Earlier this year, Australian rugby looked terminal.
The knives were out. The media were piling on. The public laughed as the previous administration scored themselves in the 70s for KPIs.
The game they play in heaven nearly ended up there. The game was hanging by a thread like Stallone’s character in Cliffhanger during the final helicopter fight scene.
We were all haunted by the tragic death of his female co-star character, Sarah, earlier in the movie and we feared RA’s fate would be similar.
Enter stage left Rob Clarke and Hamish McLennan. Just like Stallone, they were able to scramble to safety and achieve the desired outcome.
In this case, they resuscitated the game. The RA administration established a competition. They’ve injected the game with the financial adrenaline of a free-to-air broadcast deal.
They repaired the Anzac friendship to the point where the two bosses are frolicking on the beach together. They watched people tune in to a captivating tri-nations where all three teams put in strong performances.
Narratives were being generated with Australian youth, Michael Cheika’s Argentinian return and Pablo Matera’s Herculean performances.
I’d argue that RA’s achievements far surpassed what Peter V’Landys achieved with rugby league. I ask that with the same passion that the media were hounding rugby, we give them their due praise.
Australia has survived a near fatal challenge. Just like in medicine, survival must not been our sole KPI. Once we have resuscitated a patient, we must consider the quality of life. We still need to see what this new super competition looks like next year.
RA must continue to work with Nine Network to ensure the viewerships climb and in turn sponsors are attracted to our great game.
In a previous article, I made a number of suggestions as to how to improve the rugby spectacle. I was thrilled to see a number of these things implemented.
There have been two things that I’d support to improve the rugby spectacle. Eddie Jones proposed reducing the substitutions available in order to fatigue defences.
Fatigued defences are a ripe hunting ground for attacking rugby.
Secondly, there has been an overdue paradigm shift towards player safety and welfare in all sports. This is a good thing however it concerns me that teams are abusing it.
We are allergic to the stoppages in union and I find it frustrating when players go down like clockwork around the 60-minute mark and the field becomes instantaneously polluted with “high viz” hanger-onners.
It is reminiscent of the Matrix 2 when agent Smith’s come running from everywhere. It seems to take an eternity for this lot to clear off the ground. My Christmas wish for 2021 is for refs to police this better.
Super Rugby is due to start February 19. That isn’t very far away. So often the start of the season creeps up on us and most people aren’t even aware rugby is on.
We must put it on people’s radar. RA must keep up their great work and start to get the word out about the upcoming season. The advertising cycle should kick in mid January. Let’s get people excited about rugby again!
piru
Roar Rookie
As soon as Vail called it “Union” he rather outed himself as a league follower. Opinion discounted. The misspelling of 'vale' was a pretty big clue as well
piru
Roar Rookie
Ra caused the death of rugby in Oz. The Egyptian Sun God? Huge if true
piru
Roar Rookie
Ok mate, have a lie down before you hurt yourself
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Rugby has laws not rules...
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
OK Craig, I'm late to this debate. I hope you and your family had a great Christmas and New Year. I've looked at the other comments, and good as they are, I think what you say about letting people know about what's going on is important. I'm referring to:- "So often the start of the season creeps up on us and most people aren’t even aware rugby is on. We must put it on people’s radar. RA must keep up their great work and start to get the word out about the upcoming season. The advertising cycle should kick in mid January." I'm really a rugby fan, but I do follow RL as well. RL makes sure that it gets great coverage here in Queensland. But RU seems to struggle to get similar coverage. And I'm not just referring to things like Tests or Super Rugby either. I'd like to get back to seeing club games again too. But I've been on club web sites several times during the 2020 season, and their sites are abysmally maintained. I've said this before on these boards that RU needs to work much harder on promoting itself at all levels of the game. In fact, if it wasn't for The Roar, I don't think I'd have too much knowledge about what's going on in the RU world. This is a long winded way of saying that I agree with you.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
We need substantial rule changes to save Rugby in Australia. It's a professional game and needs to attract paying customers. If we go with the same rules as last year it will continue to die. The game is ponderous with too many stoppages. We need to restore continuity, that will open the game up to enterprise and excitement and fatigue the big men to the point where we get smaller framed, more athletic bodies on the paddock again. We used to take pride in the game being played by people of all shapes and sizes. We need a bit of that back again. We need to reduce the incidence of scrums and lineouts and with the scrums that are held, we need the time they take reduced. Reduce the point for penalty and field goals to 2 points. If they are taken past the 50m add another point. There are many others needed.
piru
Roar Rookie
Do remember the Reds player who broke in a Queensland Police Station? Is there a worse crime civilian crime than that? Why don’t you ask Jack DeBelin if he can think of one? Or Jarryd Hayne? Get back in your box
T Bradley
Roar Rookie
Thx piru. Glad I wasn’t the only one confused
T Bradley
Roar Rookie
Thx KnC, players from all codes have broken the law. The incidence was the issue in question. Is there a worse crime than breaking into a police station? Turn on the TV and read the Jarryd Hayne charges.
piru
Roar Rookie
Between your fundamental inability to spell or construct a sentence and your repeated attempts at clever nicknames (which you also constantly misspell), no one can tell what you are trying to say. What a waste of perfectly good electrons
piru
Roar Rookie
Can’t watch rugby any more………..if there is to be a scrum I just lose the will to live……. Then why did you ever watch it?
piru
Roar Rookie
Yeah union just copying RL (as usual per the last 25 years) – sounds tricky… Your entire sport is a modified version of ours. Get back in your box
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
More 'Sterlo' type for me. I get enough ill informed comic relief from my mates I watch with - expert observations and analysis can only help the game.
Kick n Clap
Guest
Craig, As you say “When you leave in a Glass- house don’t throw stones”. Do remember the Reds player who broke in a Queensland Police Station? Is there a worse crime civilian crime than that? What about the AFL guys too whilst your’e at it? Are Semi & Hunt one of youre’s now or are they dirty little scumbag Ex -league players? We can all dish the dirt if you want?
Kick n Clap
Guest
Piru, What about “Twiggy”? He could ride in on this “White Horse”,“ Talk under Water”, Save the World and make new pair new boots in a day? He’s The Man? Otherwise “Gordon is a Morron is next best chioce”. He’s best statement to date- Talking about Ruggar played at a Private School’s. “Yes and he went this famous Private School in NSW where he turned into fine man very quickly indeed said the Priest & RU Coach after my additonal coaching”.
Kick n Clap
Guest
Sorry In Brief, The annology comes from Yorkshire & RL Territory. We say “ We call that Spade a “Bloody Shovel” and then we hit you with it”!! Simple but true. If what anymore just ask?
Kick n Clap
Guest
Craig, Like the saying goes “Immitation is the best form flattery Going”. You Yawion guys ,you know that the “Chuckle Brothers “ and before them the “Wigged Drather Varder” mimicked Rugby League at every turn? Typical of you privately educated boys that like to take the spoils after the war’s been actually won. Even the powerful Pundits in the “Make believe AFL “tapped and dipped their Hat’s” to Peter V’landys for the way HE leads from the Front , not as “Rear Gunner” like, who ARU board ,which is as solid as Contestant on “Who wants to be Million “. I can’t wait for Channel 9 to say to Channel 7 do want to swap? “Even Cricket ,which is like watching Paint dry is better than this “. And Channel 7 can’t wait to give it away. Silly Hugh Marks. I hope pays for this stupid big mistake?
Tooly
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t put money on the repaired relationship with NZ. It’s not what I’m hearing especially since Marinos outed himself. The Channel 9 deal will be interesting. I note that Rugby has disappeared from Fox and there is nothing on 9. Where has European Rugby gone on TV ? While ever Rugby is promoted as something it’s not it will lose fans. It is a game for all shapes and sizes. It’s not touch, RL, VFL or 7s. Rule changes don’t help nor does whining about the game as it is. Accept our deficiencies and learn to play the game.
Frank from Geebung
Guest
We don’t want a Vlandys. He will come a cropper one day
soapit
Guest
like the idea but would push it out to the 22s