O’Neill wants to reward attacking play at breakdown
By Adrian Warren, 3 Feb 2010
- Tagged:
- Australian Rugby Union, John ONeill, Rugby Union, SANZAR, Super Rugby, Tri Nations
Australian Rugby Union boss John O’Neill believes the northern hemisphere nations could step into line with their southern rivals and reward attacking teams at the breakdown, even if the rules can’t be changed before next year’s World Cup.
Australian Super coaches were largely supportive of the SANZAR decision to look more favourably upon the attacking side at the breakdown hot spot in this year’s Super 14 and Tri-Nations tournaments.
While the experimental law variations were dismissed by the northern hemisphere O’Neill believed they might philosophically fall into line with the south after enduring some wretched rugby late last year.
“There was a lot of criticism in the northern hemisphere in November about how negative and boring some of the rugby was,” O’Neill said at the Super 14 season launch in Sydney on Tuesday.
“I think some of the messages are getting through in the north on a slightly delayed basis.
“When England played Argentina the week after we played them, at half-time England was booed off the park, if that starts happening, you know something is wrong.
“I think we could all end up on the same hymn sheet philosophically.
“The laws aren’t going to change between now and the World Cup, it doesn’t mean your approach to the style of rugby you want to play won’t change.”
Bolstered by star Wallabies Rocky Elsom and Matt Giteau, the Brumbies were the popular tip to be Australia’s chief standard bearer in the 2010 Super tournament.
Brumbies coach Andy Friend believed SANZAR’s directive to referees about the breakdown would help his powerful side.
“The new laws and the desire to have entertaining rugby definitely fits with the Brumbies style,” Friend said.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey felt the directive could tilt the balance back towards attacking rugby, though he thought it could take a while before there was a consistent interpretation from the referees.
“I think under the interpretations we played last year, the pendulum was 60-40 towards the defensive team,” Hickey said.
“If the new interpretations bring the contest back to 50-50, that should hopefully supply all teams with an opportunity to try and get continuity in their play.”
New Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie felt while the game wouldn’t be as loose as last year, the attacking team would still be rewarded.
“It will tighten up a little bit, but if you’re got good attacking players, you will get more reward,” McKenzie said.
His Western Force counterpart John Mitchell thought his new look side had enough backline versatility and forward depth to prosper under the SANZAR directive.
“We will play to our strengths and I’m a great believer you’ve to earn the right to play entertaining rugby and certainly we will be wanting to get the balance between attack and a kicking game,” Mitchell said.
The tournament, which will be expanded to 15 teams next year with the introduction of the Melbourne Rebels, commences in just over a week, with the Reds hosting the Waratahs and Force entertaining the Brumbies in two all-Australian matchups.
O’Neill said there was ongoing dialogue between the ARU and Melbourne over the signing window for locally based players, but didn’t want to comment on whether there would be any changes to the end of May window which the Rebels would like brought forward.
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- Australian Rugby Union, John ONeill, Rugby Union, SANZAR, Super Rugby, Tri Nations
February 3rd 2010 @ 1:50pm
Ziggy the God said | February 3rd 2010 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
So I guess Super Union is going back to their formative years when most scores looked like 74-40, 68-52 and 48-45.
Thanks for the tip, I will make sure I take ‘Overs’.
Just make sure someone lets me know what the score was.
February 3rd 2010 @ 2:07pm
Sam said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
I wouldn’t take overs for 48-45.
February 3rd 2010 @ 2:24pm
King of the Gorganites said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
same period of time that australia won the 99 world cup?
February 3rd 2010 @ 2:13pm
Working Class Rugger said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Ziggy
Well then, if so that should appease all those who bemoan the lack of try scoring in Rugby.
February 3rd 2010 @ 2:18pm
Bruce Ross said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
I am in awe of JO’N's great energy and generosity of spirit in always being prepared to find time to counsel the other Unions as to how they might so lift their performance that they might one day stand on the same lofty heights as the ARU. John O’Neill surrounded by the CEOs of the lesser nations inevitably calls to mind an image of Cortez and his men:
“Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star’d at the Pacific – and all his men
Looked at each other with a wild surmise –
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.”
We are all of us in Australian rugby eternally in the great man’s debt; so I hope I am not thought guilty of lѐse-majestѐ – apologies but it is the only appropriate word – in prevailing upon him to be less generous to outsiders and perform yet another small service for his own country.
In both of his periods of reign he has operated from the top down – what else could you expect from such an intellect – and each time he has carried our sport to new heights of achievement. His kneeling courtiers are hardly in a position to suggest that all is not for the best in this best of all possible worlds so it behooves a humble commoner to address a plea to him.
Is there any chance, John, if I may be so presumptuous, that you could spare a little time attending to rebuilding Australian rugby from the bottom up? The walls are crumbling and the foundations are sinking into the mire. Also there hardly seems to be anyone living in the joint any more.
February 3rd 2010 @ 4:41pm
Sam said | February 3rd 2010 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
I have always been interested why O’Neill behaves in such a different manner to the CEO’s of the NZRU. The reason of course is the position of the codes in their relative countries. In NZ rugby gets such media attention that the NZRU almost get annoyed at the level of interest taken in the administration of the game – they can’t do anything without someone complaining, and seem to try and lie low as much as possible. In Australia, because there is such competition for publicity between the football codes, it seems that O’Neill’s philosophy is that any news is good news. He always seems to be in the media commenting on absolutely anything and everything to do with rugby. He’ll say anything to get rugby in the sports pages and will make all sorts of comments even if he knows they’ll upset people. Half the time it is random comments and strange perspectives. You can’t fault him too much for doing this, although i agree it gets bloody annoying sometimes.
February 3rd 2010 @ 5:27pm
max said | February 3rd 2010 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
Anyone else wish the CEO of the rugby world would shut the F*&k up?
I play in Singapore where, believe it or not, there is a full time professional (I use that term lightly) CEO. Our fearless leader has taken it on himself to sight people for foul play from the sidelines.
February 3rd 2010 @ 7:34pm
sheek said | February 3rd 2010 @ 7:34pm | Report comment
Crikey, S12 rugby was exciting back in 1999? But that was 10 years ago. How do we explain most of the 2000s???
Actually, I still can’t get that 2000 final at Bruce Stadium between the Brumbies & Crusaders out of my head. The Brumbies exhibition that night remains one of the most dumbest macho performances I’ve ever seen. And yep….. Eddie Jones was the coach!
And Bruce Ross might be right – Australian rugby must develop its player participation base as a matter of urgency, & totally restructure the club scene.
At present, Australian rugby is like a massive construction on small fillings & foundations, in danger of collapsing in on itself or toppling over.
February 3rd 2010 @ 7:40pm
sheek said | February 3rd 2010 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
Some mates discussed the plight of Australian rugby the other night. One of the things we came up with is this:
The professional players of the Waratahs, Reds, Brumbies & Force can be gainfully employed during the week, doubling as development & recruitment officers.
When not actually training (how much training does a professional rugby player require anyhow?) they can go out to the schools & junior clubs around the land, especially in virgin territory, & being highly visible & spruiking the advantages of playing rugby union.
I know they do this sparingly on an ad hoc basis. But let’s formalise the process, & make a significant wedge into recruiting young players for rugby.
February 3rd 2010 @ 9:04pm
damo said | February 3rd 2010 @ 9:04pm | Report comment
Or working in real jobs with ex-players like myself so we can bore them senseless with stories of yesteryear . And so they can see career alternatives to Japan or France. And remind them of who is in the crowd. Us.
February 3rd 2010 @ 9:36pm
westy said | February 3rd 2010 @ 9:36pm | Report comment
I think coaches and players of Australian franchises have a responsibility to not only win but entertain. Super franchises are the vanguard of rugby in Australia. . We have put most of our eggs in one basket. Like it or not they must compete not only with SA and NZ franchises but with the AFL and NRL.
JON is within his rights as CEO of ARU to remind them of this responsibility. I believe they failed this responsibility last year.
February 3rd 2010 @ 9:38pm
sledgeandhammer said | February 3rd 2010 @ 9:38pm | Report comment
My God the Roar bloggers write some crap. John O’Neill’s comments were bang on the money. Over the past year the English media has been awash with articles on the plight of rugby. Premiership coaches have come out and admitted they don’t enjoy rugby anymore. The Director of Rugby at Saracens says the same thing, but blames the referees for killing rugby. International coaches from such as Warren Gatland and Graham Henry also complained that rugby had become a boring kick-a-thon, with Henry bemoaning the loss of the ELVs. Dozens of rugby blogs throughout the UK have also covered the same topic, with plenty of fans admitting they have been turned off the game (just look a few up online).
The chorus for change was so loud last year that the RFU, the people who run English rugby even lobbied the IRB to change the tackle interpretation so that rugby could become a better spectacle. The RFU and in particular Rob Andrew made their feelings known throughout the media about the problems besetting the game. And yes, the fans even booed at Twickenham.
So common sense should tell the impartial observer that when John O’Neill makes the point that the Northern and Southern Hemisphere administrators may be coming to a common view is he indeed talking common sense. But of course not in the minds of our Roar bloggers – or should I say conspiracy theorists. But common guys, surely a good idea is a good idea, regardless of where it comes from.
February 4th 2010 @ 5:13am
pothale said | February 4th 2010 @ 5:13am | Report comment
Sledge – I think you just neatly sailed past the various points that people were actually making.
a) John O’Neill suggesting advising that the whole of the N Hemisphere should fall into line with their Southern counterparts by rewarding attacking teams at the breakdown. This is based on the new laws/regulations/whatever than JON and Co have dreamed up for this year’s S14 but not a single minute has been played and already they’re being deemed as the new tablets of stone come down from the mountain.
b) If SANZAR would like to bring in innovations to the game to improve it, it would be a good thing if they actually involved the other unions in deciding the best approach, and a timetable for bringing them in – as opposed to – well they might be brought in sometime during the Heineken Cup or 6 Nations next year – this speaks volumes about his understanding of the NH season.
c) Some English media have had articles on the state of the game, and more particularly viewed through the prism of English rugby. I don’t recall too many objections coming from Irish, French, Scottish, Italian or even Welsh quarters. These are some of rugby unions in the Northern hemisphere.
d) It’s instructive that the example JON picks to lecture the NH about falling in line is the worst game of the year between England and Argentina. Funny how he avoided lots of other games that most people enjoyed, and didn’t need any tinkering with the rules to make the game more exciting, fun-filled, etc, etc.
You yourself said that Premiership coaches have come out and complained about the state of rugby – wonder what game they have to watch, week in an week out that might influence their thinking?
Blogs online? – largely from fans of the Premiership.
You cite the fact that the RFU lobbied for change to the game – tackle interpretation – to use your phrase and sought support for it. The silence from SANZAR was deafening.
Talking common sense – yeah of course he is. Sure isn’t that the best way to persuade people to your argument that they should follow you – tell them through the airwaves. Courtship by megaphone.
The Director of Rugby at Saracens complained about the state of English rugby – pot, kettle and black come to mind. Gatland complained or purposely had a swing at the English Premiership. Graham Henry is the coach of the All Blacks who are not in the Northern Hemisphere.