Tracking the Wallabies steps to redemption

Dissemination across a number of competitions may be workable. The OP wanted all our players in the ITM cup, which is clearly unworkable.

rob, the point has been made elsewhere (and I agree), that it is not Robbie Deans's job to coach Wallabies in the basics of the game. If these players lack the basic skills, why are they in the Wallabies? Send them back to 4th grade clubland and pick those who at least know how to catch, pass, kick and run!

Listened to ABC radio yesterday and Greg Growden interviewed. The item that I took out of that was that in his opinion if you went to watch the Wallabies train you would be appalled at their lack of basic skills. He argues that Deans has to spend part of his time re skilling his troops when they first get into camp. Argues that somewhere in the rugby pyramid players are not learning basics. In my own experience watching men playing park rugby is now like watching the under 10's. Whenever a player gets the ball he wants to score a try; even with a 2 man overlap the player wants to do a Beale or Cooper chip instead of drawing and passing.

Depends where you are looking from Geoff. The game as a whole is pathetically UNDER hyped in australia. The media here report on an afl player's sneezes or NRL player's favourite colours. And ignore rugby tests. Of all opinions and solutions offered here, Sheek seems to be running the angle that looks most likely of scoring points. In fact, I reckon that if Sheek, Rickety, perhaps myself and a few others got together, for a fraction of JON's 960K, a team could be assembled to - shovel the gravy out of the train and into funding vacuums in OZ rugby culture - assess the whole structure/culture of OZ rugby and make a blueprint for the future that respects the past and the value invested in tradition but shoots for a rugby-rich future. - connects the problems with the Tahs with the problems with the Wallabies. - challenges the dinasour type thinking that shackles OZ rugby. OZ rugby is in trouble. And JON was at the wheel when the gravy train started slipping off the tracks. He could be consulted to negotiate SANZAR deals etc but he seems to have no vision beyond the ideal 'Joeys to Wallaby success ' paradigm. We don't need another 'fan forum'. We need a research based cultural transformation team. And those at the wheel don't even seem to either see or care about the wreck that is coming. By the way I hope that I am wrong but that meek Bledisloe challenge and the media's ignorance of rugby are the signs for me. OZ rugby has entered the 'wreck phase'.

Exactly, seems that Aussies still have some trouble admitting they are all one nation. You know, the if NSW (Syndey) likes it, it must be crap/bad/evil kind of thing. Reverse is also true. NZ has similar thoughts re: Auckland (lesser extent Christchurch) but we don't let it get in the way of fixing things.

Super rugby in NZ is a third tier as the SR franchises select players from ALL provincial unions in their catchment area, plus from a pool of those unwanted by their "home" franchise. For example, the Hurricanes are selected from Wellington, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Wanganui, Wairarapa Bush, Manawatu, Kapiti-Horowhenua plus pool players, Not just Wellington.

I believe Tawera Kerr-Barlow was a classic example of this, badjack. Born in Melbourne, raised in Darwin and headed to NZ to complete his schooling and crack the rugby system in the hopes of gaining an AB spot (which he should get on the spring tour)

As discussed anyone wanting to play in NZ ITM would have to compete for a place. So based on discussions thus far the percentages would be pretty low. However the continuing migration of Kiwis to Aus could be looked at in respect to channeling talent into clubs. Most would have a minimum of high school rugby and or differing levels of age grade reps or clubs etc.Too many SR teams in Aus for sure, pointed this out a long time ago but everyone said it was good for business but not necessarily good for rugby. Public school private school if you think about it really it is about fun enjoying the game for what it is and how to encourage others to give it a try.Rugby is dying here in Aus, why? because there is so much hype given to underperforming overpaid athletes by the crappy media.

Agreed, but at the moment we have neither. If the Brumbies, Rebels and Force all sent their players to the ITM/Currie cups and NH comps for the better experience, maybe the ARU might feel compelled to act on an ARC replacement.

So, don't bother with a national competition, just shove our players into the ITM Cup. I'm sure the kiwis won't mind that!! What a load of rubbish....

Interesting views here. The culture thing is a big one. Aussie Rules and League have a continuous and available free-2-air content that Rugby has not seen since the ABC's Rugby World in the 80's - well atleast the highlights program plus 5 nations snd internationals. ARU sold their soulto the Devil when Rugby went professional and SANZAR deal with News Ltd was done. Kids do not get to see regular viewing of Rugby heroes to emulate. Also we need to be careful that any club player from Oz that goes over the ditch to develop their game does not get poached by NZ.

I would make it mandatory for all Private & Independant schools 1st XV to play in the Waratah Shield. Ditto for the Buchan Shield. The GPS competition is 7 games, add in a few trials and they play 10-11 games. Just not enough. Secondly and more importantly, playing in the Waratah and Buchan shields exposes the Private Schoolboys to schools they never normally play. They might travel to Western Sydney to play Prairiewood High ( good rugby program Apparently ) which would be fantastic. Get the kids out of there comfort zones, away from the picket fenced grounds and play kids from all different backgrounds. It might toughen them up also. I agree with John the game needs to consolidate the strongholds however I'm a firm believer the game needs to get into primary and most high schools in the greater west of Sydney. If it's not available to them at school they're unlikely to take it up when they leave school. Why concede an area with a population of 2 million to League, AFL and Soccer. Get in and have a crack.

The ARU are always pleading poverty. Well if they franchised all the SR teams as per the Rebels or the other codes, then that would take a lot of the financial heat off them. They could then afford to set up another ARC (or similar). As to promoting the sport, I don't think that a head to head competion with RL or AFL is the way to go. Promote the differences. A female friend of mine once said about RL - "It's just brute force with the big ones, with an occasional run from those smaller ones at the back" When I think about it, RL is a bit like basketball. In basketball it's a case of we've got the ball to run down the court and pop it in the ring. Then the other side does the same thing. Sort of like a yoyo really. RL is run for 6 tackles then either kick or hand it over, then the other side does the same, another yoyo. At least in Union there is a (somewhat) greater battle for the ball and (often) more inteligent use of it (by some teams) :)

:-)

I was in Sydney three weekends ago and watched Eastwood norths. I play rugby in a country town. My dad played Sydney club rugby and has always told me our 1st xv which has made the grand final 5 years running would not even match sydney 4 th grade after what I saw I think our team could match it maybe not win but be competitive with 2nd grade teams. The talent pool is not deep enough and maybe it is the schools fault or maybe it's the fault of the ARU. In all seriousness I think it's the fault of the players. No one takes it serious enough and the ones who do are been shunned by club politics. The players feel like the club, province, country owes them. Pampering school boys on television will only further this. I went to a gps school and half the first xv thought they were Demi gods and we treated them that way. This is where the poor attitude starts. If they had as much drive to play for their country as they do for their school we wouldn't have this problem. It's why you have success stories like horwill who played 4th grade at school or someone like Steve Devine who played 2 nds. They never stop wanting it. It makes me hate the wallabies more when I read crap like the senior wallabies made the coaches take Beale to Nz because they were worried what he would do if he was left behind. Suck it up. Running out in around the country today are thousands of players who aren't that precious. I thought this was a mans game. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

In my town we have the best /15s side in the country.Local and state rugby will be lucky if we see one of them,the broncos are all over them.

sheek I agree I want a total re-model of school boy rugby for multiple reasons. The divisions right now, are outdated , and not competitive enough. -I'd love to see a school like Randwick Boys High go hammer and tongs in a school boy state grand final VS Joeys. It would be great to watch. Or Westfield sports High VS Joeys in a grand fina. Would be great to watch sheek, it would get good crowds and take the sport mainstream . I liken some of rugby's problems to the old NSL soccer with the ethnic stuff. It was not mainstream enough. Schoolboy rugby could open more doors to the mainstream of Australia, would be good.

Interesting article and finally some objective thinking. Additional comments - the main difference with NZ rugby is a working class game and hence it influences culture, as NRL, AFL and cricket do in Aust. Completely agree focus on your core areas - success breeds success. When was Aust rugby strong when they had only 3 Super teams. Letting Beale and O'Connor go to the Rebels hasn't assisted anyone other than put extra $ in the players and their management pockets. There will be the odd upset win but for the forseeable future the Rebels and Force will remain in the Super 15 bottom quarter and then when they move up the table other Aussie franchaises will move down. Renegotiate the SANZAR broadcasting agreement with 4-5 NZ, 3 Aust and 4 SA teams - then there might be some competition for places. Can't imagine the games involving the Rebels, Force, Lions and the Blues latter games in 2012 added any further advertising $ etc but only added cost. The Kiwis will never give Aust a NPC side but agree blood some players with ARU assisting to get 5 - 10 individual contracts across the NPC and also the Currie Cup. It wouldn't hurt front rowers and tight forwards in Aust playing weeky hard competition rather than them looking like heros in the local club competition. Grassroots - agree focus on core areas, rugby doesn't have the clout to go head to head with NRL and AFL but perhaps the ARU nationally provides free playing kids for all sides under 12 years.

Sailosi, There's always this moving goalposts scenario. True, rugby numbers are up, but always lag behind where they ought to be. Firstly, if Australian rugby is improving each year by say 5%, then NRL is improving by 7% & AFL by 8% (for the purpose of illustration). And since AFL & NRL are already operating of bigger bases, they are expanding so much more quickly. So the increased playing numbers can be deceiving. Yes, it's good, but for Australian rugby to make the necessary impact, it is the one that should be increasing by say 10%, followed by AFL 8% & NRL at 7% (again for the purpose of illustration). Australian rugby has the smallest base, & is improving at the lowest rate. So naturally we will remain in last position.

Johnno, I wouldn't think that was an important issue. Although screening any schoolboys test would be desirable. I would totally revamp schoolboy rugby. Get rid of GPS, CAS, IAS, CHS & whatever other variations there are. Using Sydney as an example, divide it into zones. In other words, expand the Waratah Shield. Eventually, through pool stages & playoff knockouts, you would arrive at the champion school each year. Heck, handled properly, it could become our version of US college football. Not on the same scale of course, but generating enormous public interest in the respective metropolitan & regional areas. Schoolboy rugby, combining private & public schools, is a hugely under-utilised product. Properly restructured, it could be a sensation.