Of all the absurdities aired during the Western Force’s Super Rugby axing saga, Brendan Cannon’s dig at Australian Rugby Union chairman Cameron Clyne for not wearing a coat and tie at the announcement tops the list.
“The perception, Cameron, is that you were disrespectfully underdressed for what was the most significant announcement in Australian rugby history,” Cannon wrote in a column for News Limited a few weeks ago.
On Wednesday night on Fox Sports’ Kick & Chase, the former Wallabies hooker was all too willing to again bring up the sartorial subject – the kind of ridiculously fringe comment in complex and emotional times that gets the eyes rolling.
“I do note that Cameron Clyne wore a tie today,” Cannon said of Clyne’s most recent media appearance.
It was stated with the resentment of someone who would like to believe Clyne donned a pair of Okanuis and a Bintang singlet instead of a perfectly acceptable white collared shirt.
“It’s all about perception,” Cannon continued.
Cannon, I assume, has been Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s head of wardrobe over the past week, given how much he’s gone into bat for the Force. Twiggy looked splendid in a dark suit, white tie and yellow and black tie on Tuesday as he revealed how the Force may not be with you, in Australia. At least not with the ARU.
My perception is that Force supporters seem willing to push the line that the game is thriving in the west, taking on the might of the AFL and making inroads.
Rugby isn’t thriving in Western Australia. The Indian Premier League is thriving. The NBA is thriving. The English Premier League is thriving. Fans are rushing for more of those leagues, sponsors are pleading for a piece of the action and broadcasters are keen to throw millions at governing bodies.
When the Force was established in 2006, the average crowd for Force home games in Perth was about 28,000. This season, they dropped below 10,000. Even as the Force were crying out to prove they were worth investing in, there was only a minor increase from 2016.
The Force’s overall win rate is 32 per cent. They were bailed out less than two years ago. Twiggy walked in ready to buy everyone drinks and pay for the band at 11.58pm when the nightclub was set to close at midnight.
Even though I believe the Melbourne Rebels should’ve been booted, my perception is that rugby isn’t the charging bull in Western Australia that some would have us believe. There’s no doubt been some growth and rugby has gotten some traction, but that hasn’t translated into a financially stable professional club.
The cost savings can help address the imbalance between the money heading to the professional tier in Australia and the cash shortfall in grassroots investment.
If we cast our minds forward to the post-2020 Super Rugby world, what’s to say the Force won’t return to the elite level? There’s a strong case that the South African teams will head to Europe and Australia will join New Zealand – and perhaps a few Asian and Pacific teams – in setting up a new competition, one that is less convoluted and fan-friendly.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Moving to perceptions of the Wallabies as they prepare to take on the Springboks in Perth, some think the gutting loss in Dunedin was a turning point following the struggles since the 2015 World Cup. But I feel that it was a false dawn and the Wallabies are going to really struggle against the Boks. There were too many frailties that the Boks, steered around by a hard-edged forward pack, will be eager to exploit.
The first is the scrum. It’s tough to envisage how the Wallabies, who got hammered in that area in Dunedin, will compete with the Boks. Sean McMahon did extremely well to shovel back a fair bit of ball from No.8 as the scrum was back-pedalling, but it’s difficult to see him being as effective again.
South Africa might therefore be happy to roll the dice in attack with plenty of off-loads and risky passes, comfortable in the knowledge they can push the Wallabies off the ball even against the feed. The front five of Tendai Mtawarira, Malcolm Marx, Coenie Oosthuizen, Francois Mostert and Eben Etzebeth are set to go into bully mode.
Australia missed 37 tackles in Dunedin. The Boks, with coach Allister Coetzee finally picking more Lions players, are a whole lot more potent in attack. The Boks have scored more tries already this year (21) than they scored in 12 Tests last year (20).
Unfortunately, I think the Boks will grab their first win in Australia since 2013. They’ve got too much muscle that will give them the advantage, even though Will Genia, Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau have lit up the Wallabies’ backline.
There will be plenty of Springboks in the Perth crowd. Western Force fans have been told to consider wearing blue in support of the club or black for mourning.
There may even be some Wallabies jerseys in the crowd. Dress appropriately. Brendan Cannon will be watching. At least turn up. Are we all united for the Wallabies? It’s all about perception.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Not so, Matt. The Canes and Landers had the benefit of drawing on from experienced provincial rugby players from within their catchment area and then from beyond (as is the case today). The Rebels and Force didn't have any of that and had to dig deep from the scraps that were available or could be bought from NSW and Qld and that's certainly starting from scratch.
Train Without A Station
Guest
I reckon fans of Fitzroy, Norths and Newtown would say they do
Matt M
Guest
The unfairness? Think you're clutching at straws there. The Hurricanes and Highlanders were created from scratch too.
Rex
Guest
I'm more annoyed with Rugby WA than the ARU with this mess. I was a Force supporter and live in Perth. However, I let my membership lapse a number of years ago because I was sick of paying good money to watch rubbish rugby with them always losing from wining positions during a game. TWF members should be asking why wasn't the contracts reviewed properly if this was a so called ironclad agreement? Did this legal firm do it as a pro bona on the cheap with staff as one of the partners is on the board of Rugby WA? I would want heads to roll over there at Rugby WA HQ because my experience from working in corporate finance/accounting type stuff I would never be so trusting if I'm giving the most important thing for a business's survival (I'm not trolling, just giving my honest opinion). The ARU didn't handle this properly with using stalling tactics and has become a PR nightmare for them. But I highly doubt there is a smoking gun to be used against them (I hope someone finds a Magnum .44). A Senate inquiry might provide some good out of this with a straight answer because I'm sick of the "he said she said" with it all. However, yesterday's report in The West was interesting about the legal letter sent to Rugby Victoria president. The ARU obviously couldn't get Cox to sell at a reasonable price and took the easiest and cheapest option (which is debatable on how much their really saving over the short term). It will be interesting after 2020 and with Twiggy's proposal, at least he's having a go and using his wealth for good! Also, maybe Twiggy didn't know the full extent of what was going on until last drinks was called at the pub. Twiggy is an honourable man IMO! Rugby in WA has increased in participation numbers at the grass roots level and non traditional private schools (GPS) are playing in tournaments set up by Rugby WA. Also, I think outside of Perth new teams have been set up, like in SW WA and Albany region.
Ex force fan
Guest
Do you think the AFL has treated their fans they way the ARU has? In the AFL the focus is on the players. In rugby union Clyne, Twiggy and Eales made themselves the focus.
moniano
Guest
Yawning!!!
moniano
Guest
Yeah boks hammered France and Argentina - the 8th and the 10th respectively in rugby ladder. ubi daa! They have not played any above them this year, wallabies did, and came very close. I do think some credit should go to Steve Larkham and the skill coach. For the Force, they hired the best of Australian players when started with Mitchell, the ex all black coach and they went no where. This Billionaire who jumps up and down now, where was he when Foley was putting the Force to playoff final, should have used his money then to build the Force on this success. Where was he when ARU took over again the Force. This Senate inquiry is a farce. If it was the Rebel or Brumbies would the Force be ok with it. One would have to go, no doubt about it, rather than suck it and stand up with real constructive concept about building rugby for Australia as a nation they just push for their self interest. The ARU is probably broke, Force just go after it to make the National Union body go under the carpet even more. Rather than go and support Wallabies Force wanted to stage a protest. Support the wallabies, it's the national team, its called patriotic to your country. The wallabies success is your success too, just go back in history and observe the period when wallabies were world champs your answer laid there.
republican
Guest
........no its more than the ARU's apparent lack of best practice governance thats causing this disaffection. It has been devolving as a product for some time now which is evidenced by gates across Australia & even NZ. Personally I reckon Union is overly technical and not spectator friendly unless you are a student of the game so to speak. The fact that Australian Union is over exposed to NZ Union is also counter productive, perpetuating an all too pervasive inferiority complex throughout the games culture here. There is way too much ambiguity around interpretation of the rules while refs assume way too much power in the outcome of any contest. Like it or not, the average Australian punter isn't interested in this game ARU or no ARU........
Train Without A Station
Guest
Yeah that's pretty fair Piru.
Marlin
Guest
what a pelican
Akari
Roar Rookie
Not exactly, Matt M. The unfairness includes the Reds and Tahs where they also didn't have a 3rd tier domestic provincial comp to build up their resources unlike the Canes and Landers. Ok, while Qld and NSW played each other annually, it could not be equated to the ITM or Currie Cups. From this perspective, Oz sides have punched way above their respective weights when compared to SA and NZ super rugby sides. The Force and Rebels were created from scratch and needed time to be as successful as the Brumbies for example.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Do you think people go to AFL and NRL games because of their love of Head Office?
B
Guest
Out of interest- does anyone know if Western Force merchandise will be sold outside the stadium tonight?
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Not disaffected with the game per se. Disaffected with the clowns running it ATM and the results they are producing.
republican
Guest
......on gate, the tix sales for the Canberra Test, Pumas v Wallas is hardly selling at all. Even this supposed heartland of the code is completely disaffected with the game............
Bakkies
Guest
Does he know what a postage stamp is?
Bakkies
Guest
He would have been better off wearing a clown suit. An attire very much suited to fit his character.
Bakkies
Guest
Don't know much about what the ARU contributed to moving next door the Rorters (a highly appropriate neighbour), what I do know is that the Feds kicked in funding.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
"For he can afford to lose a host better than we to lose a company" LOTR I reckon Twiggy might be better placed to take a hit to the hip pocket than the ARU right now.
Train Without A Station
Guest
And that he played for Hawke's Bay, his dad played for Hawke's Bay and his older brother did too. Doesn't add up, does it?