Gary Flowers has fallen on his sword and not before time. His tenure has coincided with a profoundly disappointing period across all levels of Australian rugby and we can only hope under the next administration the ARU can regain some of the momentum lost after the 2003 world cup. But is John O’Neil the right man again?
John O’Neil is unquestionably Australia’s premier sporting administrator. Whilst the ever present and never silent face of Eddie McGuire has escaped the bubble of the AFL states and has been for some time now well known to the northern population, O’Neil’s work on the international stage has established his credentials. The 2003 Rugby World Cup was an outright success from every view point and the ignition of interest in Australian soccer during his time with Football Australia was nothing short of remarkable.
Compared to his counterparts in the other codes he seems a professional amongst amateurs. Both rugby and then soccer, whilst under his control, seemed to be the only sports ‘on the up’ across the notoriously full Australian sporting landscape such was his presence.
Unfortunately that same presence that did so much for rugby’s image was what got up the nose of one too many of the powers that be within the rugby power broking clique. When O’Neil strode the stage, the spotlight saw only him and that irked a few supporting actors who saw themselves as bigger stars. In the thespian tradition of the Caesarean kind, knives were sharpened and backs were stabbed, leaving the once proud empire to fall into in-fighting and scandal.
But are calls to bring back O’Neil similar to the calls to reinstate Bob Dwyer which echo from Waratah heartland every time the national coaching position is vacant? Rose tinted views of the past and a desperate clutching of glory day memories often obscure rational thoughts and Dwyer’s disastrous 1995 World Cup campaign are often forgotten in favour of the ’84 grand slam and ’91 world cup triumphs.
O’Neil served Australian rugby well but has rugby moved on? Does it need to move back? What exactly did go wrong? Where were the seeds of the Wallaby demise planted? What was John O’Neil’s role in all of this?
These are questions that need debating and if O’Neil comes out with a clean slate, as the author sincerely hopes he does, then his reinstatement can only be viewed as a step forward. Jonny Wilkinson was the right man at the right time for England in 2003, but without the same pack and in a game that has moved on, his reselection, if fit, could be viewed as a step backwards for English rugby in 2007.
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.
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