Everyone has been talking about a merged Anzac Super competition next year.
But will five, four or even three Australian sides be competitive and if not, how does Australian rugby address that?
Listening to Rod Kafer during the Force versus Brumbies telecast I was struck by the following observation:
“The single biggest thing that separates Australian and New Zealand rugby is the ability of forwards to use their feet going into contact.”
Hmmm.
My immediate reaction was what a load of nonsense, almost laughable really.
My second reaction was how has Phil Kearns, his co-commentator, let him get away with that. How on earth could Kearns go along with such a ridiculous statement when Australia doesn’t have a hooker playing Super Rugby who can throw straight?
But then when, if ever, do they disagree with each other? That ‘old boy’ love affair is long standing and symptomatic of one of the major problems with Australian rugby.
My third reaction was to think of the game in Christchurch I’d watched immediately beforehand.
Having seen the Crusaders versus Hurricanes, it seemed to me that the biggest thing separating provincial teams on either side of the Tasman was skill.
Yes, ‘skill’.
When the Hurricanes caught the ball they rarely did so standing still. Passes were caught by men from Wellington and Canterbury running at speed with a purpose.
Simple skills were on view for 80 minutes and skill lapses were very rare. Creating overlaps, recognising when the other side was short of numbers, recognising mismatches.
And there was no aimless kicking. None. Every kick was purposeful and considered.
Kafer wasn’t totally incorrect, footwork and mobility of the big men is certainly a ‘skill’. But it is ridiculous to say that is the single biggest difference between Kiwi and Aussie rugby union teams.
Running, passing, tackling, kicking. It is a tragedy to have to say that professional Australian rugby players in 2020 are bad at those things.
So what to do?
Tom Banks on the run for the Wallabies. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Big picture. Australia needs to start implementing proper skills training at all levels of rugby. And that task alone is worthy of its own article.
More immediately, we need to recognise that any one of the five Australian sides would be thrashed by most if not all of the New Zealand teams. The negligent kicking, turnovers and handling from the Reds and Waratahs especially will be exploited badly.
You could reduce the number of Aussie sides to three and that wouldn’t change.
My strong hunch is that we’d still end up with at least three New Zealand sides as semi-finalists in any finals series. Harsh but true. And harsh realities need to start being recognised and acted upon.
There is an argument to enter any Kiwi organised competition based on the fact that playing the best improves your game. But can that argument really fly in 2020 given what has happened in Super Rugby and the Bledisloe over the past ten years?
And being blackmailed into agreeing only two or three teams from Australia should enter any Trans-Tasman comp must never happen. Western Australia in particular, with a massive population of South African and English expats as well as a thriving club scene must be allowed to grow.
My preference is to create a national club competition with 16 sides in Australia where each club plays each other, home and away.
Happy Wallabies. (David Ramos – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
There would be six clubs from Queensland, six clubs from NSW, two from Western Australia and then one each from Victoria and the ACT. If that means upsetting some of the established Shute Shield clubs then so be it.
All Wallabies would play in that club competition and only those with 60 Tests or more could opt out to play overseas. Each club would have the ability to contract a maximum of six overseas players in a 30 man squad.
A ‘State of Origin’ series would then be played between Queensland and NSW each year and the winner would have the right to play New Zealand’s strongest province. Western Australia and the ACT as well as Victoria would play off among each other for the right to tour New Zealand too.
Meanwhile, the majority of money would be funnelled into supporting the clubs and pathways from schools.
This may seem like a radical proposal. But it is a competition designed to engage the grassroots, create pathways from schools, bring the big traditional clubs on board, appease Andrew Forrest and most importantly, have meaning.
It will once again mean something to play for your club and state.
Essentially, Australia would be creating a Curry Cup or Mitre 10 Cup type domestic competition with the same number of sides running around as in the NRL. If it is good enough for New Zealand it is good enough for us.
Most importantly for 2020, it recognises that we have a long way to catch up to the Kiwis and allows us to walk away from any New Zealand Rugby Union blackmail with a plan for Australian rugby.
Gregus
Robbie deans singled out skill sets, decision making game reading what 10 years ago?
Tony
Guest
Oh Really - what past record says that ?
Loosey
Roar Rookie
That and Kiwis have a superlative knowledge of the rules. Very quick thinking. They put pressure on the referees - everyone on the field has to be on top of their game. It's a joy to watch two SR AR teams playing to limits of skill and rugby acumen.
Offside
Roar Rookie
Excellent idea. However, the biggest problem for Australian rugby is rugby league and poaching players with oodles of cash the ARU doesn't have. So capture the players when they are young with something rugby league simply cannot compete against. The global appeal of rugby union. Take under 13's to Argentina or Georgia or South Africa or Europe or pretty much anywhere in the world for a tour. Show them what RL can't offer them, international travel. Take them on tour and allow them to create lifelong friendships within the team and with their opponents. Kids play what their mates play. When a mate switches to league for big money, their mates will follow for less money. But when you're 17 and have seen the world and made international friends thanks to rugby union, the big money offers aren't quite as appealing. Some things money can't buy. Exploit what Union has over League. You can't match dollar for dollar and you shouldn't try. It does my head in when I hear the ARU offering some league player millions to switch codes. Forget him. Get the players who want to play for their mates, for their country and to tour the world. That's where your future is.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
WRE01 OK by Me. Suggest start with 10 teams .. get the formula and Rules right and go from there..
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I reckon Aus needs something similar, such a system would be helpful in best identifying and distributing talent across all the SR teams
Rhys
Roar Rookie
They beat Chiefs in Hamilton this year though
Ben mc
Guest
How are you going to pay for 30 players in those 16 teams? Ludicrous. I’d love a comp like that but there just isn’t the player base/support/funds.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
they use a centralised national draft system for Super Rugby, a bit like the AFL or US college system. It has given each franchise access to a national talent pool.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
"the current brumbies can beat all 5 of the kiwi sides ..." Not the Crusaders, Terry. Not, I suspect, the born-again Blues, Canes and Chiefs. Highlanders maybe.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Corne, those Kiwi teams mentioned were created for the Australian competition. The NZ Warriors (NRL) were the old Auckland Vulcans before they were accepted into the then ARL (then promptly jumped ship to Super League a year later). The Phoenix were also I believe created for the FFA and I think the Breakers (NBL) as well. So the Kiwis had to adapt to what was offered to them.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Great read. Agree whole-heartedly with the grass-roots concept. The issue would probably be investment. Participation and growth is great but the product has to sell. Given time it would work but how much further would the Wallabies and pro-ranks directly below suffer in the meantime? The fan base is already dwindling and we are often reminded on these pages about competing codes. Lastly, I agree skills is an issue and am frankly suprised Mick hasn't made more of an impact. Exits are also a significant problem. Line-out is the set-piece winner at the moment and is another issue. Line-speed another. Rennie is a great coach IMO but he has so much on his plate he is almost another Robbie Deans waiting to happen...
Will
Guest
Wayne The difference is this club competition being proposed is based on already established clubs coming on board in Perth, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. There are already schools and regions that funnel into certain clubs and the strongest clubs could go pros as they are well financed. Also, denying that QLD and NSW are traditional rugby states with 80% of the players is as criminal as denying WA, VIC, ACT the right to grow.
Greasegun
Roar Rookie
We need to create a league that the best players want to play in. Certainly our best with a few ring ins.
Greasegun
Roar Rookie
I’m all for a league with the NZ mate but not on their terms. I understand why they want their status quo. The emphasis needs to shift from entertainment as a by product to being the priority. For that to happen there must be player movement and a form of equalisation. Have a look at the NHL.
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
its the rules and the experience of the teams and players
Tom
Guest
It's all about the junior grades how strong your club state or country are. If you have no junior players coming through you struggle. Look at the netball Australia said NZ club sides weren't competitive enough who are world champions at the moment.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Between Subbies and Premier? In Sydney at least I don’t see the driver. Last time we had it in the late 80’s/early 90’s we saw Hornsby getting beaten three years in a row, in promotion play offs against the bottom Shute Shield team. The only club I’m aware of that desperately wanted to break into Shute over the last while was Balmain with Warren Livingstone’s money driving them. If you are talking from Premier to a higher level then we saw Sydney Uni and Balmain get their shot and fail in their JV in the NRC. Who are you thinking, and between which levels?
nakanaka
Roar Rookie
It is worth recalling the judicious use of promotion/relegation. Why not use that mechanism to bring forward the best clubs and relegate those struggling to even out the standards?
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Another reason why their model should be used through all the Aus teams, they effectively identify and grow talent. Look how far Irae Simone has come since moving their from the Waratahs.