With all the media coverage of the game these days, there really is a responsibility for modern rugby players – and administrators (and referees for what it’s worth, too) to ensure that the ‘product’ they put out is entertaining.
I think one of the big mistakes that rugby administrators made in Australia was to consign rugby to the domain of Pay TV, with very little support from free to air.
This created a situation where rugby, essentially, could only be viewed in Australia by those who could afford Pay TV. That image of rugby being an elitist sport, rightly or wrongly, was reinforced.
The problem was further conmpounded by the lack of attractiveness in the way most of the Australian sides (the Reds of 2011 are the obvious exception) have played their rugby.
The Entertainment Factor has barely been considered in Australia – by the coaches, by the players, by the administrators charged with running the game.
I feel this has been one of the most detrimental factors in the decline in popularity of rugby in Australia.
With rugby competing for eyeballs – and dollars – against the other well run codes here, two of which benefit considerably from their free to air coverage, the onus really falls on those involved to create a compelling product.
And it just hasn’t happened in recent seasons.
Contrast that to the growth of rugby in South Africa, and the ongoing success of rugby programs in New Zealand.
Even in Zimbabwe, where I am now for a week helping the U21’s prepare for their largest international competition, rugby is on the rise, mainly because the sport is presented in a positive, attractive light to youngsters, who are the future stars of the game.
In New Zealand, all the good young players want to eventually become an All Black and the marketing of the All Black brand reflects this. Being an All Black is aspirational, inspirational and achievable.
The injury toll that has hit the Wallabies this year, courtesy of the Super Rugby season, has been devastating, and unusually high.
Some of the injuries have been horrific. Is there something in the way these younger guys are training?
The game is getting faster and faster and the collisions are becoming increasingly rugby league-ish.
The number of players that are currently unavailable for the Wallabies exposes the holes in the Wallaby depth.
That said, Quade Cooper has come back from months out and looked like he’s never been away. And Deans has the core nucleus of players available that have been there, done that before.
I think it was a wise decision to leave Rocky Elsom out. His impact has gone. He isn’t player he once was. In his absence, Pocock and Higginbotham will step up further.
They are both playing good rugby.
And there are some good young players coming through, but I’m not sure if they will be experienced enough to take on the responsibility.
So Deans will have to select the guys to do the job he wants, depending on the style of rugby he’ll have the Wallabies playing this year.
But, again, it should start with the Entertainment Factor. Deans needs to brings fans through the turnstiles, and do that, he has to do more than just start winning.
He needs to have the side playing an attractive, attacking style of rugby.
Jerry
Guest
98-99, I suspect you mean. 1997 was one of the best years in AB history, from memory, they won 11 and the only blemish was a draw to England.
Jerry
Guest
Ahem, that's 10 straight...
PeterK
Guest
sure the Wallabies have had losses no question. BUT they are no 2 in the world, regularly are at that spot. They have a very good record against the boks including a lot of away wins in sa. So Deans has accomplished / improved in some things. I do agree there have been lows / losses that should not have been. I agree Deans has significant short comings. However baring the AB's who have been regularaly no 1 what other team matches the Wallabies for winning? With it being a minor sport in australia they are doing well in that regards. They do win a lot of games. The issue is to get rugby into public schools. Of course revisiting mcqueens days would be a bonus ie regular no 1 in the world, winning the rwc, and beating the lions. Bottom line there are no where the no of talented players that appeared then. We need to improve the penetration of the sport such that more kids are exposed to it and play it. It is far far too simplisrtic and easy to say they just have to win.
Bakkies
Guest
They won't get much further with their talent drain and they could go in to their shells if the relegation process does get implemented. It must be gut wrenching for their fans to see their products such as BdP, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn, etc run around for the Sharks instead of the Cheetahs. Ashley Johnson another key player is going to Wasps next season.
Greg
Guest
Their kicking is so inane I think Benny HIll music needs to be played as soon as a midfiled bomb goes up for the Tahed and Feathered. I don't understand Berrick Barnes. Even if he is given tactics to kick can't he think for himself. Kicks are chancers and not good practice for internationals, which I always think should be in the back on the mind of players when they play for their team. I always think; 'what would the AB's do with a free ball in midfield play when the attacking team has suddenly become the defensive team with no set defensive line? Score a bloody try.' The AB's absolutely love that situation. I don't get it.
allblackfan
Guest
failing anything else, why can't one of the FTA (including SBS or ABC) channels replay one of the overseas games on a Sunday night or Monday, especially if it had been a cracker of a game!? ie Chiefs v Bulls played last Friday could have been replayed on a Sunday night. The Boks/NZ games of two years ago were real classics. Both examples could have helped promote rugby in Aust had they been shown in full
Greg
Guest
Tomane is a very good player. He's done some outstanding things for the Brumbies - the kind of things that only talented players can do. He breaks defences by both running over them, and also through very strong fending at speed. He breaks up the pattern of defenses and a number of his tackles (on forwards included) have been absolutely outstanding. We'll see over the next few years how well he goes, particularly without a kicking game - in this he is in the same bracket as Sevea (?). Although this just encourages running rugby from both these guys. Michael O'Connor states he was the 'first picked' for the Australian Rugby Schoolboys when they listed the side, an immediate stamp of approval, and my understanding is that this side also included James O'Connor. Personally I think it was crazy not to pick Tomane. I don't get the ambivelance about him, but I appreciate being a bit reserved about his future impact on the game - we won't know until we know. I hope he turns out to be the best of Australia's converts from league.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Spot on! Campo was saying publicly what many of us were saying to the TV set or to the dog.
jeznez
Guest
The Cheetahs are playing the most entertaining rugby they have ever played and guess what - their current log position is the highest they have ever been. They have to learn how to win the tight ones as they keep giving up leads by going into their shells when it is tight near the death but I must say when they back themselves and attack they go alright - would just be good if they could tighten their defence up.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Yep. Duly recalled. Cheers, Jerry.
jeznez
Guest
ps. experience wise we are likely to have Robinson, Moore, Polota-Nau, Kepu, Simmons, Pocock, Higginbotham and Palu in the pack - that is a pretty experienced group. My picks for the inexperienced additions are Palmer, Douglas, Timani and Dennis. I don't see Rocky who has struggled to break the line in his limited playing being a huge loss.
jeznez
Guest
KIng, Rocky missed rounds 1-8 and then played about twenty minutes each in rounds 9-11 against the Rebels, Brumbies and Crusaders before playing a couple of 60 minute performances in rounds 12 and 13 against the Bulls and Stormers. Last week in round 14 he was injured again. All up he has managed about 180 minutes or just over two full matches in 14 rounds of rugby. And he is not being selected this weekend either so make that 180 minutes in 15 rounds of rugby.
Sam
Guest
campo its all well and good to show more rugby on free to air but the reason they dont is probably cause theres not enough financial incentive.Rugby dosent have anywhere near as much money as the NRL and AFL.I think its stupid that tv rights were given to channel nine during the world cup there would have plenty of time slots on other channels i was annoyed at not being able to watch every Australia game on nine and other games because it happened to be on nine where nrl had proirity.
Jerry
Guest
"they lost a game in the group stages for the first time (and to a NH side)" Minor correction - they did lose previously to South Africa in the group stages in 95.
Whites
Guest
Not sure what figures you are looking at.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Well... if you want to debate semantics, then they need to start winning regularly. Your'e just being disingenuous here: the WC was basically a disaster. They lost a game in the group stages for the first time (and to a NH side), and they were absolutely pumelled by NZ, which is pretty significant when you consider the 10 game losing streak. Whatever way you look at it, finishing 3rd is not much to tub thump about. Being 3N champions is impressive, but less so in a WC year for obvious reasons. SA fielded a weakened squad, just as they did in 2007, and Henry mixed and matched. It just wasn't the be all and end all last season. A home loss to England and Samoa (when everybody presumed England and Samoa were going to get smashed), record away losses to SA and England, and losses to Ireland, Wales and Scotland aren't exactly what fans want to see. Deans has taken the Wallabies to new lows. If he had not experienced those losses then I doubt the naysayers would be less evident. Fans want success. Winning teams garner accrue fans, not S. Faingaa pulling his sad face standing under the sticks. Winning doesn't mean playing ugly, it means playing to your strengths, and Australia neither has the players to play a grinding territorial game, or a Harlem Globetrotter style game. There is a middle ground, and that middle ground relies on building squad depth and expanding the sides tactics.
Bakkies
Guest
Pro Rugby is not about entertainment only Australians write drivel about that. It's about results. Sponsors and fans don't want to know you if you are losing constantly. A classic example is The Cheetahs. They play so called entertaining Rugby but I don't think they have had a Super Rugby season that they have won more games than they have lost. With the threat of relegation looming if the Kings get the go ahead and the Lions go down, The Cheetahs will be the next cab off the rank under threat. They produce a lot of talented players but the cream end up at The Sharks, Australian sides (Sias Ebersohn and Sarel Pretorius) or at European clubs. I doubt they would be leeking so many talented players if they were winning more often. They have been lucky to keep Juan Smith and Heinrich Brussouw for so long. I have had a few arguments about the Brumbies last season. People wanted them to run the ball but when they did it was from their own half and more often than not they would drop it or throw the ball in to touch off a bad pass. Constantly putting the team under pressure and that's how they leeked a lot of points off bad play. If you can't do the basics, don't play high risk rugby from your own half for the sake of being ''entertaining.'' That's dreadful rugby not entertainment plus. Jake White has got them doing the basics well, hitting rucks, getting clean ball and they are scoring tries again because of that.
Dublin Dave
Guest
Back in the early days of the Internet, while Australia were touring over here and an old guy called Campese was just about making their midweek team he posted some typically caustic comments on what we would call today his "Blog" which led me to reply to him. I got a personal, if circular,mail back a few days later in which he expressed his hope that the next time he played he would enjoy "a zero mistakes game". Could this be the same guy? Of course it could! Entertainment is all very well but the only way you get any respect from an Australian team is by beating the buggers! So any Welsh or Scottish strategists reading this need to realise, if they haven't already, that if they think their best interests are served by sticking the ball up their jerseys before giving it to the outhalf to launch it towards the stars so that when the Australian full back catches it he will be wondering "What's all this white stuff?" then so be it. Because Campo would do it to you. And no mistake!! :)
Sprigs
Guest
Great post.
Jerry
Guest
They're also not playing in the Tri-Nations, so they can't win it either....