I really didn’t expect the Waratahs to play as badly as they did against the Reds on the weekend. It used to be a proud rugby state, but now they need to clean out the whole place. No more excuses.
They have coaches that shouldn’t be there and players that can’t step up to the plate. No more jobs for the boys please!
Kurtly Beale came out of schoolboy rugby as a superstar and straight into NSW number 10 position. Yet, it seems they neglected to mentor and guide him.
It’s short-sighted to expect a schoolboy to immediately perform under the pressure of professional rugby. What happened to nurturing players for the long term and having their best interests at heart?
And that’s only one example.
And now we have lost him to The Rebels. Not surprising. Use ex-players to help.
Part of the responsibility of the older players is to look after and mentor younger players. However, I have an inkling that the administration doesn’t encourage this as the older guys have power and respect and this scares the administrators.
They need to sweep a broom through the joint and bring in people who are prepared to get the side back to that counter-attacking style that NSW rugby was once synonymous with (funny, the Reds are playing like NSW used to).
Incredibly, despite a terrible year with the Waratahs, there are whispers that the coach and manager have been approached for jobs at the Force.
It seems that once you’re in the system, you are made.
Even coaches who don’t perform are looked after and remain employed.
Coaching is like politics. Say the right things and tell them what you what to hear and you’re in.
For example, Michael Cheika, who had considerable success as a player at Randwick and coach, then coached at Leinster, with great success, can’t get a start at a Super Rugby team in Australia?
Why?
One club – Sydney University – has dominated NSW rugby for far too long now. The anti-Randwick bias of administrators and selectors is obvious.
Cheika, apparently, just doesn’t fit the mould of what the ARU are looking for, whatever that is, just because he made it on his own!
I don’t get it.
Once again, the sorry state of Australian rugby was exposed for all to see in the final preliminary round when teams needing to win went further into their shells and played defensive rugby.
The Brumbies were, without doubt, the best Australian side all season, right up until the last game (their most important moment of the tournament) when they simply lost it by putting their attacking instincts in the rack and throwing their season out the window.
As for the Reds, well, a lot of people are asking how they can finish 6th and still get a home semi-final.
Remember, when these decisions are made, it’s not about rugby. It’s about politics.
Unfortunately, as Jake White has said, the Australian conference is the weakest of the three. John O’Neill knew that, so he worked hard behind the scenes to ensure that the top ranked team from each country would make it into the semis – regardless of where they finished up on the ladder proper.
So the Reds are in, the Brumbies are out.
Success has come to those who have played attacking rugby. Those teams who are now heading into the semis are evidence of this.
Unfortunately, it may not matter. The outcomes of the upcoming semis could just as easily be determined by a bad referee or TMO call.
It amazes me how often they get it wrong. Are they watching the same game as the rest of us?
And why are we speaking about them, anyway?
In addition, there are inherent problems with the laws of rugby which makes the administration of them – human errors and all – even more difficult.
I think the laws should be determined by the current players, not by those who sit in the grandstands and watch matches from afar.
Get the captains of the international teams to revise the laws.
In this modern era, everyone needs to be professional. But at the moment, there are simply too many people on the gravy train who don’t deserve to be.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Disclaimer - I am a long term Uni supporter and former (poor) player there. I was around and about in the early 80s when the district rugby clubs tried to kill Sydney University. On one occasion I was sent to town to a Colts meeting.... we used to take turns to go and sit there while the other delegates complained about Uni 'stealing' their players. But the failed attempt to oust Australia's oldest club from the Shute Shield is a story for another time, only mentioned to show that the anti-Uni vitriol is no new phenomenon, and to me is unsurprising coming from a Randwick...(poached from Queenbeyan) player of the 80's. It seemed lost on them back then, as now, that the bulk of Uni players came from school teams, or in some cases the country areas, not from club juniors, and played at the club because they were enrolled at the university anyway. That still seems to be lost on some of the posters on this topic. Someone mentioned Bernard Foley, and asserted he was "poached" from Eastwood... Actually he is a product of St Aloysius' College. Last I heard they played in the CAS rugby competition. So were Pat McCabe, Tom Kingston & Jono Owen. "Bernard was named Uni Colts Best and Fairest player in 2009, capping off a magnificent season with a 22-point haul in the Grand Final victory over Southern Districts. A product of St Aloysius College in Sydney, Foley represented the NSW Schoolboys in 2007 and is currently studying Economics at Sydney University." Perhaps instead of attacking Sydney Uni, and likewise Qld Uni, for having a development program for players like Foley that continually supplies the Super Rugby squads (has anyone worked out what % of current Super players came through these clubs?), rugby fans should be grateful their efforts make up for a perceived lack of development work by the various RUs.
Irene Watt
Roar Rookie
How have the Reds 'tricked' the conference system? They've won 11 matches which is the same amount as the Crusaders and 1 more than both the Bulls and Sharks. The only reason they don't have more overall points is because they didn't get many bonus points this season. How is it fair that teams who have lost matches within the 7 point margin are considered better than the Reds simply because they got a bonus point for losing? Yes I agree the Australian conference is the weakest, but I am really sick of people saying the Reds don't deserve to be where they are.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
While I'm with you 100% on this one Campo , I think we have all said this ad nauseam-but don't you guys all know each other anyways ? Can't you knock a few wise heads together and sort this out ? :-)
Redzilla
Guest
Campo - I had the pleasure of watching your heady playing days but like another old legend, Mark Ella, the shrill complaints get a little nauseating. Your side step & goose step were far more enthralling than your prose.
Happy Hooker
Roar Rookie
Not since he retired, no.
Red Kev
Guest
Interesting quote from Ewen McKenzie regarding the so-called conference problem that highlights an important fact that I had not considered: "Fans wanting equality in the competition will never find it. Each country has its own rules around squad sizes, salary caps and foreign players. Since Australia plays under a handicap already I now don't have even the slightest bit of empathy for the whinging posters from NZ and SA regarding how "unfair" the conference system is.
Crockycrocky
Guest
I forgot that Foley also had previous overseas UK Head Coach experience - was Head Coach at Bath in English Premiership prior to returning to Tahs. Does this now make him ok?
Andy Sm
Guest
So in this article Campo criticises the warahtahs (for everything) the reds (for being lucky) brumbies (for choking) coaches (for being inexperienced) sydney uni (for beating randwick), administrators, refs, the conference system, the laws. Is there anything you actually like about rugby Campo?
sheek
Guest
rl - wonderful reposte..........
the Bone
Guest
snd look where randick is on the table Campo
sheek
Guest
Fossie, I think KPM has explained the situation well. Because of its size & the number of players it produces annually, Australian rugby DOES need a strong NSW. They don't have to necessarily be the best every year, but I think it's important they are always around the number 2 or 3 position in the Aussie conference. And an overall top 6 contender MOST years. At the worst! I just think it's incumbent on the most populous province in each country to be in the top half of both the conference & the overall comp in most years. Not every year, but certainly most years. It is simple practical common sense that it should be this way. NSW rugby does need a clean-out, a new culture, new ideas, a fresh approach. And the clean-out should start at the head - the administration. Whether this will happen however, is unlikely. The guys in the ivory tower aren't going to vote themselves out of their sumptuous luxury.....
Crockycrocky
Guest
Didn't spoil fun at all snowman! Showed very clear examples that 'good, experienced' Head coaches don't work in every environment. BD is supposed to have been a great coach ... But even he had some abyssmal results. It's a team game - the 'team' needs to be a good match (players, coaches, CEO, medical support). At the moment Waratahs are not a good 'team' and need a complete overhaul - not just the coach!
DC of nz
Guest
The Reds have tricked the conference system twice in two years well I say good on them you have to take your chances and they certainly have... But this year it ends in Hamilton because they lose the Suncorp advantage ...
snowman
Guest
Sorry to spoil the fun - Eddie Jones took the Wallabies to a world cup final and only lost it in extra time to Jonny W's boot - surely a successful head coach - he then was a disaster for the Reds. Then there was also the bloke who coached the 1991 winning Wallabies but then was nothing special with the Waratahs particularly that loss to the crusaders in 2001 I think 98 nil or something - the reason I won't speak his name.
Aaron
Guest
Well done Campo, you have called it the way you see it unlike a lot of the biased posters here. We all know that there has to be a change to the seeding system. I can almost live with the conference system, but the rankings should be purely based on points. There is just too many questions raised atm and like it or not, a Reds victory will be called a hollow one by most neutral fans.
Crockycrocky
Guest
Well spotted!
AndyS
Guest
And referees Croc...
Crockycrocky
Guest
Sounds good but the reality of that happening would be tough. Limited 'foreign' coaches get appointed as Head Coach of professional teams overseas where they would also have local coaches wanting the jobs. Mckenzie got Stade Francais but had minimal success, Cheika also Stade Francais but again minimal success, Brian Smith with London Irish going good, but he doesn't seem to want to come back to Australias rugby environment, Fisher with Munster went well but then Friend with Harlequins went well too. Didn't mean that the jump to Super Rugby went well though even with success overseas.
formeropenside
Guest
Australian rugby would be fine without a strong NSW; dont get carried away.
Well after reading all that there are two points that I don't like, the guarantee for every conference and the 6 team play offs. Keep it to the best 4 I say. You miss out, tough luck.