Since the end of the Rugby World Cup I have read many articles and comments surrounding the game’s future in Australia. There’s a lot of of thinking which I see is valid and would seem worthwhile in further investigation.
What I have noticed though is a lack of any consolidated list of the key issues which impacted the onfield performance of the Wallabies, so brutally exposed during the World Cup, and the performance of our Super Rugby teams more generally. In this article I’ve elected to focus on performance at the elite level, but I don’t intend to lessen the need for actions associated with matters at the community, club and stakeholder level more generally.
Henry Palmer in preseason action for the Brumbies in Japan. Photo: Brumbies Media
Against that background and based on my own homework, I would submit any consolidated list of failures includes the following:
1) Decisions and actions of Rugby Australia (RA) over the past 3 years.
2) Limited time for the new coach to build coaching and player cohesion.
3) Over-reliance on inexperienced players at the World Cup.
4) Inadequate exposure of players to high pressure situations.
5) Inadequate fitness and conditioning programs.
6) Lack of effective mentorship for emerging talents.
7) Insufficient competitive exposure for players.
8) Limited depth in critical positions.
9) Inconsistent captaincy and leadership appointments.
10) Inconsistent game management strategies and tactical approaches during matches.
11) Lack of adaptability to different opposition game plans and playing style.
12) Players lacking situational awareness – especially when under pressure.
13) Players lacking match fitness and conditioning at the elite level.
This is a significant list which provides an indication of the performance related issues which RA, together with its stakeholders, will need to address if genuine and sustainable onfield change is to happen. This can reasonably be expected to be achieved through the development and resourcing of a dedicated program of works.
That said, I have taken the liberty of demonstrating how a single focus can impact a range of identified issues (more specifically, referring to items 4-8).
In general terms, these items identify a need to provide players and coaches with more exposure to competitive games which in turn would provide players and coaches with the opportunity to improve skills, decision making, situational awareness, fitness and conditioning.
I acknowledge there is no shortage of discussion around expanding or contracting Super Rugby – however any such change requires multi party negotiation and agreement. What is needed is a solution that RA and the Super Clubs can agree and implement and quickly, not in 3 years time.
Against that background, I once again promote the concept of a 5 round competition comprising each Super Rugby team in turn playing against a team selected from the ‘other’ 4 Super Rugby teams. This team would be selected by the incoming High Performance Director and Wallaby coach, coached by the Wallaby coach.
Wallabies Angus Bell and Robert Leota celebrate a try. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The format can provide fans of each Super Rugby team to have another ‘home’ game and the wider rugby community gets an extra five weeks of elite level rugby matches to watch.
I have yet to hear how RA can address the issues raised in items 4-8 without arranging a program which gives elite players and coaches additional game time against elite level competition. No doubt there will be challenges, particularly with scheduling/programming and concerns about player injuries, but rugby is a contact sport and injuries can happen at any time, whether during a game or at training.
The proposed five match series would be a modified Super Rugby AU series, could be broadcast on ‘free to air’ or as more content for Stan Sport, could be played as a mid-week competition and could also be applied to the Under 19 competition, who would play their games as a preliminary game to the Super series.
It’s worth a thought, because as we can see there’s a lot of ground to make up.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Not exactly sure where the issue of playing rugby outside of school lies, but it is irrelevant if there is not even a strong club system in place. If the game is dying it is from the grassroots up, and if there is no turnaround, then in ten years time it won't matter how many world class coaches and high performance directors the Wallabies have.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
The limited school season is an issue I agree. I came thru playing both club and school footy. You can definitely manage both. Just need to be wary of the training burn out but it’s sad to hear schools would be preventing kids from playing club footy.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
The report here said they wanted him to stay longer. I think that was an opportunity lost for both RA and NL. Mind you, it is possible Toulon had one or more players coming back and he would have just been bench cover etc. School is a problem, private schools play limited seasons and they discourage outside rugby, I think. There was a case at my old school where a top up and coming soccer player was forced to only play at school. That was an opportunity missed for the school and I hope, for his sake, he left. A friend's son was a boarder in the 1st XV but played a full club season on the Sundays. Not sure whether he needed permission. Certainly some parents and boys would not want to risk injury or think rugby is that important (which of course it is). The only solution (also for public school athletes) is a strong club system and RA is doing nothing to reverse the downwards trend there.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I am in agreement there, I think more Aussies should play NPC if they can. And more short term contracts in Europe too. I saw Noah play for Toulon recently, he was outstanding.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I suppose we are in furious agreement on the need for greater depth with greater numbers playing more games, although I think it is also important they have played a lot more games before they enter SR. I just don’t think extending the SR season longitudinally is at all practical. I saw a quote from a Championship official complaining that UK Rugby had invested everything into the roof, and were now left wondering why the walls and foundations were shaky. It maybe in NZ interests to really encourage Australian players in numbers to play in the NPC. Our continuing failure is going to drag them down, if not under.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
So level 5 UK play substantially more games than SS, falsely claimed to be our tier 3, although I suppose it is the 3rd level competition. When I was a kid the competition was 12 teams, home and away, 22 games with a top 4 with a preliminary final for the major semifinal (1v2) loser v winner minor SF 3v4. Ironic as club teams become more professional (pre season started in Nov) they play less games and finish in August. That is where the problem lies, club and school players play nowhere near enough games and arrive in SR not ready for SR. I also agree that fringe SR and non Wallaby players do not play enough, especially with the early end of Sydney and Brisbane club rugby. Maybe they need secondary tours to tier 2/3 countries, although I note some turn up in NPC, usually trying to improve their game and get to the next level. Greater participation in European rugby on temporary contracts in the autumn international window perhaps? I don’t think you can jam any solution into the current setup. Just another example of why a 3rd tier is needed in Australia, although it seems to be a problem finding the right formula for the Championship in England.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
France's club season is 26 games. The premiership is 18. URC is 18. Then you have Heineken Cup games - minimum is 5 games you play there. So France up to minimum 31. Premiership and URC is 23. In the Premiership they have Premiership Cup games too for wider squad players usually 3-4 per club. Plus 12-14 internationals a season. The short answer is they play a LOT more PRO rugby in Europe than we do in Australia. For Australia to build depth they will not do it in the Shute Shield - I have no issue at extending the Shute Shield season, but that is not the answer to build depth in Australian rugby as a whole. 14 games then maybe 1 finals game. Is not enough. Rebels and Force didn't even play finals. So they played 14. They had to go and find a 4-game series against the Cheetahs. Brumbies had to go on a 2-game tour to Japan. I play level 5 rugby in England which is national leagues and we play a 22-game season, so amateurs and semi pros in England play more than Australian pro players do. Extending the super rugby season to home and away will build depth across squads - even if there are weeks when the international stars aren't there - that's what happens in the english premiership and in France during 6N and those comps still go ahead fine. Our boys need more rugby plain and simple. I'd be open to a Super Rugby AU Season. Anything would be better than what we have now.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
You might have to get used to better quality opinions. The Sydney competition was severely truncated for every grade and colts so some trial games could be played. If you have a problem with having a full season in Sydney the same length as everybody else that is your problem. Especially at the same time as you mindlessly demand professional players play twice as many games. As I said there may be issues around ground hardness in Europe, or softness. My Dad played in both countries 60 years ago and said there was zero similarity, could have played forever there. What percentage of players play all 35 games? I had resolved not to continue this conversation as your suggestion was just ridiculous, but you took it to a new low.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
How can every European player do it?! In Europe they play 35+ games a season. So your idea to fix Australian rugby is to restore the Shute Shield? Maybe sit this one out mate..
jeznez
Roar Guru
100%, the Hamster committed us to SRP out to 2030. We must take action in the meantime. The Oz A games are part of it but we need something that can really drive games into developing players. I see all sides look to be driving extra games (even the Tahs who have lagged on this played a match last weekend), the more that can be facilitated the better.
Nothipwell
Roar Rookie
jeznez - no arguments from me on your thoughts - however until and unless arrangements such as those you propose are actually in place, I would suggest that we can at least start with my proposed competition as it would seem to me that all that is required to implement is within the control of RA and its stakeholders.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Too many games and, as I said, not sure whether ground hardness is a factor nowadays. RC games will have to be played parallel to SR and we are probably more at risk than the NRL on the loss of players, plus there are 6 rounds with two break weekends. 22 games home and away will require two byes at least, and it remains questionable if finals would be two or three weeks. Playing end to end becomes 22+2+2+8= 34 weeks or 36 if there are three byes and a week off before the 1st RC round. Then there is a northern tour, necessary from both a financial and keeping abreast with other teams perspective. The current SR season has 14 games plus three finals and in 2022 plus 14 tests. That is potentially 31 games and I am not sure you can pump that up very much because the start and finish dates of the seasons. More important is restoring full home and away to the Shute Shield which has been truncated to allow NRC/ARC. If NRC reinstated it should be full home and away during the season, say on Sundays to increase marketing exposure for local supporters.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Nice one Nothipwell, I don't think your solution does enough to drive number of games into fringe Super Rugby players but appreciate that you are contributing an innovative idea that addresses the general issue. I remain convinced that the solution to Wallabies performance and stopping the high spending driving debt is to let our top players play anywhere. Once the books are balanced, getting sufficient games into our non-Wallaby players is the key, along with creating enough professional positions to capture developing talent. For that a national competition, without Super Rugby Pacific sitting over the top, is my clear preferred option. No need for a comp of the nature you describe if our core professional comp delivers enough games and has enough teams. Domestic Championship with International Champions Cup is a model that works in Europe and could work for Oz. Especially when coupled with Wallabies able to be selected from anywhere.
Nothipwell
Roar Rookie
Rocky Your comments about #5 and #13 is correct – my error, must do better next time. Your question as to what I propose to do about it is comments about fans needing to “become an irresistible team of change agents” is simple – I have not focused on that issue (as yet) because the focus of my article was on performance issues. That said I do believe that the proposed series provides an opportunity for some creative ideas to be introduced / trialed. For example some ideas surrounding “Crowdsourced Tactics and Strategies: 1) RA to establish an online platform where fans can contribute their tactical insights, strategies, and game plans. While not every suggestion may be practical, this approach harnesses the collective wisdom of the fan-base and could offer fresh perspectives that traditional coaching staff might overlook. 2) RA to establish an online platform where fans can lodge predictions covering game results and player stats. To enable this participation, the platform which is populated with the key team and player stats immediately after each game. The fans(s) with the closest prediction receive free family passes to Super and / or Wallaby games and / or spend a day with the Wallabies or Super team of their choosing. Reference your comment about the Brumbies. I understand the sentiment but whether it be the Brumbies or any other team, such an approach does not / cannot provide the benefits of each Super team in turn playing against the composite team selected by the Wallaby coach. More specifically, with very few exceptions, each Super team understands the game management and tactical approach of each other team. This would not apply to playing against a composite team coached by the incoming Wallaby coach who can reasonably be expected to bring a whole lot of different thinking to such matters. These considerations will in and of themselves assist in addressing the lack of adaptability to different opposition game plans and playing styles and provide real-time necessity for players to improve their situational awareness – especially under the pressure plating for or against the Wallaby coach would bring to the table! Finally, it would be reasonable to conclude that because it will comprise the ‘best players’ from the other 4 Super teams the composite team should have the firepower to dispatch any of the individual Super teams they play – the question is more likely will they!
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
It actually would work better with international breaks like 6N. The concept is sound every team plays each other home and away and gets 22 games. Makes it a fair competition. You then factor internationals and that provides squads and players a break week. So realistically, the 22 games could be actually played over 26 weeks then 2 weeks for finals. 28 weeks all up. That is much more competitive with European club seasons.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Certainly the case, although harder grounds are tougher to play long seasons. The big gap is in our youth systems. Heavily reliant on Sydney private schools who do not play often at all. The Ellas at school played three times a week plus training, which would be the case for most good public school players back then. Somebody did a comparison of Marcus Smith to Nick Lolesio on games played last year. Daylight second, third and fourth on both a school and senior basis.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Interesting concept. Unlike the NRL international games have to be factored in, so maybe they have to be played in parallel to the SR competition like SOR. Including Fiji, Tonga and Samoa was a forward step but 18 weeks would have been better for this model.
Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
@nothipwell Your issue no 5 is the same as your no 13 so you have 12 failures. Most people might agree with your list and I've seen many Roar articles listing these and more. I have a few qustions though... 1) You say in your other article that fans need to "become an irresistible team of change agents". Given that fans have been permanently locked out of engagement on any rugby issue by RA exactly how do your propose that could occur. 2) How would your proposed additional games improve performance of aussie players. The other 4 aussie teams already play the best squad of players (ie Brumbies) several times each season. These have been the Best v the Rest games for about 10 years. In fact ... if Eddie had just taken the whole Brumbies squad to France for the RWC they probably would have performed better than the WBs. At least they'd have had good cohesion and combinations :laughing:
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
SR needs to be a home and away season. 22 weeks plus finals. Move the TRC to the same window as 6N and this would work.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I’d love to see more lads playing Mitre 10 season. Obviously doesn’t make them a stack of cash. But it would be great. In an ideal world, Japan flips their season around so you can play SR into a Japanese season like cricket and IPL.