The ARU had every right to make the decision to rule Waratah Israel Folau out of Saturday night’s clash against the Force.
Yes that’s right, I said they had every right to make the decision.
Whether you like it or not, the ARU have bankrolled Folau’s switch to Australian rugby and they have every right to protect their investment.
Now I know that there will be a lot of supporters, ‘Tahs supporters especially, who will vehemently disagree with me, but hear me out.
Australian rugby is in a bad place. Australian rugby is in a place where the brand is tarnished, where no-one believes in the Wallabies and where our neighbours across the ditch and in South Africa don’t believe we have the depth needed to compete at all levels.
As an avid supporter of Australian rugby, it hurts me. We have the players, we have the talent and we have the diehard supporters – so why can’t we get it right?
Put simply, we have too many factions within the Australian rugby community.
Unlike in New Zealand where the All Blacks are the number one priority, in Australia there is a mismatch of priorities and loyalties. Until we get this right, the controversy around the Folau decision will continue to drive a wedge within the game when we can’t afford it.
We need to unite and support the Wallabies as the number one priority, with Super Rugby franchises second on the list.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a massive Reds supporter and I want them to do well but when it boils down to the basics, the Wallabies are where my loyalties lie.
I want the Wallabies to be the best. I want them to beat the All Blacks and win the Bledisloe Cup. I want them win the next Rugby World Cup and I want kids to look up to the Wallabies and want to be like them
Ultimately I want rugby to grow in this country and the Wallabies are the only team that have the power to do that. If that means that along the way some players need to miss out on a few Super Rugby matches, then so be it.
Too many people have lost faith in the Wallabies brand and this is where the ARU need to start making the Wallabies the number one priority.
There is a long way to go to make this happen, but the decision they made regarding Folau is a good step towards ensuring this happens.
Warren Adamson
Roar Pro
Here's a little update about the Izzy problem: Not my article, but an interesting read. http://www.espnscrum.com/australia/rugby/story/222043.html
Tom Watson
Guest
"The ARU have bankrolled his switch to union"??? WTF?!? As far as I knew the ARU had very little to do with his switch... and considering they don't give f/t contracts until you have been in the Wallaby squad for two years, leaves a few holes in your theory. So the ARU are NOT "bankrolling" Izzy as you say, nor is he even actually contracted to them???
Lindommer
Guest
There's no conspiracy here, just monumental incompetence. 1. If the ARU spoke to IF's specialist while he was in SAf that would be a gross infringement of doctor/patient confidence. 2. If the ARU asked another specialist for a second opinion that medico wouldn't've/shouldn't've had access to the first bloke's medical records. 3. For a consultant specialist to rule IF shouldn't play last weekend as "that sort of injury needs x amount of time to heal", well that sort of opinion should be reserved for the lecture theatre. 4. The Tahs have advised us the ARU didn't consult their team doctor, who was monitoring IF's condition for the past fortnight. Flahive's the medico on the spot and wouldn't for one moment jeopardise IF's health if he was at risk. 5. IF has told us via Rugby HQ the ARU weren't in contact with him. A bloody good way to drive him back to league. I fail to understand why the ARU think they have a role to play here. IF's playing for the Tahs ATM, he's consulted a specialist in Sydney who was obviously comfortable with him flying to SAf, the Tahs have a perfectly competent medico on the spot monitoring IF's recovery and she's passed him fit to play. Come here, ARU clowns, no, closer that that: WHILE PLAYERS ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THEIR SUPER SIDES DURING THE SUPER RUGBY SEASON, BUTT OUT. What's that old saying? Ah yes, too many cooks spoil the broth.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Hear, hear! Irene, a follow-up piece putting some detail to your thesis (viz. "The ARU need to think outside the box, they need to target women (a group severely neglected and yet influential in the decision making in the home") would be a very welcome read!
Declan Murphy
Guest
I agree with the author. I believe the national side in any country should have the priority when it comes to players (though having said that, I was disappointed with the recent Lions' tour, that so few Wallabies could play for their clubs against the Lions). In Ireland, the Irish internationals are rested during the Rabo tournament to keep them fresh for the 6 Nations, etc and there's enough of a gap between Heineken Cup games and internationals that the players aren't affected as much. Club vs country is a serious problem in other countries as well, especially England and France. France were very poor during the recent 6 Nations because, in large part the international players were not getting time off from their clubs. I do agree though that the countries rugby union, eg ARU, should give adequate warning to clubs that specific players will not be available. In Ireland, the provinces know at the start of each season which players they will be without for certain games. Leinster are lucky that they have such a strong player base that they have managed to top the Rabo 12 Table, despite the fact that they have missed their strongest players for nearly half the season! The clubs in the country will benefit when the international side is doing well (another counter argument, though, is that the All Blacks rested a lot of their players before the 2007 World Cup and ended up giving their worst ever performance). A balance needs to be struck.
Tatah
Guest
Right up there with one of the most ridiculous posts I've ever read. Interested to know how you could compare your Australian employers and their relationship with the employee with Israel Folau and the ARU. My guess is that it is zero. 'He should appreciate the extra time and show some gratitude for it'. I guess you must be the MacDonalds employee of the year with that kind of attitude. I'll pass that onto Israel. He's gonna be gutted at losing your respect. Bet there's plenty of that going on at your employers champ!
Magic Sponge
Guest
The toxic environment were the three amigos. They should never have worn a wallaby jersey again.
Rogerocks
Guest
Well I just want to add my 2 bobs worth and say that YES the Wallabies are the team that IF has been bought to Rugby Union and they have the final say in this matter. Fans can bleat all they like about it. What will they be saying about the ARU when the injury list is stacked with Super 15 players who were allowed back on the field too soon. It is a long season. All Blacks already give their top players plenty of time for injury recovery. Wallabies must do the same for long term player safety and welfare
Thunderguts
Guest
Absolutely agree with you. OZ Rugby have a womens 7,s team which is playing great rugby but gets very little media coverage either through the ARU or the general media likewise with the mens 7,s. A focus on building the Wallaby brand back to its past glory will to some degree help in the building of the grass roots and the supporter base and for the future of the game a focus on the Wallabies and Super Rugby is imperative. In a crowded and highly competitive market you have to be innovative and creative, traits which the current ARU have failed to demonstrate. The NRC is too little too late and is responding to the old boys brigade who want to maintain the status quo.
Irene Watt
Roar Rookie
Well said Thunderguts!
Irene Watt
Roar Rookie
Yes the timing seems to be completely off in this situation but right now we are dealing with speculation and he said, she said finger pointing from a very unhappy Folau and Tah's team. Who know what would have happened if it was a Wallabies game. I would like to think that the same thing would have happened as player welfare should also be an important priority for the ARU. Too many questions but it is interested to see that Folau has now taken down his tweets and retweets over the weekend showing his disappointment in the decision. I guess there was an ultimatum there? Where was Folau's manager advising him over the weekend? Why do the Tah's think it's ok to speak out like this? This would most certainly never happen in NZ and this type of mum and dad fighting needs to be done out of the media.
Irene Watt
Roar Rookie
But were the Brumbies also pulling those large crowds because the Wallabies were dominating at the same time? Now the Wallabies are in disarray after the Dean's era, the Brumbies are dominating Super Rugby but crowds are woeful…..It would be interesting to see if the Wallabies started to dominate again and the Brumbies success continued, would the crowds also improve?
Irene Watt
Roar Rookie
Sorry @nickoldschool while this article focuses on the Wallabies brand and marketing, I am a firm supporter of player welfare. Player safety and life after rugby is vitally important and would believe the whole reason they stopped Folau from playing was because their doctors didn't think he was fit to play. Shouldn't we actually be celebrating that?
Irene Watt
Roar Rookie
Hi Hog, I've only touched very lightly here on the Wallabies brand and to be honest it needs considerable work before it could become a trusted and well known entity again. If I had my way, the ARU would conduct a complete Inside, Out Brand Review and then implement strategies that would create a strong base to build the future growth of rugby in this country. The Wallabies brand is a great foundation to start from but this would only be the beginning. The ARU also need to focus on a real grass roots strategy to grow the game from junior levels to the elite. Take away the old boys club and involve the fans and other groups in the community and you would be amazed at what could happen with rugby in Australia. The ARU need to think outside the box, they need to target women (a group severely neglected and yet influential in the decision making in the home) and they need real interaction with the rugby community. Until this happens, rugby will continue to decline.
Eyresy
Guest
The interview Izzy gave live before the game he said he had no contact from the ARU, nobody had asked or discussed this with the player himself. Now before anybody jumps down my throat I do not believe that a player is the best judge of his fitness but he should at least have been consulted prior to the decision to pull him. And contrary to Irene, the reason I believe rugby in a bad place is due to lack of support from the bottom up. You will not have a great International Brand without club rugby and super rugby being a compelling product. Which means you need your best players performing week in week out. Drew Mitchell tweeted an interesting perspective on Saturday. Do you think the ARU would have stood Izzy down if last weekend was Wallabies vs All Blacks??
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Ummm who cares?
Thunderguts
Guest
Combesy, you sure have said alot of things in response to the original article but have failed to address the real issue highlighted in the article -- what is the ARU doing to build the game of Rugby in Australia before it all disappears down the gurgler. The NRC and Bingham Cup are not going to be the saviors.
Combesy
Guest
Agree OJ.. I've said it many times on here. Wouldn't have been any issue had the waratah's won.
Stray Gator
Guest
Jeebus, if you're gunna be reasonable AND logical, I'll stop reading right now. Agree 100 % BTW.
Stray Gator
Guest
The problem is NOT that the approach is top down - that model works bloody well for the Darkness and for the AFL. Don't confuse strategy with execution. Speaking of which, off with O'Neill's head.