved what we got and no amount of calling rugby league mungos or whatever redeems what was in essence our failure to properly manage our game.