Ben Mowen’s sudden decision to quit Australian rugby for France next season makes no sense. It’s beyond belief that being the Wallaby captain, the highest honour the code can give, isn’t enough to stay put.
It’s foreign to Mowen’s very nature.
At everywhere he’s played since he captained the Australian under 19s out of Queensland, and the Australian under 21s in 2005 at the Junior World Cup in Argentina, Mowen has been the ultimate in dedication, pride, and passion.
Yet, Queensland let him go in 2007 after just one game, and NSW let him go after 40 to slot in an injured Rocky Elsom in one of the dumbest decisions of the century.
The Brumbies swooped with a double coup, signing not only Mowen but the Springbok Rugby World Cup winning coach, Jake White.
For the first time in his Super Rugby career Mowen was instantly recognised as a leader by White ahead of long-term Wallaby hooker Stephen Moore.
And the Brumbies made it through to the final, losing 27-22 to the Chiefs, with Mowen given his rightful credit as being instrumental in the Brumbies success.
Come 2013, for the first time, and overdue, Mowen made the Wallabies, playing all 15 Tests and captaining the side for six of them, including the last four successive wins of the UK Spring tour.
All his dedication, pride, and passion were justifiably rewarded, with the distinct possibility of captaining the Wallabies to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Yet Mowen opts for a three-year contract in France because he wants to be closer to his wife and young daughter.
That doesn’t cut the mustard. It’s very anti-Ben Mowen.
Had the ARU not been so inflexible on the two-year qualification for any Wallaby to be considered for a contract top up, Mowen would not be uprooting his family to a foreign country where they know precious few people.
Especially as the same ARU saw fit to give Israel Folau the top up in his rookie year as added bait to switch codes from the AFL.
Yet, deny the Wallaby captain.
For mine, it’s the first black mark for ARU boss Bill Pulver since he took over from John O’Neill.
And because of the ARU inflexibility, it’s the first time any Wallaby captain has turned his back on Australia.
But don’t blame Ben Mowen.
Thankfully, the Brumbies have stuck solid with Mowen who will be again be their Super Rugby captain this season, even though future Wallaby captain David Pocock is back from long-term injury and raring to go.
And Mowen will still be eligible for Wallaby selection this season for the three Tests against France.
But the Wallabies pay has been cut from $13,100 a Test to $10,000 as the ARU tightens its financial belt.
That too may well have played a part in Mowen’s ultimate decision, with his contract money in France guaranteed every game.
But that’s only clouding the real issue: that Ben Mowen should have been better treated from the get go.
Now it’s too late.
Kane
Guest
If we do that we will bankrupt him
DJW
Guest
This is a very valid point that people forget. He is a 6 not an 8 and was only there due to injuries. He played he best rugby for the Wallabies at 6 where he plays for the Brumbies and then struggled at 8. The cynic in me could say he form dipped around the time he started making noise about no topup but I won't say that.
DJW
Guest
-1000 When he meerkats and doesn't push in the scrum too
Hopperdoggy
Guest
Apart from the obvious answer about skill that other comments have covered Dave, there's also the pure commercialism, something the ARU has not historically done well. Kids will buy Izzy jerseys and folks will line up to watch him play. Big Ben? Well in the words of Borat, "not so much". (No offense Mr Mowen)
Jerry
Guest
I believe the AIG sponsorship is supposed to be worth about NZ $15M per season, I believe.
ozinsa
Guest
Jiggles, an incredibly original and amusing thought poorly expressed. The Kiwis' lose (or rather have lost) as many RWC as Wallabies. If the Bledisloe is loose, it simply needs to be screwed or glued back together.
ozinsa
Guest
Cmon David, you know damn well that the decision making process around Folau's top up were nothing to do with his contribution to rugby as a player and all to do with the column inches he would garner. Frankly, if we're looking at decisions taken by the ARU, the Folau top up is as good as it has gotten in the past few years. It's similar to Nike spending "stupid' money to sign Tiger Woods before he went pro. Smartest stupid decision ever. Mowen was subject to rules about top ups and wasn't considered to merit a breach. If we're talking personal views, then I would hope a great team guy like Mowen would be worthy of a reconsideration of process but if we're looking at value to the game (or his likely output in gold in 2014) then I can see why they went the way they did. Shame he's going. Great bloke who gave plenty for the teams in which he played and who answered the call when needed. Hope he doesn't regret the decision later in life and that his time in France is fruitful.
neil
Guest
I wouldnt care if we lost every test and won the RWC the next 2 times
DJW
Guest
I wish I got December and January of from my work!
nanas
Guest
care to start a rental business?
Kane
Guest
ARU still reeling it in
Pete
Guest
So mowen didnt attract an ARU top up because he hasnt played for the wallabies for two years.. well pull your socks up Ben and work at it and you will get that top up.. im sure he was getting a bonus for being the captain anyway. You can't in one breath agree with his decision to move for his family and in the other condem the aru for the lack of a top up... apparently it wasnt about the money...
abc
Guest
Cheetahs?...you seen to rate them lowly...they made the play offs last year
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I'm pleased to hear that nickoldschool - I remember what they were capable of in their best days (Serge Blanco, Phillipe Sella, the fabulous Abdel Benazzi and so on) and it seems the article I read was more pessimistic than it needed to be. I am surprised they have such depth ("8-10 layers from bottom to top") given soccer's dominance. I should research it all a bit more.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ nickoldschool : the fact is there are very few "world class" 8s going around. even france struggle when piccamoles is out :) the problem with OZ was when Palu gets injured , Rocky goes to France and Smith goes to Japan, there is no proper 8 around, so some 6 gets thrust into the position. for the arguement, even NZ travelled without a backup 8. they chose to use Messam and Mccaw as stop-gap rather than take another 8 a-la Vito who has been ditched for the time being. IMO Mowen too suffered from this dilemma; he is not a proper 8 and got sacked by Matt Vant Laven -who came into the Chiefs team from wider training group- in the super finals. There are 8s in NZ but the only guy who had class was injured for long - Nasi Manu - so this super season will define his career. as for OZ , no idea who is good after Palu. But for SA - they have a production line of forwards so :)
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Jiggles : Mowen did not go to 2011 event , right? so maybe given his "fringe player" tag, he is thinking he may not go again at what, 31? there is always 2 sides to the story. many good players have not gone to world cups , given the squad of 30. (messam for example was not in the NZ squad .) also there are many who despite the chance, gave up for better prospects , like Nick Evans and Carl hayman just to name a couple of outstanding names. Its difficult to gurantee anything in a game like rugger, that has a very high probability of injury. IMO , Mowen has hedges his bets and taken the less risky option. Given the financial climate in OZ cannot blame him.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Johnno ; " ..Ever heard of the AIG/Addidas AB’S.." Just for my knowledge, do u know how much exactly the sponsorship deals are worth?? for the record, AIG were compelled not to renew their sponsorship of Manchester United in 2010 due to the problems it had during the US financial crisis. it was said in 2006 the deal was worth USD 100mio over 4 years. (however by 2010 the value had reduced to around USD 80 mio due to exchange rate fluctuation). nevertheless, money in rugger is peanuts compared to the numbers in footy. for example, Gareth Bale was sold to Real Madrid for Euro 100 mio, making him the most valuable footy player atm. However it is rumored there are some parties putting together around Euro 250 mio, to bid for Messi, if his Barca contract is not renewed.
Chan Wee
Guest
there is "talk" that Jamie Heaslip and Frédéric Michalak and Benjamin Fall will also move to MHR but Mamuka Gorgodze and John Beatie will leave in the next season. so probably BM is replacing the Georgian hardman. Their marquee signing is Samisoni Virviri, a Fijian 7S star announced a few days ago. "" Montpellier sign Fijian Sevens star 08th January 2014 05:45 Montpellier have secured the signature of the joint top try scorer in the World Sevens Series, Fijian speedster Samisoni Viriviri. Viriviri, whose grandfather was part of the legendary 1977 Fiji XV that beat the British and Irish Lions in Suva, revealed on Wednesday that he had inked a deal with the French club and will switch to the Top 14 side in June. The 24-year-old, said he felt the time was right to take the next step in his career after previously rejecting offers from French clubs. "I have signed with Montpellier a few days ago and I will join my new club in France in June after the world sevens series," he told AFP. "I was previously approached by French clubs but declined as I wanted to play sevens a bit longer, but I'm ready for a contract now." Viriviri plays at full-back for his Fijian club Nadroga but said he would be on the wing at Montpellier, a position he prefers.""
Jay (the other one)
Guest
Seems to me he's given it up for his family. What a terrible human being.
Buk
Guest
Does any silverware other than the RWC count these days ? Ask the kiwis if they would have traded 3 or 4 Bledisloes over the past 10 years for one more RWC I am sure the answer would be yes NZ and Australia play each other so often its become commonplace