What is on the menu? Yep, same old, same old Tests with coaches continually talking about building for the next Rugby World Cup.
Northern hemisphere sides fielding their second or third XVs; John O’Neill threatening them with who knows what and the same old, same old happens again.
Argentina will add a new dimension to a somewhat tired Tri Nations format. And there is always the Bledisloe Cup – which is, for this Australian, the only trophy that holds true value.
For me, it is time to spice proceedings up and introduce Southern Hemisphere XV vs a Northern Hemisphere XV, playing off for the Rugby Sphere Trophy, which could be held each year between Rugby World Cups.
The best players from each hemisphere to be selected to represent their spheres.
This would add a great deal of interest to each season – who gets selected, who coaches which side, is it basketball rugby versus stodge and glug rugby and so on.
It would be a promoters, merchandisers, and television bonanza. Major stadiums with greater than 80,000-seat capacity would bid for each game, with the spheres alternating in the hosting of games.
Sphere-bragging rights would be seriously up for grabs.
Imagine watching a side like this: Beale, O’Connor, Fouries, Nonu, Jane, Carter, Genia, Read, McCaw (C), Burger, Matfield, Thorn, Woodcock, Moore, J Du Plessis.
Reserves B Du Plessis, Steenkamp, Du Preez, Pocock, Horwell, Dagg, Ioane.
Coach Graham Henry, Assistant Coach Robbie Deans.
Perhaps one of our UK brethren could provide their Northern Hemisphere team.
dkiwi
Guest
This is so simple. a best of three North v South match every two years. A test each in Twickenham, Sydney and Auckland. (sorry south africa and queensland). IRB to pay proper match fees and state that each team will have five up and comers. players would be enticed by global stage, increasing their brand...
Snobby Deans
Guest
Why is it getting silly? Why not have a Best of Six Nations team play a Best of Four Nations team each year. The Tri Nations teams are usually up in the UK each year, so just have this at the end instead of one of them playing a Baa Baas team - even if it's only done every 2nd year or so. Something different isn't necessarily something bad.
Mike
Guest
I think O'Connor would have a very good chance of selection. He has the attitude needed to succeed at the highest level and he handles pressure well. Its a matter of whether the kiwi, saffa or argie wingers can make a better claim to the spot. Whoever is chosen has to be able to cope with adverse conditions, because the opposing forwards are likely to be very good.
Mike
Guest
I think Moore is a great player and deserves to be the Wallaby incumbent. But I agree Johnno, I would choose Bismark Du P ahead of him.
sk
Guest
james o'connor in a southen hemisphere 15 lol no. the sooner the wallibies bring back drew mitchell the better
Sportfreak
Guest
Apparently they raise a huge amount of money for the game in Newcastle - and the game is better for it. They are behind a push for the British and Irish Lions to play vs the Cockatoos there as well. Perhaps you should get one going in the Central Coas!
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Cheers SF - and what a great player Phil was ...
Sportfreak
Guest
Rickety - was referring to the Hawthorne Club that exists in Newcastle. Its a very powerful businessman's club ( named after the dual international "Phil Hawthorne) that raises money for rugby in the Newcastle region. They are behind the new 20,000 seat rugby stadium to be built in Newcastle so I assume that they were behind bringing test rugby to Newcastle. website attached http://www.hawthorneclub.com.au/aboutus.aspx
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Oh what has Hawthorn got to do with this?
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
I agree SF - Newcastle will go close to filling up for this game. At least this caters for regional NSW which is better that running it at the Eastern Suburbs centric SFS.
Mike
Guest
One would hope that we are constantly building for the next series/tournament, at the same time playing to win the current one. I am not sure that Deans has ever suggested otherwise, but I agree many commentators seem to have taken that view over the last four years.
dwc
Guest
I really hope that Robbie Deans starts capitalising on his learning experiences and this BS about building for the next world cup is quickly shut down by commentators. oh thats right he is now building for the Lions tour!
Sportfreak
Guest
Johnson- you (I'll)logic is flawed. Doesn't it show that by holding.a test in mewcastle that the aru wants to grow the game. Do you think.a scotland test would pull more than 40k anywhere? Don't wind this thread up by saying the game is in decline. The Welsh are doing an old scholl 3 test tour and the sfs and the aru have locked away a deal that will see a test at the sfs each year for the nezt 10 years- most games will be during the day. They could have made more money by holding the game at anz, but they have listened to the rugby crowd and will be holding it in the day. Newcastle is hardly rugby union heartland- despite the local comp there being long established and highly competitive. I wonder how much involvelment the Hawthorne Club had in securing the Newcastle test
Johnson
Guest
Just read that the Wallabies will play a test against Scotland in Newcastle -great forNewcastle - but does make a very big statement about the decline in the popularity of the game whenn TEST match es are going provincial. Couple this with the Welsh tests at the SFS and it looks like the ARU has hung out the white flag They aren't even trying to grow the game nationally by going interstate JON should have built a national competition - intead of shrinking the test matches - very disappointing all round
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I would like to see something similar to the Rugby League world club challenge. That way we can stop speculating about my club is better then yours and put our money where our mouths are. I really just want to see a Super rugby side dominate the world.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
ABF - I wish that I was as easily pleased ...
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Yeah but we only see the Lions once every blue moon ....
Mike
Guest
Not exactly like that. My first point was that the Bled in practice plays second fiddle to the regional comp. I am not saying its right necessarily, just what happens. One result of that is the Bled is usually played on 2 matches. Difficult to get excited about that, but hey, if you do, I'm not complaining!
AdamS
Guest
That's like saying as we have the ICC test rankings the Ashes is no longer important. Frankly, if it was a choice between 1 standing place on the rankings and either the ashes or the Bled, I'd give a hoot about the ranking. This year I would have much, much rather won the Bled than the Tri Nations.
AdamS
Guest
Hastily assembled rep sides full of stars can often lack cohesion and, well, just suck (see: wallabies 2011). A rep side made from rep sides could suck to the power of 2. I'd rather see the top club sides play off to be honest.