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In the midst of his immediate post World Cup final devastation, Wallaby coach Michael Cheika raised his voice to speak to his nation’s rugby fans.
In his post match interview Cheika was understandably subdued but still gave stirring support to his beaten team.
Suddenly he raised his voice from the gloom and with his intonation growing in intensity he called out to all Wallaby fans.
“I just want to thank the Australian public both here and in Australia for getting behind rugby.
“It’s a great sport and we’ve loved the support we have got from everyone.”
The emotion in his voice spoke volumes for Cheika and the job that he has done for rugby in Australia since becoming the national coach a little more than a year ago.
At that stage Australian rugby was drifting – going nowhere. There was little to look forward to with the World Cup a year out. How that all changed under his reign.
The Wallabies’ courageous efforts in making it through to the final and really putting it to the mighty All Blacks in that stirring final was a result of Cheika’s passion and devotion to the cause.
Cheika has shown that he really cares about his sport and its fans. He has instilled that into his players.
Sadly the same can’t be said about rugby administration, both in Australia and internationally.
On the eve of the World Cup final, ABC Radio’s current affairs programme AM featured Sydney academic Steve Georgakis. Georgakis argued that even had the Wallabies won the final it would make little difference to the popularity of the sport back home.
Arguing that Australia has not connected with new fans in Australia he quotes several reasons and adds: “But of course the biggest reason is that the ARU never really embarked on a policy to conquer Australia.”
That in contrast, he says, to the AFL, which has connected with indigenous communities and non-English speaking people across Australia.
The discussion included the exclusivity of rugby and its links with private schools.
What can be added to the exclusivity argument are the current media arrangements for rugby.
If you are a rugby fan in Australia but you can’t afford or are unable to receive pay television, you cannot watch Super Rugby. Yet it is the major domestic competition for the southern hemisphere.
Those same fans were forced to a subsidiary station of the major free-to-air network which ended up with the Australian rights to the World Cup.
The commentary teams featured pool commentators from around the world. We were fortunate to have many of the matches called by outstanding Australian broadcaster Gordon Bray, but he didn’t call the final.
At the same time the outstanding Fox Sports team was giving a superb Australian coverage of the World Cup. By displaying such contrasts in the standards of coverage, the exclusivity of rugby is again highlighted.
At the same time to my knowledge there was no Australian radio coverage of this World Cup. The ABC was unable to afford the rights. If the ABC couldn’t afford it how much more difficult must it be for the poorer rugby nations?
Surely if World Rugby and the ARU want to grow the sport internationally (not just in Australia) one thing that they should be doing is ensuring all fans (not just the fortunate ones) are able to have access to the games with commentary teams that they can relate to.
In selling off rights, they should both ensure that there is good access for all of the sport’s fans. If they don’t it can surely only be seen as a money making exercise.
How embarrassing for international rugby that the official broadcaster’s commentary being beamed around the world, including to the rugby loving nation of Fiji, should include ignorant comments like this: “They will be back in Fiji around one television hoping the generator doesn’t fail them.”
Michael Cheika, the son of Lebanese migrants, whose rugby journey has enabled him to see the world and master four languages, has not forgotten his roots.
He knows that there are rugby players and supporters from all sorts of backgrounds and socio-economic levels in Australia.
Rugby administrators should be coming out in strong support of his words “It’s a great sport and we’ve loved the support we have got from everyone.”
It’s time to repay the fans for that support with some quality coverage of their game.
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.