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What is there to say after more rubbish rugby from the Australian sides over the weekend? And can someone confirm the rumour that league coach Daniel Anderson is going to take on the defensive coaching duties at a private Sydney school that is a rugby stronghold?
That’s just what we need right now, more leaguies influencing our game.
Ask yourself: Why do we have rugby league coaches coming across to rugby, but no rugby coaches going the other way?
You can already see the impact of league in the negative, uninspiring way the teams have been playing. It’s so robotic and defensive. It’s becoming so much like rugby league the players may as well leave and play in that competition.
At least it’s run well.
One of the big problems with rugby at the moment is that, like in league, players cannot steal the ball. Even Pocock struggles to turn ball over.
The referees are so officious and there are so many rules that they can practically blow their whistle at any moment on the field. And they do.
I had the privilege of spending some time over the weekend with a former South African player who is an expert at the breakdown. He is adament that referees have ruined the game with their constant stoppages.
Naas Botha noted during the latest Super Rugby round that there are now 37 rules in place for the scrum alone, 35 of which you can concede a penalty from.
That is just ridiculous.
I couldnt believe my eyes at one point in the Waratahs match when a linesman came scuttling over to report over aggressive play. These are professional players. They shouldn’t be put in cotton wool and it’s ruining the continuity of the game.
How is this for a suggestion: let’s bring in a new rule allowing the captains of the teams to rate the referees and produce a white card to them during a match.
It’s just frustrating to watch, especially for someone like me who genuinely loves the game.
I’d like to see a return to rucking. That would quickly sort the men out from the boys. And it would deliver quicker ball for the backs, too. Teams these days are all too deep in attack. In fact, some teams stand so far back they actually go backwards with the ball.
It’s pretty simple: stay flat, run the ball, and don’t kick it away in the red zone. That’s the way we were drilled under coaches like Bob Dwyer and Alan Jones. Under Jones, in particular, it was all about the basics. And our attack was never a problem.
But back to the Waratahs.
They need to make some drastic changes.
After their loss to the Force on the weekend, there were reports that the players were going for Truth Sessions. Truth Sessions? What truths do they need? These are professional players.
They have an obligation to entertain. But there were only 14,000 people there to see them go down on the weekend. And Chris Hickey’s old adage of playing ‘ugly to win’ hasn’t changed with new coaching staff, except they’re not winning.
We really need people who are passionate about the game to run rugby in Australia. Get away from this robotic style of play. Appoint Australian coaches who want the team to play entertaining rugby.
Otherwise, all of us involved in the game may as well pack our bags and make the switch to rugby league.
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.