I’ve been reading the comments on The Roar in response to my columns and it’s been interesting to see what people write into the site about. Some have been critical of my opinions, some supportive.
But it’s important to remember that I’m always motivated by a genuine love of the game, which is why I care so much about its future.
Whenever I give an opinion on how I think rugby should be played, particularly in Australia, it seems to be interpreted by many that I’m making it out to be the end of the world; a monumental crisis.
I’m not trying to suggest that at all.
What I do want to see is rugby played in a positive and entertaining manner, with the players going out there to play a style of rugby that will keep the crowd happy. And coming back for more.
That’s what it should be about: creating an entertaining product that can be enjoyed by the players and fans alike.
Unfortunately, as I’ve addressed in my columns, the current rugby hierarchy in Australia seems to be working against these principles and instead encouraging a bland, negative style of play for our Super and national teams that failed at the last World Cup, and if not careful, will see more of the same in 2012.
The message behind everything I’ve been saying is very simple: the basic skills of players in Australia are not where they should be.
Want the proof? Look at the Super standings. All Australian teams are in the negative. There’s not one team in the positive side of the For and Against ledger.
I was once a player who could have an impact on the way things went on the field. But now, as a journalist, I hope my point of view can make a difference. And I wouldn’t be giving it if I wasn’t passionate about rugby.
Why would I? I cop enough flack for it.
I also coach rugby to kids, showing them the basic skills and, hopefully, instilling a love for the game at an early age. I do this in South Africa, Hong Kong and other parts of Asia predominantly, because my contributions there are welcomed with open arms.
Why? Because I’ve got an opinion and I’m not afraid to express it.
Someone asked me on The Roar about the grassroots and what I would do to address that problem in Australia.
Well, the answer is straightforward: use some of the former players who the kids know and respect to promote the game here and go around to the schools and see who would like to win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.
Get the kids’ idols out to meet the stars and be able to interact with them.
This would build more excitement about the game amongst those youngsters who are increasingly being lost to league and AFL.
For me, the best opportunities for this are there in South Africa, the UK, and Asia. It’s strange that these are the countries who, when I played, loved the way I played the game and respect me both on and off the field.
But sadly, the same doesn’t apply in Australia.
Andrew
Guest
Our small Rugby Club in Macao (Southern China) just hosted Campo for a weekend of coaching the juniors. It was a great skills session, but the real benefit was the passion that he passed onto the boys. He exemplified the benefits, first hand, in finding joy in the sport you play. The boys were playing a different style of game Sunday afternoon to what they played Saturday morning. This is a very different ethos to that being shown by the ARU at present. Exemplified by the uninspired play of the Australian team at this years HK7s, with grim and lacklustre tactics, and the fact that they didn't even play in Australian colours. Come on ARU, you are a joke, sending a national representative team out in anything other than Green and Gold.
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
Some schools, but not like NRL or AFL is. How can we compete for talent when they beat us to the school gate????
Geoff Brisbane now California
Guest
Campo, appreciate your views, I was at Athletic Park when you goose stepped Stu Wilson, great to watch and I am an AB fan. Aus Rugby has been competetive (proof being they are 2nd ranked in world currently) problem is they have lacked consistentcy in achieving a dominant presence. Hard for people to get excited especially from a media point of view when your national team turns up some very inconsistent and negative results. Winners are grinners and they are easy to market and so forth. Friend of mine from Canada just returned from NZ on Holiday and wanted to buy an AB shirt he balked when told it was $200. But the shop assistant with a smile said but they are the World Champions. Anyhow Thanks Campo and all the best
Lorry
Guest
Spencer, have you considered how much Maradonna or Pele ask for their appearences?!! Campo is on the same level as them, as one of the greatest in his international sport. Why shouldn't he have a high price?! He certainly deserves more than those greedy mining bosses who contribute zero...
p.Tah
Guest
I'm sure they do Frank and I'm lead to believe that some post under aliases. I try not to criticse players for that reason. As armchair critics we have no idea what's going on in their lives and what other factors may be influencing their play. I can't imagine what it's like having anonymous posters unfairly criticse you. It must be infuriating. I'm not overly keen on people slagging off other posters either. It's actually bullying and it's well documented what sort of damage that can do. I've thought about writing an article about this. Not sure if it's something the roar would be interested in publishing.
p.Tah
Guest
That's a fair point too KPM. For what it's worth, Campo was the reason I started following rugby. Amazing player.
chris
Guest
I can not help thinking that if the old farts had agreed to the Northern Rugby Unions for change then maybe we would of seen a better society in England with Rugby competing and given us Sports fans room to breath with the horrible hyped game of Soccer/EPL but also if Rugby had been introduced in more working class schools esp in London then most of these kids would of been putting there attitude and anger on the Rugby field instead of shooting/knifing/gang war on the street's of Hackney for example.
Stin
Guest
He's joking!! Come on! Tools in all sports....
Tim
Guest
Mr Campese a great article and nice to see an ex player wanting some community development and growth of the game in all socio economic areas. When you watch the Rugby Club on Fox Sports they never bring up these issues, and only pat each other on the back and say rah rah etc. What ever happened to the Wallabies Semi Trailer, I remember as a kid going to the Ekka (Brisbane Show) and visiting the Wallaby trailer it was my favourite part of the show and something I looked forward to every year and then it just disappeared. And then the ads from free to air disappeared and then it seemed Rugby disappeared from the general publics mind...
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
It dawned upon me a while ago that many professional rugby players actually read what we write on The Roar... which they shouldn't, because I'm just a fan and no expert. But I remember when Giteau retired and the people here blasted him for being overrated, and suddenly I felt bad for the guy. He played for Australia and tried his best... always. We can be pretty harsh sometimes. Regarding Campo, there's more sense and more validity in what he says than 99% of the people who post at The Roar. We have a bizarre way of treating our greatest sportsmen in Australia. Shane Warne, Mark Ella, and David Campese are my three favourite sportsmen ever! I'd give a nod to Ella as my favourite.
google
Guest
League poaches all of Australian private school talent. Are there stats out there for number of NRL players from rugby schools?
Jock M
Guest
I loved the game too Campo but it is not the fault of the modern player that the modern game is so dull. It is purely and simply the breakdown laws. Fix them by reintroducing true competition and the rest will take care of itself. I intend to organise some trial games and I will then make an assessment on where to go from there from the reactions of the players who will find true competition totally foreign. For the record i believe that the early ninetees were the high point of Rugby but it was all good during the eighties as well.
Red Block
Guest
The biggest problem is that a handful of private schools lay claim to the best players and then the schoolboy rep teams and then Super rugby squads are picked from this very small pool. What a shame the ARU can't cast the net in a much wider area and pick players who aren't from within the usual hierarchy. The talent is there. Unfortunately if your not identified at 16 and from the right school, forget it. The boat has already sailed. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
sheek
Guest
Justin/KOTG, KOTG - perhaps you're right, 1984 may have been the high point of international rugby. At least for the Wallabies. I would have loved a southern hemisphere 4 Nations back in 1984. Just look at the number 10s - Mark Ella (Wallabies), Wayne Smith (All Blacks), Naas Botha (Springboks) & Hugo Porta (Pumas). Or 1992. The Bledisloe Cup series series remains arguably the best 3 tests these two countries ever played against each other: 16-15, 19-17, 23-26. Or the 2000 version at Stadium Australia. The ABs led 24-0 after 8 minutes. The scores were level 24-all at the 30 minute mark. At half-time, both teams received a standing ovation. At half-time!!! Then the ABs won at the death 41-35. Or the 2001 series against the Lions. What a brutal & brilliant series that was. Over the past 10 years, there hasn't been much to match those examples. Justin, Apart from what I've mentioned above, it's a personal view. Today's players are faster, stronger & fitter. They are faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, & able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. But all this has come at the expense of individuality, enterprise & intuitiveness. Elan & panache has been replaced by robotic sameness. The game may be faster with bigger hits, but the subtlety is missing. Of course, you'll tell me Quade cooper is an exception. The problem with poor old QC, is that he's right off the dial! But of course, if seeing 120kg gym-cut figures crashing into each other at full speed is your idea of excitement, then rugby in 2012 must be like being in heaven.....!!!
Harry
Guest
Addressing one of the underlying points in this excellent article: Its a fact that the skill levels of Australian players isn't where it should be. Too many seem incapable of executing the basics properly - catch and pass, put the ball in front of the runner, take advantage of an overlap, catch the high ball. This, coupled with the negative/defensive mindset of many of the Australian teams coaching (Tahs and the Force are the 2 worst examples in recent years) leads to attacks that are frankly dire. To some extent this is because of the advent of professionalism but yes its been disappointing and I think dragged Australian rugby back. We need to put more of a premium on attacking skills. On that note Campo, what are your views on the most welcome win by the 7's team in Japan a few weeks back? SHowed Aus can still turn out promising young attackers when given the opportunity ....
Tommygun
Guest
Please tell me you are taking the piss PJ... You are tarring alot of great men with the same brush there mate. Any code would be happy to have the calibre of people like Nathan Hindmarsh, Alan Tongue and Paul Gallen. Tough people on the field, tireless in their charity work off the field.
Bakkies
Guest
Rugby is in the public school system. Stop listening one to eyed league supporters
Acorn
Guest
"trash tregaskis" now there's a name from the past, and definitely a trivia question
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Come on Justin, we all know that the standard of international rugby was at its highest in 1984! My favourite quote from Sheeks latest non-sensical rant "NZ is the only country who plays their rugby as if they genuinely care about the sport". Try telling that to the Welsh rugby side and their band of suuporters. I am never ceased to be amazed by some of the things this chap comes out with.
Jester
Guest
I know this is slightly removed but when players are contracted to the perth wildcats they have a certain amount of "community hours" they have to serve, basically all of these are spent in schools with young kids, this important because I know when I was a little guy if a couple of pro athletes came to school an spent an hour or so chucking a ball around with us I would have become a lifetime supporter and potential player there an then, an it has the added advantage of keeping the players busy and down to earth. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.