The recent outburst by World Rugby vice chairman Agustin Pichot with regard to the Sonny Bill Williams suspension reversal seemed a little odd given that this was a World Rugby-appointed independent council enforcing World Rugby-written and owned regulations.
So why the very public show of petulance from Mr Pichot?
The Tin Foil Hat Conspiracy argues that New Zealand rugby’s current dominance is bad for rugby, its potential sponsorship deals, ticket sales, advertising revenue streams and the general expansion of the game.
One needs only to reference the slide in the public’s rugby union in Australia during the current Bledisloe drought to quantify the impact that an ongoing decreasing hope of winning can do a rugby community.
As we begin the run into Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, Mr Pichot has perhaps recognised this as an issue, and that maximising revenue streams, where the current favourites have won the last two tournaments and only lost four games since 2013, is going to be an issue.
With New Zealand at odds of $2 for the Rugby World Cup, $1.14 for the upcoming Rugby Championship, and $1.04 for the Bledisloe Cup, this potential issue is evident.
How does World Rugby then interest the world’s corporate community in investing in a product when the smallest major rugby nation with a limited consumer market is the red-hot favourite?
While the conspiracy stops short of suggesting direct action is being taken, a tongue-in-cheek deep dive would suggest that World Rugby is going to use its influence to stop the New Zealand rugby train wherever possible.
1. Suspensions
Williams’ original suspension was for four weeks, although this was quickly altered to seven weeks when it was realised that Bledisloe 1 fell out of this original suspension window.
2. Appointment of referees
This year the Bledisloe refereeing panel is being as subtle as a sledge hammer. Of the four games the All Blacks have lost since 2013, the referees have been Wayne Barnes twice, Jerome Garces and Mathieu Reynal.
So – based on this – if you’re looking for a refereeing duo that the All Blacks have historically struggled to dominate their opposition so easily under, a Barnes and Garces combo would be the ideal combination.
And this is what we have scheduled.
3. Dunedin as the venue for New Zealand’s single Bledisloe Test this year
Why hold this game at a venue that will clearly favour the visitors?
It is a relatively small venue compared to Auckland and Wellington, the rugby crowd is reserved, polite and extremely welcoming given there are not a whole lot of foreign visitors to the region. Hardly the hotbed you want an opposition walking into.
Surely the fortress of Eden Park would be the better option. The All Blacks have a great winning record there and are guaranteed a large crowd through the gate, all of them rabid and annoyed, not only with the difficulty of getting in and out of a stadium stupidly situated in a residential suburb, but Auckland attendees will likely to be looking to share their building bile at soon to be rising interest rates and the spectre of negative equity that eats away at each of them every day.
One has to wonder who has influenced this venue decision.
If like me you’ve got your tin foil hat on, then it’s clear between now and Rugby World Cup 2019 that many a hurdle will be placed in front of New Zealand. I trust the global rugby community will rally behind the All Blacks in an international show of solidarity… or not.
Muzzo
Guest
Interesting read Highlander, & I do agree that Forsyth Barr is a very small stadium. It's a pity that, the Otago Rugby Union, who actually owned Carisbrook, did not have the support needed, to throw a roof over that venue. The ground itself, the old House Of Pain, had so much history, in it's past, & in my opinion, should have remained. From memory, I think at one stage, they did have a test crowd, of around the 50k mark. I still do think that it was a crying shame that, they moved the venue, to the other side of town, too Logan Park / University oval, area. Thoroughly agree with you on the current refereeing issues, that do seem a bit overboard. As far as corporate orientated issues go, well, I think most have seen, with the recent ARU, carries on, in the way, they have handled the Force. That alone shows, that some of these people, are only there to fill up their own pockets, for their own selfish needs, & stuff the game, to which they know SFA about. The salaries & expenses they claim are ridiculously absurd. Cheers.
taylorman
Guest
Well it's humorous that you'd even read what's in the Herald or Stuff for a start. Seems we get more overseas folks reading those than we do! Don't get that. I don't go trawling through the Telgraph or the Sydney mail so don't really get that, but in any case, you'll rarely get what kiwis are actually thinking there, especially if it's bad enough to start quoting it! I don't think we 'generally' think we get a raw deal from Refs. Most I know are spewing at SBWs carding and even see him as a risk starting any more. We didn't like the Poite change of mind cos how often do you see that happen? Ref makes a call, then has it confirmed and agreed officially with the TMO, then changes his mind on the way to the mark after his sideline mate chirps up. If you think that is a professional way to behave then good luck with that. But generally, I think you'll find we complain about refereeing less than anyone. Simply because we lose much less. When was the last time before this series refereeing was an issue for us? 2007? Sorry but generally is a gross overstatement when we have probably gone a hundred tests without much issue at all. I've seen years and years of the 6N sides, Ireland especially having many many Refereeing issues. Oz are involved in these things all the time it seems.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
This started out being a humorous look...' The problem with that, Highlander, is that it's difficult to write a satire about Kiwi conspiracy theories when a quick look at the Herald or Stuff will give you enough insane material to last a life-time - and they're being serious. We're talking about a rugby team that just had their first player EVER sent off at home and the first player sent off ANYWHERE in 50 years (despite many, many, many of the more 'famous' incidents of foul play). Yet their fanboys seem to genuinely believe they get rough treatment from refs. It does provide light entertainment, though.
taylorman
Guest
Neither did Jason before his amnesia kicked in Timbo so you're not alone there ?
Highlander
Guest
NZ rugby is under attack Timbo, all should rally to our side.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
Curious points about how the Kiwi Identity, Ultimatum and Supremacy is affecting the other teams. I had never considered that angle.
Highlander
Guest
Playing around with the probabilities from the original Bledisloe appointments PK, - pre Garces injury- not the lions series.
PeterK
Roar Guru
barnes could not be appointed to the lions games no english, irish, welsh or scottish ref could be (or nz) that leaves french and sa by and large
Spencer
Guest
Wasn't the AB #1 fan scheduled to ref Bledisloe 1 until he was injured putting on his pink Lycra tights?
Highlander
Guest
This really started out meaning to be a humourous look at a few recent events given the high levels of negativity around a few topics on these boards of late, the venue comment certainly is just a dig at my auckland brethren. However, once you run the probability of Garces and Barnes being appointed to the exclusion of all others, say a panel of 11 possibles ( not 30 and prior to the Garces injury) it's 2/11x 2/11 x 2/11 it's a very small probability of occuring by chance, which of course we must accept it is. ( keeping the roars lawyers happy here). its what Douglas Adams would call highly highly improbable.
Jacko
Guest
hard to argue the facts highlander...Its starting to look like it and if it continues then it becomes hard to follow a sport where the result is being manufactured or controlled in any way at all.....There was some very odd things which went on in the Lions series of tests as well as the other 7 games the Lions played and the constant assignment of of Garces and Barnes to ABs games just has a strange smell to it...with something like 30 top refs available world wide the odds seem against this happening without some deliberate input from those making the decisions.....1 dodgy year is one thing but if it continues then it will be impossible to ignore
Council
Guest
I do love a good pish take article. This was really quite amusing. Thanks my bro, and I hope the Blackness overcomes the Gold Dawn this evening.
Old Bugger
Guest
HL Next time you have a "tongue in cheek" moment, just raise the arm alongside and show WR exactly how that little Napoleonic clique, behaves.....like a bunch of w__kers......so, enough said by me and well said, by you.
Highlander
Guest
All very tongue in cheek doc
The Doc
Roar Guru
Interesting read and who doesnt love a good conspiracy. Id imagine the real reasoan for holding it at Dunedin is rotation to enable all cities to watch the Bledisloe Cup. Also when was the last time Australia won in NZ? Cant even remember - I have the odd dream that John Eales kicked over the winning penalty but these not even sure if it was a dream or reality. Doubt location will matter Not even sure referees will save the WB here. Wouldnt be a match though without poor AB supporters whingeing about the ref choices or decisions? 'But it was accidental offside' All tongue in cheek mate. Go WB