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I’m sure a number of Roarers have read the book or watched the documentary called The Secret. For those that haven’t, the gist of it is that an individual’s thoughts and beliefs create, or at least influence, reality.
This may seem a little far-fetched for some, but I believe the theories presented in The Secret have some merit, and on that basis I refuse to buy into the hyperbole surrounding the Wallabies and the apparent demise of Australian rugby.
On the contrary, I think Australian rugby is in a good place. Clearly things aren’t rosy, but it’s nowhere near as bad as the average punter seems to think.
The biggest problem facing Australian rugby is not the ARU Board, Bill Pulver, Ewen McKenzie, Hooper, Di Patston, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, Robbie Deans or whoever else we like to blame – it’s us. It is us, the so-called ‘supporters’ and the dismal rugby journalists that cover the game.
The only decent article I’ve read in the last few weeks has been from part-timer Peter FitzSimons. The rest have been click-bait rubbish that has done nothing but stir negative and polarising views toward almost every element of the Wallaby set-up.
Causing mass hysteria by spreading out of context quotes and pointing fingers has done more damage to Australian rugby than any text message, selection decision, game plan, management structure or whatever else we collectively believe is the cause of the Wallabies’ precarious situation.
So rather than further exacerbate the problem, I’d like to offer my thoughts on the positives for rugby in Australia.
Short Term
The skeletons are out of the closet – it wasn’t pretty, and has already cost Australia a very good coach and most likely a decent Super Rugby player in Kurtley Beale. However, it’s better this whole fiasco occurred now rather than later in the year, or worse, next year before the World Cup.
Whatever was said in the “truth session” clearly did the trick. The fallout was of course the resignation of Ewen McKenzie, whether this was as a result of revelations in the truth session is purely speculation. I admire the man for stepping down as soon as he realised he didn’t have the player support he needed.
On the whole, I don’t think Link’s tenure was as bad as his record shows. Aside from the blip against Argentina (understandable under the circumstances), he finally delivered consistency in defeating lower ranked teams.
Although he didn’t manage that elusive win against the All Blacks, he was certainly improving the team towards that goal. Last year the men in black walked all over us, this year we were two silly decisions away from breaking the 12-year Bledisloe drought – not taking easy points in game one and a brain-fart decision to kick away possession in the dying minutes of game three.
Anyway, this isn’t about ‘what ifs’, it’s about the positives. The big positive I’ve seen in the last few performances (Argentina aside – still haven’t seen that game so I can’t comment) is that this team is capable of beating the best. All they really need is a little attitude adjustment and a coach that can galvanise the team.
To that end, I’m also pleased to see the ARU reach out to Stephen Moore to help devise a better structure to support the coach and improve team culture. I think this is the right way forward.
I’d also implement a complete ban on players discussing anything other than on-field matters with the media. That includes comments on Twitter, Facebook and so on.
Thirdly, I’d invest in a good motivational/sales speaker to restore some pride in the Wallabies jersey. I’m thinking of someone like Jordan ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ Belfort.
He’s hanging out in New Zealand these days and can’t be that expensive for a few hours. Give him some background on the state of rugby in Australia and get him to sell the notion that this current group of Wallabies need to save the game in Australia by lifting their standards on and off the field, by becoming role models that inspire people and by winning the World Cup.
The quicker these guys start honouring the jersey by getting behind the coach regardless of their personal agendas the better.
Fourth, there should be an extended Wallabies (46 players) pre-season training camp during the first month of pre-season, where the chosen players are united for an intense month of team-building, fitness, speed, skills, conditioning and ‘systems’ training, before returning to their respective clubs for the last 1-2 months of pre-season.
Medium Term
Contrary to what seems to be popular opinion, I think we’re looking pretty good for the World Cup. We may have the toughest pool, but there’s no reason we shouldn’t come out on top.
According to the draw, England play Wales first up, and that will be a brutal contest with both teams desperate to draw first blood.
Should England get up, they’ll find it tough to back it up with another big match against a relatively fresh Wallabies side a week later. We should expect to win (at least I do), just as I expect the Wallabies to claw back the #3 ranking on the EOYT – by beating England at home.
That’ll leave Wales, who I think may be our real banana peel. We’ve won so many against them in recent times that it’s almost unfair that such a quality side hasn’t stolen a win or two and I’d hate for that elusive victory to happen at the World Cup.
Maybe we can get that loss out of the way on this year’s EOYT?
Provided we do top the ‘Pool of Death’, our run to the final is then much more favourable than New Zealand, South Africa and England/Wales who will all have to play each other during the knock-out stages just to make it to the final.
That’s a brutal road to the final. I’ll concede that if we do end up on that side of the draw, we’ll struggle, but the point is that we’ve got a real and achievable chance of avoiding the “knock-out stages of death” that’ll give us a real shot at glory.
Long Term
Regardless of what happens in the World Cup, I think there are a number of external factors at play that present great opportunities for Australian rugby to re-emerge as a ‘relevant’ sport in Australia, and even take over league as the premier rugby code.
League appears to be holding all the cards at the moment but union have an ace that, if played well, can change the game.
That ace is the growth of rugby in Europe and America.
How is that relevant? Quite simply, money talks.
While everyone is worried about a post-World Cup exodus, I see this as a great opportunity for rugby to showcase it’s genuine international appeal and most importantly, it’s more attractive upside.
Sam Burgess has already made the switch and if he’s followed by Israel Folau after the World Cup, then that’ll be two very high-profile ex-leaguies who have moved to greener pastures. More will follow, I have absolutely no doubt about it.
What’s needed from the ARU is a little vision to maximise the potential benefits this could have for Australian rugby.
That definitely needs to start with a better media team and rugby journalists that put the welfare of the game ahead of their personal agendas.
Second is already in place with the NRC – a national competition to provide more opportunities for future talent to have a crack at union.
Third is a re-think on the policy for overseas players to represent Australia. The best solution in my opinion is to make all players with more than 50 Test caps eligible for the Wallabies, regardless of where they play their club rugby.
This would ensure they’ve played sufficient rugby in Australia to adopt the systems and culture of the national team.
This would need to be coupled with an annual off-season training camp for the extended national squad where Wallabies from around the world are brought together to work on combinations and tactics for the Test season ahead.
Finally, the ARU need to develop the aforementioned systems and culture of the national team, and it needs to be as rock solid as it is at the All Blacks.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.