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.
Drew
Roar Rookie
To a degree. ARC was created with the intent to be an actual NPC/Currie Cup style comp for Australia (a genuine 3rd teir). It wasn't financially viable. The NRC is a reboot of sorts with an acknowledgement of what is viable which means it runs on the smell of an oily rag. I don't think the NRC is in any way what was envisioned or hoped for when ARC was launched (not that ARC was necessarily all they hoped for either). As I said in my first post, in my dream world it (NRC) would evolve into a legitmate comp with salaries, marketing, home/away games. As it stands, RA are contemplating axing it. Alternate models of an inter-state club tournament have been raised, but that presents it's own issues/challenges and may not be any better than what we have, hence why NRC limps along for now.
Micko
Roar Rookie
They dominate because the sport dominates in that country, where as it's a insignificant sport, or nowhere near the top in most other countries...that gives quality and depth of a quality playing stock that other countries just don't have.
sheek
Roar Guru
TWAS - As if I take any notice of anything you say.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Don't they have essentially the same thing again: the "NRC"?
Cornchips
Roar Rookie
We all know that they will remain the measuring stick of Rugby, as they always have been, just possibly not quite as long as in the past decade.
Thomo
Guest
Lost me at the rumours around Pataeia.. didn't he just sign for 4 years with the Reds / ARU?
Admiral Rockocker
Guest
Out of curiosity. Why didn't West Australians show up when you were in Super Rugby? In retrospect, the ARU had all this momentum after the World Cup. They had great interest in Melbourne. Big attendances to tests down there and then they went and shoved a team in Perth for the insane reason of a gap in tv broadcast times. That worked so well, noone watched that either. Super rugby is a poor product. Perth is lucky to be rid of it.
Sir Joh
Guest
More Victorians than ACT and QLDers in the team put together!
Drew
Roar Rookie
Sheek, I'm not even talking about maximising profit, I'm talking about fundamentally having enough to even make the proposals work. All the money Rugby Australia makes is pumped straight back into Rugby. Trust me when I say there is no real profit being made. Just go look up ARC (Australian Rugby Championship) if you want to see the last attempt at something akin to a national comp.
Ex force fan
Guest
It is more an observation based on TWAS line of thinking that Executives are not accountable unless they have control over the outcome. I don’t know any Executive that has full control on the outcomes as they are paid $$$ for their influence and negotiation skills. If they cannot influence others they are not CEO material.
AndyS
Guest
I would turn that back on you. As you say, we know RA take a role. They can do that when they have that sort of ownership as a partner. So what makes you think the JRU similarly took a role, or even could when they are not part of SANZAAR, but then handed the lot over for nothing and also accepted a participation fee? That seems profoundly unlikely, so by all means point to anything that indicates they would be so willing to be everyone's bitch.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think this is the start of the decline of NZ. In addition to the RWC result, they also lost to Ireland twice in the last 4 years after never losing to them in history. But this is the decline from a massive, almost unsustainable peak. I think what we will actually see in the short term is NZ be challenged to maintain the number one ranking unlike previous years. The question is what happens in the long term. Realistically NZ shouldn't be able to compete based on finances, size of the country, etc. So it's pretty impressive they have dominated until now.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So we are going to hand Aus Rugby to a person (Twiggy) who has publicly said he isn't interested in running it?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Why must a window be found for national comp players to return to amateur rugby? AFL does not have this window. NRL does not have this window. Sheffield Shield starts 2 weeks after Grade cricket, finishes at the same time and only stops for a window for T20 and OD tournaments.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not really. The establishment of the Rebels has brought in around $65M in additional broadcasting revenue share they RA didn't get with 4 teams. And the conference system promotes derbies because fans don't want to watch games at 2am. Because that's who the games is for. Fans.
concerned supporter
Roar Rookie
Ex force fan, you say, '' it is forced on them by Valdamort'' Can you please explain?
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Not sure NZ best players are in Japan. There’s a couple of current ABs taking a break and going there but they will still have to come back and play in NZ if they want to wear the black jersey again. The difference is there’s enough depth in NZ to allow that and more young players will come through. As you say NZ develops players and brings them through rather than keeping older and players past their prime so that the younger ones are almost forced to look elsewhere
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Yeah sounds good. We'll just take back all the players who started their career in NSW, and you can have the rest. You might still be able to get a side together. Enjoy tier 3.
Rugbybebop
Guest
All the same, the period domestically leading up to, and then the Main's All Black period, was a fantastic time for the game in New Zealand, and that was a big part of what contributed to making the game so special with the World Cup final against the Springboks.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What have you based this on? It seems to be an assumption that the JRFU has no role in negotiations in Japan. Fox is listed as a broadcaster partner of Super Rugby. We know RA take a role. How do we know the JRFU did not for 2016? Or did? It seems we have no visibility on it.