- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Is Australian Rugby going through another annus horribilis? I say another because 2017 was pretty darn bad.
Sure, we had a win against the All Blacks in Brisbane and probably should have beaten them in Dunedin, but the rest of the season was a dismal failure.
The Wallabies were beaten by Scotland, scraped past Italy and drew twice with what most South Africans called a ‘development team’. We had some wins in the end of season tour, including our annual win against Wales, but any good work done during the year was wiped out by a gleeful Scotland, who thumped the Wallabies 53-24.
Our Super Rugby teams weren’t anywhere near as successful as the sputtering Wallabies. Each performed valiantly for 60 minutes per game, which would be fantastic if the game didn’t last another 20 minutes.
Our most successful team in the 2017 tournament was disbanded, to much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the west, and a new CEO was installed. Although it appeared that the deck chairs on the Titanic were being rearranged, I had high hopes for 2018.
[latest_videos_strip category=”rugby” name=”Rugby”]
It felt like Australian Rugby was hungover for most of the season and, like all hangovers, you only feel better after a good chunder and possibly avulsion of the gastric lining.
Following the Scotland flogging, I felt that rugby in this country could only go up. I mean no disrespect to the Scots but, as someone who only started following rugby in the late 1980s, an evisceration by the Wallabies was the only acceptable outcome.
The days after that loss felt like Australian rugby had reached its lowest ebb. They’d had their shameful spew and were lying in the toilet, the chilly tiles cooling their sweat-beaded forehead. It was time for reflection, time to pull apart our system and to possibly get something greasy into our stomachs.
Australian rugby had reached the lowest valley and the only way out was up, right? Right?
As a Reds fan, I was cautiously optimistic about the season. We had a new coach who apparently had the respect of his team, a forward pack containing several young and enthusiastic monsters, and a fast-paced and skilful backline.
Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images
As you can imagine, watching Queensland get dismembered by the Rebels invigorated by the inclusion of a few Force players and a coach with an idea, was humbling but not completely unsurprising. “They’re just a bit rusty,” I said to my wife, who nodded sympathetically as she always does after the first game of every season.
Then the Reds won three games on the trot (including a brutal encounter in Argentina) and the Rebels were leading the Australian conference. NSW were misfiring as only NSW can and the Brumbies were being the Brumbies (skilled but ultimately clueless). The season was looking up. Well, up until Australian teams toured and played South African and New Zealand teams. That’s when the wheels fell off.
This weekend finished without an Australian team scoring a win.
The Reds were dismantled by the Chiefs in Brisbane, the Rebels lost a close-ish game against the Bulls in South Africa, the Brumbies were beaten by the Jaguares in Canberra, and NSW played possibly the worst game I’ve ever seen an Australian team play against the Lions. Don’t get me wrong, the Lions are a very good rugby side, who seem to travel well, but when the commentators get excited because the Tahs made it past three phases without knocking the ball on, you know you’re watching some dire football.
I just checked the draw and, sadly, I can’t see another win for an Australian team this weekend, or at all until the Brumbies play the Rebels (here’s hoping there isn’t a draw) in Week 13. Queensland are playing the Sunwolves away in Week 13, but I honestly can’t see them winning that match.
Even though our Super Rugby teams are wallowing in the doldrums, there’s always the bright light of the international window. Given our results last year, though, I’m not holding out any hope.
We play a three-Test series against Ireland, who would absolutely be pencilling in an overall win. History is against them but it was also against Scotland last year, and we all know the history books were thrown out the window when they racked up a half century against the Wallabies.
So what is the solution?
We essentially consolidated two teams by cherry picking the best players from the discarded Force. We have a new coaching setup at the Reds. NSW have the star players, and the Brumbies should have learnt their lesson from last year.
We’re getting to the stage where that once-lippy Kiwi bloke in the office is patting you on the back on Monday morning saying “Next weekend might be different, bro.”
Is it a skill issue? Is it a coaching issue? Or is the issue deep-seated in the administration of the game?
I honestly have no answers. I’m just a bloke who wants either his team in red or gold to win every game – or, at the very least, be competitive for 80 minutes.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.