- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
Where to start discussing this subject? Let’s look at the World Cup.
The seeds of Australia’s campaign were sown in 2014 at the Waratahs. Look at who the coach Michael Cheika went back to from this moment: a defence coach that seems to have escaped all scrutiny and six (yes, six) players that were in that side.
So no real renewal, just blind faith in some players that were past their best: Bernard Foley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale and Sekope Kepu.
In sport, a common thread is that youth is where success is. So what was the form of the Wallabies going to Japan, apart from the aberration that was Perth? Average at best, leaking points continually and struggling to have a coherent attack.
The coach ran off the rails. Cheika was very selfish by putting no thought past the RWC, but to be fair, that may have been his brief.
The CEO Raelene Castle was put in the position due to a lack of money and to shore up investment from a donor for the NRC. She has done a fair job under trying circumstances, however, she didn’t grasp how average the Wallabies were when making statements about the RWC. Castle will stay as there is no money.
(AAP Image/Daniel Munoz)
On to the board. Poor. The chairman will go and John Eales – who after a brief career on Fox Sports hasn’t been seen – will be the new chairman, which will please Queensland.
And how do the players escape any criticism?
Eddie Jones may come back after the 2023 RWC… but he may not.
Firstly, we haven’t got the money. Secondly, although Warren Gatland has the 2021 Lions tour, watch this space – Eddie may get that as his swan song. Thirdly, why would he want to take over the Wallabies? The next four years will be very difficult to say the least, so let Dave Rennie take all the flak.
Scott Johnson’s role is to transition what appears to be a promising bunch of young players through to Super Rugby and eventually Test rugby. Keeping them will be hard enough. Rumours are that Jordan Petaia has agreed to terms with the Broncos.
The more interesting development is NZ and Japan. Australia must look at this through the reality that NZ rugby does everything for NZ rugby. They have sucked the life out of the Pacific Islands and the biggest winner from Super Rugby has been NZ. They have effectively have sucked us dry.
Yes, of course, that’s what they should do. So now they have moved into Japan to counter their players going to Europe. They have effectively walked away from Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship by allowing their best players to go to Japan and having their coaches there.
And guess what: many Australian players will be there shortly, too.
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.