Roar Rookie
Joined May 2019
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Thanks for the reply Russ and it’s good that you are engaging with us this time.
You use the phrase “don’t condone.” Would you go further and say that his transformation of the Chair into an executive function and meddling in rugby matters that he wasn’t qualified in was totally inappropriate and made his position untenable?
I won’t repeat in detail the points made in my previous long reply to you a few minutes ago. However changing the strategic direction into one of alignment, backed by the hiring of qualified, successful experts, clearly isn’t more of the same. Why can’t you give them time to make a success of what you say below must be a long term programme?
'Definition of madness': Rugby reform must start with total cleanout of RA board - and this should happen next
Russ, to extend your Titanic analogy, a ship only has one captain. Whether it’s business, politics or sport, each leader will alter the direction of travel. If the leader is determinedly set on a course, the board or cabinet only has so many options if the leader’s position is to remain tenable. When the captain is deposed it’s not just a shifting of the deckchairs it’s a change of direction.
So far I like the direction that Herbert and Waugh are steering the ship in with the hiring of Horne, Nuciafora and Schmidt and I’d rather give them a chance rather than spilling yet more blood after Hamish was knifed a few months ago and Castle was lynched a few years ago by a baying mob that you supported.
I know you say that the captain’s letter called for the board to go not (just?) Castle but people who instigate change they can’t control aren’t likely to get the change they want. Likewise, even if the board is spilled there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the change you want this time. The constitution was changed in 2012 and things have only deteriorated since. You’ll be at the mercy of the states who have been a big part of the problem all along.
Waugh and Herbert have called for alignment, which your proposal could jeopardise by empowering the states and causing chaos. They’ve hired great people to run the rugby side. I’d much rather give them the chance to succeed than blow it all up.
'Definition of madness': Rugby reform must start with total cleanout of RA board - and this should happen next
The current regime have brought in Horne, Nuciafora and Schmidt and the first two of those are better qualified than any of their predecessors to do exactly as you suggest. I’d much rather hear their plan before blowing everything out of the water.
'Definition of madness': Rugby reform must start with total cleanout of RA board - and this should happen next
“Middle aged” is being generous James! Very generous indeed. 😂
'Definition of madness': Rugby reform must start with total cleanout of RA board - and this should happen next
Good call on Folau. He’s certainly a lot taller than RTS, possibly almost but not quite as solidly built as Folau(?) and certainly not as solid as SBW
Hansen's done Joey Manu no favours comparing him to SBW. He'll be more like RTS - and Foz is the reason why
Good balanced post Derek. To be honest the only bits that resonated with me were about overhauling coach development and the elite youth programme and they’ve already hired well qualified people to do that. A lot of other things they’re probably aiming for or have done already e.g. spending within their means and the financial analysis.
I sense a bit of rewriting of history in this latest article. He’s very much misrepresented the response to his previous effort where a lot of negative responses had large upvote scores and the positives in general didn’t. Also he’s left out some stuff that landed badly e.g. how the original letter bigged up Hamish’s “achievements” while laying the blame for his captain’s calls elsewhere.
Finally, does Aussie rugby really need another round of bloodletting? And can we really have faith that state unions, after spilling the board, will do anything other than fight for their own narrow interests? I’d rather give the present regime time to finish the work they’ve started as they seem to have put some good people in place who can deliver the most important aims of this article and the RA review.
'Definition of madness': Rugby reform must start with total cleanout of RA board - and this should happen next
Probably none of them 😂
Rennie's Kobe to miss League One playoffs in ex-Wallabies coach's first season, Deans gets another win over Hansen
Good balanced post. Young players need direction and Beale gave it. Kellaway has been giving that at the Rebels and look at how they’ve done. It’s incredible that Eddie left him out in France.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
It was certainly the case with Plums and Moar under Foster. He didn’t push them until he had no choice and it nearly cost him his job.
Of course you can be a great assistant and poor head coach so we’ll have to see with McDonald and Holland.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Hi KPM, just replying to this comment of yours:
“if anything there’s far too little attention paid to coaching in Australia.”
That’s very true. In 1975 Dick Marks set up the national coaching structure with its famous manual and it played a huge role in your golden era. After JON abolished it in 1995 and community spending was slashed from 2003 the coaches coming through weren’t as good. This means that the coaching of Aussie players right through the system and at pro level isn’t anywhere near as good as it used to be.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Executives set the long term ceiling. Coaches determine how close you get to it.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
There’d be a lot of penalties for slap backs at lineouts then.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Saracens, although they were docked 105 points…
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
If Vern Cotter has turned the talented but soft Blues into the Crusaders he’ll have done a great service for NZ rugby.
It’s amazing what a difference a coach can make. Razor instead of Blackadder, McMillan instead of Gats, Cotter instead of McDonald, Laidlaw instead of Holland, RP instead of Razor…
I hope that McDonald and Holland are better assistants than bosses.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Yes he’s class and has age on his side. See the recent bishop article.
Beale, Rodda shine on Super Rugby return as Force smash Crusaders to keep finals hopes alive
Yeah Reds and Chiefs still in with a real shot.
Beale, Rodda shine on Super Rugby return as Force smash Crusaders to keep finals hopes alive
They don’t cancel the Champions League final for anything. That very act shows that the CC won’t be the prestige club comp any more.
You can speculate all you like but the SR nations will get the best deal with six places for two or three countries while Europe has to share 8 between 6.
There’s no way Australia doesn’t send their best players – unlike the Saffer CC quarter finalist.
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
Probably neither as even Sio is 32!
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
I’d just let them do what they want
Aussie-born England capped rake Nic Dolly signs with Force ... and he'll soon be eligible for the Wallabies
No, the CC will be diminished behind a bigger comp.
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
He just about coped for half of one match in the scrum, added nothing around the park and had to get the crook on 48 when the scrum started going backwards. Not shameful against a top team but Slipper has been backing up consecutive performances against the likes of the Boks for years, going deeper into matches, making lots of tackles and even covering tighthead. Sio hasn’t suddenly moved ahead of him aged 32.
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
So as Harry put it the centre of gravity is in the champions cup but not every team puts out a competitive lineup in the quarter final.
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
They were more than 20 years ago! It’s not credible to say that three and a bit years over 20 years ago is more important than the last 20 years.
Rassie having to rotate is exactly the sort of compromise you have to make when your players are based overseas. For example his Japan contingent didn’t play in the November internationals.
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
No, you started this thread by saying that Sio is better than an aging Slipper. Sio is only two years younger and the only evidence you’ve provided is a 4/10 rating in one match and an article saying that the Exeter scrum has improved in a comp with all the test players missing.
Scrap the Giteau Law: Rugby Australia should look to Rassie's 'Boks RWC recipe if it wants to re-join the big boys' table
They’ve finally got the right people in to make the rugby decisions and you want to cause chaos when they need clear space to sort things out.
You don’t need a new board when the current one is on the right track. You risk undermining Horne and Co just like you undermined Rennie.
'Definition of madness': Rugby reform must start with total cleanout of RA board - and this should happen next