Former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns has challenged the ARU to show some gumption and demand SANZAAR retain all five Australian teams in Super Rugby.
As the saga continues over who’s in and who’s out for 2018, Kearns believes it’s high time the ARU made a stand and stood up to the competition’s rulers reportedly lobbying to have one Australian team and two South African sides chopped.
The Western Force are the latest Australian franchise in the firing line but not only is Kearns advocating their survival, but also urging the ARU to insist no Aussie outfit is cut.
Kearns agrees with fellow former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock and All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens that Super Rugby would be better off with a trans-Tasman competition and then possibly a Super Bowl-style final against the best from South Africa and Argentina.
“If Australia called their (SANZAAR’s) bluff, so let’s say South Africa and New Zealand go off and play in your own tournament, let’s see how quickly they get tired of that – going over the top of Australia back and forth the whole time,” Kearns told Fox Sports’ Super Rugby program.
“And the fact is, the crowds are down and audiences are down on TV when a South African team plays.
“We don’t get up at two o’clock in the morning to watch that.
“Our game needs some big cojones right now.”
Like Mehrtens – who believes removing the Force would be a blow also to New Zealand rugby – Kearns is adamant the Perth club must stay.
“They’re starting to play some decent footy to start with. They’re starting to put some good games, good performances, good tries together,” he said.
“They’re not playing the full 80 minutes yet but that will come with maturity.
‘The second thing that I really like about what they’ve done is they are picking some home-grown talent.
“We know that Queensland and NSW is where most of the talent comes from. The Force are starting to produce some of their own as well and it’s a real positive for the game.
Former Force star Cameron Shepherd has also made an impassioned plea for the 12-year-old franchise to be given a chance to grow old in Super Rugby.
“Frankly I’m pretty upset about it,” Shepherd said.
“The Force has battled through a really tough 12 years; the Firepower debacle at the start, losing a lot of key players and a huge amount of them have toiled away to keep the team running, keep the organisation running and get them to where they are today, where the culture’s fantastic.
“They’re producing some great players.
“Dane Haylett-Petty is a perfect example of one, and Richie Hardwick, and this needs to continue so the future generations – and there’s a lot of them coming though – aren’t roadblocked and not given the opportunity to reach their rugby dreams.”
gatesy
Roar Guru
You are on the right track. We need go rally the troops.
Again, South Africa isn't guaranteed two top spots. Read the logs. Look at the Jaguares. Then rethink you statement.
Dave from Mt Druitt
Guest
The original concept of Super rugby was to provide a competition with competitive teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The number of teams in Australia has been increased from 3 to 5. People need to realise that the purpose of the competition is not to enable Australia to build depth at the expense of providing sub standard teams. I am of the opinion that it would not matter at the moment if we only had 3 teams we would not have enough quality players to make up 3 competitive teams. I don't know the reason but if a world team was selected tomorrow not one Australian player would be selected and yet prior we could produce enough quality players to win 2 world cups with only 2 teams. Perhaps nowadays players see it as a job and are prepared to follow the money rather than the glory. Either way people will continue to debate forever but I would rather see the Waratahs progress to the finals based on their performances rather than relying on finishing on top of the Australian conference.
Paul
Guest
Piru Piru Piru Oh dear... Oh my...In the last 10 years the Wallabies have become the worst i have ever seen.. I don't know if you are 13 16 19 24 or 34 years of age but you do lack any knowledge of Wallaby history ... In the last 10 years Scotland have beaten us for the first time ever in 2011.. Samoa beat us for first time ever in 2011 England always beat us.. France and Ireland regularly beat us A poor South Arican side beat us last year and always beats us in South Africa Wales is our only bunny Go do some research mate P.s We also have only won 5 matches against the abs since 2003 and not one in New Zealand since 1998
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What do you know: http://www.rugbynews.net.au/shute-shield-round-1-team-lists/ The following Waratahs listed to play Shute Shield: Sam Needs Maclean Jones Harry Jones Bryce Hegarty Andrew Deegan With Foley, Horne, Wilkin, Ta'avo and apparently Roach out injured, that's basically the remaining squad. There are no academies either. Another swing and a miss from Squirrel.
Jock Cornet
Guest
Mate keeping the status quo with your ridiculous academies and do nothing approach is ludicrous but that is why your a guru , you have to be an ARU stooge and toe the party line
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
NZ are entitled to bring foward their opinion on the make up of the competition - all partners are
John R
Roar Guru
All the Wallabies games are on Free to Air (Channel 10)* *a couple of the end of year tour games last year weren't televised on FTA. Rugby Championship games though are always live on ten though.
FactCheika
Guest
What's your basis for this argument TWAS? If it's viewing figures please share these. I'd be interested to see how Aussie derbies stacks up against Aussie teams at home vs foreign opposition. Personally - the idea of seeing the Reds play the Force or Rebels another time or 2 a year doesn't appeal to me. And even in their original form it's not like the Aussie derbies have the appeal of say, a Bledisloe Cup. Which was the best rugby product in Australia when it was on just twice a year. Since the extra games have been added this has certainly diluted interest for me and I'm fairly sure ratings and ticket sales would back this up. (Lack of free-to-air coverage notwithstanding) This year particularly, the Aussie derbies I've seen have been turgid affairs (I missed the Rebels/Tahs last week though). I've enjoyed seeing the kiwi sides because of their stratospherically high skill levels.
In Brief
Guest
Did you ever see school of hard knocks with Scott Quinnell? Amazing show, a few episodes on rugby dump - would kill it over here.
AndyS
Guest
"Australia's Best Hooker"
Bakkies
Guest
'Where does this “need to cut back to 15” come from?' New Zealand
ads2600
Guest
Hi Sheek, I agree whole heartedly with your sentiment. I was wondering if you have seen the petition on the Australian RUPA website? Here is the link: http://www.rupa.com.au/rupa-news/story/australian-rugby-is-stronger-as-five
Jacko
Guest
Isnt their already a bunch of Kiwi's playing for Aus?
Jacko
Guest
The Super rugby show is already on FTA every week. onday Night 11pm on ONE
Jacko
Guest
Well Rhys being a Kiwi you would know what Hamilton is like but calling Hamilton a suburb of Auckland is like calling Newcastle a suburb of Sydney. Is your mum and dad living in Hamilton Rhys? Or some brothers or sisters maybe? Hope you got your NZ passport renewed before you went to catch up with family.....
Jacko
Guest
Far out Rhys Boz the younger and Zero gain trying to dictate to NZ what rugby they should play and where and when they should play it. Its like putting a dopey mutt in charge of the floor hygeine...so much doggy doodoo
Jacko
Guest
Surely not republican....You sick of playing NZ sides...Wow...Never thought I'd see the day...You stating that NZ is like a state of Aus...So rare of you to say such a thing LOL
sheek
Roar Guru
Where does this "need to cut back to 15" come from? For me, the problem with S18 is the structure of four divisions & the Sunwolves. I would have entered two teams from Argentina, which makes sense since the Pumas are part of the Rugby Championship. SA-Argentina would have formed one 8 team division playing each other twice for 14 games each. NZ-Australia in a 10 team division also playing 14 games. They would play each other once & the other teams in their country a second time, plus one double-up against a team from the other country. Top four through from each division. Much easier & the NZ-Australian division is basically a Trans-Tasman. For SA-Argentina, also less travel for them initially as they only have to criss-cross the South Atlantic. I don't care about the Sunwolves, but the Jaguares are a necessary addition to super rugby, & you can't cut them. The other problem might be that SANZAAR made a power play to extend, or cement its power base beyond representing the interests of NZRU, SARU, ARU & UAR. It may be they had a plan to usurp domination of southern hemisphere rugby rather than merely act as administrators for the four unions with regards to super rugby & Rugby Championship. SANZAAR is the organisation that has stuffed here by expanding too quickly & thoughtlessly.
sheek
Roar Guru
No Aussie province to be culled, not one! Pass the ammo..........