The ARU today announced who Australia will be hosting in the June Tests next year, and it ain’t pretty, with the Lions tour of New Zealand leaving us with slim pickings.
The ARU are claiming that afternoon rugby is what the fans want and that they have listened to them, which is partly correct. But the reality is, they’re only trying to minimise the loss that this boring Test series will bring to the table, hoping to persuade fair weather fans and families to come along and enjoy watching the men in gold cruise to an easy victory in the sun.
The club rugby faithful from all over Australia will likely miss out on the games, with all three Tests to kick off at 3pm on Saturday afternoons. The time-slot also clashes with first XV schoolboy rugby and first-grade suburban rugby, so why not Sunday afternoon? Or even Monday afternoon on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend? Sure, the local competitions can be adapted with either a bye or changes in kick off times, but that won’t solve the drop in TV viewership for Wallabies Test matches.
Following the blockbuster series against England earlier this year, and the successful France tour in 2014, the 2017 June Test series will surely be the worst in recent memory.
Only one of the three nations is ranked inside World Rugby’s top 10, and Scotland will most likely be without a handful of their best players who will be across the ditch in the extended British and Irish Lions squad. While they may not be in the match day 23 playing against the All Blacks, there are plenty of provincial matches they will be included in to keep sponsors and Scottish fans happy.
Unfortunately, the only other competitive team in the Northern Hemisphere – France – are touring South Africa. If only the ARU had the hindsight to book Les Bleus like the All Blacks did in 2013 instead of hosting them in 2014. A win for the Springboks.
Italy’s recent tours of Australia have been accompanied by crowds of 20,000 and above, I believe a match against Japan would have been the smarter option. Italy have been slowly dropping form and are rarely competitive in the Six Nations. While Japan are the rising heroes from the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The only opponent that makes sense are Fiji. If money wasn’t such an issue, we would probably be playing in Suva to a potentially larger crowd!
Hosting Fiji will be an important step in giving back to the Pacific Islands, which fits in nicely with their recent inclusion in the (Inter)National Rugby Championship.
Despite their worst ever performance on paper at the Rugby World Cup, Fiji continue to draw crowds thanks to their entertaining brand of rugby. Nemani Nadolo will put bums on seats if his French club allow him to play. But will the Melbourne rugby fans choose to stay in town for the long weekend?
Australian rugby fans will be more interested in watching the All Blacks demolish the Lions than these three Tests.
So what do you think Roarers? Surely I’m not the only sceptic that’s worried about this?
Bob Funston
Roar Rookie
Surely the France your was the most boring in recent history, this is a good thing for the game. It's not the ARU fault that the top 10 is made up for the 4 home nations then sanzaar teams plus France. Not many other options us there. I dare say this will be exciting and good for Aussie rugby because a few wins on the board will help momentum and negative Aussie public
Garth
Guest
And the Japanese and the Georgians. Both of those sides have definitely earned a visit from a tier one nation for the EOYT. Also, judging by a few articles in the English press, a game or two anywhere in the North of England wouldn't be amiss either. Seems the northern clubs are feeling just a tad neglected by the RFU and its Twickenham First policy.
Well..
Guest
It'll help them plenty if they win.
Digby
Roar Guru
Thank you John however I have to say this is a pretty disappointing attitude from my perspective. Test footy is test footy, I know I would turn up if it was the All Blacks, regardless of the opposition and it is fantastic for these sides to play the Wallabies at home in daylight. Surely the club round will be rescheduled to accommodate as is usually the case here anyhow in years past. I will be watching anyhow.
Shop
Roar Guru
I'm interested in what venues will be used. Any news on that yet?
Shop
Roar Guru
I think we're already seeing improvement across the board at the RWC because of second and third tier improvements. Unfortunately, NZ are so far ahead I can't see them losing for probably 8 years minimum. Italy, Fiji and Scotland may not be as fierce as full other full strength home nations but they will be tough test matches all the same.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Maybe think one step further? If not the top nations plays the lesser nations more often, how are they ever gonna improve? Training really hard wont cut it. The usual suspects playing one another is all fine, but I would not mind more really competitive nations to widen the top. Imagine in the future if the rugby world cup could be similar to the football world cup (in some ways). With seven eight strong contenders for the title, the odd tier two team sniffing their way to the quarters or semis and several upsets in the group stage. Every fourth year.
MJ
Guest
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Paul
Guest
Playing against these teams will surely give a chance to field some players on the fringe of the Wallabies squad. Rather than facing the pressure of playing against top tier nations, they can experience international rugby, playing alongside experienced players and hopefully still get good results. Can't really see a negative
Boz the Younger
Guest
Hear hear!
Correct sometimes
Guest
How are we helping the game in Italy? You don't understand much
Correct sometimes
Guest
And playing my in the 6 nations against huge European rivals doesn't help Italy? You really think a tour to Australia is a huge boost for Italian rugby? You are awesome Johnno
ethan
Guest
Exactly this is a pretty whiny attitude in the article. Oz v Fiji should be a cracker and not every team can play France. England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland would all be depleted due to the Lions, but Scotland probably least out of the three given their lower rank. Anyway, this year we got thumped 3-0 by England and everyone was complaining. Now we've a good chance of winning all 3 and people are still complaining? Lets just enjoy the rugby on offer folks!
Boz the Younger
Guest
Pretty disrespectful attitude to the visiting teams displayed in this article. Scotland and Fiji have both beaten the Wallabies, and Italy has come close. I saw them in 2009 and will have no problems turning up to the game at Suncorp.
In Brief
Guest
Not sure if I'm missing something but I can't find the list of three teams you are moaning about anywhere in the article> I assume it is Italy, Scotland and Fiji?
Rt
Guest
I'd love to see a round robin tournament. Pacific island team, rest of the world (us, Canada, Japan, Italy etc). Something different. God forbid something out of the box.
Johnno
Guest
We need to help grow the game in Italy, and have a duty to help them, not ignore and neglect them. If Italy are not playing teams from the south that won't help Italian rugby.
nmpcart
Guest
Rob, is the Canadian RU seeking to bring Wallabies/ABs there? I know NZ Maori have played in Canada, and from a player development point of view that is probably more beneficial than the All Blacks playing a reserve team. From a marketing point of view I agree it would be good to get them there but it has to be financially viable.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Another day - and something else to moan about ...
Bakkies
Guest
'Unfortunately, the only other competitive team in the Northern Hemisphere – France – are touring South Africa. If only the ARU had the hindsight to book Les Bleus like the All Blacks did in 2013 instead of hosting them in 2014. A win for the Springboks. Italy’s recent tours of Australia have been accompanied by crowds of 20,000 and above, I believe a match against Japan would have been the smarter option. Italy have been slowly dropping form and are rarely competitive in the Six Nations. While Japan are the rising heroes from the 2015 Rugby World Cup.' The IRB set the rota with the future tours not the ARU. SA hosted a similar tournament in 2013 when the Lions were in Australia. The French went to NZ. Ireland are off to Japan and are touring Australia in 2018