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“Whoa is Australian rugby, due to our lack of depth” seems to be the catch-cry in recent times. The poor fourth cousin in the football codes, trailing behind football, AFL and league in numbers and money. Punching above its weight for all its handicaps.
Part of an excuse for recent poor performances.
I was initially receptive to this argument. But then I began looking at the comparisons to Ireland, and the spirit of Christmas came upon me, and my attitude became “Bah, humbug!!”.
Here’s a few thoughts.
Up until 1973, when Australian rugby reached its alleged low of being beaten by Tonga, Australia was a 2nd tier nation. Wiping the egg from its face, it then built to the glory of the Grand Slam in 1984, then the 1991 World Cup, the 1999 World Cup, beating the 2001 Lions, and being finalists in 2003 for the World Cup.
Similarly, Ireland have tended to be a 2nd tier rugby nation on a world scale.
While at times they have been able to do well in the Four/Five/Six Nations, their 2009 glory was the first in a long time. Further, they have tended to struggle against the superpowers of world rugby, New Zealand and South Africa. Only in the last few years have they become a real threat.
Whether this is a golden generation that will fade, or a new era, remains to be seen. But it strikes me as being similar to the glory days of the Wallabies that began in the 1980s.
The Irish have come of age.
Participation rates in Ireland, a country of about 6.3m, are close to Australia’s. Ireland has about 110,000 “registered players” (whatever that means).
Australia had about 180,000 players in 2008, but when you remove Golden Oldies and Schools 2 (which probably aren’t registered players, or at least not regulars), it drops to about 125,000. Very similar.
Further, participation numbers can be deceptive. France apparently has about 280,000, much more than New Zealand, but that doesn’t ensure they are any better.
Professional depth?
Australia has four fully professional provincial teams in the Super 14, plus the various Sevens squads etc. Similarly, Ireland has 4 provisincial sides competing in the Magners League. For each country below that level, it is not near the same level of professionalism at all. Look to Japan to see that having more registered players and professionals doesn’t guarantee performance.
In some ways similar to Australia, rugby plays second or worse fiddle to football, and the Gaelic sports.
So where is this lack of depth excuse from Ireland? Do you hear them carping on about it?
Based on this analysis, we are in a similar situation as Ireland in many ways, yet the expectations and excuses seem far different (cue commentary from Pothale on the Irish view).
So is Australia really facing a crisis of depth, or is it just that we have expectations higher than reality at times? Is it just the fact Australia is playing regularly against the two rugby superpowers that skews our thinking? Would we regularly win and expect to win the Six Nations if Australia was just off the coast of Europe a la Atlantis?
And is Ireland going to be having this same self-criticism process in a few years if they keep “punching above their weight” (if they really are)?
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.