Roar Pro
Joined June 2016
363
Views
1
Published
608
Comments
"I disagree with what you say, but will defend with my life your right to say it." - Voltaire.
Published
Comments
In early 2000 I migrated to Australia determined to give my young family a better life. What struck me about our newly adopted country…
Personally I’m surprised this wasn’t ruled a ‘Rugby incident’, PK at worst. Surprised but not surprised at the same time. ????
'What a bloody joke': Sexton bows out of 6N with slam but England fume over 'utter farce'
Interesting that Nigel Owens, in his podcast, diplomatically suggested in his opinion it was not accidental and therefore a RC. If the tribunal felt it was accidental, then let the RC stand but impose no further sanction. By overturning the RC decision, the tribunal basically threw the whole foul play framework in to the bin.
'Not guilty': Why Jordie Barrett was cleared for Koroibete face kick
So McLennan just said Aus can’t sustain five competitive teams. Meaning any trans Tasman comp will have probably 3 aussie franchises. So back to 2004 then.
IMHO we’d be better off running a purely Aussie comp with as many teams as we can regardless of the standard. Any supposed private equity cash injection could bring overseas players back especially as NH clubs are also struggling financially.
If we tie ourselves to NZ we’re done for.
Rugby Australia coy after NZ announce preferred Super Rugby format
I’m not sure the Wigan v Bath game is a comparison. Early days of professionalism in Union so fitness levels were hardly the same.
Also as has been pointed out elsewhere the scums in that game were deliberately de-powered to protect the leaguies.
What I do remember is players from both teams being quoted in the press that it was “a game nobody wanted”.
A cross-code All Blacks vs Kangaroos match could happen this year
Don’t forget France are 0-3 in RWC finals too.
European clubs throw spanner in global rugby talks, because of course they have
In other news, I see the PM has announced a crowd attendance limit of 10,000. Which is great, means no restrictions to attend Rebels games as we never get that many anyway. 😛
Rugby Australia confirms law changes for Super Rugby AU
Agreed. The international travel and time zones kill SR. Though don’t lose sight of the fact if hypothetically if the Brumbies fly to Perth to play the Force that’s a 4 hour flight plus transit time.
If Exeter Chiefs take a coach to an away game at Sale Sharks, that’s 4 hours on the M5 & M6. It might only be an hour to Paris by air but the transit time etc. is still a PITA.
I like CVVs idea for a consolidated competition to overcome much of the travel. Either way something has to change and to my mind SR is a dead duck.
The blabbering of an old rugby fan
Some truth in what you say. I believe Exeter Chiefs ground has capacity of only 10,000, but bear in mind when some of the big fixtures get moved to Twickenham, they draw 60,000+ for a regular season game.
The blabbering of an old rugby fan
A tackle or someone jumping over a ruck? Jumping over a pile of bodies on the floor isn’t considered a problem, but hurdling a tackler where the ball carriers boots end up near the head of the tackler is generally frowned upon. But, yes, a lot is in interpretation.
136kg prop literally LEAPS OVER defender for crazy try
In essence what you are advocating is similar to what happens in Europe today. In England the Gallagher Premiership runs for 24 regular rounds, with semi-finals and final. So 26 games to lift the domestic title.
Then the European Cup, conference based with 6 pool stage matches, then a knockout from the QFs onward.
That’s a lot of domestic rugby, why more than SR delivers, yet attendance is good.
Maybe we need something similar with a SANZAAR & Japan Cup to replace SR, which seems to be what you are suggesting and strong, domestic competitions like Mitre10 Cup, Currie Cup etc.
Either way, the current format for SR is a dead duck.
The blabbering of an old rugby fan
All good but rugby is broke so that last thing we need is more consultants. 😛
The blabbering of an old rugby fan
Interesting. I went back and had another look. Law 9 Foul Play [formerly Law 10] specifically calls out the tackler for tackling a player with their feet off the ground but I can’t find a mention to the ball carrier ‘hurdling’. I have seen discussion of the topic on referee forums and I suspect I’d find something on this in the game management guidelines. Most discussion appears that it is covered under Law on Foul Play simply because it endangers the tackler. Law 9.11 “Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others.”
There seems to be some latitude too because the assumption is the tackler has to be in a position to make a tackle i.e. standing in front of the ball carrier.
136kg prop literally LEAPS OVER defender for crazy try
How have Australia’s results been since 2003 RWC Final?
No Bledisloe Cup wins and one losing final in 2019.
My point is more about how to find a way to grow the sport and finance up and coming players not how to try to retain the existing crop. Unless RA finds a $1.9Bn TV rights deal or a Rugby friendly billionaire steps in (maybe Magellan?) the cash to retain the current Wallabies isn’t there.
Eddie Jones weighs in on the state of Australian rugby
So scrap the Giteau law and pick the best 23 from anywhere in the world. Wasn’t that basically the approach South Africa took? Short term, say 5 years, someone else is picking up the salary tab for the elite players allowing RA to spend more on grass roots development.
The SR structure is a different question and to my mind we would be better off out of it. Fans want to see a local team win the comp and that’s what AFL, NRL gives them. I can’t see any Aussie SR franchise challenging for SR honours any time soon.
Plus as I’ve said before, get out of SR, get a national comp, clear out the RA board and ask Twiggy to get his cheque book out … dreaming I know. 😛
Eddie Jones weighs in on the state of Australian rugby
Agree. Though I’ve suggested before that we pick the Wallabies from the best available 23 globally. That way someone else (NH clubs most likely) pick up the bill for elite player salaries whilst RA invests its money in growing the game.
South Africa brings a lot to Super Rugby – just not enough
Given the shambolic state RA finds itself in with the Board in self destruct mode, the lack of FTA TV coverage, the lack of a major TV deal, poor attendances and losing teams, Rugby needs a huge cash injection at all levels but especially at grass roots level.
As far as I can see, there is only one Rugby fan in Aus with deep enough pockets to save the game and unless the whole RA board resigns and gets out the way (with maybe the except of Clarke who seems to be making the right sort of noises) I can’t see why Twiggy Forrest would bother.
Personally, I think we need a solely Australian competition, with teams from every State / Territory represented if possible. Tribalism & always an Aussie winner. Centrally contracted players and maybe even a draft system. May take 20 years to fix the game here but we have to start now, there are no easy fixes.
I note that here at the Rebels we’ve had a never ending turnstile of stars coming and going and absolutely no continuity (they are not alone in that either). Compare that to teams like the Crusaders and the difference is stark.
Of course, post pandemic, things might be different with loads of players no longer commanding top dollar salaries, but that’s just another unknown.
My 2c. Rant over.
South Africa brings a lot to Super Rugby – just not enough
Damn Kiwis for being so good at the game.
I tend to agree that a trans-Tasman competition is not worth it, but then again with NRL bagging a $1.9Bn deal, RA being broke and with a revolving board, the future of Aussie rugby isn’t too bright.
South Africa brings a lot to Super Rugby – just not enough
“But let’s remember: they contribute more than Australia.”
– Harsh! But probably fair. 😂
South Africa brings a lot to Super Rugby – just not enough
Hmmm … except you are not allowed to do that. No try. 😱 😂
136kg prop literally LEAPS OVER defender for crazy try
Sorry Spiro, but you lost me at “Jones is probably the most influential rugby writer in the world …”
He’s a NH bigot pandering to the “57 old farts” brigade and I say that as a born and bred Englishman.
The search for rugby's greatest-ever coach - and no, it's not Clive Woodward
If Kearns is appointed as CEO that’s it I’m done with Australian professional rugby. No more money coming out of my pocket for Tests or SR Rugby. Community Rugby is free and generally more fun.
Well done to the RA Board, that another die hard fan and his kids that won’t be turning up anymore.
Raelene Castle resigns as Rugby Australia CEO
I don’t agree with this concept but if it is to be then surely it has to be played in NZ?
The BIL don’t get home advantage ever, which makes their triumphs all the more special.
Lions and All Blacks could face off in Twickenham decider
200 redundancies and a further 140 stood down as of this afternoon.
Foxtel is on its last legs. Too expensive and in no position to dictate to anyone.
What really is News Corp's rugby end game?
No, don’t be silly. Given the current pandemic and just how infectious this disease is, someone should have had the intelligence to think that nothing short of full compliance with social distancing directives was needed.
Crusaders sorry for NZ lockdown breach
When the Rebels first started up they drew crowds of 24,000+
Last time I went to a game it was like 6,000.
I and two of my mates had Platinum membership – guaranteed Test Match tickets, seats in the hallway line.
All three of us dropped our membership a long time ago.
Who wants to watch a poor team with no continuity ship 50 points every week?
These days I take my kids to watch community games. More entertaining, closer matches and some excitement.
And quite why Kevin Foote is considered a high performance coach escapes me. What has he ever achieved as a coach?
'It's pretty real': Rebels coach reveals trauma as Waugh makes surprising 'no correlation' claim after job losses