He is undisputedly one of the greatest rugby players Australia has ever produced but David Campese has been increasingly hitting “old man shouting at clouds” areas this year.
Rugby’s great rent-a-quote popped up during the World Cup in paid “exclusives” claiming Eddie Jones and Steve Borthwick were killing rugby – that international rugby is a “joke” and a “farce” and generally moaning about the game that brought him his fortune.
Rob Valetini consoles Nick Frost of Australia at full-time following the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Wales and Australia at Parc Olympique on September 24, 2023 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Campo is at it again this week in another paid gig where he goes full dinosaur by claiming to City AM that upset rugby players shouldn’t show their emotions by crying after losses.
“The thing that really surprised me was that after the last game the Wallabies were crying on the oval,” Campese said in comments facilitated by his association with a gambling site.
“Men don’t cry. I am really sorry but I have never cried in my life. Yes, I was disappointed, I was pissed off that I lost, but we never cried.
“And then look at yourself on the big screen. Guys, really, you can have emotions if you win the World Cup. I have never cried because I have won a World Cup or lost [one].
“That’s me, I am old school. Get on with life. You’re there to do a job, you’re paid to do a job. It’s your job to go out there and do your best.”
Campo also continued his lament for how touchy-feely his sport has become.
“Rugby is pretty sad [at the moment],” Campese added.
“After the World Cup the referee gets a medal and the guy in the TMO box gets a medal. For what? What the hell for?
“They’re trying to be Fifa and we’re not Fifa. Rugby is as a sport is about entertaining, it’s about the contest.
“We’ve got a unique sport, let’s keep it unique and make it entertaining. And make sure the referee has nothing to do with the scrum, they have no idea. Let’s make a fantastic, entertaining game.”
Club World Cup plans underway
Rugby could hold a Club World Cup starting from 2028, Dominic McKay, chairman of the EPCR, the organising body for the European cups, has revealed.
Teams from Australia and New Zealand would be involved.
“There is a real warmth to develop a Club World Cup. A number of clubs from France and the UK were pushing us quite hard,” he said on Wednesday, after a conference in Toulouse this week for Champions Cup and Challenge Cup stakeholders.
“We know it’s a complicated project,” he said, citing the travel, the format and the differing schedules. We want to do something which is meaningful and has a pattern of regularity.
“We are looking at doing something, if we can, potentially in 2028 and potentially in 2032.”
McKay said the competition could be divided into two parts. The first would be based on the current Champions Cup group stage, with teams from the Top 14, the English Championship and the Vodacom URC, which, in addition to teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy, has included four South African teams since 2021.
In a second phase, the qualifiers would then face the best teams from the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, with whom, McKay said, the EPCR has had “constructive exchanges”.
Boks star retires
South Africa back row Duane Vermeulen will retire from rugby having helped the Springboks claim back-to-back World Cup titles.
Vermeulen, 37, won 76 caps in an 11-year national team career and would likely have topped a century of appearances had it not been for injuries.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
He grew a reputation as a powerful tackler, strong ball-carrier and expert at the breakdown, and was a major leader within the Springbok squad.
Vermeulen won the majority of his caps at number eight, but did also play as a flanker, including in the most recent World Cup win in France last month.
“Duane will forever be regarded as one of the real hard men of South African rugby he was not only a formidable force for the Springboks but also a multifaceted player who consistently delivered his best,” South African Rugby president Mark Alexander said in a statement.
“He was a leader who captained South Africa in four tests, but he also retired as the most-capped Springbok number eight with two Rugby World Cup winners medals a wonderful achievement for a player who will be remembered as a true legend of the sport.”
Vermeulen has been linked with a move into coaching and did not discount it when asked recently.
“If you had asked me this a couple of years ago, I would probably have said no,” he said. “But when you finish (your playing career) you want to give back to the younger guys.
“If the opportunity arises, I would love to stay in the game. I love it and it is difficult to just step away when you have played professionally for 19 years.”
Galthie reflects on French ‘mourning’
Three weeks after their Rugby World Cup quarter-final exit against South Africa, France coach Fabien Galthie has finally broken his silence about the “scar that will stay with us for life”.
Hosts France were one of the favourites to win the tournament but lost a thrilling quarter-final 29-28 to the eventual champions.
“For us, it was a time of mourning,” said Galthie who has not spoken to the press since the night of the loss on October 15.
“It’s a huge disappointment after four years of hard work, four years of successful work with 80% wins and all those records.
“The only objective we wanted to achieve was to be world champions. There was no other.
“It would have been the same disappointment if we’d lost in the semi-final by one point. The disappointment would have been the same if we’d lost in the final by one point.
(Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images)
“The difference is that we would have had an extra week.
“The difference is enormous because we wanted to experience these moments that we’ve been working towards for four years. So the disappointment is enormous.”
Galthie, 54, took over as coach in December 2019 and reinvigorated an under-achieving team.
Last month, following France’s exit, he signed a new contract until June 2028, along with team manager Raphael Ibanez, defence coach Shaun Edwards and scrum specialist William Servat, allowing him to set his sights on the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
French rugby fans can expect more of the high-octane flare that has epitomised his team since taking over.
“Tactically and strategically, if I had to do it again, I’d do the same thing,” said Galthie.
RIP Esteve
Legendary French forward Alain Esteve has died aged 77, after a battle with cancer.
Nicknamed the Beast of Béziers, Esteve won 20 caps for his country and claimed a Five Nations title in 1973.
“A true legend of French rugby, a mythical second row with an extraordinary physique , the man nicknamed ‘Le Grand’…left his mark on French and international rugby,” said the Beziers club in a press release.
“A legend of French rugby has passed away,” said the French Rugby Federation in a statement. “The death of international number 618 will leave a great void in the history of French rugby.”
The UK Telegraph called him the ‘world’s most feared rugby player’ and and recounted a story Wales frontrow legend Bobby Windsor told of Esteve.
“When we packed down, I’d hear him say, ‘Bob-bee, Bob-bee’ and then this big fist would come through and smack you in the chops,” said Windsor. “To get my own back, I booted him in the [testicles] as hard as I could. He got up and gave me a wink. It takes a lot to scare me but I thought: ‘Bloody hell!’”
(With agencies)
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
That is the big issue for sure. I think to hold a Champions Cup Semi final you need to have atleast 40k which is why any Semi held in Ireland, Wales or Scotland are all held in their national stadium. Do you know what the Saders stadium will be when/if it gets finished. Having to bigger stadiums would make it more likely and you could base teams in the North or South island. I just can't see French and English clubs wanting to travel around the time their leagues will also be finishing and nothing will happen without them.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Stadia in NZ is an issue. In NZ, Eden Park is by far the largest at 50,000 (can be upgraded); Wellington is the second at 33,000, I think. Dunedin is 25,000 (then there are the students in the Zoo who make enough noise for a larger ground!!) SR got around this time issue by having teams travel away for weeks at a time; say, NZ going to play in SA would spend 2-3 weeks on the road there and one or two in Oz en route).
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
The challenge is viewing numbers on TV and also in stadia. Only the Americas would be helpful but stadium numbers would be terrible. If you have games on Friday evening in NZ/Oz then its Friday Morning in Europe which is a none runner. You can have games Friday evening and Saturday and it works out as Saturday and Sunday. The sad fact is probably 50+% of fans wont watch the games live if not in their time zone. That’s alot of fans in Euro/SA not watching. The other big issue is then fans in the Stadiums and how many will show up in certain places. Outside of Europe, New Zealand is the only place that could get big enough crowds but even then it wouldn’t be enormous. If the 8 Euro teams played home games in their own stadium and South Africa played in London each game would clear 15k and with some planning all clear 20k. Not sure how many games in NZ would clear the 15k for Euro v Oz teams. As it is NZ playing Argentina only gets 25-30k. Quarters if a min capacity was put at 25k for them they would all get aleast that. Semis would be 40-50k and final would be 50k if held in Dublin or 60+k if held in any other country. I am not sure any game outside of the final would get over 30k in NZ. SRP final had 25k in a 25k stadium. Even the 2022 held in Auckland only had 45k for probably the biggest game the blues have played in 20 years. SRP doesn’t publish attendances but half empty stadia will not look good on TV. Champions Cup this year was 194,144 for the round of 16, 46,662 for 1/4s 1 week later, Semis 88027 (cheapest tickets were €40) and final was 51711 (sellout). If fans new where the games were going to be like a WC and tickets went on sale in Sept the year before most if not all games would sell out. Unless a sponsor is going to cough up for the lost revenue in attendance (like Qatar) I don’t see how it makes enough money. If its in Oz how many fans show up, they struggle to get over 40k when the WBs are playing and the Super round which is poorly attended would be a better example of what to expect.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
If this club competition is to be played solely in Europe, that will destroy its appeal to Aust/NZ broadcasters and fans due to the time differences. Fans down here may do what I do for games up north, and down here as well; wake up in the morning, check the reports, maybe catch the scoring or mini match highlights and move on.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I think that all the Unions see on the money. The English and French clubs are pushing it, says all we need to know as to who it will benefit. I view is SRP get more teams at the start but will drop when other leagues get better. But because they get 7 teams they will let the cup be played in Europe and once that is tradition it wont be moved from there. My big issue about it is going to be strength in depth of the SRP sides. Munster will be lucky to get to the last 8 on the European side (being URC champs will make it easier this year) but they will start with the Saders starting TH, the Chiefs backup TH, the Chiefs starting Centre, SA's two backup locks plus the Irish starting lock playing 6 (or one of the SA locks on the bench). If its going to be at the end of the season NH teams aim to have the most players back for then while SRP squads can be running on fumes. The wage cap is going to be fairly big difference which means unless that gets relaxed for SRP in those years any injuries and it could be an NPC player against a former international test player.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Which is why, hopefully, this proposal will be dead in the water.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Just say no to the EPCR proposal. Too much rugby happening. I understand that there may be not much to do in Europe during winter :laughing: but down south, we got things going on! :stoked:
humesy
Roar Rookie
Campo's right about the refs getting a medal at least.
Wolla Wotsa
Roar Rookie
Fair comments. :thumbup: It's probably why Campo had a long career.Body presevation in defence was paramount to his longevity. I'm fine with him not tackling some fellas as he knew he would not make a difference anyway. Ball in hand only was Campo go. And he was marvellous at it. I remember a game in 1992 Capetown SA in wet dank mud when Horan made a break, campo dived over the line from that break with the cleanest Wallaby jersey you'd ever see. :silly: And that over the shoulder no look pass he flicked to Horan in 1991 was probably a fluke as someone was about to flatten him.Right? :laughing:
Footy Franks
Roar Rookie
The wallabies were in embarrassing In every way. The tears were ridiculous.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I don't get why the Eastern Clubs would suggest up for it. As you say its EPCR not WR which means there will always be 8 EPCR teams and they will choose the other 8. If the MLR and J1 bring in more money expect them to get more slots for fairness. With technically 15 nations feeding into the Champions Cup (6N, SA, Georgia, Portugal, Spain, Isreal, Belgium, Netherlands, Romania, Czech) over the 4 year cycle they aren't going to have less than half. The problem SRP faces is that EPCR know that the SRP teams will travel for money and the most money can be made playing in European Nations at European times. You aren't going to get 50k for the semis anywhere outside Europe sadly (maybe SA)
Mike88
Roar Rookie
No, no, no there's a big difference Wolla. I'm not talking about missed tackles. Ben Tune, Mike Catt and a lot of others.... They all had a go and yes we're sometimes less successful than others, sometimes even made highlight reels. Ben Tune chopped Lomu down many times as a very young man playing for the reds vs Blues. Campese went so far out of his way to avoid tackling Lomu. Tried to tackle him with his fingers. Its not a matter of opinion but fact. That's what makes his opinion on manliness so fantastic. I don't think I've seen a professional rugby as scared. It's just stay in your lane territory. Campo talking about running rugby - yeah he's every right very few players individually dominated a RWC like he did. Campo talking about toughness and manliness though...c'mon lol.
CPM
Roar Rookie
It’s supposedly starting in 2028 or 2032 to take place every 4 years after that. Yes the top 8 EPCR teams are much stronger than SRP teams. What is telling is that the EPCR will always enjoy home ground advantage over Eastern Hemisphere teams as that is what they are geographically speaking. This competition will be only be played on EPCR soil. You know how rare it is for visiting teams to win. Yes the Eastern Hemisphere teams will have to pack their travel bags and play all of their matches away from home for this tournament. That means 2am matches for their irrelevant fans. This competition is designed to favor EPRC teams so that they can inflict mental damage on Eastern Hemisphere players.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
European Club Rugby already heavily congested ..All its current comps are a success ..How to fit in yet another is a bridge too far ....Its a pipe dream..
TPC
Roar Rookie
It's not 1991, Keggy. The game's evolved, lad.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Why would he do a terrific job? I think he'd be woeful. Watching when he commentated on Stan his views seemed outdated.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well a bloke that avoided contact is hardly the authority on masculinity, which is TPC's point.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Mike's point was the effort to put the body on the line, not the outcome.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Who do you think you are you young whipper snapper. Come here and say that GRRRR
ScottD
Roar Guru
To be fair to Mike Catt, he did nearly trip Jonah up so he did better than some other people. I don’t think I’d want to tackle Jonah Lomu front on even if he was running at half pace.