When it comes to the impact it’s had on professional rugby in Australia, league has a lot to answer for: from the introduction of the drop punt, to the rigid defences and deep attacking lines.
The two rugby codes are totally different games, and they should be treated as such.
But too often, league’s influence has been felt in negative ways, from the recruitment of coaches (John Muggleton being the exception, who was a ball player) to the poaching of players, tactics, and conditioning techniques.
It’s time Australian rugby moved away from their reliance on leaguies and got back to using those who come exclusively from a rugby background.
The past weekend was a good reminder of why.
How many charge-downs do we see now in rugby because of the use of the league and AFL drop punt? Back in my day, we used the torpedo kick to gain ground. But these days, it seems players drop punt the ball for the heck of it, with little thought to where that kick ends up.
The Waratahs did this far too often against the Rebels on the weekend.
For the last quarter of the game, especially, when they desperately needed a try, they just couldn’t get one. All they did was turn the ball over by kicking it away.
I’ve said it before but it needs repeating: they need a complete overhaul at the Waratahs to get that team firing as they should. The players are simply not playing as a team.
Contrast the attitude of NSW players with that of the Brumbies, who have no big names or big heads in the team. They all play for each other.
It looks like NSW players think that they’re better than they are. And yet, they can’t handle it when the pressure is on. They play selfishly.
For example, Adam Ashley-Cooper hardly touches the ball. The two centers just do not pass him the ball. And the backs in general don’t seem to want to do a lot. They just kick the ball away.
No one knows how to put the opposition under pressure. All they do is run at straight at each other, which is a direct result of the impact that rugby league and its fitness trainers, coaches, and players have had.
Rugby players are all so big these days that anyone can practically play anywhere. There’s no need for specialisation anymore. Just look at Sonny Bill Williams: he’s about 6’4, around 110kgs, and he plays in the centers.
At the 1991 Rugby World Cup, I weighed 82kgs. By the time of the 1995 World Cup, I was up to 92kgs because of the arrival on the scene of Jonah Lomu. My mum thought I was on steroids!
That increase in weight impacted significantly on my style of rugby. I didn’t feel as light on my feet as I had 4 years earlier. So I can understand how the players today, with wingers regularly weighing in at over 100kgs, must find agility on the field a challenge.
So they’re all running straight at each other and not around their opponent.
In league you can get away with that because it’s such a different game: run it up for five tackles, then kick it. But there should be a whole lot more to it than that in rugby.
What’s worse, when rugby does poach a talented league player, they do nothing to help him adapt to the new code.
Lote Tuquiri is a good example. No one really taught him how to play rugby.
As a result, Lote was very explosive with the ball as a winger. But off the ball, his work rate was not great. I was a winger in my day, so I know what I’m talking about. He got very little support from his coaches: they basically said to him, you’re a professional, we expect you to learn it for yourself.
Now that he is back in the other code, he is a great player again.
We need to get back to the game we know. At the moment we are behind the other codes.
On a final note, I was very saddened to hear about the plight of my old teammate, Michael Lynagh. I believe he is getting better, though, which is great news. He is a wonderful guy and I wish him a very speedy recovery.
dan
Guest
Crusaders of old would have gone for the try... and got it.
Sprigs
Guest
Nah.
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
Wasn't Tuqiri selected for Australia in his first year back in League? I think if it wasn't for bad fortune with injuries, he'd still be at that level.
AussieKiwi
Guest
Agree, they are different, and both enjoyable in their own way, though I find league (for most of the time) too predictable and union annoying for the number of interruptions to play. There was an interesting inteview with Craig Wing on the Rugby Club last week. He was talking about his move to Japan to play rugby, and how he had adapted his gme. His view was the the basic ball skills etc are the same, but the two games are otheriwise totally different. I think he regretted his switch to league early in his career, He did not rule out playing for Japan in union. Come to think of it, there are a few teams in the Aus conference who could use a No 10 at the moment!
Rugby Diehard
Guest
Max Power - very much agree - best example of League converts being beefed up IMO was Tahu - he looked like a big blob. Also Will Chambers back in the NRL seems to have rediscovered his mojo he lost in the 2011 season with the Reds - not sure what his weight has done. I do agree with Campo that too mucjh emphasis is put on size for Rugby backs.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
WoobliesFan, And league and Australian Rules are able to do this because their fans actually - get this - *turn up to games and pay money*. Union fans and administrators, on the other hand, whine.
ceebow
Guest
"….League is like a leech sucking on Rugby’s life source" just out of curiosity, how is league sucking the life out of rugby? If u r reffering to most of our talent being directed towards league instead of league, wouldnt the ARU do the same if the tables were turned? and by the sounds of it in england rugbyover there is sucking the life out of league..
ceebow
Guest
"
ceebow
Guest
"‘the current Wallabies backline is blessed with beautiful rugby talent" pity about our forwards lol
sheek
Guest
robdowney, I don't see Campo attacking league at all. I think he is quite right in suggesting that the skills that succeed in league don't necessarily succeed in union, & vice versa. While there have been some successful converts, more have failed to be a success at both than succeeded. Why is not possible to make these observations without someone being offended it is some kind of code war?
Tommygun
Guest
How often do you see them in Australian Rugby??
Tommygun
Guest
100% agreed.
robdowney
Roar Rookie
as i am one of the few people who likes league and union equally i find these kinds of articles bizarre and lacking objectivity. to say that "league has a lot to answer for" for some problems in union is ridiculous and to say both games are "totally different" is also questionable. these kinds of comments are still tied up in some class war from years ago and the split in rugby. get over it. the word pretentious comes to mind. both games exist, have a long history and both are enjoyable and can learn from each other.
Jean-Pierre LeGuerre
Guest
Guys - campese was talented with ball in hand - of that there is no question. I am not an aussie, and up here in europe, by far his most famous moment was his antics against the Lions when he gave away a stupid try. Since his retiral, he has been embarassingly bitter against the influence of professional Rugby league in his sport. He repeatedly had a go at Sailor, and now has the nerve to criticise Tuquiri. As a player, he was talented. I saw him play at the melrose sevens with a high quality randwick side, as well as live in several tests etc. However - defensively, he was (at best) highly questionable, and his elusive running style was fitting for a player who didn't like contact. Lote Tuquiri played for years in the NRL where he would be expected to come off his wing and drive the ball up either straight from dummy half, or as first receiver - to help out his forwards. He was (is) far bigger, faster, stronger and more powerful than Campese ever was, and was often a devastating attacking force despite facing organised and very physical defences. When campese played in the 80s and early 90s, the normal style of tackling was relatively passive, with the 'big hit' a relatively rare occurence. Defensively, Tuquiri was excellent in rugby - tackle on mils muliaina being a good example. None of this is Campese's fault of course - he played in a different era. However his arrogance in criticising first Sailor, then tuquiri, is incredible. Both were bigger, faster, stronger than Campese was 8as well as being better athletes than most players from their own era). Both could defend, and both relished a bit of contact - which is an integral part of rugby, despite campese's best attempts to look like a turnstile when the oppo had the ball. One final point. Before pro RL coaches entered rugby, the sport (especially up here in europe) was played by fat men, wrestlinfg in the mud, and interspersed with stoppages for what can best be described as a 'pileup'. I agree - in aus and nz, there was always more emphasis on running and handling, but you see my point. rugby nowadays is far from perfect, but it is faster, cleaner, defences have improved enormously, and in general it is a markedly better spectacle, as the number of spectators will testify. Campo was often running round fat blokes, who frankly didn't really want to get their hands on the ball, preferring to stay in the scrum or maul. Tuquiri (and Sailor) never had that luxury. Hope this clarifies my stance.
Lorry
Guest
jean-pierre how ridiculous! You can't compare Tuquri to a Bradman or a Maradonna.... that's what Campo was
ziggyniscot
Guest
Foley, Bowen, Gaffney and Mumm - is there even a minute of RL experience between them? Campo's got the tin foil hat on again.
Lorry
Guest
KPM haha, good one re. mccabe and fainngaa!! so true...
ziggyniscot
Guest
Tiquiri was / is a good player but you can't even compare him to Campo's shoelace.
ziggyniscot
Guest
Also love how the popularity of RL and AFL in Australia is some big media conspiracy to deny Aussies of the true global game of Rugby Union, what a croc. Its not that difficult to understand, RL and AFL have been on top in their respective areas in Australia for over 100 years now and writing about these two sports sells newspapers / attratcs traffic etc... For example the SMH learnt the hard way 6-7 years ago when they canned the LeagueHQ website, only for it to quitely re-appear again a couple of years ago. RL sells in Sydney and Brisbane and its the same for AFL in the other capital cities.
Justin
Guest
JPLG - Sometimes in life you regret things. If I had written that I would be wanting to hit the delete button pretty quick - "Tuquiri was 3 times the athlete Campese was, as well as a more complete rugby player" Cmon, thats embarrassing...