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The recent question time with Bill Pulver left me feeling very depressed about the future of the code in this country. I commend him for having the courage to reply to questions but sadly some of the answers confirm my worst fears.
Regarding two issues that so adversely affect the code in Australia, Pulver sadly confirmed that nothing will change. These are the Wallabies and Super Rugby.
Wallabies
The top down approach that effectively means that all resources are aimed at the Wallabies will continue.
“The Wallabies are the most profitable entity in Australian rugby and long may it continue,” said Pulver. This essentially means that all other levels will be sacrificed to maintain this.
When has the national team of this country been turned into nothing more than a revenue raising product? I remember as a child getting goosebumps when hearing the national anthem at the start of a Wallabies match, now I can hardly be bothered switching the remote over.
This approach is an absolute disgrace. There is the danger of killing the goose that laid the golden egg. How many Tests will we play now against the All Blacks? And how many Tests this year?
What makes Tests so valuable is exactly the opposite of what the ARU are doing.
The mantra ‘less is more’ is exactly what makes Tests special – the rarity and the occasion are the special aspects of Test rugby.
They are not something that you put out every week to pay the bills. Representing your country is not a job – players should look back at representing their country as the pinnacle of their career. Now some of them play more Tests than Super Rugby games.
How do the ARU not see that this approach is killing the game?
How did we let the finances of the game in this country deteriorate so badly that we have to sell the national team to pay the bills.
Super Rugby
Again nothing is going to change. We have said endlessly that Australian rugby needs a domestic competition to compete with the other three codes. But what we are going to get is exactly the opposite of what the code here needs.
We are set to receive an 18-team expanded competition with teams from whatever continent stumps up the money. This will not address one single issue that is affecting rugby in Australia.
We have a competition that is only in existence to support the national team and ensure that it remains competitive. Rugby in this country is so scared of a cashed up France and losing a few Wallabies that we have literally sold our soul for a dollar.
And then we have the hypocrisy of Pay TV, who are being treated as national heroes for donating a couple of million dollars to the new NRC (which Pulver himself admits is only being introduced to beef up Pay TV content).
Finally, moves to free TV seem unlikely? “There has not been an appetite from free-to-air broadcasters in this country” – my god, we can’t even give the game away.
Can the ARU answer?
When are we going to receive more money for rugby union as opposed to simply adding more and more content each year to a pay TV provider?
How are we going to get any rugby on mainstream media in this country that is not paid for?
How does the ARU plan to grow the code in this country, when it is restricted to five Super teams?
How does the ARU plan to grow the code outside of its traditional strengths of private schools and expatriate kiwis?
When does the ARU intend to come up with a plan to grow the code that does not include just beating the All Blacks?
The next pay TV deal will take us to 2021 – does the ARU have a plan to resurrect the code in 2022?
In 2016, if we just roll over and go with whatever SANZAR dishes up, the code in this country will not recover.
What I wanted from Pulver was some Aussie spirit. Would we be broke? You bet. But just watch rugby take control in this country if it had the right structure.
What we got was the same lap dog approach that got the code in this country to where it is now.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.