I am dismayed at the continuing deterioration of trans-Tasman relations as was evidenced by Michael Cheika’s post-Bledisloe press conference.
This deterioration is not good for anyone, for Australian rugby definitely needs New Zealand in order to be successful, and, even if some New Zealanders do not believe it, New Zealand needs both South Africa and particularly Australia to be successful.
New Zealand is without a doubt the strongest rugby nation on earth.
Part of the reason why Australia and South Africa have been so strong is because they have been forced to improve by playing the All Blacks so consistently.
Neither the Springboks nor Wallabies could hope to consistently beat or even get close to the All Blacks by playing one-dimensional either forward-based 10-man rugby (with the notable exception of the Springboks in 2009) or back-based “running rugby”. Instead, the Wallabies and Springboks needed to be extremely fit, to have well coached teams and to have both good forwards and backs.
The major reason that Super Rugby is the best provincial rugby competition on the planet is because the Australian and South African teams have been forced to improve due to playing the New Zealand provincial sides.
Incidentally, this is another reason why the current Super Rugby strategy is not good for rugby in Australia and South Africa over the long-term.
The current format rewards mediocrity as it allows under-performing teams into the finals if they are not from New Zealand. It also means that neither Australia or especially South Africa get enough of an opportunity to play the New Zealand sides which are the benchmark.
In the regular season South Africa’s best side, the Lions, beat the Chiefs in New Zealand and beat the Blues in Johannesburg, while losing to the Highlanders and Hurricanes in New Zealand and to the Crusaders in South Africa.
This left them with an overall 2/5 winning percentage against New Zealand sides in the regular season and an uninspiring 1/3 percentage against New Zealand sides in Johannesburg. Admittedly the Lions did overturn some of these results in the finals, but it is clear that the South African provincial sides were shielded from how manifestly outclassed they were relative to the Kiwi sides.
Obviously, both Australia and South Africa need New Zealand as a benchmark to set themselves against and try to improve at both provincial and international level.
On the other side, New Zealand also South Africa and Australia to be strong for rugby’s welfare in New Zealand.
Kiwi fans live and breathe the All Blacks, and of course love to see them win.
However, winning can get boring if there is never any real tension or competition.
The All Blacks’ slaughtering of the three other teams in the Rugby Championship in 2016 may well have been enjoyable to the Kiwis, but we must ask ourselves, will it still be enjoyable if it continues for the next few years? If every Test match is already a forgone conclusion?
Was it not more exciting seeing the Hurricanes take on the Lions in the Super Rugby final knowing that the Lions had a legitimate chance of winning than seeing the All Blacks take on the Wallabies or Springboks and knowing they will win by 30 points?
Was winning the Bledisloe in 2015 in the second Test after having lost in Sydney not more exciting than winning in 2016 where, after the first 20 minutes of the opening Test, it was clear the All Blacks had already won?
The reason we watch rugby, or any sport, is for competition. Without competition sport is not as interesting.
In the same way that it is more interesting to see Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 9-7 in the fifth set of the Wimbledon final than to see him win 6-1 6-3 6-0 it is more interesting to see tight, close contests rather than drubbings in international rugby.
There is finally the fact that rugby has a number of hurdles to overcome in the coming years that may permanently decide the future of the sport.
Rich clubs in France and England continue to steal players from the Southern Hemisphere at greater and greater rates. Viewership figures for Super Rugby matches continues to decline.
Michael Cheika needs to accept Steve Hansen’s offer for a reconciliatory beer, and all four SANZAAR nations need to work together to provide a strong and united front to maintain the success of the game in all of the Southern Hemisphere.
Without a strong and friendly rivalry between all four nations Southern Hemisphere rugby could be in serious trouble.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for your thoughts, but... If you want real rivalry. No beer. No nothing
AllBlack Bob
Guest
If New Zealand keep winning over the next few years, It will just strengthen Australia's and SA's resolve to lift and eventually beat us , which eventually, will happen. Australia for one, is not the sort of country that will let a few defeats stop them playing. Fire them up if anything. Cheika's rant does not imply a deterioration in NZ / Aus sporting relationship. Quite the opposite, I'm glad he can speak his mind. The post match press conferences are a waste of time and boring when they are politically correct, and the answers to questions are just cliché's. Go Cheika, be yourself.
Wozza
Guest
Jacko, do you know who Roy and HG are? Do you get the concept go tongue in cheek. Are you an angry person?
Jacko
Guest
No Wazza. No one is talking about the rugby. Thats the problem. If you believe Blatent lies and false innuendoes is great from an international coach it says more about you than his rants do about rugby.
Jacko
Guest
Oh dear. So Hansen responding to Cheika is your example of Hansen being rude. Desperation a bit there. And what was that rude responce? "Cheika should worry about his own team selections".....The rudeness of it all. Now I fully understand
John R
Roar Guru
They asked him about the Clown thing didn't they? Stephen Moore piped up first from memory whilst Cheika was thinking of a suitable response. Think he (Moore) said something along the lines of 'I did' meaning I did find it disrespectful.
Wozza
Guest
Well said and I actually found the whole thing pretty funny but also, by taking the tack he did Cheika is appealing to a deep seated rivalry that would strike accord with many Australians who don't follow rugby. Roy and HG would having a field day. Cheika would be their new hero. Everyone's talking rugby at the moment and that can't be to bad.
Wozza
Guest
When Cheika gave NZ what is widely acknowledged here as a back handed compliment by suggesting that having to select between Cane and Savea was a problem for Hansen, Hansen's response of deal with your own problems was pretty surly. By all means criticise Chieka's poor behaviour but at least acknowledge when the shoe's on the other foot.
Wozza
Guest
Kiwis used to be modest, at least on the surface, and many of them outside a section of rugby supporters, still are. Kiwis were also irritatingly humble to and I suspect many still are, certainly the older ones. It's a shame a few outspoken ruby fans who can't seem to be satisfied with winning and having far and away the best team tarnish the rest of you. What! previously in a tread about Robbie Deans you called me liar for saying the team averaged 1.5 tries a year in the last 2 years of Dens; coaching. In 2012 they scored 15 tries in 15 matches and in the 4 games he coached in 2013 they scored 6 tries which is way under 1.5 per season. I can list them if you're still not convinced but might I suggest research rather than abuse be your first recourse when someone posts something you can't accept.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I don't like to watch either netball or basketball personally, so I am the wrong person to ask. But at least Aus and NZ have close games in the netball, rather than constant blowouts. And the Boomers almost beat the US in the Olympics. This is rather like what occurred against the All Blacks until 2011 (or even until 2015) where games were competitive even if the All Blacks usually ended up winning.
Jacko
Guest
Haha at the moment they would love 1 in a row
Jacko
Guest
So SOO is boring? Aus netball comp boring? (Same winner for 3 years) American basketball team boring? They all seem to rate ok
Jacko
Guest
Reballion please point me in the direction of these Hansen rants and lies in his press conferences
kahuna6
Guest
The best way to sort out any differences would be on the field of play and no matter what the result a good drinking session after wards where both team have a good time back in the club rooms together. Thats what we always used to do.
kahuna6
Guest
Arr finally an Aussiew ho I tend to agree with, you have a lot of valid points we need to work to geather I am getting board with these weekly bash a Wallaby or S[ringbok carnavils, I want to see some nail biting rugby again, however you do really need to rein in that clown prince, Cheika lost his rag after the last game , a better place for that rag would be if he stuffed it into his big gob, The only way we will respet him is if he starts being a true leader and teaches his team to win, The wallabies have some great players they just need to work on their defence then they will be a worthy opponant, h you
Faith
Guest
Good point eagle. If cranking up the drama helps bring more fans great. But Cheika and the Wallabies stillhave to do a lot on the field. The EOYT will show just what ...
Rebellion
Guest
Moaman you will gain credibility when you can acknowledge and accept Hansen's poor attitude and baiting of the Wallabies at every opportunity with the media (at least since 2011). Chieka's behaved like a dill but there is no possible circumstance when it comes to Trans Tasman relations that Hansen could ever be considered gracious. Train yourself to use a little latitude of thought and you might suprise yourself that there is a world outside of your current bubble
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Jake I live in Queensland - very difficult to find a place to rent on Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast because all the kiwis claiming squatters rights .
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Maybe I didn't make it clear enough, PeterK, but the biggest threat to the viability of longterm successful rugby in the southern hemisphere is a breakdown between the SANZAAR nations (particularly Aus and NZ). If NZ decides to stop accommodating Aus (giving us lots of tests, participating in Super Rugby rather than a domestic competition, etc) I feel that Australia's time as a great rugby nation will be over. At the same time, however, I believe that if NZ did that in the long run NZ would be harmed just as badly. The nations need to get on well in order to coordinate with each other to ensure that they provide a strong and united face. That is just my opinion though, perhaps I am mistaken.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Oh well, I disagree with you. I love seeing the All Blacks play fantastic rugby, or Federer play fantastic tennis. However, I would take the 2000 Bledisloe Test in Sydney or the 2nd Lions Test in 2009 over the first Bledisloe Test in 2016, or the match between the All Blacks and Springboks in Durban in 2016. Likewise, more interesting to see Federer beat Andy Murray 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–4 in the Wimbledon final as opposed to him winning 6-0 6-1 in the end of year tournament. But regardless, all I can say is that I hold a different opinion to you.