There was a time once when Australia produced rugby players with such silken skills that in the twinkle of any eye they could mesmerise the opposition.
There was a time when Wallaby forwards targetted winning 40 percent of the ball, knowing that their backs would weave their magic and win the day.
2009 has been annus horribilis for Australian rugby.
The game has become one dimensional, with the new mantra of “winning ugly.” The Waratahs and the Wallabies have played mind-numbing ugly rugby.
Randwick played the last quarter of the recent Shute Shield grand final trying to bash and barge their way to victory – and failed.
It is an indictment on the game when the once famous Galloping Greens resort to trying to win a grand final by playing ugly rugby.
And it is an indicator on how far the game has regressed.
Professionalism has brought many things – greedy players monopolising the revenue at the expense of junior development, greedy merchandisers constantly producing new strips, administrative fat cats cashing in on the gravy train.
But worst of all, a fear of failure leading to playing low risk one dimensional ugly rugby.
The costly purchase of Rugby League backs has sent a message to Australian rugby backs that they are not good enough. Flowing on the coaching staff have adopted the Rugby League one dimensional defence oriented style of play, which has resulted in the term “ugly rugby”.
The spirit of the game in Australia was to play the game hard but enjoy it in the process. The after-game camardarerie was to be savoured.
Now days, the professionals are not concerned with enjoying the game, and after-match camaraderie is a thing of the past.
The game has produced the emotionless robotic professional more interested in self-image and promoting his capital. And coaches hell bent on playing low risk ugly rugby.
The combination of these two does not add to very much, and that is exactly what we have got – not much!
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October 2nd 2009 @ 5:44pm
sheek said | October 2nd 2009 @ 5:44pm | Report comment
Here’s a novel idea – let’s find out where the junior clubs are, & build the district clubs from there. Concessions would perhaps be needed for Parramatta, Penrith & Souths, which are massive youth catchment areas. It would be easy enough to work out – look up the ‘find a club’ section on the ARU website.
Here’s a historical perspective, when the MRU (forerunner of NSWRU) adopted the district system in 1900, the founding clubs were – North Sydney, South Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, Western Suburbs, Balmain, Newtown, Glebe & Sydney University.
No one questioned Sydney University’s right to be in a district based competition. Back then, as now, rugby union was very establishment. Randwick, who had appeared in the previous version of the comp, were initially absorbed into either Easts or Souths (I can’t remember which).
I will no doubt be accused of Uni bashing again (sigh) but I sometimes get the impression they’re more interested in preserving their legacy of being Australian rugby’s oldest club, rather than advancing the development of Australian rugby. Sydney University have powerful friends in very high places.
I expect Bruce Ross, if he reads this, will give me a broadside!!!
As a rugby fan, you would have to be cringing with jealousy at the media & community support for Parramatta going into this weekend’s grand final, & last week also for Canterbury. Union can only dream with envy…..
October 2nd 2009 @ 11:34pm
Bruce Ross said | October 2nd 2009 @ 11:34pm | Report comment
I have to confess, Sheek, that I have given up on responding to the relentless Uni bashing but since you mentioned me by name let’s make this my last hurrah. You state that Uni are “more interested in preserving their legacy of being Australian rugby’s oldest club, rather than advancing the development of Australian rugby.” Can you tell me any other club that comes close to Uni in terms of developing professional players? Let’s extend that. Tell me how many clubs anywhere in the world produce more professional players.
In Uni’s 1st Grade Grand Final team this year all 23 players were products of its Colts program. That’s right, every one.
And guess which club won the Under 16 State Championship?
I actually don’t know why I bothered to reply but I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Who knows, some day you might all get your wish and succeed in driving out the club that doesn’t belong. Then we can all sit back and watch the golden age of Australian rugby come to pass.
Over and out.
October 3rd 2009 @ 12:10am
sheek said | October 3rd 2009 @ 12:10am | Report comment
Well Bruce,
Thanks for the reply.
You’ve indicated you’re no longer interested in responding, but I beg the question – is Uni’s pre-eminence part of a level playing field?
I mean, do Parramatta or Penrith get the same opportunities to develop, or is it case of them being seen but not heard?? Or assisted?
I’ve said it before, I don’t have anything against Uni per se, but when the game is struggling on so many fronts, especially on player participation numbers, Uni’s pre-eminence strikes me as odd. Especially sending out the wrong message.
Rightly or wrongly, Uni says to the Australian suburbia that union is still a game of privilege. Or gives that impression.
Could Uni ever harness the kind of community support we’ve seen for RL teams Parramatta & Canterbury in the past few weeks?
October 3rd 2009 @ 8:43am
Bruce Ross said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
OK, Sheek, because I admire your passion and your ideas, I’ll attempt a response.
You ask, “is Uni’s pre-eminence part of a level playing field?
“I mean, do Parramatta or Penrith get the same opportunities to develop”?
No, the playing field is not level, but not perhaps in the way you might think. Sport at Sydney University has never received funding or support from any level of government. The Rugby Club has no access to council grounds and all of its facilities have been built by student subscriptions and the contributions of its supporters. It has no reliance on poker machine revenue, the dividend from human exploitation and misery.
The Club has twice been relegated to Second Division and battled its way back up. About a decade ago there was a concerted push by other clubs to drive it out of the Premiership competition because it was regarded as uncompetitive. Now there is ongoing pressure to exclude it because it is too competitive. And the points system which was implemented this year had no other purpose than to ensure that Uni’s playing standard declined to that of the other clubs. It has already been foreshadowed that the points system will be even more restrictive next season for the same purpose.
The maximum points permitted for a First Grade team are 150. In the recent Grand Final Uni’s points totalled 110. Its opponent, Randwick, fielded a team totalling in excess of 170 points. How come? The points system was conveniently suspended for the finals series to enable clubs to load up with blow-ins. Uni only uses its own players.
One consistent whings is that Uni poaches players. It is true that none of the Uni players were actually born on campus, although it could be that some were conceived there in one of the colleges. But how many other clubs rely on players born in what they consider their district?
Each year all clubs compete to try to attract school leavers. University is attractive to young players and their parents because of the comprehensiveness of its program, not for financial considerations. No player is paid to play and the scholarships which some players receive are quite modest. Almost without exception, players could get a better financial deal by choosing another club. I personally interview a lot of young players and their parents and it is extremely rare for the question of scholarship amounts to be raised.
“Rightly or wrongly, Uni says to the Australian suburbia that union is still a game of privilege. Or gives that impression.” This was very probably the case decades ago. I have been involved with the Club for twenty years, and coming from Wollongong and being irredeemably working class, have been one of those who have worked hard to broaden the socio-economic base. The Club is also open in the sense that you don’t have to be a student at the University to play there. However all young players are strongly encouraged to study, whether at Sydney, another University or at TAFE for example.
“Could Uni ever harness the kind of community support we’ve seen for RL teams Parramatta & Canterbury in the past few weeks?” No. But if that’s the test you want to apply to decide whether a club is worthy of survival, every other rugby club in Australia would fail it miserably.
You provoked me into entering this thread by asserting that Sydney University was not interested in “advancing the development of Australian rugby.” I would suggest that if Australia had three or four other clubs doing as much for development as Uni, there would not be the current level of despondency and despair at the playing standard of our national team.
October 3rd 2009 @ 9:21am
Rickety Knees said | October 3rd 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Great post Bruce – is Sydney Uni promoting Rugby to schools in its immediate vicinity – say Redfern, Glebe or Annandale?
October 3rd 2009 @ 10:03am
Bruce Ross said | October 3rd 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Not in the schools, Ricketty, but they have been supplying coaches to the Canterbury Junior Club. For example, one of the Uni Colts who was out injured for the season coached the Canterbury Under 13s to a Premiership in the Southern Zone competition.
October 3rd 2009 @ 10:32am
Rickety Knees said | October 3rd 2009 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Bruce – there seems to be a bug in this software – I am reply to your last post.
Is there anything preventing Sydney Uni from taking Rugby to say the schools in Redfern?
October 3rd 2009 @ 10:15am
sheek said | October 3rd 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Thanks Bruce,
Please realise this is not personal towards you, although I can understand your pricklishness from constant attacks on Uni from sources other than me. And I thought I was unique!!!
I guess if Australian rugby was doing well in other areas, Uni’s situation wouldn’t be so obvious. You have helped my understanding in some ways, but on some matters we will have to continue to agree to disagree.
I do believe one of Australian rugby’s problems is an image problem, & how motivated the powers-that-be are to address this image problem. And might I say the image problem is two-pronged – perception of elitism & complexity of the game.
October 3rd 2009 @ 10:56am
Invictus said | October 3rd 2009 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Bruce,
I’m pretty neutral on this issue as I’m in Perth. How much work does Uni do with juniors – you mentioned colts and U16 and assistance to an U13 side. Is Uni active in the rugby community all the way from U6′s up? From what I have read this seems to be the main gripe against Uni – that they aren’t putting in the work at junior level.
Also, is it correct that Southern Districts and West Harbour are to be excluded from the Shut Shield?
October 2nd 2009 @ 6:00pm
Rickety Knees said | October 2nd 2009 @ 6:00pm | Report comment
Great post Sheek – mate – have you signed up to Andrew Logan’s Rugby Australia initiative. If not go to Facebook and search on “Rugby Australia” – about 50 have joined thus far.
Unfortunately this falls under the NSWRU mandate – I believe that they set the rules for eligibility participation in the Shute Shield. NSWRU lack of action/foresight strikes again.
We Roarers should have our own annual awards. If so IMHO NSWRU should win the Moribund Organisation of 2009 Award.
October 2nd 2009 @ 9:05pm
Hansie said | October 2nd 2009 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
I think this article is a bit misty eyed. Back when the Wallabies were happy to receive 40 per cent of possession, they generally got flogged. The old honourable victory was not enough!
October 3rd 2009 @ 1:11pm
Rickety Knees said | October 3rd 2009 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
Let’s not forget the Ella/Campese era
October 2nd 2009 @ 10:01pm
Chris said | October 2nd 2009 @ 10:01pm | Report comment
I attended the Shute Shield Grand Final and I don’t recall Randwick trying to “bash and barge” their way in the last quarter of the game
October 3rd 2009 @ 1:01pm
Rickety Knees said | October 3rd 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
Chris – it is all in the eye of the beholder. Spiro saw something similar to myself:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/09/28/sydney-university-teaches-randwick-a-rugby-lesson/
October 3rd 2009 @ 11:33pm
Chris said | October 3rd 2009 @ 11:33pm | Report comment
Perhaps, what i saw was randwick desperately trying to score a try but shooting themselves in the foot several times
October 3rd 2009 @ 12:58pm
sheek said | October 3rd 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Rickety,
Apologies for drifting off-topic here, but I checked the Sydney rugby juniors break-up, & it’s basically sad reading. The premier club with most juniors is both Gordon (9) & Parramatta (9). At the other end of the spectrum West Harbour (1) is actually last followed by Sydney University (2). The list from highest to lowest:
GORDON (9) – Chatswood, Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Killara-West Pymble, Lane Cove, Lindfield, Roseville, St.Ives, Wahroonga.
PARRAMATTA (9) – Blacktown, Casula, Dundas Valley, Hawkesbury, Merrylands, Norwest, Rooty Hill, St.Clair, The Hills.
EASTWOOD (7) – Beecroft-Cherrybrook, Dural, Epping, Hillview, North Rocks, Redfield, Ryde.
SOUTHS (6) – Balkehurst, Burraneer, Menai, Oakley, Rockdale, Sylvania.
WARRINGAH (6) – Collaroy, Dee Why, Narrabeen, Newport, Terrey Hills, Wakehurst.
EASTS (4) – Bays, Bondi, McAuley, Wallaroos.
MANLY (4) – Forest, Harboard, Roos, Seaforth.
RANDWICK (4) – Covelly, Coogee, Eastgardens, South Coogee.
NORTHS (3) – Drummoyne, Mosman, Pirates.
PENRITH (3) – Blue Mountains, Campbelltown, Nepean.
UNIVERSITY (2) – Canterbury, Petersham.
WESTS (1) – Wests Juniors.
I got this from the ARU ‘find a club’ website, so I assume it’s accurate. That’s 58 junior clubs in Sydney divided into 12 premier rugby clubs. That’s an average of less than 5 per senior club. Very, very depressing figures.
October 3rd 2009 @ 1:22pm
Invictus said | October 3rd 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
The question would be are there any junior clubs not aligned with shute shield clubs?
October 3rd 2009 @ 9:05pm
sheek said | October 3rd 2009 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
No, that’s what depressing – just 58 junior clubs aligned to 12 senior premier rugby clubs. You could argue the subbies clubs fall under their district clubs also. In any case, it’s pretty depressing.
October 3rd 2009 @ 1:09pm
Rickety Knees said | October 3rd 2009 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Thanks Sheek – yeah it is depressing and not a good look for Uni. Couple this with an almost complete neglect of the schools – it is little wonder that the game is in the sorry state it is in. I have not heard back from Bruce but Sydney Uni has an elitist/player poaching perception problem whether it likes it or not.
Just imagine if it started to lead the way and target schools – it could start in Redfern. Marginalised aboriginal kids could be introduced to our game and who knows we might just unearth another Mark Ella ….
October 3rd 2009 @ 1:52pm
Fly on the Wall said | October 3rd 2009 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Do ANY of the Shute Shield clubs go out into the PUBLIC schools to spread the word?
I’d be surprised.
Don’t froget Uni also has a great catchment in country and city kids studying. They then become the alumni who prop up the club financially, very much in the private school tradition – perhaps that is what irks some.
On a tanget, I know that hockey clubs wishing to play in the Sydney Premier League must have junior ranks – so UTS took over some junior club and now offers free hockey for those kids. Mind you, they’re not great in PL.
October 3rd 2009 @ 3:58pm
Gary said | October 3rd 2009 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
It’s a “UNIVERSITY” Club. Kids don’t go to uni anywhere in the world until they have finished their secondary education. Primary recruitment for any tertiary institution’s sporting teams is always at the uni entry age i.e. colts.
What many people who have never been to one of the major univesities don’t understand is that students don’t just the sporting club of their choice. They work very hard for a very long time to earn the right to join the university community and graduate in their chosen field. That that affiliation stays with them for the rest of their lives. It usually surplants where you were born as your first loyalty.
Outside of Sydney (which is not the only centre of Australian Rugby any more) , Australian rugby clubs have affiliations built around country of origin of the players or the institution members study at as well as geographical districts, .
The University of Western Australia has it’s own junior club fielding teams in all age groups from under 6 on.
October 3rd 2009 @ 4:36pm
Bruce Ross said | October 3rd 2009 @ 4:36pm | Report comment
Rickety asks:
“Is there anything preventing Sydney Uni from taking Rugby to say the schools in Redfern?” You mean other than time, grounds, a loss of focus, the lack of a suitable competition to play in and the fact that organising school rugby is not expected of any other club?
Invictus asks:
“Is Uni active in the rugby community all the way from U6’s up?” No.
and then:
“is it correct that Southern Districts and West Harbour are to be excluded from the Shut Shield?” I very much doubt it, Invictus, but then I am not privy to this sort of decision making.
Rickety has another go at Uni and concludes by asking:
“Just imagine if it started to lead the way and target schools?” Are you suggesting that that would silence the knockers? Not likely, the goal posts would simply be shifted again, just as they have been even in this thread.
Keep up the good work, boys.
October 3rd 2009 @ 8:37pm
Invictus said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:37pm | Report comment
Wasn’t having a go at Uni Bruce. Just trying to find out the other side of the story.
From Sheek’s later post it doesn’t look like any club can really congratulate itself regarding junior development.
October 3rd 2009 @ 8:31pm
Rickety Knees said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:31pm | Report comment
Thanks Bruce – I acknowledge and admire your dedication to Uni.
Your fiefdom has now won five tournaments in a row and the other fiefdoms are further scrutinising whether it is a fair battlefield. However ultimately Uni does not control the tournaments.
The current malaise of Australian Rugby is above fiefdoms.
Uni is exposed, as Sheek has highlighted above, it only supports 2 junior clubs. St Josephs College deserve much praise for their indigenous scholarship program and rightly so. Uni could trump the other fiefdoms and set a new level of community engagement and therefore far greater relevance as a Rugby club by taking Rugby to the schools across the road – at Redfern. Australian Rugby would be all the better for it, our indigenous brothers would be better off for it and the other fiefdoms may even follow suit.
It is time to walk away from your fiefdom seige mentality and as a five time tournament winner lead the way in 2010.