I’m writing after years of having a ‘pub opinion’ on the current state of Australian rugby. I’ve finally been persuaded to put my opinion out there for more than just my family and friends to see.
Having been born in New Zealand I was obviously born into a strong rugby culture and that continued when we made the journey across the Tasman to live in Australia.
Some might say my allegiance should be towards Australia having lived there for the majority of my life, and that I’ve just jumped on the All Black bandwagon. However, I can still remember vividly as a young child crying while watching John Eales kick the winning penalty goal in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup, then Toutai Kefu the following year scoring in the 78th minute to yet again steal the Bledisloe Cup.
Fortunately, since then it’s been nothing but black, with every Kiwi loving to listen to Phil Kearns’ pure hatred of the All Blacks and their winning culture!
However, this opinion isn’t about the Wallabies, it’s about the road you need to take in order to be considered for state or national recognition.
No, I’m not your typical pub critic who once played with Quade Cooper’s cousin’s best mate’s brother in law, putting me in the inner circle of Australian rugby. I’m a concerned rugby fan who can see the Wallabies falling further and further down the World Rugby rankings unless something drastic doesn’t change in the selection process currently in place.
In 2013, the ARU had had enough of the inconsistency of their national team and employed Andrew Mehrtens, an All Black great, to fix the problem. His solution was plain and simple, a domestic competition that ran throughout the off season of Super Rugby. We now know that competition as the National Rugby Championship (NRC).
In 2014, myself and plenty of other Kiwi rugby fanatics were extremely nervous as this domestic competition kicked off. Australian rugby had finally unlocked the deep dark secret of the All Black dynasty. Or so we thought…
The reason the All Blacks seem to have an endless stream of talent flowing through their country is the domestic competition, the Mitre 10 Cup (formally the ITM Cup), which has been the launch pad for a high percentage of All Blacks.
It angers me reading how there is supposedly a ‘lack of depth’ within Australian rugby. Yes, Australia has a far superior selection of sport compared to New Zealand, that is a valid argument. But the dream of playing for the All Blacks is a dream that is reachable.
I’ve often used the saying that you could be homeless in New Zealand, but if you’re good enough, you will play for the All Blacks. The responsibilities of an All Black reach further than just the field. For example, the ‘no dickhead’ policy implemented by Australia’s favourite son, Richie McCaw.
The NRC was introduced for young, up-and-coming rugby players to show their skills, however it has developed into a pre-season conditioning session for the already contracted Super Rugby players. I’ll use a Kiwi example in Brad Thorne being contracted and playing for Queensland Country last year. He’s been one of my favourite players throughout his career, but all the signing did was block a younger player from being able to trial in a domestic competition.
While growing up I’ve been able to witness the arrogance of the Australian rugby hierarchy only interested in the players from prestigious private schools that are not often the most talented, but have a rich family history in rugby.
An example of this is a form that was generated while I was in grade 12. We had to provide our parent’s occupations, how much the yearly household income was, and how much our parents were willing to donate to the club I won’t name as I’m sure it’s not the only one.
The problem isn’t a lack of depth in Australian rugby at all. It’s the system in which you get further by who your father is. This is where I believe talented teenagers are being lost to rugby league, football, and AFL.
Why should you trial for a team when you’ve already been told all spots have been filled by contracted players looking for a pre-season hit out?
Some of you might agree, some might not, it’s just my opinion.
Robin Quinn
Guest
You are spot on!!
Enrique TOPO Rodriguez
Guest
Why? Are you checking ID's?
Marlins Tragic
Guest
Is the is the real Topo or an imposter?
Marlins Tragic
Guest
Jeez, I wish the schools would see it that way, I Don't think they ever will unless the ARU has the balls to take it over. Having said that, my sons school rugby is a shamozel with 12 & 13 yr olds playing in the U15, if club rugby didn't exist along side school rugby I highly doubt he'd be playing today.
Marlins Tragic
Guest
+1
Marlins Tragic
Guest
I'm a Tahs fan & totally agree with you, Phipps should piss off overseas & let Matt Lucas & the younger emerging 9 battle it out, tempo lifts when they both play & drops when Phipps is on the field.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Grapeseed I remember that moment. I watched the game at a pub in Bondi Junction. Hugs all round the bar when that kick went over.
Enrique Rodriguez
Guest
Hi Craig, I will try to be brief and as unemotional as I possibly can. 1) As an Argentine born Australian (50+50) I fully and wholeheartedly agree with your article. The even bigger problem here is that the proverbial and metapgoric 'Blind Freddy is leading the blind Australian rugby mob'. 2) Pride and Proud is good! But without using our eyes and brain it becomes a 'blinding-venom-like' 3) Anything Not concocted (thought about) by other than the GPS leather elbow patches brigade with a tie to match is Not Bloody Good (Mate, they need to justify the huge investment buying the Private School network. 4) The Classess or Casts are well and truly alive in Australia. I will not talk about 'discrimination' today but 'privilege' and 'sense of entitlement'. 5) Here is a Biggy: Australian Rugby had a glorious passage in international rugby of extremely successful 15 years from 1984 till 1999 (We used to have at Wallaby Bar in Cickle Bay (partially sponsored by the ARU the following trophies: 1984 Grand Slam (still have it), 1986 Bledisloe Cup (still holding a 31 year record of last victory at Eden Park); 1991 and 1999 RWC's) The $1M Question here is: What did the administrators from 1984 till today did to INVEST AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS into the future? (I think all of you know the answers. CEO JON left a $20M RED BALANCE when he was pushed out by Chair MH. 6) The Coaching Development Manager (WR) the person directly responsible for developing COACHES i Australia survived Bruce Hayman, John O'Neill, Garry Flowers, John O'Neill (the recidivist) and finally Bill Pulver must have woken up with a nightmare about having such an inept individual (in my not-so-modest opinion) the most important position in the ARU from the technical point of view. 7) And for a good measure. What happened with the $45M Australian Rugby made in the 2003 RWC? Craig, if you want, I could list a few more points/monumental blunders for you (and the benefit of the people that disagree with you and me?) - Nonetheless, I think you and the whole of Australia will get my drift. Here, we are lacking objectiviy, honesty, integrity, principles, and values, (simple) all those pearls have been thrown out the window when administrators jump or are lured on to the 'gravy train' for a good rugby ride... on me and you...on the rugby community! Sayonara baby
Dwayne Lowe
Guest
I agree. Mainly because you speak fact but also you aren't being an 'arrogant kiwi' and you are taking into account the impact of other Australian football codes. I am a relatively new fan to Rugby so I have no real emotional attachment to the 'old ways' but you have nailed it in one. The ARU'S arrogance and 'The Boys Club' attitude is destroying Rugby. It is boosting other Footy codes like you said. The same type of rubbish has also been creeping into our cricket as well. These kinds of attitudes are damaging to Australian international sport.
kiwineil
Guest
Sheek, I couldn't agree more I'd also add that the kiwi system of junior weight for age stops the littler/late developing potentially talented kids from being belted out of junior footy by early developing man-children And lest others say "bloody kiwi telling us how to do things" can I pls highlight 1, I have kids born here who I'd love to see still playing, but aren't - see above 2. Ivan Cleary wrote a great piece in the last 12 mths saying his son Nathan would most likely not have played league through his teens in Aust cos as a littler kid etc .. luckily they were in NZ with Cleary senior coaching the Warriors so Cleary junior played according to weight ... now hes the Panthers 1st grade 1st 5 (or halfback) ... 3. As a rugby lover, I really do want Aust rugby to succeed, And my premise around the above is simple.. keep more kids playing rugby for longer and the adult rugby talent pool gets larger ... and arguably more talented .. and isn't that a good thing? Just my 2c....
Stu B
Guest
Brave call Craig and good onya mate,comparing with the NZ scene is a fair and equitable comparison,the way I see it the Kiwi admin didn't sit with their soft little twinkies stuck up their arrogant and superior mostly North shore bums for a 100+ years and let outside sports spoil their patch and yes this is where we are at in 2017.And these same narrow like minded so called rugby fans are calling for the close down of the expansion teams,these are the clubs who have spread the rugby gospel further than the Sydney boundries,have introduced a new fan base,sure they are struggling but in the big picture have only been in existence for 5 minutes and I for one believe they would have much more success with an understandable and fair super competition,instead we have this confusing,protectionist, self serving mish mash excuse for a rugby comp.
Republican
Guest
......so how is it that NZ are now ranked # one in the world?
Republican
Guest
......concur RumBoi in as much as it doesn't assist the grassroots of the code here, to be sure
Republican
Guest
.......completely agree. We should not compare ourselves so obsessively with NZ Rugby despite them being the world benchmark. Unfortunately this is because of our proximity geographically and the huge Kiwi diaspora in this country who give the code O2 here. The culture of sport in Oz is completely different to NZ, while Union is way down the index of popularity in this nation and in my humble opinion, will only continue to slide further down......
DOUBLES
Guest
Would any overseas team want him Bakkies ?? He may do ok in Japan ..That`s about it
DOUBLES
Guest
Never push a woman Shane ..Never
In brief
Guest
Thanks Spiro. Cheika is the most exciting coach we've had since Dwyer. The way he is developing new players, building depth and building a team with the guts to play to its potential means this Wallaby team is on the cusp if something special. The way we pushed NZ at Edin park last year was a glimpse of what's to come. Cheika's taken risks, but he had to.
In brief
Guest
a big challenge in Sydney is the fact rugby league jumped the gun on rugby with professionalism and a domestic comp. the sport gained a lot of rusted in supporters and a media machine behind it. Rugby will continue to grow so long as the structure is right but perceptions take time to change. Another reason why new rugby states such as WA are crucial - they change the script.
piru
Roar Rookie
I live in Perth Sydneysider and travel often for work - I'm well aware of the position sports hold in different areas of the country. Let's take WA as an example Is rugby ever likely to knock AFL of it's perch in WA? Not in my lifetime Could it be a strong second? Absolutely. There's no league to speak of over here, soccer is around and has a strong following (as it does everywhere) but it's not in front of your face most of the time. Yes there's cricket but as a summer sport there's no real conflict. Rugby has the product to thrive here, there's definitely room for both codes to do well - remember WA has a very large immigrant population and most are from rugby countries (South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland). I can't speak as knowledgeably about SA, although I would say one of things that always strikes me when I'm in Adelaide is the number of rugby clubs about the place. I do understand the way things are, but you say 'that's the way it is' as if there's no way to change things - I'm not talking about the way things are, I'm talking about how they could be. The AFL isn't top dog because their game is better, it's better marketed, better supported and far less divided and political than rugby in Australia - in short they run a better business.
Sydneysider
Guest
Piru I understand what you are trying to say. I'm a rugby league and football (soccer) fan first. I don't mind rugby union and watch the international matches as well as some Super Rugby. "If you can’t capitalise on your national team being one of the top sides in one of the most popular sports on earth, you are doing something very wrong." The ARU had their chance after the 2003 rugby world cup but it didn't work out. Do you live in Australia Piru? If you did, you would realise that in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia - AFL is number 1, daylight is second, cricket is 3rd and then the rest of the sports come along. In NSW and Queensland, NRL is number 1, in some parts football is number 2 or AFL is number 2, rugby is 3rd or 4th. You can say what you like about Australia, but it isn't New Zealand. Until you understand the differences in sporting culture then you are wasting your time posting. "So I suppose the answer is to throw your hands in the air – proclaim “we’re a niche sport” and be satisfied with 4th place." Unfortunately yes that is how it is. I implore you to come to Australia and visit Melbourne or Sydney and proclaim "Rugby is the best game in the world, the All Blacks are the best team in the world", and in most cases, not many would give a rats... especially in Melbourne. "Rubbish, and you should be ashamed of yourselves for such weak capitulation." This isn't weak capitulation, it's being realistic.