Sporting fans around the country could be forgiven for asking; ‘who the hell is Andrew Hore?’
He’s a Kiwi from Canterbury who has been the CEO of both Rugby NSW and the Waratahs after a search around the world in 2016 to replace the outgoing Greg Harris, one of the all-time great sporting administrators.
Harris’ credentials are spelled out in my Roar column of April 2, 2015. He was a skilled communicator as well.
The same can’t be said of Andrew Hore.
Last week he came out of the closet to say – “Rugby is a global game, we’re not kicking around in a tiddlywinks competition like the NRL, which is only played in this part of the world”.
Really?
Even in Australia, rugby is behind the AFL, rugby league, cricket and soccer in public interest. The way the Waratahs and Wallabies have been playing of late, tiddlywinks on its own would almost rate a mention.
Apparently Hore isn’t rated among the other codes either, as all four have a rapport these days which is healthy.
Gone are the days of nit-picking each other as the senior administrators of all four codes at national level regularly discuss the problems of the day.
Except with Andrew Hore.
Having watched the Waratahs being beaten by the Brumbies 13-19 in Canberra last night, Hore would be better advised to concentrate on improving his Super Rugby side rather than taking a cheap shot at rugby league.
The Waratahs are playing anything but Super Rugby, it’s more like rubbish rugby.
Last night the Waratahs enjoyed 61 per cent possession, and 63 per cent territory, in the first half, but the Brumbies led 12-5.
And the five came off a Bernard Foley regulation penalty shot that slammed into the right goal post and bounced into Michael Hooper’s hands following through to cross for a try.
The Foley conversion also slammed into the upright, but the flyhalf eventually landed one from four, leaving seven points out there that would have given the Waratahs a 20-19 victory they didn’t deserve.
Bernard Foley (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
The only bright spot was in the 49th minute when Israel Folau somehow managed under intense pressure to slip a pass to winger Alex Newsome who crashed over in the corner to make it 12-10 – that’s as close as the Waratahs came to victory.
But it should be said that Ned Hanigan, one of the most heavily criticised Waratahs among Roarers, was one forward who featured in both attack and defence, and deserved recognition.
The overall salutes belong to the Brumbies, especially the non-stop number eight Lachlan McCaffrey, whose motor mouth frequently niggled the Waratahs into despair.
He has Wallaby written all over him.
Throw in hooker Folau Fainga’a who has scored a try in each of his last five games, but a double last night, and for good measure always found his lineout targets.
An Australian hooker finding targets demands a Wallaby jumper as well, and it was great to see outside centre Tevita Kuridrani back in typical blockbusting action in this World Cup year.
Long may he be injury free.
And the Brumbies took the honours without one of the best open-side flankers in world rugby David Pocock, and Wallaby prop Allan Alaatoa, both injured.
So Andrew Hore, it was one-way traffic for most of the 80 minutes, and it wasn’t the Waratahs calling the shots as they constantly lost possession, and composure, as promising moves fell apart.
It’s time for the CEO to go back to his closet to do his job, and zip it for anything else.
Jagged Edge
Guest
Fionn - a little insight into the fitness requirements of a league forward v union tight 5. Firstly, league players train for strength and anaerobic fitness which is more short interval running, wrestling and lots of off the ground training which is replicated through power lifting and general field training. They also lift to build muscle to absorb the high impact nature of the sport. Rugby union players train in a similar way but emphasis is place on building an aerobic base with lots of cardio first then working through an anaerobic base afterwards to build off the ground fitness. Powerlifting is also big part of their s&c to increase power, explosiveness and out and out strength. The NZders do not lift for bulk as they believe it to be a hindrance in being agile. Big muscles get in the way of being skilful. They prefer their players to be Ironman like who lean, durable, powerful and agile. Did you know that there is one team in the NRL who have successfully replicated the NZ s&c training philosophy: Melbourne Storm. Notice how their forwards are not overly muscly but are lean, aerobically and anaerobcially fit and very skilful? Measuring fitness levels: Both codes use the same measuring tests: Broncos YOYO Beep 3km The fittest players in union are the flankers who run a 19-21 on the YOYO and a 4:30min on a Bronco or a 15 on a Beep test. League forwards run similar times but the difference with either code is that union players are more conditioned to run long distance non stop while league players are conditioned better to shuttle runs. GPS tracking will tell you that league players run more Ks than a union player during an 80 min game but that’s because they clock up most metres running back 10ms then forward 10 which is really a false indication of metres eaten up running shuttles. So with that now in mind I don’t think a union player transitioning to league would be a problem and vice versa. However, as you correctly pointed out leaguies struggle more as they just lack skill. Let’s not go into their ruck work or defence either. One of your other comments was that a SOO team could possibly beat an international rugby side. I honestly don’t think so. Imagine South Africa playing a SOO side. They are more suited to league than they are to union because they love the confrontational abbrassive contact, also they have a ginormous team with an average height of 6’5 /115kgs and have speed to burn in those nippy wingers. So if they were to play a direct game like league any team would come off second best. England are of a similar mould and so are the French.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I don’t think they’re all slower or less athletic, but I think a lot of rugby tight 5 forwards do not have the aerobic fitness of league forwards. They’re conditioned for a different type of fitness (although they could probably adjust).
In brief
Guest
While it sounds elitist I think he's actually referring to the culture of the sport which is all about making you a better person- much like cricket - there is a 'spirit' of the game concept which is actually very attractive to markets like the US, South America and Europe.
In brief
Guest
Not sure if it means much much rugby players won the Gatorade sprint, Poidovin won battle of the codes in the 80s (based on fitness) and Quade won same battle of the codes several years ago. So this idea that rugby players are fat, slow, unathletic but skilled is bollocks.
In brief
Guest
Why would you agree? How many league forwards make a tackle and compete for the ball or even make a second hit up in a set? I see a lot of unfit NRL forwards- they play short minutes and don't work hard.
In brief
Guest
The Red Devils are about as popular as a t'urd in a pool
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Sorry mate I not quite sure what that post was about. In fact I will go as far to say I have absolutely no idea what you are trying say!! But I maybe just a little slow!
Frank
Guest
Sadly, in super rugby at least, modern rules, TMO's and officials have turned the game into a very boring product. Players standing around at scrum time, the slow walk up to lineouts (why???) On the weekend (lions v rebels?) an entire game stopped for 2/ 3 minutes while some guy did up his laces. Complete snore fest and explains why most of the seats are empty (except at the Sunwolves!) Its like they're not even trying to make the product interesting.. How about limiting number of scrum resets? (2 x scrum collapses? Have an unapposed scrum and get the ball in play!) Reduce penalties to 2 points. Give the game back to the fans..
MC
Guest
Come on with the Oz league invincibility. They lost to NZ in league in october last year. NZ then lost to England. Australia then played Tonga with the defectors from the NZ/OZ team Taumolo and Fafita, Jennings and Hopoate. The score was 34 -16. International games are a yardstick to the depth of talent - that's why NZ rugby is so dominant world wide. If the NZRL team can beat the biggest RL market in the world what does that say about the game , the skills, the talent pool both there and in Oz. Its equivalent to russia beating the all blacks when you look at the number of players that participate in league in OZ (51k) vs NZ (3.5k).
Joe
Roar Rookie
Completely agree. Add to that list the loss of the scrum and the ten metre rule. Destroyed the game. You described it perfectly - 1 up hits all game. And a kick at the end. Boring......but they haven't realised it yet. I was in a hotel for a work trip last year, and they were showing a final from the early 90s, Canberra and Balmain. You should have seen the game back then. Open running rugby league at its best. It was a cracker. And the truth is I cant stand league anymore. If only they could go back to that.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Pocock or no Pocock, the Brumbies do have some problems there. Two players in the bin at different times saw the Brumbies play against 14 men for 20 minutes and what ws the score, two tries and a penalty try! As well they were up against an inept Waratahs side. Interesting that the two games won by the Brumbies were those where Pocock was absent.
piru
Roar Rookie
That's a good way to get in trouble
piru
Roar Rookie
Even in Australia, rugby is behind the AFL, rugby league, cricket and soccer in public interest. Think you mean 'only in Australia' - with the exception of soccer of course.
RandyM
Guest
can you blame them? aust rugby's most marketable player is an ex League player who would probably struggle to get a start at the Parramatta Eels if he came back now...
tc
Guest
Come on Mary, you can do better than that.
RandyM
Guest
yawn...did you just copy and paste this reply from 2003?
John R
Roar Guru
Love a good 'me and my mates reckon' argument. lol, this bloke aye.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
What ‘facts’ are there that indicate Rona is good enough? The problem is, this isn’t a discussion on facts, we’re both just providing subjective opinions.
soapit
Roar Guru
Don't care about them enough I think is the problem
soapit
Roar Guru
Well if you feel that the facts that don't support you are wrong and disregard then as a result then yes there can be little doubt that what you think is correct