“Rugby touring is a lot like sex – when it’s good it’s really good, and when it’s not good… Well, it’s still pretty darn good.”
Nick Far-Jones had that to say at a rugby breakfast I was lucky enough to be invited to recently.
He is right, I have toured once or twice and can say that the memories that came back with me are some of the best of my life.
In days past, a tour was sacred tool that a coach might use to build a team, but with the advent of professionalism ideas like bonding sessions and team building exercises started popping up instead.
It’s a bit of a shame, as if the corporate perspective in rugby has taken the organic process of building trust and commitment between players, then tried to shoehorn it into a textbook. I’d bet that, if you let them, the ARU would keep track of the results on a spreadsheet and run a monthly report.
No doubt Michael Cheika understands this. Darren Walton recently penned an excellent article that described him as “fluent in success”, providing insight into what makes Cheika tick.
It was a surprise to learn that the hot-tempered coach once spoke in French – one of four languages in which he is fluent – to convince fashion icon Collette Dinnigan to give him a job. Further, he is a self-made millionaire, running restaurants and a clothing label along the way.
A quote from ex-captain of the Waratahs Dave Dennis highlights why all of that is important: “He’s passionate about winning, not because he needs to keep his job because he’s told us before he doesn’t need to be here. He can do other things with his life.”
It can be near-impossible to change an organisation’s culture unless you first change the people and Cheika is the right man for the job. He may actually be able to rise above the politics at the ARU and simply do what is right for the team. On tour, this means doing things the old-fashioned way.
Rugby players are social and mischievous animals by nature and they need to be allowed to have some fun. It is right that at least one team dinner turns into a late night, and the players be tasked with getting each other up for training when this happens. Mischief should not be frowned upon – this is a tour and it should be encouraged (within reason), but the coach must put the onus on the players to know when the right time and place is – everyone is an adult, it’s not the staff’s job to chaperone.
Offences not worthy of The Daily Telegraph can be dealt with in Kangaroo Court and sentences handed out accordingly. At the same breakfast I mentioned earlier, Phil Kearns expressed his confusion about how the traditional punishment was at all punitive. Perhaps the ARU should hire him as a consultant for this tour.
However, there are two sides to every coin and the mischief is only one. Cheika must go a step further again to pick the Wallaby jersey up out of the mud and make it once again something the players can be proud of.
This starts off the field. Farr-Jones explained at the breakfast that when he first joined the national side a senior player was given responsibility for showing him the ropes. Simple things, like for example if a player was dressed in the team formalwear he was not allowed to remove his jacket or sit down until his captain had.
John Kerr wrote recently in his book Legacy that following a victory over Wales in 2010 he witnessed two senior All-Blacks pick up long-handled brooms and sweep out the team sheds. It later emerged that this was a closely guarded team tradition the senior players chose to uphold and keep secret as they felt it represented what All Black rugby is all about.
Each of these things may seem minor, but I wonder if such a simple sign of respect as Farr-Jones described is still observed today, or whether the current crop of Wallabies would elect to uphold a tradition like the one Kerr wrote into lore, given the chance.
Together in symphony, these small rules and rituals lay the foundation of a positive team culture. What is key now is that when the inevitable off-field indiscretion happens, the media and fans don’t jump at it as an indication of something wrong and instead just smile and think perhaps Cheika might be getting it right.
RobC
Roar Guru
cheers Alex. I wholeheartedly agree with the principle under normal circumstance. However, I think the WBs are currently threading the eye of the needle, as they have been for a while: - The blister re discipline is still raw, and hasn't healed since the Amigo era, and how it was handled then. - Another perceived transgression can spark another drama. I think the priority to let things calm down a bit, if possible: - But mgmt, administration and coaching need to be on the same page to create an environment to let this happen - Potential simmering tensions include player retention, selections, different state priorities, and financial constraints. It will be interesting if the board, administration or coaches can work together to do that. We shall see.
Alex Wood
Roar Guru
Hi Rob, thanks for the feedback. Agree entirely with your sentiment, my only comment is that principle is always more impoortant than policy and this is never more true than when a team's back is against the wall. It is risky, yes - but with risk comes reward. Let the immature players make mistakes and let them be pubished accordingly - if we want leadership in our team my opinion is the players need to be treated like men, not boys.
Alex Wood
Roar Guru
To be fair, if your Kangaroo Court was anything like the ones that I was called in front of, was no such thing as a "not guily" verdict. And yet, any seriuos issues could still be called and addressed in the open, like a "truth" session but more fun for all involved. Thanks gents.
Alex Wood
Roar Guru
Thanks gents, I really believe a bit of perspective at the top level of what the game is all about would do the Wallabies a great deal of good, they all started out as club players after all - it's a shame that the fear of bad PR seems to trump the importance opf this in maintaining a good playing group. The best teams I ever played in also got up to the most mischief. Great to know that there are still a few guys in the old school out there who respect the importance of this.
Alex Wood
Roar Guru
Epic story. Thanks for sharing.
Alex Wood
Roar Guru
That sounds like one hell of a tour, I have played Rugby with a few guys from the US and while they're still learning the game (the boys who I met were used to the coach calling plays each ruck as if it was the NFL) they definitley understand the social side. Thanks for the input gents.
x_man
Guest
Great article Sam Woody. Let the beers flow and the wheels fall off the chariot I say!
Bakkies
Guest
There has always been about him going abroad. It seems only a matter of when so succession planning needs to start now as the cupboard is bare.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
:) good call wardad! Have never been to US' west coast but I can well imagine I would have preferred to stay there and meet the locals rather than move to the dump Tijuana is supposed to be.
Digby
Roar Guru
Great work Alex, thank you
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Classic. What a hard case!
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Some great stories on here. I guess the big difference with the amateur tours and those of the professional era is that the players are paid in the latter. Just like the person in the office who always seems to be having a laugh is seen as lazy and unproductive - as George Costanza said the trick is to always look angry and stressed. Then people tend to leave you alone to waste time and do very little! - so too do stories get reported in the press and we think the players lack focus and are not taking things seriously enough. As if enjoyment is synonymous with getting away with murder (perhaps an unfortunate choice of expression!) You simply cannot be switched on all the time. What people tend to ignore is the working day for pro rugby players is match day, training and meetings as well as sponsor and media commitments. The rest of the time is down time just like when you go home at night or the weekend. We have this unrealistic expectation that the players are working all the time. Of course they represent the union in their off time and the way communication is so easily spread and so quickly spread means that players must be wary of their actions off the field but unwinding to take the pressure off is essential in order to be switched on at the right time.
WoobliesFan
Guest
them's fighting words
Lano
Roar Guru
Agree. Rugby is like the old wallet in my back pocket. Its fits my shape perfectly, and I never leave home without it. It is part of my soul!
Wardad
Guest
Us younger fellers were kept on a fairly tight leash so no cross border forays for us ! Too busy being shown the sights by our gracious hosts and having the time of our lives ,besides have you seen the beautiful young women in a US college town ? Its enough to make a fit young bloke drown in his own drool !
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Alex. Nice in theory. But I think all the WBs, including / specially the coach, are on good behaviour watch. Given the recent events, I dont think there will be much scope to cause any trouble and will be focused - until they are off the hot plate.
World in Union
Guest
You certainly don't sound like a "WoobliesFan" ... more like a bitter & twisted old man ! Get with the program son !
RodMac
Roar Rookie
Agree with all of that (Genia especially). I don't think on-field demands/roles can be any excuse for not towing the line within the team culture. Off the field, it's about the guys who are universally respected (irrespective of their position in the playing roster/pecking order) taking the lead to instill that culture of respect for the team.
Birdy
Guest
One of the best Lions stories I heard was on the famous 1974 tour to South Africa. The Lions had just won a brutal first test and the boys had gone through the entire alcohol supply of their hotel and surrounding bars. There were empty kegs in the pool and a pretty wrecked hotel. The manager lost it and went up to Willie John McBride's room, the legendary Lions lock and captain. Willie greeted him at the door stark naked smoking on his pipe. The manager said, "that's it - I've had enough I'm calling the Police". Willie thought for a moment, looked down at the hotel manager and said "will there by many of them".
WoobliesFan
Guest
lol @ "a bit of mischief" You been hiding under a rock last few weeks Alex? The Wallabies passed the "mischief" stage long time ago....they're at the critically ill stage. Cheika wont change squat....what he'll do is solidify the already bad-situation of a deadly NSW-power base. Suggest you read today's the Australia - Wayne Smith ripping the fake hiring matrix of Cheika apart.