Even Kiwi fans are pleading for change
Roar Rookie By Twem, 28 Aug 2012 Twem is a Roar Rookie
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Australia rugby union coach Robbie Deans speaks with players Berrick Barnes and Nick Phipps. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
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No satisfaction in the predictable result of Bledisloe II at Eden Park. Did anyone really expect anything different?
Okay, I know we should never lose hope, and while we have 15 on the paddock then theoretically we should be a chance to be competitive.
You have to admire the Wallabies’ desperate defence, because it could so easily have been 50-blot without it, and with more discipline from the All Blacks.
There would have to be some very bruised and sore Wallabies waking up to the reality of a very unfortunate statistic – first time in 50 years the Wallabies haven’t scored in a Bledisloe match. I can imagine there were a few Panadols taken with the bacon and eggs at the team breakfast Sunday morning.
Some of my pals continue to swear blind loyalty that seems never to diminish. Their attitude is to be loyal, be patient and the cycle will eventually swing back in favour of our national team.
While they wait for the change in fortune, they talk only of the positives and allowing Australian rugby to get the game here back to a level that makes us competitive.
I do admire their loyalty and patience but find it to be naive, and while we all wait for the change in fortune we witness great damage to the Wallaby brand.
The custodians of that brand seem unaware that this process of rebuilding will take time and lots of dollars. Even if the Wallabies totally reversed their fortunes and won the Bledisloe next season, the Wallaby brand will still look dull and tarnished.
During the half-time break my phone buzzed with text messages from my Kiwi mates here and in New Zealand. The bulk of these weren’t taking delight in the Wallaby situation, quite the reverse.
They were pleading for a return to a strong and capable Wallaby side who at the very least give the ABs a solid test and maybe even the occasional taste of defeat.
My Kiwi buddies now have a clear sense that without a major change, it is possible that rugby lovers on both sides of the ditch will lose interest in the Bledisloe contests.
Not lose interest in the great game of rugby by any stretch, but recognising that Bledisloe matches have become predictable, the Wallaby performances generally lacklustre and at times a real disappointment.
I wondered, if we could poll the 150,000 people who paid big bucks to be at the first two games, what they might say about their experience, and what insights the custodians of the Wallaby and All Black brands could glean.
As far as any analysis of the team performance goes, anyone watching would have seen how Cooper seemed to play like a young Wallaby mesmerised by the bright Xenon headlights of the All Blacks. His confidence at this level appears completely shattered.
Barnes was outclassed and took some terrible options in attack, again reverting to kicks as a kind of last resort and in the hope that something good may come with help from a lucky bounce.
The lineout was unreliable and gave up possession at the worst possible times, turning attacking opportunities into more scrambling, desperate defence.
The Wallabies somehow managed to rile the referee and gave the ABs 15 easy points from penalties. Holding the ABs scoreless during Genia’s absence was a credit to the 14 men still on the field.
It was great to see Hooper going hard and making a couple of turnovers, he clearly was not overwhelmed by the occasion and gave his all.
What happens now at ARU headquarters? Will they actually listen to the growing chorus calling for major change? My guess is they won’t and they will continue to allow the Wallaby brand to be damaged.
It may well take a disastrous international series before we see decisive and creative action from Mr O’Neill and his board. One thing for sure is that “if nothing changes, then nothing will change”, and all of us Aussie rugby shareholders will continue to see our wonderful game diminish in value.
In the meantime, I will do my best to join my blindly loyal mates and will ask my Kiwi mates to please be patient, our time will come again, one day.
Might be worth someone who loves Australian rugby conducting an objective and formal brand valuation study comparing the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks brands.
We may well be surprised at the vast disparity in their respective valuations.
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August 28th 2012 @ 1:08am
Johnno said | August 28th 2012 @ 1:08am | Report comment
-Hope this ARU governance review achieves something whatever it actually is i don’t really know but hay there is hope in this review.
-Also wallabies need a top-down approach like the AB’s. All roads lead to AB’s in NZ, everything is geared to national team we need the same here.
-But i support 5 imports per super rugby team. they bring in more money for tv ratings$$$ which means more to grass roots. We have 2 billion reasons why we need to catch ALF,and NRL now need to be less conservative, or rugby will die in OZ in 10 years.
-I mena in T20 big bash 1 team want kevein peterson. What is better for aussy cricket having kevin petseron in your team, who will generate interest in T20 cricket or some aussy rookie who is untried and not as good as KP. No brainer
-Has spainish soccer been hamred by having players like messi in there comp no not at all, more money is going into soccer as a result of sat imports, more can go into grass roots.
-TV deal for school boy rugby, . Heck NZ and STha frica show school boy rugby, and it helps exposure high tv ratings. There private schools have not turned into semi rugby academies as feared eg Wesley college. Lets get joeys or kings, on tv every week, and who cares if they become smell rugby academies anyway great for the game and fans and young school kids ot get tough competition.
-Re model school boy rugby based on schools ability or geprgahy zone , not some old school GPS 1950′s comp. sydney grammar and high pathetic now.
ISA/GPS/CAS ned to merge and kick the weak school out high and grammar.
-and sack deans , and nucifora, and JON.
ANd develop an ITM cup in OZ or South-east NEAFL style comp eg ACT,NSW,QLD, we need rugby in OZ every week.
-Japan ,USA,Canada,Mexico,Argentina, Brazil, will never have super rugby teams, they don’t need it. The EPL survives as does spain they have champions league . Maybe SAZNAR should start playing the Japan winners , in champions league who knows. But can’t see those 3 or 4 countries joining SAZNAR.
August 28th 2012 @ 5:41am
mania said | August 28th 2012 @ 5:41am | Report comment
johnno – the mess that aus rugby is in didnt happen over night and wont be fixed that quick either.
your line “All roads lead to AB’s in NZ, everything is geared to national team.” is half correct. yes the top of the pyramid is the AB’s but the AB’s inspire the base of the pyramid, the grass roots. AB’s have to play attractive runnin rugby to inspire the next generation. the next generation is nurtured by our grassroots system which is run by volunteers.
the missing elements for aus rugy imho is the fact that there is no grassroots and what little nurturing of talent is solely aimed at private schools. embrace your whole population.
mainly tho the wb’s have compose themselves like they’re playing for their country, with honour and purpose. michaelJones always extolled the value of the black jersey to rookies. “never forget what a priviledge it is to wear the black” as the bus would drive to the stadium jones would point out the window to all the fans and say “thats who we’re playing for, never forget”.
most importantly wallabies need to start going to every school in country and apologising for the lacklustre embarrassing way they’ve played and looking those kids in the eyes and see what they’re doing to the next generation of potential wallabies.
August 28th 2012 @ 7:26am
Johnno said | August 28th 2012 @ 7:26am | Report comment
I agree mania the difference in attitude and culture between Aust/NZ could not be more different. If the aussies had players like micheal jones we would be lucky. When he plays and the stuff he said , he makes it clear it is a privilege, and he plays 100% for the fans he represents , not isolate them. The LA Lakers in the 1980′s magic johnson showtime were like this. They worked with the fans gave 10)% every night had good fan interaction during the matches the staples centre in LA was full of passion, and togetherness. The argentine rugby team are like that a home the crowd lifted them and they played for the crowd. The wallabies play for themselves as individuals first and that is half there mistake. No apologies even to the fans the way they played on the weekend, well they will be out of a job in australia soon if everyone stops watching the,m which is rapidly happening.
August 28th 2012 @ 7:44am
mania said | August 28th 2012 @ 7:44am | Report comment
agree johnno – wallaby’s seem to have lost connection and accountability to the fans
August 29th 2012 @ 4:55am
JVGO said | August 29th 2012 @ 4:55am | Report comment
Do guys like Cooper, Beale, Genia and others even relate to the rugby fans? they don’t seem to fit the rugby stereotype at all and are constantly crucified by the old school stiff upper lip brigade whenever they put a foot wrong. No wonder they seem lost and confused. If I were them I would feel little loyalty to a set of fans who show them so little loyalty and support themselves, just never ending sniping and self important criticism.
August 29th 2012 @ 11:21pm
Leo said | August 29th 2012 @ 11:21pm | Report comment
What are you talking about? Which rugby fans aren’t loyal to Cooper, Genia and Beale?
August 30th 2012 @ 5:35am
JVGO said | August 30th 2012 @ 5:35am | Report comment
Leo, the character of the Wallabies and these 3 players in particular has been constantly called into question on virtually every article on the Roar after the last two games. Not just how they played but their character, the fact that they are spoilt gen Y narcissistic tweeting facebooking, brand obsessed unaccoutable wannabes, not worthy to be placed alongside the white middle class private school eminently coachable golden generation of Eales, Larkham, Horan etc. They have been villified.
August 28th 2012 @ 8:55am
CamboUSA said | August 28th 2012 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Ok finally a good point .
When it comes to the lakers and I have been a season ticket holder since the forum days which housed the lakers with magic , worthy , Karim , copper , etc and now at staples centre with shaq , Kobe , gasol , Nash and Howard , etc
What was so special about the show time lakers ( magic era ) and even up to present day and the reason why they have the winningest record in all modern day USA sports is one person there owner dr Jerry buss and his family …. When he bought the franchise they where not great but they had a big centre in Karim . Dr buss said and is now why the nba is so popular was that he would buy or draft the best players and at that time and make them stars give them everything they need to be successfull but more importantly market them as if they where the best celebs in Hollywood . He added laker girls , half time shows , celebs to the games and made the experience for the fan the best that there money can buy . Understood that people wanted to be entertained both on and off the field . Made players reachable made the games fun made it allways an event to watch the lakers . He is a gambler and was aggressive he knows that 2 was not first and that the fans would not embrace a winning attitude if his team wasnt winning ! . lack luster performances would never be tolerated .. Everything was for the fans viewing experience .. But he would support his players as well as they performed and new the concept of a winning team and winning ownership means success . From the top to the players there’s no “I” in team . so from owner to players , coaches he ran it like a family . So I think all southern hemisphere teams can learn greatly from dr buss.
And to the article point yes loosing teams generate less money that winning but it does not take along time to build . It can happen over night . But if the owners of the wallabies does not have a no tolerance for second place mentality well it could take a long time to make a big profit . It’s starts in the front office down to players , coaches , Etc . Create a positive , competitive and a aggressive environment for success and when it falls short have the balls to make quick and appropriate changes to players coaches if not performing never allow sub par .
August 28th 2012 @ 9:09am
Johnno said | August 28th 2012 @ 9:09am | Report comment
CamboUSA. Yes you are right some great points you add . I din’t know all the full details of the laker bussiness model, more just the highlights. But wow did that staples centre in the 1980′s generate some electricity.
It was all for 1 a team energy in there and regular people in realty the fans felt so accessible with these star athletes even if for watching the game but they felt part of there lives and the players felt part fo the fans life, even if it is only a virtual reality experience. The wallabies right now have none of that. Like the NSW waratahs very distant from there fans. The Laker girls thing was a hit too, made regular guys accessible to them, celebrities also part of it. Like you said it was 1 big family for those 2 hours at matches everyone was part of it and still is today Lakers franhise is thriving, big big money it is worth.
-Aussy rugby could leaner a thing or too form them . Pumas are doing well in the marketing war. USA rugby is getting better too, the match in houston was a real good fan interaction event vs Italy.
-And on a side not Cambo USA do you like 3 on 3 basketball. It may get olympic represention in 2016. I have seen some highlights of it it is kinda like 7evens rugby it will attract a whole new audience to basketball i think, and it seems funs too.
August 29th 2012 @ 3:33pm
Wal said | August 29th 2012 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
The other big cultural change (partly comes with depth) is the players believe they are only a custodian of the Jersey, even SBW said he hoped he had left it in better shape than when he took custody of it. McCaw is a major factor here as his acknowledgement of those that have come before him and genuine interest in the History of the AB’s surely rubs off on the newbies. And there are plenty of examples in NZ rugby of young players who got ahead of themselves and were duly dropped to readjust the attitude. Hosea Gear has come back hungrier than ever before after a stint in the wilderness, the same approach was used with Nonu and Messam. attitude has become just as important to the AB setup as talent, why else did Henry persist with Stephen Donald, he had the right attitude and made the players around him better because of it. I conceed this is only possible when the bloke with a better attitude may only be a minor drop in talent.
But Cooper of 2012 has had this realisation, but far to many Wallabies have the attitude that the jersey was their right, JOC, Beale and Giteau instantly spring to mind.
Treat the Jersey like a World record, some one is eventually going to take it off you but do your best to make it that hard for them when the time comes.
August 28th 2012 @ 4:29am
Bee Bee said | August 28th 2012 @ 4:29am | Report comment
Rugby has one quick way to stop the ship taking on water
One live Super 15 game a week on free to air. NRL has foolishly left Saturday night open. Rugby should take this spot fast. I cannot understand how Foxtel is so short sighted. Exclusive rights might help their ratings short term but NRL / AFL model proves that a mixture of the two is beneficial to the code and long term future of that sport.
Still think the HMAS Australian Rugby Union is sinking. No easy answers for this sport… Its scary that Kiwi fans feel worried. Sorry bro’s but us Aussies can’t even give you a decent contest anymore. We’re beached as bro’s.
August 28th 2012 @ 5:29am
mania said | August 28th 2012 @ 5:29am | Report comment
BB – we have prime in NZ which is an aus channel owned by sky and they televise a delayed game. why cant this be done in aus?
August 28th 2012 @ 5:28am
mania said | August 28th 2012 @ 5:28am | Report comment
“Holding the ABs scoreless during Genia’s absence was a credit to the 14 men still on the field. ” carter kicked 2 penalties while genia was binned. so much for that credit.
hooper played well but is still a super player.
August 28th 2012 @ 5:49am
Bee Bee said | August 28th 2012 @ 5:49am | Report comment
Good question Mania. Why?? can’t this be done.
I think the answer is money. Its worth more to Foxtel in this country to allow no FTA Super 15 coverage at all. Not even delayed. Because it drives up subscriptions. I understand it and I accept it but I know its hurting the games exposure. Super 15 is a great product but is reserved for 30 perent of population. This won’t grow the game. And it won’t get Union off the beach. We just keep pouring buckets of water on Rugby’s head. No one is dragging it out to sea. Where is that whale rider girl when you need her.
August 28th 2012 @ 5:57am
mania said | August 28th 2012 @ 5:57am | Report comment
theres a policy in NZ rugby that it has to be made available to the fans for free. so sky has the rights to showing it live but someone has to be allowed to televise it for free. i remember one world cup where certain rural areas couldnt get the channel that was televising the delayed coverage. under the agreement sky had with the NZRFU they had to get coverage to them. sky went ahead and broadcasted it live for free to that rural area.
the last world cup we had 3 public channels televising it as well as sky.
thats for JON to sort out but in NZ its the unwritten rule that the AB’s games have to be made available free to the public in some form. this is NZRFU self serving as it keeps the next generation watching and being inspired
August 28th 2012 @ 6:49am
Bee Bee said | August 28th 2012 @ 6:49am | Report comment
Mania. You sum it up well. Our next generation are watching rubbish and being inspired by squat when it comes to Rugby.
The Reds played breath-taking Rugby last year and to a lesser extent this year. But great swathes of Rugby heartland. (Queensland) never see their team.
It just baffles me how no one in Rugby HQ can see the obvious. If people don’t see Rugby, they lose interest and start watching rival codes.
Thank God NZ presents the truth… They would burn the place down if FTA coverage was taken away. But our poor and down trodden just switch on League or AFL… Meanwhile the Latte sippers watch their Rugby on Foxtel and wonder why the boys are still stuck on the beach.
Tony Abbott will probably try and blame Julia Gillard for the Wallabies losing. I am sure the Carbon tax is somehow to blame Tony. But he doesn’t care because Manly are going great and all the talent are staying away from Union and heading to the Sea Eagles.
Wake up and smell your Lattes you numb skulls. Union is on the beach. Throw a bucket of water on its head before Abbot sends it to Nauru for being an illegal refugee.
August 28th 2012 @ 6:53am
mania said | August 28th 2012 @ 6:53am | Report comment
agree beeBee. baffles me the way aus admin their rugby. totally backwards. ARU needs to worry less about lining their pockets and more about caring for the fans. no fans no game. duh thought that’d be pretty simple
August 29th 2012 @ 11:24pm
Leo said | August 29th 2012 @ 11:24pm | Report comment
There was a few years New Zealand weren’t watching their super teams and NPC teams on FTA TV and it had no affects on the sport what so ever.
August 28th 2012 @ 6:46am
Leo said | August 28th 2012 @ 6:46am | Report comment
This were the tv ratings for both channels and not counting those watching on the rugby channel.
Most watched on PRIME
Intl Rugby Championship: 395,490 (9:10pm – 11:00pm)
Intl Rugby Champs Pre Game: 350,770 (8:55pm – 9:10pm)
Intl Rugby Champs Build Up: 255,640 (8:35pm – 8:50pm)
Intl Rugby Champs Post Game: 177,330 (11:00pm – 11:10pm)
Prime News: 133,650 (5:30pm – 6:00pm)
Most watched on SKY Sport 1
Intl Rugby Championship: 562,850 (7:35pm – 9:20pm)
Intl Rugby Post Game: 263,310 (9:20pm – 9:55pm)
Intl Rugby Pre Game: 152,590 (7:00pm – 7:35pm)
August 28th 2012 @ 7:45am
Twem said | August 28th 2012 @ 7:45am | Report comment
The ARU has to show decisive leadership at this time and quickly. Rugby is losing ground to the other pro-sports at a very rapid rate. It won’t be an easy task to regain momentum and when some of the best rugby players move to the other codes it will be an even bigger task for the game’s administrators.
The Wallaby brand is tarnished and there is no sign it will improve this season.
Next thing we will see is ARU sponsors not renewing. Qantas will be the first given their parlous profit performance.
So, the message is, “Mr O’Neil and your Board, now is the time to show you can get Australian rugby strong again”.
August 28th 2012 @ 8:03am
Ryan said | August 28th 2012 @ 8:03am | Report comment
I wouldn’t say NZ fans are worried to the extent you make out, I think there is a lot of sensationalism behind your article.
Sure it’s good when the Wallabies are tough but they are not our only opponents in World Rugby, traditionally South Africa is New Zelands biggest foe however in recent generations the Wallabies have undoubtedly taken the mantle of biggest rival, in part due to South Africas Isolation during the apartheid era.
If the Wallaby “brand” continues to falter you will see the NZRU and the ABs put the spotlight and more focus back on the traditional rivals South Africa and now more importantly there is a new fish in the pond in Argentina.
I very much doubt the Bledisloe will ever lose its aura Israel Dagg commented as did Steve Hansen that it is the most coveted prize outside of the World Cup. I can understand Australian fans maybe losing a little interest due to not having had the cup for 10 years but they will get it back eventually and then watch the fans go ballistic.
I don’t see SOO losing any of its spark due to Queensland having an iron grip on the cup for the last 7 years(?).
In general I think most genuine Kiwi rugby fans are absolutely ecstatic over the dominance of the Wallabies in the last decade, it pays to note that not all these series have been complete walk overs. Whilst Australia may not have regained the cup they have generally put up a hell of a fight trying to get it.
I look at Saturday like this, it was the ill discipline that let the Wallabies down, the ABs only managed to score one converted try.
The Wallabies defense was pretty good and that is a big positive to take away from this match. Discipline can be reinstalled and once this happens I very much doubt you will see such a lopsided scoreline.
Australia needs a domestic competition at another level than Club rugby and this was discussed on reuinion where all the panelists agreed as do I that many of the top Australian clubs would struggle to foot it even in the Heartland competition.
I am not for Australian provinces being admitted to the ITM / Heartland cup but I don’t see why more Australian players do not cross the ditch for a couple of months and give it a crack. This year there is one lone Australian Peter Betham and he had a solid game for Tasman in their upset win over Canterbury on the weekend. Players in the past who have crossed the ditch brock, James. James Hilgendorf, Ed Jenkins and Christian Leilifano.
Australian rugby will get better its a matter of time how long no one knows, Australias biggest advantage is having the ABs on their doorstep and playing against them regularly.
August 28th 2012 @ 8:22am
Johnno said | August 28th 2012 @ 8:22am | Report comment
-The ARU and wallaby could take a leaf and leaner about building passion form the pumas they are winning fans everywhere.
http://www.espnscrum.com/argentina/rugby/story/168904.html
August 28th 2012 @ 8:53am
Sailosi said | August 28th 2012 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Johnno, Argentina are now ahead of us as a rugby nation. There development pathways are almost unmatched in any amatuer sport in the world.
August 28th 2012 @ 9:17am
Johnno said | August 28th 2012 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Sailosi amazing, and USA rugby is miles ahead of aussy rugby too. Rookie Rugby got a IRB award too. Canada has just bullet a a top high performance cent this year, in canada they are saying how it is making massive difference to preparation of teams. USA rugby now has central contracts for sevens team about 20 men contracts all in full time facility in LA .
Russia is putitng a 1st 15 in every high school in russia will have a rugby team, one could go on and on. Argentina have great sponsor deal with Visa, have just signed another one with QBD insurance. Heck Brazil 196million rugby is really taking off too , soccer clubs some are now having a rugby section.
It is embarrassing how much of a mess aussy rugby is. I haven’t seen anything as bad of this since i have been following sport the nearest thing I can think of is English cricket both were equally as bad. SO there is hope english cricket re-modelled , so can rugby in OZ but going to be tough now that is for sure but can be done.
August 28th 2012 @ 9:43am
Shop said | August 28th 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Article is spot on. I’ve been coaching in Mendoza for the past 3 years and the club has grown immensely. It isn’t just the traditional middle class either. Rugby is definitely alive here and probably second in popularity (of course to soccer). I’ll be going to Rosario to watch the Wallaby game (AB’s game sold out too quickly) and in some ways I’m hoping the Pumas win and sign a death knell for Deans. Hopefully the ARU take note of how passionate the crowd is and how much the players themselves respond to them. A very far cry from the overpaid showponies in Gold at the moment. There are stil a handful of amatuers in the Pumas squad, although last year was the first time the Pumas were paid for tests. Often their are tears during the anthem. It is called passion and I suspect the Wallabies will get a taste of it in a few weeks time.
August 28th 2012 @ 9:51am
Johnno said | August 28th 2012 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Shop good points you are seeing 1st hand rugby in Argentina. It is improving no doubt and there is a real hunger for the sport in Agrnetina and the aittude there is to now make the game ot the masses, hence why no tests in RC in Bunos aries.
And just the attitude in general. Her is a good article done shop last year on the roar by working class rugger on south american rugby. And Brazil I hear is taking to rugby as well as are chile,uruguay.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/21/argentinas-expansion-could-open-new-world-for-rugby/
August 28th 2012 @ 5:03pm
Sluggy said | August 28th 2012 @ 5:03pm | Report comment
“I wondered, if we could poll the 150,000 people who paid big bucks to be at the first two games, what they might say about their experience”
Can we please have Steve Walsh or Wayne Barnes ref them, instead of these Welsh and Irish refs who blow the pea out of their whistle? We want to see the game flow and the ball in play for more than 15-20 minutes a half. We do not want to see you reset a scrum when the ball is already halfway from #9 to #10, or penalise some bloke who fell over in the wrong place but didn’t affect what was happening anyway.
August 28th 2012 @ 8:12pm
PaulT said | August 28th 2012 @ 8:12pm | Report comment
The good news from the past two weeks is that the Australian rugby community can now see its problems are more deep rooted than simply the wallabies losing to a consistently better team. If this statement is correct can we please move on from simply blaming Robbie Deans.
It was only four years ago that 90 percent plus of NZ wanted to string Graham Henry up from the nearest tree. Now look at them.
The short term solution is to demonstrate support for the wallabies and have faith that they can improve. If the wallabies win well over the boks and argies (and I believe they will win the home games and at least one of the away games) we will have better perspective on the AB games. Especially if the AB’s give those teams a good touch up, which is most likely.
The biggest immediate challenge for Robbie Deans and the coaching team is injuries. If the wallabies were full strength they could have won Bledisloe game one. Its a concern that so many top players are out. Something is not right there.
Robbie Deans is very polite in his interviews, but if you listen carefully to his statements he has been predicting this situation for some time. He is in my view the best coach in Australia. Don’t compare his results to those of Ewen McKenzie or Jake White, where thay have months to prepare a team for super rugby. If those two men where honest (or candid) they would say as much.
If the wallabies get the next two years right they will be in contention for a finals berth at the next world cup. By that I mean they will get to the semi-finals, but the best team ON THE DAY will get to the final.
I’m going to get onto ARU website and vote for Robbie for wallabu coach. I hope the fans get over their venting and think about these issues with more clarity. At the moment most fans (who are blogging) are behaving like Alan Jones.
August 28th 2012 @ 11:51pm
Richard said | August 28th 2012 @ 11:51pm | Report comment
Broom the management. Time for a total clean out of the corrupt and inept Wallabies set up. Until you do no one in Australia is going to take you seriously as true sporting representatives of Australia. You will continue to be the national joke. Which is a shame because rugby union is an attractive and exciting game to watch on TV, but bloody boring to watch live as the ref keeps stopping play.