There has been a lot of talk recently about the problems with Australian rugby, refereeing and the lack of results.
There have always been pathways issues in the game, but there is a much bigger problem than the scoreboard, and that is the game itself.
Constant stoppages, indecipherable and overly technical rules, penalty goal after penalty goal – an exciting game these days really just means the score was close.
There will always be a rusted-on fan-base – courtesy of the old-school tie and those too young to remember when rugby was played differently – that would still argue it is the No. 1 sport in the world (oh, and New Zealanders too), but for everyone else the game is currently a poor cousin to the other three football codes played in this country.
Yet it was not always like that. There are those who remember the skill and grace of the Ella brothers, the deception and speed of David Campese, the strength and courage of Roger Gould, the all-round capability of Ken Catchpole, the determination of numerous upstart Wallabies packs – the list goes on.
I try to watch modern rugby. After ten minutes or so I give up. I played over 100 games at a junior and GPS level, and I want rugby to be as entertaining as rugby league – which lately does have its own problems, but that is the subject of another article – but it just isn’t, not by a long shot. There was a time I wouldn’t miss a rugby Test; now I’d rather watch soccer.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
So just how did rugby slowly descend from the free-flowing, entertaining spectacle I once loved to the barely watchable product we have today?
Rugby union has one thing in common with rugby league: both are guilty of attempting to fix games that weren’t broken. In 1992, a year after arguably the most entertaining and successful Wallabies team won Australia’s first World Cup, the International Rugby Football Board, as it was then known, decided they needed to introduce rules to make the game more entertaining. They wanted to kill off ‘ten-man rugby’, which involved a lot of kicking from the flyhalf. England of course, fairly or not, were often criticised for this.
But even though there were teams that played in this supposedly negative way, a team like the Wallabies would beat them nine times out of ten, for no matter the sport, a good attacking team will most of the time beat a good defensive team. Nature will take care of things. But if you artificially introduce laws to attempt to force teams to play an entertaining brand of football, you could be asking for trouble.
Enter the ‘use it or lose it’ law. The very title sounds positive – so much so that after all these years administrators have failed to see that it has been an utter disaster for the game. The whole idea was basically that forward play is boring and back play is exciting. We don’t want the ball getting tied up in these tedious rucks and mauls, so you’ve got to get it to the backs as soon as possible or you’ll lose possession of the ball.
Instead of exciting play, however, there was a gradual decline. We now have these thing called ‘phases’, where only one or two forwards from either side commit to rucks and mauls. The ball goes back to the halfback, there is one pass to a forward, they go to ground, the ball goes back to the halfback, there is one pass to a forward, they go to ground – and so on, and so on.
TV even keeps count of how many phases there are – like it matters! Apart from the potential for errors from constantly forming these mini rucks, the chance of there being infringements to the complicated rules is high, and oftentimes no-one really knows what the penalty is for. And even when the ball does get to a back, the non-commitment of forwards to rucks means that most are spread across the field, ready to defend.
There are 15 players in a rugby team, meaning a well-drilled defence containing seven-eighths of the forward pack is very hard to outfox. Surely none of this was the intention of the rule.
Before this confused debacle we had a very simple rule: the team with forward momentum got the scrum feed if the ball was caught in the ruck or maul. Simple and only logical, really. Going back to this simple philosophy would make for a much less technical and more enjoyable game to watch. Sure, sometimes it may have been frustrating, but a skilled maul was a sight to be seen.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Great All Blacks and Wallabies forward packs could thrill the crowd with their determination to drive the ball forward, handing the ball back while steadily forging their way to the try line. The All Blacks were masters at it and could do it for great distances, and when their momentum built to peak, they would unleash. But besting them – like when Simon Poidevin one night at the SFS almost single-handedly dragged their entire pack behind him – would have the crowd on their feet. It also separated the forwards from the backs to enable the latter to weave their magic unencumbered by big, burly front rowers.
The changes didn’t end there though. The international federation also wanted to make scoring tries more appealing by changing the points system. Fair enough, but you would think that as a basic guide they would have adopted at least something like rugby league’s system. But no, they just raised the value of a try to five points, so two penalty goals were still worth more than two tries – hardly incentivising captains to choose a tap kick over a shot at goal. This is the other major thing that desperately needs re-addressing.
Some might say I would change my tune if the Wallabies started winning again. Not so. I’ve been watching rugby internationals since I was very young, and though I naturally wanted the Australian teams to win, I watched them lose time and time again to the All Blacks and came back for more because it was always a great spectacle.
As a young boy, my father instilled in me a love of the game above all else and took me to watch any touring team play against Sydney or New South Wales. He’d take me to watch Randwick play their famous running game, and I’d watch whatever was being televised or what videos were sent to us, loving in particular the Five Nations tournament and the British Lions, whoever they played. I watched them all because it was entertaining, not because I always particularly cared who won.
Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there are great rucks and mauls, great backline play, champion players of today that will forever be remembered and I’ve just missed them all because I now have little patience for the game. Maybe I’m watching the wrong matches. Maybe this is the best of all possible scoring systems that rugby could have. Maybe rugby administrators can sit back and not do a thing, smug in the idea that a game that is like a religion in some countries and has unbreakable links to private schools in others can never die. There is no need to touch it anymore as crowds continue to show up no matter what.
So is the game broken? And if so, can it be fixed?
Peter Clark
Guest
I am particularly p**shed at the ruling for knockdowns. Surely a defender can as a defensive tactic, put his hand out to either intercept or knock down a pass. It is utter stupidity to penalise a team so heavily for this. And I agree with the author on his other points. p
Gary
Guest
Personally the box kick is the biggest blight of this still great game.
Timothy Schuster
Roar Rookie
Too late for Rugby in Australia sad to say. I've got rugby in my DNA but I'm coming to realise i'm putting in more than I am getting out. Would need to be a dramatic change in Rugby Administration in Australia to turn me around.
Bear
Guest
I too am a long term player and coach of rugby. I find it difficult to watch rugby these days, the laws that were introduced through the 90’s and 00’s I thought were valid except the removal of rucking. Rucking and rucks were essential for these new rules to work, players now compete at the ball (with their hands) instead of going past the ball and providing quick recycleable ball, this would also have committed more players to the ruck and therefore created the opportunities that the administrators wanted for the backs and general open play. With regards to the new laws implemented in the past 12 months with head high contact, once again have merit but intent has to be part of the process, if it’s accidental then a simple penalty is sufficient, when Beauden Barrett took that high ball in the Bledisloe this year and got carded because he made contact with Korobetis (I think it was him) head was an absolute disgrace, if you are teaching a young inspiring back to catch a high ball that is a text book version of how you do it, eyes for the ball leap to meet the ball, knee up for your protection and your balance! Playing the ball not the player! In my opinion Korobeti should have been penalized as he didn’t contest the ball in the air and obstructed the player contesting the ball in the air and I’m a Wallabies fan. I really hope the administrators do something soon to fix these issues with the game because regardless of whether you’re a die hard supporter or just watching it with a mate who is a die hard supporter it’s not the best version of rugby there could be, the stats don’t lie the numbers are dwindling in viewership and registrations, Rugby Australia needs to think outside the box and I believe if they started dialogue with NZ they could administer a few changes like the rucking and head contact rules to make the game more attractive, world rugby is not run by Aus or NZ and they make decisions on what’s best for the Northern Hemisphere, both our countries need to go back to what’s best for us and I believe making the game more entertaining and attractive is critical to get the game up where it should be, big crowds and a good representation on free to air TV and Subs TV, if they get that right they get the money and investment back into the game via sponsorship! The game needs this so it can survive!
John Pratt
Guest
Thank you for writing this article. I would refer contemporary rugby fans to the two 1980 Sydney tests against New Zealand. This is how the game looks when forwards play as forwards and backs as backs. Never the twain should meet. But they have and it’s killing rugby as a spectacle.
Alec Calcraft
Guest
My worry after winning the rights to World Cup the admin team will relax thinking this will revive the game in Australia the game will be dead in Australia by then
Don Mills
Guest
Three points for a penalty. Front row forward collapses in the scrum with the force of 1,600 kg on him another penalty and more often or not another three points - scrum collapse should be a penalty but not allowed to kick for goal.
Geoff
Guest
The game ranks with the World Cup as a global sporting event ranking only behind the Olympics and the Football WC. So globally it's growing. But I agree. Rule changes over the last decade have stuffed the flow and excitement . It seems the IRB are intent on emphasising player safety and all these red and yellow cards at test level verge on ridiculous especially those where there is no malious intent. Players do not engage in this game expecting there is no risk or no potential for injury. It's a real eye opener to watch tests played in more glorious times for the Wallabies IE the late eighties or early 2000's. And of course that age old phrase of the commentators about " putting their bodies on the line" is longer heard . Let's get back to some tough rugby played the way it was intended and bring the players and Aussie players back.
Frank
Guest
Generally I agree with you. Rugby has become tedious with its “court hearing” style stoppages to review evidence. I can’t see the safety rules being removed however now there is a whiff of liability around head injuries particularly in UK. On flip side (conspiracy theory) perhaps there’s no appetite for rule changes while Eng was dominating? (up to 2020). Thoughts? Also the really smart teams are still winn8ng and playing attractive running rugby (Ireland atm) and they’re playing within same rules as us. We’re don’t seem to have the intellect to even learn the rules I’m afraid
Woody
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more, once upon a time I watched a lot of league but I now find it so monotonous. If you watch Super Rugby Aoteroa (and Super Rugby Aus has a long way to go) or Mitre 10 Cup, you will not find more entertaining footy
piru
Roar Rookie
Whatever mate they weren't the best they were gimmicks
Steve 50
Roar Rookie
Lol nice cheap dig at me. I like rugby Union better than RL anyday of the week. But I believe in picking the best side from anywhere . Boo hoo to loyal rugby players who miss out on a wallaby jersey. Winning comes first not loyalty
Barra
Roar Rookie
I agree with the comments. I played schoolboy rugby when the Ella’s played for Australia and I loved Randwick Rugby. I never missed a test match for many years, but I too find the style of play these days very boring and cannot watch more than 10-15 minutes and switch over to something else, anything else actually. The rules that have bee implemented over the past few decades has destroyed the gamelan alsoSuper Rugby has killed off Club rugby. Club rugby was like the NRL and then you got to represent you state and country. Now states get imports and how does this give a pathway.
Byron Golby
Guest
I grew up in a league area, my Dad watched league all the time and only watched Rugby for Bledisloe games. But when the Super League thing happened we started to watch a few Waratahs and Brumbies games and I developed a preference for Rugby and now I just cannot bring myself to watch League. As you say it's just so monotonous. 5 tackles and a kick, followed by 5 tackles and a kick. It's just so boring. This isn't to say that Rugby can't improve in areas to be more watchable, however from watching Super Rugby Aotearoa I felt like what really makes Rugby more watchable is highly skilled players. I found that infinitely more entertaining than the NRL.
Rob Harding
Guest
Would have to respectfully disagree on this point : in union there is always the opportunity to counter ruck and therefore it still remains a contest
Eric Leatham
Guest
Gee here’s me a Kiwi, aged 71, and I’m agreeing with an Aussie, I do not have the answer but, taking control from the ‘Old Farts’ would be a start.
Ross
Guest
Great article and completely agree. Rugby is just not good to watch anymore and when fans of the game don’t understand why penalties are being given then it’s a farce. I have gone from a huge fan of the game to having no interest at all. It also doesn’t help that It is totally dominated by the All blacks. Good for NZ but terrible for the game
piru
Roar Rookie
Don't bother mate, he's off his rocker
piru
Roar Rookie
Jesus calm down Steve, we get it, you dig league. That's great - the fact is it's a different sport and requires different skill sets. How about we pick some basketball players to jump in the lineout? Maybe an AFL player to take marks and kick? Perhaps we could institute a crossover scheme and your league boys could exchange for some rugby players who can count to 5?
Greg Crouch
Guest
Make the opposing sides stand 5 metres behind the ruck or maul and open up the game . Very hard to watch “the running game “ as it stands today …