Watching Bill Pulver on Fox Sports’ Rugby HQ this week reaffirmed my view that while he has extensive business experience and his heart seems to be in the right place, he’s not the man to take Australian rugby union forward in one of its toughest periods.
That view was initially enforced when a video of Pulver in Wallabies gear taking the Ice Bucket Challenge was posted online just days after Australia was pulverised and humiliated by the All Blacks at Eden Park – keeping the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand hands for an embarrassing 12th successive year.
Pulver has done some good things since he took over from John O’Neill, such as bringing back the National Rugby Championship, but he remains an unconvincing front man for the ARU.
There’s also a massive leadership vacuum at the ARU following the departure of Pulver’s second in charge and heir apparent Andrew Fagan to the CEO’s job at the Adelaide Crows.
So who should be in charge of guiding Australian rugby through these troubled waters?
What about current Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie?
During his highly successful time with the Queensland Reds, McKenzie was largely responsible for not only a turnaround in fortunes on the field, but major improvements in the business performance of the Queensland Rugby Union.
McKenzie, a town planner by profession, was always heavily involved in the corporate affairs of the Reds and played a key management role.
“It’s important that the corporate culture and the team culture are similar,” he told The Roar during the Reds 2011 Super Rugby championship campaign.
“Each needs to understand what the other is doing and that it’s integral to the total result if everyone is working in the same direction.”
McKenzie is sure to continue as Wallabies coach for at least until the next World Cup.
Pulver predicted on Rugby HQ that the Wallabies could win the William Webb Ellis Cup for a third time next year – a comment which bemused panellists such as former Australian skipper George Gregan, who believe it’s best to fly under the radar.
Another World Cup win – improbable given the current dominance of the All Blacks – would quite possibly keep both McKenzie and Pulver in their current jobs beyond 2015.
But what about a combination of McKenzie as ARU CEO with Michael Cheika as Wallabies coach?
That’s an exciting pairing to take Australian rugby forward at a time when the game is struggling to maintain support with a disenchanted fan-base.
They both have tremendous pedigrees as players and coaches with business and corporate expertise to boot.
We could do a lot worse.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure a national provincial competition (e.g the ARC) wasn't a revolutionary new idea by Gary Flowers. I don't think Tew came up with the ITM Cup, likewise Hoskins and the Currie Cup. A leader does not need to be the one to come up with these concepts. How many CEO's come up with the actual product concepts themselves? To quote Scribe, "Not many, if any"
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Would that be Phil Mooney who lead the team to 13th in 2009? Mooney did some good things, but until Link came along, they weren't able to be translated into performance. Cheika inherited a squad full of Wallabies. Still it's a squad full of Wallabies that finished 11th before he started there.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Does not mean he chose the successor. Succession planning is a complete fallacy anyway. As the Melbourne Demons will find out in about a year, if the replacement isn't near the caliber of his predecessor it will all fall apart anyway. This was an example of hubris by the Reds and Link. Hope they both have learnt from it.
HARRY
Guest
This is a joke isn't it????
In Brief
Guest
Many people in the know claim that the foundations were in place before McKenzie arrived at the Reds. His predecessor (whose name escapes me) made some bold decisions, and certainly had QLD playing an attacking style of rugby, which was a break from tradition. I don't buy the idea that Link turned The Reds into world beaters in one year with no platform.
In Brief
Guest
I seem to recall McKenzie talking about succession planning on a few occasions as if it was his baby. Find it hard to believe he was a wall flower going along for the ride.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Its alright for you mate, my missus is an Aussie!
Thunderguts
Guest
SG, I go back to the media release at the time of Pulvers appointment [1.9.2013] where he laid out his guiding principles for the future of the ARU. There was no mention of the NRC or even for the need for a domestic competition. The NRC was not Pulver's brainchild but when the idea got favourable air time he jumped aboard and pushed hard to get it off the ground but as we now learn it has been poorly promoted and many of the actual mechanics of implementation has been left to others one of whom called it quits. One of the other guiding principles was "Embrace Rugby 7's as a major growth opportunity" well most of us are still waiting to see the plan for this "major growth opportunity". Whilst the ARU are still to "embrace" Rugby 7's local organisations are getting on with the job. The inaugural 7's comp at the Olympics is just 2 years away -- one would have thought that Rugby Australia would want to be an important part of this worldwide event.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ nickoldschool : while u have a good point, dont forget trying to introduce a " new culture" with a new face went south with Deans. the issue in OZ is that the people are so province -centered that they just oppose anyone not from theirs'. also OZ fans have short memories ; last week's hero is this weeks villain. just see how many want Tumooa dropped and Beale put in his place. :) it maybe becoz the club system are not that strong like in say England.
Yep
Chan Wee
Guest
@ biltongbek : " If they don’t win their pool, they are likely to meet SA in the quarter final ..." the con may also happen : i.e. OZ win their pool and SA finish second - thus meeting in 1/4s :D
Chan Wee
Guest
Vision statements are sometimes confused or used synonymously with mission statements. However, vision statements should offer more of a direction and include a perspective of corporate values. A vision might provide a direction for the company for the next five to 10 years, while also noting a commitment to integrity, transparency, openness and other such values. A mission statement offers insight into what company leaders view as the primary purpose for being in business. Some companies have profit-motivated missions, while others make customers a focal point. Other firms use a mission to point out more altruistic intentions that ultimately lead to profits.It serves as a guide for all of the company's decision-making. Shareholders, leaders and employees are generally the target of the mission. It should help workers within the organization know what decisions and tasks best align with the mission of the company. for example GOOGLE vision : To develop a perfect search engine. mission : Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. usually a vision is a lofty idea, aiming for the sky , shooting for the stars or something like that , while mission is more defined :)
All Bent Out of Shape.
Guest
No. Johnno shouldnt even be in charge of his own keyboard.
All Bent Out of Shape.
Guest
Pulver has been excellent. Cant fault him at all.
Paul from Melbourne
Guest
I think Link's mission statement must be to consistently beat the All Blacks and bring the Bill back next year. But some how I fear it is a lot less credible than NASA's putting a man on the moon. May be he should adopt Star Trek's to go where no Wobblies has been before and exit the world cup at pool stage.
Common Sense
Guest
Considering the basket case that he inherited I don't think Pulver has done a bad job.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
You are correct train although I would argue that Cheika was more successful than Mckenzie in Europe and in this respect has more experience managing top teams (5 years at Leinster). I also think that Cheika is more charismatic and closer to the general public than Mckenzie who seems more distant and part of the establishment in a way. Imo Cheika would represent 'the new australia', i.e. different cultural background, less "PC north shore" than others etc. Its just a different style I guess (that I prefer).
AlsBoyce
Roar Guru
That's not very fair at all to Bill Pulver. He's not been there long, so there needs to be a fair bit more time to allow him to put a stamp on the job. He has business credentials. The NRC is funded and I've enjoyed the rugby. Wallaby finances are obviously precarious, so it's not an easy job, but the ARU is still financial. The next Super Rugby TV rights deal and comp structure are big issues that will point to where things are going. A live match on FTA TV is the goal. Can it be achieved? And will it succeed if it can? Pulver will look good if those 2 things happen. A replication at NRC level would be a real bonus, with the other 4 games per week on Foxtel. Content is king. It might be doable.
kelefua
Guest
Sheek and Jonno should run ARU that way all bases are covered and all us Roarers get free tests tickets.. YaY ;)
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Latest newsflash: Rob Clarke, former Rebels' CEO, has been appointed General Manager of Professional Rugby, Marketing and Operations at the ARU. http://www.rugby.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1699/ArticleID/14079/ROB-CLARKE-APPOINTED-GENERAL-MANAGER-PROFESSIONAL-RUGBY-MARKETING-OPERATIONS.aspx He's a very good operator. An excellent appointment.