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Australian rugby stakeholders need to let go of the past and look to the now. I say this because over the past fifteen or so years I have come across mostly frustrated and confused supporters.
It all stems from the 1990s. The 90s were a decade that saw hip-hop rise from glimpses of dominance in the 80s, which in turn rose from relative obscurity in the 70s – much like the Wallabies as it were.
Our success in the 1990s was a blessing and a curse. We relished in Wallaby success and expected it to simply continue. Too many to this day still think that the blueprint for success is to look back to this age or perhaps in the case of some to look back to the Ella era.
This is our problem because coaches and administrators are aware of how easy it is to lose the battle of public opinion. I believe they are being held back by the stakeholders of rugby. I believe crucial decisions are being made based on the desire to keep the status quo.
Unfortunately rugby has evolved and moved forward around the world. In Australia we are still living in the past.
We can start with the fact that Nemani Nadolo is arguably one of the best wingers in the world struggled to make it as a rugby player in Australia. This is staggering and a perfect example of how things in this country have become questionable to say the least.
We need to be asking serious questions of our internal player development and recruitment judgement when a player with such an obvious propensity to be a match winner is lost to us only to thrive overseas.
I believe this ‘Nadolo factor’ is a symptom of our weakness. we see a massive player and immediately start to pick fault with them. Unless they are perfect, they are too risky.
Rubbish.
This symptom was apparent this time last year when too many fans were astounded that 140-kilogram giant Will Skelton was being given a fast track to the Wallabies. It continues with too many fans stating that Taqele Naiyaravoro will be a liability at Test level or that Samu Kerevi lacks the skills for an inside centre.
These opinions are all intertwined with the fact that we are not moving forward with the game.
Until we get with the program and realise that to be competitive we need some sheer size and brawn in the Wallaby set up we will continue to be mediocre.
If we had this attitude a few years ago, we would be looking at fielding a wing combination of Nadolo and Naiyarovoro at the Rugby World Cup.
Why wouldn’t we want this?
In Will Skelton, it was obvious two years ago that we needed him at Test level. It has taken most rugby pundits a ridiculous amount of nit-picking at his perceived weaknesses to settle on the fact that a 6ft 8in behemoth with a passing game is someone you can not dismiss as anything but a once in a life time player.
With the emergence of Kerevi over the past 18 months, I hope we can finally put to bed the now ancient notion that a second ball player at 12 is the way forward. Just ask every other major playing Test side if they still believe that a second fly half is the way to go?
I think you’ll find they all did away with this notion years ago.
We should accept that with size and brawn comes some weaknesses. Players with this size may fatigue a bit easier than smaller players and they may not have all the skills of their predecessors.
But when a try-line beckons or a big tackle is needed on a gargantuan opposition player, sometimes these types of players are worth their weight in gold. They are the modern day match winners as once the likes of Mark Ella were. At the very least these type of players are integral to any Test sides make up and their attributes far out-weigh their weaknesses.
It is time Australian fans came to realise that size does matter. I am hoping we come to realise this quick smart and before it is once again too late. It is 2015 and there is a Rugby World Cup around the corner.
I would like to end by paraphrasing the findings of an IRB study after the last World Cup. By studying the player sizes of each World Cup game to date, they found that the winning side invariably has the largest forwards and the tallest backs.
Is that any real surprise?.
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.