If any New Zealanders are enjoying the demise of Australian rugby, they may not realise the ramifications of an under-powered Australian team affecting New Zealand.
I cannot get over how enthusiastic Kiwi supporters get when they beat a second-rate Australian team, it is not that great of an achievement considering the current Wallabies’ record. It builds an inflated view of the strength of New Zealand rugby, which compared to the standard of the Northern Hemisphere teams is inferior.
For New Zealand rugby to dominate the world scene once again, they need to be battling an Australian team in our corner of the world. If we are beating them by convincing margins, it will do little to boost the NZ game. If Australia slips to a Tier 2 team, they are probably already there, it will not assist the All Black desire to once again be the innovative leader we once were.
If New Zealand are eliminated from the World Cup in the quarter-final stage, we could potentially have the two neighbouring countries languishing outside the elite level of rugby. Tell this to the devoted Kiwi fan and the ‘she’ll be right’ mentality kicks in, but the reality does not invite positive thought. “We’ve been through this before and we will come out of it again” – but will we?
Australian rugby is in deep trouble with no apparent desire to restructure the game from the ground up. Changing the coach and paying for hopefully good rugby league players are the only current means of repair. I wrote a recent article about my thoughts on how to fix Australian rugby: treat it like the building of a house, start with the foundations and build up.
Former coach Alan Jones said in 2017, “we’ve got to go back to the floor of the game.” Speaking of Alan Jones, why is a rugby brain like his not being listened to for ideas on how to improve Australian rugby? I can hear the groans already; the much-maligned Jones does not exactly adhere to the “identity politics” brigade in Australian society.
Will Skelton of Australia tackled by All Blacks. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
If egos were taken out of the equation, a suggested start for Australian rugby is to combine the best rugby minds to brainstorm how to rebuild what was once a proud rugby-playing nation.
For Kiwi fans of a mature age, memories of past epic encounters with Australia are a distant rugby highlight. Would it not be wonderful to get back to that again? And it’s necessary for rugby in both countries to aim for the number one and two rankings again.
Maybe the early exit of Australia, and potentially of New Zealand, from the World Cup will be the spark to take drastic action and lift both teams. If no action is taken, I can see both sides becoming the easy beats of world rugby. Doesn’t sound plausible? It is crystal ball gazing but if my prediction of early exits comes to fruition, a trans-Tasman movement needs to begin.
Eddie Jones deserves the flak he is getting and will get for his outrageous decisions, but if he is sacked and Hamish McLennan resigns, the wider rugby community needs to unite in a constructive mission to create better players who have the skills and the mental agility to rebuild Australian rugby.
It is no fault of the players selected as they are the best available, with a few exceptions! We will never know if Quade Cooper and Michael Hooper would have made any difference; I have a feeling not a great deal.
Wallabies compete in scrum during Rugby World Cup loss to Wales (Photo by Adam Pretty – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
When you have a story about your coach allegedly applying for another job prior to the World Cup it does not do a lot for morale! An outrageous decision to make if found to be true. They have said it did not affect them, but I have my doubts.
Fans will want Australian rugby to get better. Now it is not terminal but is certainly life-threatening, will a cure be found?
Strong Australia makes for a stronger New Zealand.
yeah-nah
Roar Rookie
"Hamish constantly hates on NZR and his digs, unsolicited, are such lies snd [sic] bs yet he gets millions from NZR".. This .
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
Professional era changes things I reckon.
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
I hate my wife's cat - I'd throw that out first if I could . I nearly got it in the chipper last week but then the wife walked around the corner dam it. I've decided it has to look like an accident - like a Namibian tackle. I'm thinking it could fall into the outside fish bait deep freezer this week.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Time zone, distance and predation from NH clubs are just three things that spring to mind. NZ and, especially, Australian Rugby will sort its stuff out. No need to throw the kitchen sink out with the cat!
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
I know - but how else do we stay with the top tier - we already did the super with Sa - what's the difference with UK?
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Rogie, have you studied a map? The travel demands alone would be insane.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Funny how you mention cricket. Didn't Australia, England and India banish NZ, and other nations, to the outer darkness in terms of playing schedules because they weren't one of the big three?
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
The professional era changes this a lot. Home country boards play the role more and need to get the International Boards to help out more. If I was on the Australian Board I would be asking for help from the WRB but I believe there is too much arrogance to do this.
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
NZ would do better from here on out to make the Bledisloe every three years and Freedom cup every year at the moment. I also think the move of the Boks to the NH was a massive loss to SH rugby - NH & clearly SA gained - AB's need to do the same.
Emery Ambrose
Roar Rookie
Just wondering, theres alot of talk of restructure, is there any articles of late on here that have ideas? There's alot of talk that Australia won't work like NZ, so how would it work?
Todd
Roar Rookie
Robertson will at least bring organisation and coherence to the game plan, but he will lack many genuine world class players. Plus losing Joe smidt is a net loss. NZ is definitely following Australia down the gurglar, it's only a matter of time
Todd
Roar Rookie
Fiji, reigning OL Champions and current darlings of Paris can fly the flag for our region.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Well start by understanding which team NZ plays the most each year? Ah that's right the Wallabies.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
What does NZ need Aus for? Its not money. We have to give them money. Its not the bigger economy as the aus economy doesn't like rugby. Its not the players as they are weak. Its not the coaching as that is weak. I see nothing that NZ needs Aus for and I see a lot of things NZ don't need like being constantly lied about and abused by the hamster. Sorry.... don't need them. Howd we go in 2019? Got to the semis. 2015? Won it. 2011... won it. All with a very weak Aus in SR and Test level. Surely you arnt one of these ABs supporters that if they don't win a WC then its all doomed. Cant win every WC .
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Gary, Fiji played in Australia in 1952 and drew such crowds as to save the ARU from bankruptcy. They returned two years later again for the same purpose. NZ may have done the same in 1952. I don't know about the other sports but feel free to take back the Warriors; couldn't even crack the grand final! :stoked:
Gary
Roar Rookie
It’s like when Australian Cricket didn’t think enough of NZ cricket as a competitor that no Tests were played for about 15 years in the 60’ and early 70’s I recall then through them a lifeline . Get off your rugby high horse .
Gary
Roar Rookie
C’mon Fiwi how about returning a small favour after all we keep you in gear with Soccer NRL Basketball Netball etc have you got no sense of reciprocity? Fiji came and played a exciting series in the 50’s , not really bailed the ARU out , as the French did in the 50’s with Rugby League .
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Australia has been particularly weak since 2015, how did the All Blacks go in 2019 and now they face potentially an early exit and the loss of a pool match in 2023. NZ needs Australia more than they need MP and Fiji as harsh as that sounds. History tells us which is more important.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
And I believe it was in the 70s that NZ helped Aussie rugby out by playing more matches etc when they were known as the Woeful Wallabies. Yes, here we go again.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Too true Sunny.