In case you missed it, Eddie Jones is currently public enemy number one.
It may be cathartic for Australian Rugby fans to make Jones piñatas and take a sick day to dismantle them but what would that achieve?
It would be a tragic mistake of Shakespearean proportions to even lay the majority of blame for the current state of affairs at his feet.
There are a series of major issues that need to be addressed, including perhaps a Stephen Hoiles piñata, which I’ll come to shortly.
But before I do, let’s get real. A few home truths if you will.
Matt Williams commentating for Irish TV after the loss to Fiji, made his feelings clear when he said “it’s the end of 20 years of neglect, 20 years of poor administration, 20 years of poor technical coaching, of people not listening, we do not have a philosophy, a way to take the ball forward which is Australian. The sad thing is the people who run Australian rugby understand that and are doing the right thing.”
Eddie Jones and Carter Gordon talk during a Wallabies training session. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Had Michael Hooper started at 7 or Quade Cooper played at 10, Wales still would have won. Both have been badly out of form for 18 months and even at their best, rarely won anything of significance.
Even a fully fit Taniela Tupou, joined by Will Skelton is unlikely to have stopped the Wallabies from blowing it as they have so often under not just Jones but also Dave Rennie and Michael Cheika too.
Admittedly, had Dave Rennie coached the Wallabies to the World Cup they probably would have made the Quarter Finals and likely faced England.
An English team Rennie’s Australia lost a home series to last year while it was coached, apparently badly, by Jones.
How many good coaches need to be crucified before we all wake up a little or even a lot?
Ewen McKenzie’s exit was despicably engineered. Robbie ‘Dingo’ Deans was treated appallingly, never appreciated by players or administrators. Rennie was a thoroughly decent man who should have been permitted to coach out his contract but was also let down on field time and again.
Last week I wrote an article addressing Australian Rugby’s uncomfortable truth.
The players simply aren’t good enough and lack the basic skills to apply pressure consistently and as required to win tests.
Tate McDermott admitted as much when he said “It wasn’t good enough and we’ve got to own that. I’m proud of this group but it’s very hard to defend the whole team for that performance.”
Matt Williams, again commentating for Irish TV following the Welsh defeat questioned where the fight in the team was, “there was no dog in that team”, he said.
All too often the side, whether led by Michael Hooper or not, coached by Rennie or Jones, has reached pivotal junctures in games only to execute badly or give away bad penalties.
Rob Valetini runs the ball against Fiji. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Against an average Wales that suffered the loss of its talismanic fly-half early on, the Wallabies only repeated history.
As the full time whistle was blown, I didn’t think my heart could sink any lower.
My next thought was, “well at least the only way is up now.”
Then Stephen Hoiles started speaking on Stan.
As I listened, i was appalled to hear him advocating at least one Super Rugby team be scrapped.
It’s unsurprising that a Waverley College educated, Randwick old boy should have held such a view last decade.
Yet it is nothing short of alarming that Hoiles and his ilk seem stuck in 2017 when the Force were axed in what was arguably the greatest act of self harm in the games’ history.
Put simply, Bill Pulver and Cameron Clyne vandalised Rugby.
After all, what a fantastic idea it was to ditch a side that was well supported by many expat Kiwis and South Africans, financially guaranteed by Andrew Forrest and in a market where pulsating games of League are rarely played.
Has Stephen Hoiles learnt nothing?
Mack Hansen to Ireland. Cameron Murray to League. Pat Carrigan, Angus Crichton. The list goes on.
We need more pathways in the professional game, more opportunities to retain talent.
Instead of advocating for fewer Super Rugby teams, Hoiles should be advocating for fewer ‘fairdinkum wallies’ (the nicest way I can say it without going adults only) at Ballymore and Moore Park.
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh (R) and Chairman Hamish McLennan. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Fewer self interested and conceited ‘club men’. By ‘club’ I don’t mean Subiaco, Maroochydore or Narrabri either. Those institutions need all the support they can get.
David Nucifora predicted that Australian Rugby would disintegrate if substantive, meaningful moves towards centralisation were not made ten years ago.
The fact that seems to be lost on some people, even after all that has transpired is beyond negligent, it is reckless indifference.
The men who spoke the most sense on Stan after the match were none other than Justin Harrison and James Horwill.
Harrison referred to a ‘shopping list’ of problems for the game and suggested that restricting the post mortem to Jones’ tenure was a mistake.
Horwill was similarly minded and spoke of the need to retain players from school to club to provincial rugby.
It was refreshing to see commentary that was intelligent and mature rather than self promotional, expletive laden nonsense designed for Instagram.
So where to after saving the Force yet again, after diverting money to regional clubs without clubhouses?
People have suggested that Eddie Jones and Hamish McLennan should pack their bags in short order.
The problem is, who takes over?
It is entirely possible that should McLennan be forced out, Rugby in Australia would be led by another Pulver or Castle. Hell, we already have Phil Waugh so Stephen Hoiles stepping in probably isn’t out of the question!
The time has come for the game to be turned over to Andrew Forrest, if he’ll still have us.
Carter Gordon with Ben Donaldson. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
This is not knee jerk.
Australian Rugby now has no leverage in any of its dealings with TV money or private equity houses, it’s already up the proverbial creek with the banks.
Rugby Australia has no power to force centralisation which is why McLennan has spoken of it for 3 years but hardly progressed.
Twiggy is the only one with the wherewithal and clout to take Rugby forward and is genuine in his desire to succeed. If Forrest’s money is good enough for RM Williams, well why look elsewhere.
Has Steven Larkham really done enough to be handed the reins for the most important 4 years of Australian Rugby history? I think not.
But Laurie Fisher and Ewen McKenzie have.
Together with Larkham, they could form the type of indomitable trio that Schmidt, Farrell and Nucifora have for Ireland.
All that would be missing is someone to persuade the power brokers in Sydney and Brisbane to cooperate.
Someone to shake some sense into the likes of Stephen Hoiles who seems to be living in 1999 despite never playing in it.
I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of asking these guys politely, persuading gently.
With Andrew Forrest’s money, maybe you don’t need to. Maybe you could just start a war they couldn’t win and force them to the table? We’ve seen Rupert Murdoch do it before.
Such talk would have been ridiculed and quashed just months ago.
But that was before. This is now.
PaddyBoy
Roar Rookie
Yeah it's frustrating to hear those attitudes are still common in circles with undue influence. Especially as it looks like the Force have been the most active Super team in the off-season. Games against Cheetahs were good and there were some absolute guns in their under 19s game.
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
There is much published opprobrium of McLennan and Jones. Perhaps it is time to apply the same blowtorch to recalcitrant members of, in particular, NSW and QLD rugby who are obstructing the one change that most agree is essential: centralisation. No more anonymity for them, make them articulate publicly what their objection/s are
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
W Evans. Alan made a career of talking rubbish! Interspersed with an occasional fact.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
Sheek…. Alan Jones is referring to himself as a ‘great’ coach? You and I could have coached the 84 Wallabies, with the talented players they had…the fact that Mark Ella retired so early was due to Alan Jones’s ‘great’ coaching is what I have heard. The most talented number 10 we have ever had… such a shame he never was involved in coaching… at least as a specialist 10 coach. As you have guessed … not a ‘Parrot’ fan.
AndyS
Roar Rookie
Having a look at the players the Force took from the Reds, then if that was the Q'ld 'B' team the Reds probably owe Perth a big vote of thanks. No way they win in 2011 if that lot were what was waiting in the wings.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Tom Have suggested elsewhere, that union should work with both NRL and AFL (soccer different bodies, different world) to STOP all contracting of minors...everyone a winner IMO...not least, young players at all levels. Cheers KP
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Did you ever think what the alternative for the Force start-up was in 2006. They could not pick international players as the Rebels were allowed to do when they started, the local club competition would take about 10 years (2017) to build up to the level where they can produce Super level players and there was no rugby academy for young players etc. The Reds players were not happy and prepared to move…what would you have done?
Hughi
Roar Rookie
Had Michael Hooper started at 7 or Quade Cooper played at 10, Wales still would have won. Both have been badly out of form for 18 months and even at their best, rarely won anything of significance. These two may or may not have changed the result, what would have changed is that young players had some experienced backup. I know of no other success stories where key positions by very young players have been left so unsupported in transition. The Eddie/Hamish fantasy island journey is where most of the anger issues are festering and probably self-anger in some belief that they had some integrity toward the fans and supporters. The rest of the article seems to be way above my knowledge level and I don't know enough about who might replace these two clowns but I think some hard thought should be given to this as their credibility is now nonexistent due to the rubbish they are peddling. The time has come to change and rebuild and there are enough evidence-based pathways to consider. Given some time and some honest examination, there is now the motivation to act.
sheek
Roar Guru
W Evans, Thanks for that. Nevertheless, "good & good coaches" are necessary for sustained success. But then our system isn't producing them.
W Evans
Roar Rookie
Cheers Red Beard Firstly, sincere apologies for the use of Wally- I was fishing around for a word starting with W to keep it PG! The voting system is certainly at the heart of many of these problems as is the geographical location of Rugby Australia. The irony is that McLennan I believe understands and recognizes this but has his hands tied. It’s why I do think there is a need for someone to get nasty - someone with a lot of money- to take certain identities and institutions apart financially. By that, I mean squeeze them until they fold.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
KP I think the issue is I’ve heard Tim Horan say, is many kids want to play rugby. But 17-19 they get 5k to help with their training costs. NRL throws 50-100k at them.
W Evans
Roar Rookie
It’s an interesting concept this and one with merit- contracting schoolboys in year 11 and 12 and giving them the resource to train, perhaps in conjunction with a university scholarship for part time learning. Even if the 2.5million annually only producers 5 wallabies from every 50, you are retaining and saving.
W Evans
Roar Rookie
Was absolutely shocked to hear Hoiles speak… retracted or not, too many Brisbane and Sydney old boys are delusional and harbor these beliefs.
W Evans
Roar Rookie
Hi Sheek Jones unfortunately is talking rubbish there. 1. The South Africans have a school boy system almost akin in the American College system that feeds the NFL- huge participation, formal ranking, large crowd attendances and organized to feed into semi-pro recruitment streams. Yes, SA had a dodgy political scene but that’s the only half truth to what Jones says. 2. The Kiwi provincial system is first class. It’s a production line, through the NPC to Super Rugby. NZ Rugby has its issues but it’s more than functional and has no AFL and little NRL to compete with. 3. All the Wallabies need is good coaching. McKenzie, Deans, Cheika, Rennie and Jones… all world class. Thorn, McKellar… didn’t get close to beating Kiwis regularly. You could get Razor in, he couldn’t do much better than say Rennie or Deans did.
Redbeard
Roar Rookie
W Evans, Firstly, I do agree with most of your comments. There has been over 20 yeas of neglect, with administrators treating the game once played in heaven as an instrument for the manipulation of the sport for their own, club, or “state” benefit, and not for the benefit of Rugby at the national level. And yes, neither Eddie nor Hamish are responsible for the issues that currently plague Union in Australia. Both are symptoms of the malaise that has plagued Union since federation. The latest issues began when the ARU entered the professional era with a Constitution based on amateurism and assumed almost colonial privilege afforded to NSWRU ( 5 votes at Board level) and to a lesser extent the QRU ( with 3 votes), who were bitter rivals. Would urge all to read the history of that now called Rugby Australia to understand the situation. https://australia.rugby/about/about-us/history With RA sharing the same locale as the NSWRU,/Tahs , the travesty continues, (salary top-ups, placement of poached NRL players, location of test games) despite RA’s constitution being upgraded 2009-2012?. Secondly, have no animosity towards the Western Force, but I will forever hold it against them for decimating the Reds during their formative years thanks to Nathan Sharpe (Reds traitor) , who orchestrated the formation of a Reds B team based in Perth, whom , if my memory holds, even beat the Reds in Perth, with such a headline appearing in the Courier Mail! Thirdly, I am a Wally, which is an affectionate name used amongst those of us with the lymphoma called Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia . While I’m against your use of the word, I agree totally with the sentiment you wished to have express.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
I like the budget approach, but not the 'ordaining' element, which decouples from grass roots. More relaxed, if players can be 'dropped' and 'promoted' to system at any time.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
I can recall, reading from lines from great distance, I know not what, but understood Topo had been face palmed. As a child of 60s and 70s, I always thought, it was only when topo began playing for Wallabies, that we became a genuine threat at international level ie for first time in my life. Same goes, for what Marks in and out of game, says about how unappreciated, what he had to offer, post playing days was. I only know Mark's, from your and others explanation of history from time to time on the Roar. Certain u 300% correct, in your thinking, in what management ignore, re these 3 men Best KP
sheek
Roar Guru
Kashmir Pete, John O'Neill, who is currently dispensing a lot of his 'wisdom' about the current crisis, cut Dick Marks as national coaching co-ordinator in 1996 & fell out with Topo Rodriguez & Mark Ella, none of them 'yes' men. I frequently wonder how different the Oz rugby landscape might be today if the following happened: 1. Dick Marks remained as national coaching co-ordinator. 2. Topo Rodriguez set up his national scrum school as he proposed. 3. Mark Ella was recruited as a national backline tactical mentor. Today, Marks is 81, Rodriguez is 71 & Ella 64. Whatever good they may have done is now past. The opportunity lost.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Morning Sheek Just as current system 'departmentalises' a limited group of players, into playing too few games, it does the same for coaches! Worse, by time retired players take up their 'allotment', coaching roles at that level even fewer! Anyway, upside, Fiji look bound for 'our' easy semi final spot. Good luck to them. Cheers KP Cheers KP
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I don’t think we are allowed to cut a franchise anyway, it was part of our World Cup bid that we hve 5 professional teams as part of our commitment to growing the game. So cutting a Franchise isn’t going to happen. Here’s what we can do: - professional contracts for the top 50 17-20 year olds. Ranging from 25-50k. 25k for top 17-18 year olds. 50k for top 25 19-20 year olds. Total cost = 1.875m. Let’s call it 2.5m for their total coaching, physio and trainings costs a year. Base them out of Sydney or Brisbane. Get them in a central location. Allow them to build for u/20s world cups as professional unit. Within 2 years, and less than what we’re paying JS for 3 years, we will produce 20-30 players ready to graduate from 20s into super rugby squads.