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There has been much written about the poor state of junior Rugby in Australia. The effects of which is now being felt in the performance of the Wallabies – particularly in the belief that the Wallaby players are just not tough enough.
In our junior competition on the Central Coast there are a mere four clubs fielding a u/11 team out of a possible ten. Given that the ARU is responsible for the development game in NSW, there is no evidence of any development initiative to be seen to help rugby compete with league, football and AFL.
No doubt Western Sydney is in worse condition.
Exacerbating the situation are local council’s which now close grounds at the sniff of rain further minimising the number games played.
The feeling is that the ARU is only interested in developing the game in the private schools of the north shore of Sydney.
When reviewing the path that a player has taken through the ARU feted private school system to reach Wallaby status, it reflects minimal playing time.
In the GPS (and CAS) world – rugby has a very limited number of games (about 10 at the most per season). Player’s seasons are virtually over before they start.
The elite youngsters, having played a minimal amount of school rugby, then move into the various Super Rugby academies where they spend the next few years doing more training without playing many games.
It has been only at the end of the S14 that they can go to their clubs to play a further handful of games.
The more elite players then arrive into the Wallaby system – an 18 year old such as James O’Connor with perhaps less than 20 senior games of rugby experience.
The lack of rugby playing experience is tacitly acknowledged by Robbie Deans who ensures his squad players play at every opportunity.
John O’Neill is driving a Super Rugby “top down” growth strategy hoping that the addition of Melbourne will increase the Australian Rugby player base numbers. What it ignores is that whilst these young men maybe elite athletes they will not, however, have had the opportunity of playing week in week out of hard rugby.
The sort of rugby that toughens players up and develops character under match conditions – lessons that should not be learnt for the first time whilst playing Super Rugby or for Australia.
The Wallabies – under these conditions will never be tough enough.
The house of Australian rugby is starting to sink in the sand.
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.