Roar Guru
Joined August 2011
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There have been some great articles written recently about how average the coverage of rugby on TV in Australia really is. So I thought,…
A brilliant article by Brett Susan yesterday on the memories and dangers of Newlands got some great responses from members about their rugby memories.…
With all of the negativity that has surrounded his tenure, I thought I might try and write my view of Robbie Deans the man…
There has been a lot written and said about the relative strengths of each conference in this year's Super Rugby Competition, particularly in relation…
The law has been written so an onus is on the attacking play to remain uprgiht as well.
“A greater focus on the actions of the ball carrier
Ball carriers will be encouraged to follow the principle that rugby is a game of evasion, and they should avoid late dipping and thereby avoid creating a situation where a bent tackler may be put at increased risk of head-on-head contact with the ball carrier through a late or sudden change in body height of the ball carrier.
Match officials will focus on the actions of the ball carrier as well as the tackler when head contact occurs. “
They may not work but the staus quo is ruining lives so something has to be done. England were at a turning point where the Pollies were going to get involved and we all know how that would have turned out
'Fabric of the game': Watershed moment as RFU brings in radical tackle change to reduce 'risk of concussion'
You mean something like this?
“Holders of a Veteran Gold Card (the DVA Health Card – All Conditions within Australia) are entitled to the full range of health care services at DVA’s expense, including medical, dental, optical care and subsidised pharmaceuticals.”
Surf Life Saving has a massive list of protocols in place to mitigate risk. Including sun safe and when risk of rescue it too great. Just like with Rugby you will never eliminate risk, but to ignore a rising trend is negligent.
'Fabric of the game': Watershed moment as RFU brings in radical tackle change to reduce 'risk of concussion'
It is going to be a constant game of catch up I think, the data isn’t over a long enough period to form a robust trend, but one is there. As you say it could just be awareness.
But all the sporting bodies are staring down bankruptcy if they do nothing and are seen to be culpable in ruining players lives.
Damned by traditionalist if they make meaningful changes and damned by history and lawyers if they do nothing.
'Fabric of the game': Watershed moment as RFU brings in radical tackle change to reduce 'risk of concussion'
This report is a bit old but has an interesting graph on page 16,
Incidence of reported concussions over 10 seasons for each playing level
and in all cases grade 3/4 down to 7/8/9 concussion rates have increased significantly over the 10 year period of the study.
In the cast of 3/4 a 5x increase
https://keepyourbootson.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CRISP-2018-19.pdf
Also of note is the graph below showing rates of concussion whilst being tackled has increased but tackling dropped
'Fabric of the game': Watershed moment as RFU brings in radical tackle change to reduce 'risk of concussion'
Confirmational bias will also mean we remember the players who came back better.
There are certainly a few players in Europe and Japan that would add to the Wallabies but, looking at the list it is not the bottomless well of talent worthy of completely abandoning the local professional game for.
Japan and the Sunwolves was a massive stuff up.
Rugby in Australia will die in isolation. The only cure is to break out of the circle of insularity, not reinforce it
I think we are possibly at a unique moment in time, the isolation of a post COVID world has certainly hit the southern hemisphere greater than the north.
This is true for most sports, where the inability to travel and seek regular competition has been felt the greatest in this part of the world.
To make changes now based on that, could potentially have long term irreversible effects on Rugby in Australia.
Australian Rugby has had a multitude of administrative problems for more than a decade now and picking a few extra players from the north isn’t going to undo that damage.
There most certainly is a worthy discussion to be had around “sabbaticals” and similar structures. As a case study I think SA over the last 20 years have shown the many pitfalls of not retaining talent within your own structures. Recent success doesn’t hide years of struggling with player availability and talent retention.
Step forward very carefully RA not all answers are in the northern hemipshere and once the genie is out of the bottle there is little chance of going back
Rugby in Australia will die in isolation. The only cure is to break out of the circle of insularity, not reinforce it
As a Crusaders fan, I can hand on heart say there have been times when they probably had a player or 2 that gained their spot. Shaun Stevenson is perfect example. If he was a Crusader or Blue he would have been given a shot long ago.
Ethan DeGroot and Samisoni Taukei’aho both had to smash the door down to get picked.
ANALYSIS: Will the Tahs become the new driving force in 2023 and are too many Brumbies spoiling the broth?
The Brumbies influence, is a result of the natural bias towards picking players from the most successful team. Sometimes at the expense of a better individual from another.
NZ are just as guilty of it with teams sometimes too heavy with Blues or Crusaders players.
The example of the scrum you give is perfect, the brumbies have developed a technique difficult to counter, and so their front row get picked rather than the 3 strongest front rowers in Aust.
ANALYSIS: Will the Tahs become the new driving force in 2023 and are too many Brumbies spoiling the broth?
Let’s face it blind Freddie could have picked a schoolboy Jonah had a big future. Just a complete freak of nature.
His athletics results as a 14-year-old make for some interesting reading.
Jonah Lomu’s athletics record at his former school Wesley College prove his brilliance
Sub 11 Sec @ 14 year old!!!
All Blacks through the ages: Who did it better?
Mehrts was incredible, still yet to see a player with a better skip pass.
I remember when Dan was first selected for the Crus-Brum final, he turned that match around an almost got them back into it.
Still a turnstile on D though.
All Blacks through the ages: Who did it better?
The next Jonah thing is hilarious
For someone to change the game like he did and going on the current size of Wings compared to the 90’s the next Jonah would have to be 150kg and run sub 10sec to be an equivalent leap forward in size and speed.
John Kirwan was considered a big winger and gave up 4cm and 28kg (and about half a second over 100m) to Jonah
All Blacks through the ages: Who did it better?
I guess it depends on if they are playing 96 athletes or 2022.
Merthens for his era is head and shoulders above Mo’unga but would be a complete liability in any current defensive setup.
Similar call on Brewer, massively underrated player but the 8-10 kg weight difference would be telling against a 2022 forward pack.
Not much else to argue about from your list.
All Blacks through the ages: Who did it better?
To the Neanderthals who believe it is ok to highlight every single referee mistake. Grow up.
The arguments are childish and immature.
But they are professionals I hear you all howl. So are the players and they make far more mistakes than the Refs do.
But should you still wish for every call to be made correctly, you only look at the AB’s Eng game on the weekend for an example of how bad a Ref trying to get make every call is.
30 Penalties (all technically correct, and he could have blown more) resulted in a horrible stop start game that was painful to watch, and players too afraid to chance their arm to win the match.
The undoing of Springbok rugby: Erasmus has plenty to answer for
Bend zee Knees!!
The Wrap: Wins for the Wallabies and All Blacks but many more questions asked than answered
Also, none of us know how long he has been struggling either.
As you rightly say it is all about the tools.
For some people all it takes is getting the right skills to recognize when they are going down and how to take action.
For others the challenges go much deeper, and a turnaround can take years.
Often the only way to find out is when those triggers come back into your life.
'Tour of hell': Who looks strong, who looks weak and who's under PRESSURE in the big north vs south battles
Simon Cron OJ, he has just returned from the bastion of forward dominated crash bash rugby that is Toyota Verblitz
'Chop the Rebels'? The simplistic reaction that would do nothing to help solve Australian rugby's problems
Nailed it Chook, as we have all spent far too long giving it any air.
Its a bit like taking anything out of Alan Jones mouth to seriously.
Hidden agendas abound!!
'Chop the Rebels'? The simplistic reaction that would do nothing to help solve Australian rugby's problems
Not in NZ Dr, everyone outside of the Crusaders region hate how successful they are. Have a watch of the latest Breakdown on Youtube, Kirwin, Wilson etc all unanimous in hating see Canterbury win.
'Chop the Rebels'? The simplistic reaction that would do nothing to help solve Australian rugby's problems
100% behind a 7’s comp.
Anyone who spent the day out at the now defunct Central coast sevens will fully back up any comments about family oriented great atmosphere, running rugby.
'Chop the Rebels'? The simplistic reaction that would do nothing to help solve Australian rugby's problems
It doesn’t have to be intentional to be shutting them out.
Old structures, lack of role models, success pathways, having to play against boys as hormones start to give them a physical advantage, and then as you point out rules and coaching designed for boys.
Simply put the we is a summary that at every level of Rugby it has been harder for Women and Girls to play than it is for Boys/Men because the game has been designed for and run by men.
Athletics changed that 100 years ago, Tennis about 50, Rugby has a long way to go.
Will women's rugby be the white elephant to break Australia and New Zealand?
The interview in this thread with Ruby Tui 100% shows why Women’s Rugby is and should be here to stay.
Put that in front of any 12 year old Girl and watch the horizons of what is possible in life broaden massively.
We have shut women out and under valued their contribution to sport on all levels for far to long, how about we invest beyond what balances a spreadsheet right here and now, both in recognition of the past contribution and a forward investment in the 100’s of future Ruby Tui’s out there.
Will women's rugby be the white elephant to break Australia and New Zealand?
Fair point, about inclusion, but management structures are entirely another case and point. Rugby admin absolutely has its old boys club rooted in upper-class private school cronyism. It can be as simple as if none of the people in power look/think the same as you it can be isolating.
Classism was probably distraction and not exactly the crux of what I was getting at though.
I will certainly counter you on Netball being harmonious though, my daughters club is a storm of exclusion and power struggles.
The Wrap: Essendon and Manly debacles an opportune reminder for rugby to focus on its core values
Thanks Geoff the usual intelligent and well considered piece from your good self.
One counter point to the Values argument is one of personal experiences.
The resultant conflict is a result of these new values – imposed almost by stealth – becoming part of clubs that have, until now, existed harmoniously without them.
That harmonious environment has been from one perspective. That of us middle class white straight men. And does ignore the experiences of any one not from that cohort.
A couple of public examples come to mind Ian Roberts playing sport closeted in the knowledge of the media storm that would follow when he did come out.
And Ross Taylors recent biography of highlighting the many casually racist comments he endured in his time in Cricket in NZ.
Both these are 2 examples of people who have maintained the harmony of the sports teams they are in by not holding true to who they are, and/or not feeling empowered enough to call out others bigotry.
I guarantee a there are thousands around the country who have done the same or simply dropped out for not feeling welcomed.
Call it symbolism or even virtue signaling, but actions taken by sports and clubs to make as diverse a group involved feel welcome and empowered should be encouraged.
The Wrap: Essendon and Manly debacles an opportune reminder for rugby to focus on its core values
Personally think you got it spot on. As always there were a few contentious calls, all highlighted by your good-self and reasoning given.
Both of the comprehensive wins came on the back some key players standing head an shoulders above everyone else.
e.g. The Arg win was a massive team effort with no individual dominating play. Thoroughly deserved but not how you pick players for a best of team
Seven All Blacks, six Boks and just one Wallaby and Puma make our TRC team of the tournament so far
Yes but that choice still has risk mitigation enforced by the Govt. Helmet, Speed limit, engine power limit for novices, insurance to cover personal injury etc.
'Fabric of the game': Watershed moment as RFU brings in radical tackle change to reduce 'risk of concussion'