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Watching Bill Pulver on Fox Sports’ Rugby HQ this week reaffirmed my view that while he has extensive business experience and his heart seems to be in the right place, he’s not the man to take Australian rugby union forward in one of its toughest periods.
That view was initially enforced when a video of Pulver in Wallabies gear taking the Ice Bucket Challenge was posted online just days after Australia was pulverised and humiliated by the All Blacks at Eden Park – keeping the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand hands for an embarrassing 12th successive year.
Pulver has done some good things since he took over from John O’Neill, such as bringing back the National Rugby Championship, but he remains an unconvincing front man for the ARU.
There’s also a massive leadership vacuum at the ARU following the departure of Pulver’s second in charge and heir apparent Andrew Fagan to the CEO’s job at the Adelaide Crows.
So who should be in charge of guiding Australian rugby through these troubled waters?
What about current Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie?
During his highly successful time with the Queensland Reds, McKenzie was largely responsible for not only a turnaround in fortunes on the field, but major improvements in the business performance of the Queensland Rugby Union.
McKenzie, a town planner by profession, was always heavily involved in the corporate affairs of the Reds and played a key management role.
“It’s important that the corporate culture and the team culture are similar,” he told The Roar during the Reds 2011 Super Rugby championship campaign.
“Each needs to understand what the other is doing and that it’s integral to the total result if everyone is working in the same direction.”
McKenzie is sure to continue as Wallabies coach for at least until the next World Cup.
Pulver predicted on Rugby HQ that the Wallabies could win the William Webb Ellis Cup for a third time next year – a comment which bemused panellists such as former Australian skipper George Gregan, who believe it’s best to fly under the radar.
Another World Cup win – improbable given the current dominance of the All Blacks – would quite possibly keep both McKenzie and Pulver in their current jobs beyond 2015.
But what about a combination of McKenzie as ARU CEO with Michael Cheika as Wallabies coach?
That’s an exciting pairing to take Australian rugby forward at a time when the game is struggling to maintain support with a disenchanted fan-base.
They both have tremendous pedigrees as players and coaches with business and corporate expertise to boot.
We could do a lot worse.
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.