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Geoff is a Melbourne based sports fanatic and writer, who started contributing to The Roar in 2012, originally under the pen name Allanthus. His first book, A World in Conflict; the Global Battle For Rugby Supremacy was released in Dec 2017 to critical acclaim. For details on the book visit www.geoffparkes.com Meanwhile, his twin goals of achieving a single figure golf handicap and owning a fast racehorse remain tantalisingly out of reach.
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A popular dance, the Rumba is sometimes referred to as the Latin Waltz because of its slow rhythm and sensual movements.
By any measure it’s been an awful decade for Christchurch. A major earthquake in 2011 killed 185 people, injured many more and left an indelible mark on a city that is still years away from being properly remedied.
In 1978 English rock group Genesis released their ninth album, ‘And Then There Were Three’, signifying the departure in 1975 of singer Peter Gabriel, and in 1977, guitarist Steve Hackett.
Inspired by Israel Folau’s bold move to launch a ‘Go Fund Me’ campaign on Friday to assist him in the ‘battle of his life’ against Rugby Australia, a number of new pages have emerged over the weekend.
Over the last few months, rugby – careering through its first 25 years as a professional sport – found it had arrived at a crossroads.
In 1976 the film ‘The Song Remains The Same’ documented a series of 1973 concerts by legendary rock band, Led Zeppelin, held at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Two weeks ago Vic Masters rugby celebrated one of the highlights of their season, what has now become an annual fixture, a curtain-raiser to the Rebels vs Waratahs match at AAMI Stadium, between the ‘Wannabees’ and ‘Old Blacks’.
Forget about which teams are going to battle their way into the playoffs next week. None of them are good enough to cause any difficulty for the top four sides.
In the lead-up to the 2011 World Cup, Racing Metro (now Racing 92) owner Jacky Lorenzetti met with his contingent of Fijian players, Sireli Bobo, Jone Qovo, Josh Matavesi and Virimi Vakatawa, to pressure them into making themselves unavailable for their national side.
Yes that’s right, for this week at least, you are safe to enter. Today’s column is a Folau-Free Segment.
Week 13 proved lucky for the Brumbies and Rebels, who have opened up a gap at the top of the Australian conference with finals action only six weeks away.
Talking to a group of Melbourne Rebels players upon returning to our Wellington hotel on Saturday night, the sense of an opportunity missed was palpable.
There are drums beating louder that the National Rugby Championship is to be no longer, and while Rugby Australia remains steadfastly silent on the matter, the uncertainty gives rise to again consider the optimal domestic structure for the game.
Folau fatigue allowed Australian rugby’s second-most divisive talking point to resume centre-stage on Saturday night, with Waratah’s fly-half Bernard Foley showing that he’s not about to hand over the Wallabies No 10 jersey to Quade Cooper any time soon, helping his side to a 23-20 win against their conference rivals.
In what was a quiet news week, Stormers No.8 Jaco Coetzee injured his leg against the Rebels, Bryce Hegarty kicked three from three for the Reds, and Waihi Athletic scored a good away win, 39-19 against Coromandel, in Thames Valley club rugby.
In the wake of the Hurricanes’ thrilling 31-28 win over the Highlanders on Friday night, Fox Sports rugby panelist Cam Shepherd declared “that was some of the best footy I’ve seen in a long time.”
In 2017 SANZAAR bowed to pressure from its stable of broadcast partners who, fed up with too many uncompetitive matches, forced a reduction from 18 teams to 15.
Struggling to comprehend the decision to cut the Sunwolves from Super Rugby from 2021? Ask any musician to explain how the politics works.
In the wake of the horrific Christchurch shootings, rugby watching was made a distinctly more sombre and subdued affair this weekend.
After the first three rounds of Super Rugby offered a few green shoots of encouragement for Australian rugby, the last few days have seen dark clouds again gather over the game, suggesting an uncertain future.
Thanks for the post, and I don’t think we’re actually disagreeing about much Luke.
For space reasons, what the article doesn’t say is that it remains the responsibility of each nation to structure and administer their domestic rugby in the best way they deem possible.
This is of course Australia’s competitive disadvantage, because SA and NZ run what are effectively extensions of their historical, amateur competitions. Because Australia never had this, it continues to struggle with constructing a suitable model after the professional horse has already bolted.
Whatever the actual solution – and I understand where yours is coming from – whatever revenue that is lost from reducing SANZAAR content, must be replaced from somewhere. And there’s no evidence to suggest that local sponsors or broadcasters can provide this.
Otherwise we’re really talking about a semi-professional competition rather than a fully professional competition, with all of the best players overseas earning fair market value.
Which then exacerbates the problem around being uncompetitive with NZ and others, because the gulf between their professional rugby and whatever Australia has would become even wider (what Jack Debreczeni spoke about recently)
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
Well, when it comes to the cricket you won’t hear me saying you’re a “tad biased” Muzzo. 🙂
Yes it was a long night, but totally captivating, full of drama and skill execution under pressure by both sets of fielders. Such a shame that such a great contest, that ended in a bona-fide tie, had to be decided through other means.
I’d hate to see this year’s RWC for example, decided by whoever scores the most tries.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
I agree ethan that better performance and better results are needed to change the narrative in Australia. Not winning a Bledisloe Cup for what seems like close to a generation, must take its toll.
But I can’t agree about RA dragging out the Force and Folau issues. We can argue all we like about cutting the Force, but the matter dragged for longer because of legal action taken against them which they were required to defend.
And as far as Folau goes, since the matter blew up again this year, it was Folau who rejected a settlement offer and who initiated legal action against them and, through the ACL and supporters such as Alan Jones, kept the matter in the public domain.
In fact, much of the criticism against RA is that it acted too hastily to sack Folau. You can’t have it both ways.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
But they have delivered a different format CUW.
And as far as fans “wanting better, world class refs” the only person I see banging on about that all the time is you. 🙂
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
It’s a fair question mate and one I’ve asked on both sides of the Tasman. The answer is unequivocally that SA is still on the bus with both the RC and SR and, in line with the commitments all of the partners have made to each other, we can expect status quo, or similar for at least the term of the next broadcasting rights agreement.
Remember that the big NH $ are not with the Pro 14, but with the 6 Nations. I’d imagine that it’s quite a tricky exercise for the SARU to balance the financial plusses and minuses and the timing around that, when it comes to both SR and the Pro 14.
And it’s not just a matter of carving out SR from the aggregated SANZAAR broadcast rights. There is a degree of mutual exclusivity as you say, but until SA is admitted into the 6 Nations, (if ever), NZ and Australia retain some leverage with respect to the RC.
But that said, yes, it’s not hard to imagine things looking very different in 2025 or thereabouts.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
Not arguing any of the sliding doors stuff Neil, just responding to Gonzo’s observation that NZ lost a wicket in the super over.
Imagine a World Cup football penalty shootout where one side is allowed to tie, and the other side is required to win by a clear goal. It obviously wouldn’t happen, it’s totally illogical.
I also don’t buy into any of the ‘right result’ because of the last three years stuff too. World Cups are a one-off, point in time, pressure filled tournament – all that matters is what happens in those few weeks. As you know it took the All Blacks many years to figure that one out. 🙂
That said, fair play to England, they are worthy winners, but it’s also fair to say that every little bit of luck on the day fell their way.
England win World Cup final in thrilling super over finish against New Zealand
I’m sure that’s a factor woodart. Match day experience is an issue across the whole competition, attending in Christchurch for example looks far more like an ordeal than a treat.
The matches in Tokyo certainly provide a more stimulating and enjoyable fan experience than everywhere else – partly because they’re daytime matches, as you say.
The NZ 7.35pm/AEST 5.35pm slot works however from a broadcasting perspective, so perhaps it’s a matter of being smarter about which games are scheduled in those slots in the colder months?
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
You and I both watch a lot of games Tom. We do it because we love the game, but also because we’re rewarded with lots of great action.
We shouldn’t be in a secret club. The game is failing not because of the players or the laws etc, but because our administrators are unable to engage the audience. Not tragics like us, but the potential market – the people who used to follow the game, and the ‘younger fans’ you talk of.
Nothing official, but my understanding of the viewing numbers for 2019 in Australia, is that Fox Sports is looking at a small increase on 2018.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
Dead right TWAS. We get swamped by so much smoke and mirrors and spin every day, in all aspects of our lives. Sometimes things cut through because they’re genuinely good, but often it is because the messaging is smarter than we are.
In the case of SR, the frustration is that the product doesn’t need any smoke and mirrors. The quality of the rugby and the competition is more often than not, excellent. And it is obvious that much of the negative sentiment comes from people who haven’t actually watched the games.
This is a classic marketing challenge. Take a product and change perceptions about it. But under its current governance structure SANZAAR isn’t fit to do this.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
Too small is probably a better descriptor. But yes.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
“The product needs to be the whole product”
Spot on Paul. And within this framework, star players need to be promoted as the world’s best, worth coming out to see, no matter who they play for.
Look at the crowds football gets in Australia for meaningless ‘friendlies’ against top overseas clubs. People fill the MCG and ANZ Stadium because they are sold on getting a glimpse of the world’s best players.
The Rebels’ best crowd over the last two years – by a long way – was against the Hurricanes. Because people came out to see Beauden Barrett. SANZAAR should be selling the sizzle about it’s star players. Every little tubby kid who plays the game should be tugging at their parents begging them to take him to see Taniela Tupou play – regardless if they live in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra or Melbourne.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
That should be “Ask your local…”
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
Morning Sheek
“I’m still bemused, as apart from incredulous, that the southern hemisphere can’t dictate its own future.”
As your local hardware store owner how he dictated his own future when Bunnings opened up nearby. Mine shut up shop and walked away.
And while you’re there, ask him, or any business owner, how much compensation he receives when one of his staff, who he invested time and money in training, leaves to work for a competitor.
Professional rugby is no different from any other business mate. You have to scrap for every dollar to survive, and only if you’re very lucky, flourish.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
Gonzo your post is charitable and fair minded, but as you surely know, the only reason why NZ lost a wicket in their super over was because they had scored the 15 to tie England, and had no choice but to run for the 16th, because the playing conditions said a tie was actually a loss for them.
England win World Cup final in thrilling super over finish against New Zealand
Australian football’s decision has all the hallmarks Chook of ‘be very careful what you wish for’.
Sports governance in Australia is problematic at the best of times. I don’t see how these clubs will govern themselves without eventually tearing each other apart.
Dead right about the RC. There’s a sharper focus this year because of fewer games, the rise of the Jaguares and of course the World Cup. Bring it on!
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
It is indeed very complex Bob.
SANZAAR exists because 1 x 4 is significantly stronger and more valuable than 4 x 1. But trying to make everything work to everyone’s satisfaction, within that union, is very difficult.
If the priority is deemed to be international and World Cup success, (and that is surely fair enough), then it seems that there is a price to be paid for that elsewhere. My argument is that it doesn’t have to be quite so clear cut, and that it is possible to make Super Rugby better, without compromising international success.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
There’s a reason why successful companies typically spend between 10-15% of their revenue on marketing, AP.
It’s only one thing to have great product. An important part of any successful business model is to convince clients and potential clients that you have a great product.
Unfortunately we do this really poorly. It isn’t sufficiently recognised and is chronically under resourced.
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
Thanks Carlos, I’m sure you understand that the metaphor relates only to the respective footsteps of the two dances, but nevertheless, I really enjoyed that fascinating background! Colourful origins indeed!
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango
🙂 what a great post Ken, beautifully put.
(And I believe that the wooden spoon custodian is speaking to the powers that be about continuing the panel through the Rugby Championships. Stay tuned.)
That’s a wrap on Super Rugby 2019
Yes, it was certainly ‘a thing’ for a number of years there John, for many NZ sides, including the AB’s, to consciously play without the ball, make the opposition bring it back to them, in doing so try things they weren’t quite skilled enough to pull off under defensive pressure, or wait for them kick it loosely back, and then make play off the turnover or counter.
It’s fair to say that as other sides have improved their skills and fitness levels, and got wiser, that doesn’t happen so often. But it’s still a factor, NZ players are inherently more attuned to making play off quick turnover ball than players from elsewhere.
That’s a wrap on Super Rugby 2019
Just had a wee hold of it, decided I didn’t like it, and gave it back to its rightful owner, for safe keeping. All good.
That’s a wrap on Super Rugby 2019
You’re back in the band, mate! May the Blues sign BBBB and he puts 40 points on the Canes!
I’ll own up to tipping the Black Caps in the semi too. Although I can’t say I was feeling confident when Taylor was scratching around the other night.
That’s a wrap on Super Rugby 2019
It didn’t go unnoticed Chook.
For that I hope the Blues sign BBBB, Riccardo gets pumped up, buys a membership and turns up to Eden Park in a state of high anticipation… to find they’ve rested him.
That’s a wrap on Super Rugby 2019
Always a voice of reason and wit around here, Ken. Two fine attributes.
That’s a wrap on Super Rugby 2019
Cheers Kiwikrs.
I think there’ll be valuable lessons from the FFA/A League move too, but perhaps for different reasons… 🙂
The Wrap: SANZAAR perfects the art of the Rumba when it needs to Tango