I am loving this season, not the least for the fact that we are all theorising.
Nobody knows what is going to happen next – there is no trans-Tasman rugby – that is proving to be a positive, as far as I can tell. I did write at the start of this season that we should put everything on the table for discussion and I think we have done that, and the outcomes have been great.
When or if it (normality) ever resumes is anyone’s guess, but, for now, we are seeing some very positive footy being played on both sides of the ditch (yeah, Kiwi cuz, we know you miss us, just admit it) – better the devil and all that jazz, and all of a sudden we have all these young guys from last year’s under-20s.
Let’s not forget, it was France that we lost to in the final, not New Zealand – who is talking those blokes up? Any names popping up, yet?
The whole of Australian rugby has been revitalised in a few short months, though some of us have been bashing on about this for a while.
The beauty of this season is that the lads are living in a bubble and they don’t have to be continually jumping on aeroplanes and travelling halfway around the world for a game – they are getting good preparation time, and they don’t have far to travel. It has to help, and yes we feel sorry for the Force and the Rebels who can’t play in front of their home crowds, but let’s face it, with restricted crowds, there is probably not much detriment there, and being on a tour does tend to cement relationships in squads, in any event.
We have five teams, which means five head coaches who don’t have to cope with different cultural issues, the challenges of getting their teams ready – with travel in the mix – then short preparation and turn around times, different time zones and even atmospheric challenges, playing at altitudes that they have to quickly acclimatise to.
I don’t know about you, but I have absolutely enjoyed this season more than many others. Club footy is back and is very interesting. You can now live stream and watch footy in most states every Saturday – NSW Rugby is on a major network – RA is working on the next TV deal – I have confidence that they will get a good, or at least, reasonable deal to send our way for the foreseeable future.
(Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)
COVID-19 has been described as a “Black Swan event” – economists define this as an event that renders sensible fiscal planning impossible – there have only been a few “black swan” events in the 20th and 21st centuries, such as the Great Depression, 9/11, the GFC, etc, so you can see how this COVID pandemic fits in.
So, if rugby can’t plan too far ahead, don’t panic, Roarers – we are in a great place.
I can’t wait to see what comes out of this years’ crop of under-20s even if the poor blokes have been denied international competition – that doesn’t stop them from being great players.
Let’s stay positive, troops, there are great days ahead for Aussie rugby.
gatesy
Roar Guru
"The soil releasing its carbon" You must have been a back and never suffered a broken schnozz - I can't even smell my own farts (which is a big disappointment!). I just have to take everyone else's word for it - but, then again, if you can't smell 'em do they really stink? But, really, I do think that it will be a very different dynamic this year, particularly if we send a bunch of blokes over the ditch who have no fear. Bring it on, I say!
yippityio
Roar Rookie
I was really gutted when my daughters first words were "Marcel Brache".
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Yes indeed. There are scents I like. Coffee in the morning. A rogan josh slow cooking. The soil releasing its carbon as the first raindrops hit. Jacarandas in the springtime. And the scent of Kiwi fear rising out of the argumentative posts of Jacko, OT, JDkiwi and the rest, who have been working hard to convince themselves that Kiwi rugby is so much better than any other version, we Aussies should just fall over and do their bidding. The outrage, when Hammer McLennan told them to jam it, was palpable. And the end result has been a Kiwi backdown in the last week of epic proportions. A great week for Australian Rugby :thumbup:
gatesy
Roar Guru
You know - I wrote elsewhere on the web - I believe that the Kiwis might be suffering some separation anxiety which could lead them to choke in the next Bledisloe - they haven't beaten any foreign teams for a while and they are seeing some real positives coming out of Oz in the post-Cheika era - could be a tad unsettling - bit of doubt creeping in - know what I mean?
gatesy
Roar Guru
Mate, I hear what you say but it's not a perfect world. I think that the powers that be are getting it mostly right.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
awesome!
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Good stuff Gatesy. In retrospect, rugby here needed a re-boot. It is unhappy that it has come on the back of a pandemic that has caused economic dislocation, illlness, and more tragically deaths. But we are seeing a bit more engagement, now that we got to miss it for a while. I also think that we should offer some thanks to NZR for the arrogance - telling us we were rubbish, didn't deserve more than a couple of teams allowed to play in their comp. Nothing like a common enemy to pull together against. And now, their bluff called, they are backing down and talking about a 5+5 TT in 2022. Hopefully in 2021 RA can, working with the broadcasters, turn the 5 team Super AU into a six team competition, to give them games on Friday, Saturday & Sunday afternoon - 10 weeks double round robin, and a couple of weeks of finals. This will require some deft handling, though, because that 6th team is a temporary vehicle to provide another high quality game per weekend. The best option would perhaps be to beef up the Fiji Drua and have them play based in western Sydney. What will happen in 2022 is a long way from clear, but it's looking good.
Ex force fan
Guest
The Wallabies are also concerned about the long time away from home... it is a serious consideration. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/wallabies-staff-move-to-calm-player-fears-over-prospect-of-months-on-the-road-20200825-p55p7u.html
Ex force fan
Guest
Marcel became a very proud dad at the end of last year - his daughter must be a genius...
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Wow! Whose first words were "Marcel Brache"? Mostly its "mum" or "dad". But if your first crack at speaking was MB then we might have a literary genius on our hands!
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Black Swan event hey. So is that why The West is going ok?
Ex force fan
Guest
... but let’s face it, with restricted crowds, there is probably not much detriment there..., Gatesy, good article and I 100% agree that the separate Covid-19 competitions benefited NZ and Australia. I think you underplay homeground advantage as it is about far more than partisan crowds and there were also some unique circumstances this year. This include: 1) If you playing at home you can go back to your normal routine: taking a jog in a park, sleep in your own bed next to your partner, prepare in familiar facilities. You are not wasting energy on things that should be routine. 2) Just think how you will feel after 9 weeks where you spend every hour of the day with your colleagues from work s rugby is these player's job. You share a room with one of your colleagues that may have some "strange" habits, and in a COVID world spend all this time in the hotel and most in your room. I have spend just two weeks in quarantine and even my large and well connected home felt like jail. 3) You cannot get away to recharge, to connect with family and friends, to feel the joy of being there for those you love. 4) And feel guilty that you left you partner to pick up your chores and the slack while missing out on your baby's first steps and words (e.g. Marchel Brache). Team building is great if you get results, if not the pressure just continue to build and the tensions may boil over as you are also competing for starting positions. Any team that is not 100% physically and mentality prepared in every aspect in their game may find that the score blow out quickly. The Rebels can still make the finals and Force was competitive in every game expect the last 25 minutes last week. I applaud the Rebels and Force for the way they handled these kind of pressure, however expect that the teams that played at home will be the finalists.
Cattledog
Roar Guru
Very positive post Gatesy as usual. It has been an interesting year and I hope RA finally get their act together and move forward. The Wallaby coaching line up looks strong and I'm thrilled to see Matty Taylor in that mix, although not really certain what internationals will be on the cards this year. At any rate, like you, really enjoying seeing the rugby and particularly the running and defensive style the Reds have adopted this season...with the one small hick up...LOL