Within the temporal lobe of the human brain sits an almond-shaped mass of cells known as the amygdala.
Among its various roles, this part of the brain is responsible for identifying threats. This is why we humans tend to preferentially look for and remember negative news.
For those Australian rugby fans among us, these marble-sized nuclei would have had their work cut out for them in 2014 as they sifted through a storm of poor player behaviour, grassroots levies, a coaching resignation, player departures and lacklustre performances from our men in gold.
Being a loyal follower of the game in Australia for all 31 years of my life, I can’t remember a harder annual slog than the one 2014 provided us. This seems to be amplified by the fact that interest in the game in this country genuinely seems to be waning, while other codes surge ahead.
But despite the consistent eye-rolling and head-shaking that defined 2014 for the average Australian rugby fan, there was some good in what seemed to be a pretty sad and sorry season.
As players and fans prepare themselves to embark on the final quarter of the all-important four-year cycle, I’d like to share with you some of my ‘glass half full’ observations from the season that was.
The Wallabies
The All Blacks are currently the deserved benchmark for the international game and the yardstick all others measure themselves against.
The Wallabies were unable to break their now three-year drought against the world champions, but they managed to get within a point of the men in black in two of this year’s three Bledisloe outings.
We also went one and one with the Springboks, who have been seen as the team that’s best equipped to match it with All Blacks over the last two seasons.
With a success rate under 50 per cent in 2014, wins were hard to come by. But despite some periods riddled with schoolboy errors and horrendous game management, there were considerable passages of play where the Wallabies got it right and played up to their much-hyped potential.
Think France at Sydney, South Africa at Cape Town, New Zealand at Brisbane and Ireland at Dublin. If these periods become 80-minute performances that we can expect game in, game out as opposed to every now and then, this Wallaby team will no doubt win far more often then they lose.
The Wallabies have been dealt some considerable injury setbacks over the last two or three seasons, and although this has lead to some tougher times on the field, it has helped to shore up our depth in a number of areas.
We still have some positions where we are under resourced (locks), a little bit skinny beneath the starters (props) or question marks exist over who the right starters are (back row and halves), but bar most of the tight five substantial depth exists in most positions.
We have some world-class players to pick a team from.
This includes a number of players who I believe are, were or have real potential to be, world XV quality players. This includes Israel Falou, Tevita Kuridrani, Stephen Moore, David Pocock, James O’Connor, James Slipper, Matt Toomua and Henry Speight.
Although Michael Cheika’s appointment as Wallaby coach resulted from a chain of incredibly unfortunate and undesirable events, few would dispute that he has the skills and expertise to put together a successful rugby team.
Furthermore, his ‘no fuss’ coaching style could be just what’s required to establish a positive team culture that gets the most out of a group of players that have promised so much but deliver not a lot.
Super Rugby
Although major successes at Test level have been few and far between in recent times, the performances of the Australian entities on the second tier have been far more impressive. This includes two champions over the last four seasons and a finalist in three of those four years.
The 2014 Super Rugby season saw two Australian teams through to the last four while the Force managed to push out an impressive nine wins which saw them fall agonisingly close to an inaugural finals appearance.
The season culminated with the Waratahs beating the Crusaders in the grand final in front of a Super Rugby-record 62,000 fans at ANZ Stadium.
After a slow start, the crowds returned to Allianz Stadium with the Waratahs ending the regular season on a crowd average of just under 20,000.
Like the Reds did a few years ago, the Tahs will no doubt be looking to leverage their success and their entertaining brand of rugby to ride their returning wave of popularity and put even more bums on seats in 2015.
Despite some high profile departures such as former Wallaby captain Ben Mowen, 2014 held some big signings news for Australian rugby that will no doubt impact on the 2015 Super Rugby season.
The Reds have lured the hopefully reformed James O’Connor and the code-hopping Karmichael Hunt to their stable for the coming season. Whether O’Connor can put his ‘bad boy’ ways behind him and Hunt can make a successful return to rugby football remains to be seen, but they’ll be behind a pack that will include some handy back row acquisitions that should make the going a little easier for the Reds backs in 2015.
The ongoing development of a number of key personal, a few finds from the NRC and some smart off season buying from the Rebels should see the other Australian team that languished at the bottom of the table in 2014 make some significant gains this year as well.
The National Rugby Championship
I must admit I have been, and to a degree remain, a sceptic of Australian rugby’s new shiny toy, but there’s no doubt that its inclusion on the landscape is an achievement for the game here.
My scepticism comes from the funds required to establish and maintain the competition. When selling the concept to Australia’s rugby public, Bill Pulver made it clear that the NRC would break-even due to the low cost model that would be covered by telecast rights forthcoming from Foxtel.
It’s well documented that the money tree at ARU HQ is broken and I’m doubtful as to whether the goals that this third tier concept sets out to achieve are worth any loss that it might accumulate. But if each dollar going into the NRC can be accounted for by its existence, then it certainly doesn’t harm the game being there.
We just have to be clear as to what the NRC’s role is within Australia’s rugby landscape. It’s clear that this concept isn’t going to be the vehicle that takes rugby to the masses while raising the games profile within the national sporting market.
This remains an important goal and an ongoing challenge for the ARU.
As has been discussed, I believe the Wallabies have sufficient depth at their disposal to select a strong team and even if depth at the Test level was an issue, I don’t believe an eight-game third tier competition is going to be a godsend in that regard.
What the NRC will do is help better prepare waves of new talent for the step up to Super Rugby.
I don’t buy into the idea that it’s a vital piece of infrastructure that was desperately missing from the Australian rugby development pyramid and the minute it’s not paying its way it should be disbanded like its predecessor (especially considering the ARU’s kitty), but it will no doubt be helpful in achieving the above endeavour.
The other positive the NRC provides is more content for the Australian rugby calendar and the game’s loyal fans. As I said, it’s not the answer for capturing the interest of the millions of Australians who live without rugby in their lives, but for us rugby nuts it helps feed the addiction.
No doubt Australian rugby took a battering in 2014, but there were a few shining lights and some positives to hold on to moving forward. It just so happens that the ARU is moving forward into another big season that has been three years in the making.
This is by no means a chest-beating, ‘look at us go’ article. The odds are still well and truly stacked against the Wallabies in 2015.
There’s one hell of a chasm to close if we are to witness Australian hands squeezing the contents of a bunch of tins into ‘Bill’ in the sheds at Twickenham, but the ingredients are there.
We might have a pinch of something when we need three cups of it but its there and nine months is a long time with enough rugby for the pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.
Rob9
Roar Guru
While you’re trawling through the dictionary looking up definitions, take a look for ‘misconstrue’. You don’t think it’s conceivable that many would agree an injury free Stephen Moore is amongst the top hooker’s in world rugby and that James Slipper placed himself amongst the top loose heads in 2014? You need to understand the difference between potential and reality. Each year since the last RWC, the All Blacks have easily had 6 or 7 players appear in most world XV editions. Their incredible team list suggests they could have POTENTIALLY had another 4 or 5. Suggesting that I’m alluding to the fact that this Wallaby team has the potential to be the greatest rugby team ever is your own conclusion that you’ve arrived at through some ill-conceived formula. They do however have the potential to be the greatest rugby team in 2015.
Birdy
Guest
Wow; what's the definition of optimism - claiming that the Wallabies have or potentially have 8 World first XV players - and two of those are in the front row. I can think of very few sides, ever, that could claim 8 of a world's first XV so this must mean the 2015 WC Wallabies have the potential to be the greatest team ever assembled. How can I put this kindly - I'm not sure I agree.
Redman
Guest
So far richie's made everyone eat they're words. I think immortal is what he's striving for.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Good read Rob9. My random thoughts... Wallabies Positives: O’Conner, Hunt and Thompson should get Queensland Reds going. Cummings return. ( A big boost) Cheika seems more honest and open, than Deans or McKenzie. He seems to be enjoying himself. Tahs will play with confidence. Wallabies Negatives: Re-signing Beale. Big mistake. Tahs seem like a boys club, out of touch with fan base. (Huge Error on Cheika’s part here) Cheika trying to do two jobs. The Scrum. Wales and England will be licking their lips, in the WC. Gen Y “Entitled” attitude. Hopefully Cheika can control the Amigos. At the moment he seems to be recruiting them. Boks Positives: Another year will make Pollard a better player. Frans Louw, Arno Botha, Pieter Steph Du Toit, Frans Malherbe, Fourie Du Preez, Willem Alberts returning from injury. Meyer has a good balance of young and experienced players. Boks genuinely seem to embrace a more rounded ball in hand game. Bok Negatives: Meyer’s stubbornness and sometime weird selection policy. He is still taking about Morne Steyn. Worrying loss to Wales and well beaten by Ireland could see Boks revert to type. Lack of genuine game breakers, apart from Willie Le Roux, who saved the Boks on a few occasions. Habana is a bit long in the tooth. Cornel Hendriks fragile in defence. Backline defence will change with Jean De Villiers not directing things. All Blacks positives: Bok loss was a good thing for AB’s. After that they steamed thru Europe. Depth in every single position, especially number 10. No reliance on Dan Carter anymore. All Blacks negatives: There is a nagging feeling, that the rest of the pack are closing in on the All Blacks. They are winning but not by huge margins. Richie gives it all every game, but farther time is slowly catching up with him. No man is immortal.
lassitude
Guest
My friend from Central Asia just shot 2 Wallabies the other day - it certainly wasn't their year. Can't see it being any different for the rugby playing ones - they might escape a shooting though :-)
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Your comment is wrong. To ignore FTA there WOD have to be interest. The lack of FTA interest is why it's on Pay TV. Expecting the ARU to give the rights away for free is completely illogical. TV money is what sustains codes and the ARU is near insolvent. A lesser deal would have seen them actually insolvent.
hog
Guest
The Wallabies have been ranked 2/3 in the world pretty much the last 20 years, success has delivered the code jack S__T.
Harry Jones
Expert
ARU is a top five rugby nation; often 2 or 3. No need for doomsday logic. The $$ comes from success. The real work is at schools level
Rob9
Guest
Time will tell what sort of impact (if any) the NRC has on Australian rugby. Just to be clear, I'm hardly suggesting the ARU should rest on its laurels and not keep up with the times while bettering Australian rugby. I just believe there are better strategies for the future growth and prosperity of the game at all levels than a national, semi professional third tier that's played in a 2 month window without test players. If the NRC is costing the ARU nothing, it's certainly not doing any harm being there.
AndyS
Guest
Actually, I think it is a pretty apt analogy. The point is that just because we've managed to get along without something in the past, doesn't mean we can assume that will always be the case or that we can continue to do so in the future. Our systems were fine once upon a time, but were long neglected on the strength of long past glories and it may well be starting to bite us in the @rse now. We are a middle aged man who still eats like a teenager because it's what he did when he was a champ. And it might yet kill or cripple us. The best are likely to make it to the top, but the NRC will hopefully spot who they are a couple of years earlier so they can be developed better. Hopefully it may also identify which are all flash and no substance. And perhaps it will intercept those that might make it to the top, but not for us (as was the case this year). Certainly I think there will have to be something doing that role going forward, especially if all the predictions come true and the replacement rate for SR players increases. I agree that we will not see a sudden flush of Test ready players as a result of the NRC - building those is the job of the SR teams. But what I would hope to see is that the SR teams are working as early as possible with those players most capable of becoming Test players. It is about making better informed decisions to maximise the potential depth underpinning Test rugby more than anything. That is what you see and gets commented on most often about NZ rugby...the seemingly endless production line of players able to replace anyone in SR, ensuring there is the best part of five whole teams capable of stepping up if really necessary (a la the last world cup). Their SR teams are doing development for Test, ours are doing development for SR.
Rob9
Guest
So we're attempting to draw comparisons between the Australian rugby landscape to human health now? Talk about almonds and pears... As I've said, the best are always going to rise to the top, and the top is test rugby. The NRC isn't going to suddenly find test standard players that weren't there before or make them anymore polished than they are at that level. The argument that it provides a pathway for players coming back from injury during the test window is valid but you could count the number of times it's used for this purpose during a season on one hand so this reason doesn't make it a lock in. As I've also said, there will be some small impact on SR, but this is a platform where our Australian sides have been successful in this era. The last couple of seasons suggest that the Australian conference being a weak link was a myth. Even if there might have been some truth to it, don't expect the NRC to start pumping out an assembly line of Super Rugby ready players like our SANZAR partners are blessed with (particularly NZ). Put simply, we have a very different landscape to NZ and SA so copying their models isn't necessarily the answer. Look, this isn't really an article on the importance of the NRC. Once again, if it's not costing the ARU anything, I'm happy for it to be there and I've thoroughly enjoyed attending a couple of games and will again in the years to come. When Australia becomes a far more successful and consistent test rugby prospect, I'm more than happy to be proven wrong.
moaman
Guest
The almond-shaped amygdala and the pear-shaped plans of mice and men......:-)
Not Bothered
Guest
Sheek, the NRL and AFL are giving fans what they want, Ausie Rules and Rugby League. The Australian public dont want domestic rugby but the ARU are trying to create a market for it and it isnt easy. Yes they are playing out of multiple home grounds because they are trying to keep a lot of people happy. It isnt easy, its difficult and costs must be kept down. This talk that you just set it up and do this and do that is little more than a fantasy. Its very difficult and I imagine that there are a hell of a lot of obstacles. Everyone keeps acting like Super Rugby is killing rugby in Aus but without it rugby in Aus would surely fail. Perhaps then they could strip right back to a lower quality semi pro comp that could survive and grow but is that what you want and will a comp of that quality attract sponsors, spectators and TV interest? Maybe, maybe not.
AndyS
Guest
And my father didn't used to have diabetes...he got along without medication previously; can't be that important. ;)
Not Bothered
Guest
They wouldnt want to or have to. They would travel their about 1 or 2 times a year.
pjm
Roar Rookie
I am always intrigued that people think European clubs would want to travel to South Africa on a regular basis.
pjm
Roar Rookie
We were successful in another era where the gap between club, super, tests were a lot closer than today.
hog
Guest
So do you feel better now.!!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Another argie, Mario Ledesma.
Free Kick
Guest
Continually ignoring a free to air presence for super rugby is stifling interest and growth of Rugby, most kids outside private schools who recognise the Greg Inglis' and Buddy Franklins of other codes couldn't recognise most current Wallabies to save themselves due to the fact they are on free to air only a few times per season and then only at odd hours due to the time zones involved in the 4 nations championships. But then again Rugby is such a dull, lifeless game dominated by humourless win at all costs with a cheat of a captain All Blacks team that no free to air TV station would offer more than a token few million per annum to broadcast, much the same as that other borefest V-8 super cars.