Faster!

Messers Hickey and McKenzie have done their part, the teams are named.  Now it is time for the real analysis. So let’s have a look through the teams, on a head-to-head basis and see who will come out on top on Saturday night.

Fullback: Sosene Anesi v Peter Hynes - Let’s face it.  Anesi is an All Black cast off. And a one match All Black cast off at that. Injury prone, to put it mildly, the fact he has now played three games in a row means he WILL BE injured this game.  It’s just a matter of what stage of the match. Tah fans should be hoping it happens earlier rather than later.  Hynes just oozes class and has taken to fullback play like a duck to water, which was never in doubt considering his immense skills.  A real danger player for the Tahs.

Wing: Lachie Turner v Digby Ioane - Ioane is now acclaimed as one of the most dangerous back line players in the world and had a remarkable 2009 Super season.  Lachie Turner is still getting by because he once scored a decent try against the Crusaders. Hasn’t done a thing since.

Outside Centre: Tom Carter v Morgan Turinui - Who was the real hero of that Lachie Turner try against the Cru? It was one Morgan Turinui who laid on a delicious pass giving Turner the space he needed to do nothing more than run down the field.  Morgs has perhaps the smartest rugby brain in Australian rugby. Combine this with his wealth of experience (a former Wallaby vice-captain) and his deceptive speed and he should be the man to replace Stirling Mortlock in the wallaby team. Carter? Well, there’s nothing deceptive about his pace. He doesn’t have any.  Has replaced Kevin Hardwick as the most average footballer in Australia. So much so that all players must be rated on the Carter scale.  Tom Carter being equal to one Carter.  Morgan Turinui being equal to 5 Carters.  Rory Sidey being equal to negative 1.5 Carters.

Vigorous skills sessions

Inside Centre: Kurtley Beale v Anthony Faingaa - Beale was told last year to work on his physicality on the field.  He has been. Just ask his cousin. Meanwhile Anthony Faingaa is showing everyone why he had such acclaim as a schoolboy player.  Sure Beale had some acclaim too, but only by the maniacal Sydney press who have been looking for the next Ella ever since they realised that he was the last decent 10 the Tahs have produced.  In reality Beale is a flakey ponce with a predilection for the chip and chase and wrestling for the ball in a tackle rather than actually trying to make a tackle. What he needs is to closely watch a great technical tackler, able to pull off the big hit when needed with minimal effort. Fortunately he will have that chance on Saturday night when he faces up to Faingaa!

Wing: Drew Mitchell v Rodney Davies - ok. In reality what we have here is a very fast winger, who came through the QLD Rugby system as a promising fullback, before opting to abandon a sinking ship for ‘greener pastures’ who has significant defensive weaknesses. Opposing him will be Rodney Davies.  A very fast winger, who honed his skills by playing fullback in his younger years, providing an additional kicking option, with a defensive game hardened by a couple of years at the Broncos and who can light up the field at the drop of a hat.  Mitchell is in for a very tough night. I hope he remembers to pack his comb.

Flyhalf: Berrick Barnes v Quade Cooper - There has been much talk about where Berrick would play for the Tahs, and whether he would be the man who would FINALLY fill the whole in the toilet blue number ten jersey.  They’ve picked him there, which is kinda surprising. I mean, they paid so much to get him down there so they had to pick him somewhere. But is he up to it? I mean even the Reds opted to pick Cooper at 10, shuffling Berrick out to 12. Two reasons. (1) Barnes can’t play a game plan and will prefer to opt for the kick as much as possible; and (2) you don’t want your most important back line position being filled by someone who struggles to string two matches together.  Quade has proved to everyone that he is the most dangerous inside back in Australia and superstar Matt Giteau only played well when he could rely on Quade to create him some space.

Scrumhalf: Luke Burgess v Will Genia - Pfft. Does this even need discussing?  Whilst Genia is the new George Gregan, Burgess is the new Anthony Ekert.  I look forward to seeing how Barnes copes with passes around the bootlaces or over his head. He’s been spoilt in his time with Genia at the Reds.  Look, it’s not just me. Deans picked Genia above Burgess despite Will’s limited game time last year. In fact Deans also picked another Reds scrummie, in Richard Kingi, with bugger all game time, purely because he knows he can no longer afford to carry Burgo.

Higher!

Number 8: Wycliff Palu v Scott Higginbottham - The Tahs are already talking about having to hide Palu on the side of the scrum at certain stages of the match. They know his handling at the back of the scrum is circumspect and his body height often sees him pushed back behind the advantage line. With a rugged defender in the shape of Higginbottham up against him, its in the Tahs interests to hide Cliffy.  Save him up for the softer forward packs, like the Fiji Warriros and the Western Force. Higgers has this year been shifted to number 8 and I have some scary news for the Tahs. He is Mark Loane reincarnate…if Loane was actually dead and you believed in reincarnation.

Openside Flanker: Phil Waugh v Daniel Braid - Finally, Waugh gets his chance to be a Wallaby again. Don’t let the fact that it will take the retirement of George Smith to do it. And let’s be honest. Robbie Deans and his fellow coaches will be looking EVERYWHERE to find a back row alternative to Waugh. I mean, hell, they picked Matt Hodgson last year.  Daniel Braid brings a hard nosed edge to Australian rugby. A hard nosed edged he learnt from working closely with All Black team mate Richie McCaw.  Waugh was never able to get one over McCaw. He’ll struggle to do the same over Braids as well.

Tahs players listen intently to the coach in a team meeting.

Blind side Flanker: Dean Mumm v James Horwill - I don’t understand why selectors continue to think the selection of talentless and lumbering locks on the side of the scrum is a good idea? And yet here we see it again with Mumm.  The Tahs need to take a leaf out of the Reds book and, if they do want a bit of size and muscle on the side of the scrum, then pick someone like big Kev.  Someone who actually makes an impact on the field. Someone who likes to run with the ball INTO the opposition, not away from them.  Someone who actually knows about these things called “tackle”, “ruck” and “maul”.  Mumm missed so much action last year he should consider joining the priesthood.

Lock: Cam Jowitt v Adam Byrnes - Auckland didn’t want him. Leinster didn’t want him. Northlands didn’t want him. Why would the Tahs? Oh, that’s right. A complete lack of locking depth. Whereas Byrnes, one of their own, they were happy to see the back of. Meanwhile he produced a cracking 09 season and will be looking to do some more cracking on the weekend. I hope he starts with the kiwi.

Lock: Will Caldwell v Van Humphries - Caldwell’s listed as 114kg. But he was about 20 kgs lighter a few months ago due to some ailment.  He hasn’t played footy for ages and has been eating junk food to get back to his playing weight. If you can call what he does ‘playing’. He couldn’t be more underdone if he was a RSL cooked lamb roast.  Humphries, on the other hand, is the form lock in Australian rugby and has been for two years. The only thing keeping him out of the Wallabies is that he is quite possibly older than the coach.

Stronger!

Prop: Al Baxter v Laurie Weekes - 2009 was a big year for Weekes. A tremendous year of rugby saw him named the Australian Rookie of the Super 14 season.  It was a big year for Baxter too. It was the year everyone realised how crap he is and he was dropped from the Wallabies.  The Waratahs still have to pick him though because, despite all their self-professed propping depth, their alternatives are either too green (Palmer) or just another converted back rower (Kepu).

Hooker: Tatafu Polota-Nau v Sean Hardman - I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. As long as the Tahs continue to focus on playing these airy fairy wannabe flankers in the front row that won’t win anything. TPN. Freier. Fitzpatrick. Now, put them up against Sean Hardman and they could all learn a valuable lesson on what it takes to play hooker.  None of this prancing around in the backs. Hook the damn ball. Throw the damn ball and hit the prick in front of you.

Prop: Benn Robinson v Ben Daley - Australia is oh so fortunate to have two such talented loose head props coming through the system. Both are excellent scrummagers, Robinson with the benefit of a few more years of experience, and both have exceptional work rates. Unfortunately for Fat Cat, his work rate seems to be focusing on getting Burgess out of the way at the back of the ruck so he can pick and drive (AGAIN) or go the highlight reel seaking cut out pass option.  Daley? He’s a head down, do the hard work, uncompromising style of prop this country was built on.  Robinson will be very nervous as he watches young Daley come through this year.  In saying that, it’s great to have depth and if Robinson can get some game time at tight head prop he will prove a valuable component of the Wallaby bench come the World Cup next year.

The bench.

Excellent turn out at Tahs pre-season training

Reserve Hooker: Damien Fitzpatrick v Saia Faingaa - Will never come into contact with each other on the field as Fitzpatrick will be copying his namesake and hiding out on the wing whilst Saia will be in amongst it where the real men are.

Reserve Prop: Sekope Kepu v James Slipper- Kepu has scored some great tries. He has some skills, for a prop. Unfortunately scrummaging aint one of them.  Slipper is an actual prop. Not a converted back rower still playing like a back rower. Slipper is tough, aggressive, HUGE and, unlike, Kepu actually likes to play in tight.

Reserve Lock: Kane Douglas v Ezra Taylor - So poor are the Tahs doing here that they can’t even pick a contracted player, having to revert to an Academy player to fill out the bench.  Taylor, on the other hand, is a match-hardened forward who learned his trade in the NZL NPC.  As tough as they come.

Reserve Back Rower: Ben Mowen v Andrew Shaw- Oops, that’s right. We really should have signed a back up open side flanker. Well its too late now Waratahs! Ben Mowen. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree does it.  Ben Mowen’s dad was an adequate club player up here in Brisbane. Andrew Shaw’s dad was one of our greatest ever Wallabies.  Mowen has followed in his father’s footsteps and Shaw is set to do the same.

Reserve Scrumhalf: Josh Holmes v Richard Kingi - What the hell are the Tahs doing picking and inside centre to be their reserve scrumhalf? Well, at least there’s continuity there. Holmes’s pass is just as crap as Burgo’s. Kingi, has the nickname Pepsi – cause he’s the taste of a new generation.

Reserve Inside Back: Daniel Halangahu v Tim Walsh- Let’s be fair dinkum here. Both of these lads are here solely because they are their team’s back up goal kickers. The difference being Walsh has more to his all round game than Halangahu. Why else would the Tahs chase Barnes if they didn’t think Hangers was such a dud?

Reverse Outside Back: Rory Sidey v Will Chambers- Nice name Rorey. Your name is apt. Cause that’s where you should be all season. On the Sidey.  Clearly he’s been picked because there is no one else left in the squad. Meanwhile the Reds have the depth to be able to pick former rugby league super star Chambers on the bench.

So there you have it. Careful analysis leads everyone here at Green & Gold Rugby to agree that the Reds are clearly the better team and should pump the Tahs this weekend but at least 30.  Their dominance across the park is unquestionable.

Thank you.

It's time to say goodbye!

Wallaby Legend George Smith is leaving the building.  In this odd metaphor, harking back to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the King is George Smith and the ‘building’ is the Wallaby team. In a somewhat surprising development, we today learn that we will never get the chance to see George Smith play for the Wallabies again. Effective the end of the Super 14 season this year, Smith will no longer play rugby in Australia, having been granted a release by both the Brumbies and the ARU.

It is a stunning development for someone who has achieved everything in world rugby – except for a World Cup win.  Given his retirement will commence a little over 12 months prior to the kick of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the decision seems even more staggering.  Now, Australia are by no means certainties to bring home the Web Ellis Cup, but we’re in with a shot. And regardless of the emergence of David Pocock, Smith is still a valuable and almost indispensable part of this Wallaby team.

But it is his decision and the ARU and the Brumbies should be commended for granting him the release.  There is no one who deserves it more for George Smith has been an absolute servant of the game in this country, being one of our most recognisable properties, whilst also being our most consistent performer and one of our few World Class players in this last decade.  A fact realised by him being named G&GR’s Wallaby Player of the Decade, earlier this year.

He’s done it all. Super 12 titles. Bledisloe Cups. Tri-Nations wins. He’s even been apart of a series victory over the British and Irish Lions, and their aint many Wallabies who can lay claim to that!

For me, he’s been one of those players who had the ability to simply amaze me with his play. Whether it be is ability to make the covering tackle and secure the turnover all in the one movement. Or some of his sublime try making passes. And the kicks. Oh the kicks.

I remember his test debut in France, watching it late at night, and being amazed at this teenager’s abilities to mix it with the tough French pack. He got a yellow card that game.  But won man of the match and we won the test. Nice start. Not long after he was playing a crucial role in that amazing series win over the Lions. What a baptism of fire.

And to his last test, which we didn’t know would be his last. Disappointedly, somewhat, he came off the bench. But it was still to be a phenomenal performance against the Welsh last year, a game we won on the back of a brilliant David Pocock performance in the first half and a brilliant George Smith performance in the 2nd.  And how fitting has that match turned out to be. Not only did it feature the man who is set to wear Smith’s 7 jersey for many years to come, in Pocock, but it was played in a country in which Rugby is a religion. The Welsh know there rugby, so it seems fitting that one of the best we’ve ever seen gets to play his final test in a country that so truly would’ve appreciated his talents and achievements.

Farewell George. You’ve just given us all just another reason to watch this Super 14 season more intently. To watch your final 13 (hopefully 15) games of rugby in this country. Well done mate.

GEORGE SMITH FACT FILE

Born: 14 July 1980
Height: 180cm
Weight: 104kg
Position: Flanker
Super 14 caps: 120
Super 14 debut: v Sharks (2000)
Super 14 points: 75 (15 tries)
Test caps: 110
Test debut: v France (2000)
Test points: 45 (9 tries)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXLYBa5YIqw[/youtube]

Coming soon, watch this space

It only seems like yesterday that we were wiping the sleep from our eyes, cranking up the laptops and watching the G&GR live blog from Kingsholme as the Dirties took on Glos?

And isn’t it still summer? Didn’t Punter and the boys clean up the Pakis earlier this week?

Well bugger me, its footy time again! A special version of footy that is, Trial time.

You know, Trials are a very interesting animal. They’re usually boring as batshit; as organised as an ARU board meeting and are full of people you’ve never heard of and are unlikely to hear of again.

Most franchises have about three Trial matches before the season proper. These are designed to:

• Make the young up and comers think that they’re an integral part of the playing group and have a real opportunity of selection but in reality they haven’t a hope in hell.

• Make the established players squirm a bit for a week or so when the odd youngster has a blinder but then its back to the natural order of things come the following Saturday.

• Give four teams a go on any one day to make it as difficult as possible for the odd spectator who may turn up to watch this rubbish a chance to identify any of the players (anonymity is the key).

There’s a certain order of precedence they follow with Trials and woe betide anyone that changes it.

Trial 1 always starts off with loads of academy types and the odd senior man on the bench or in a key position (for at least a generous 20 minutes or so).

Trial 2 is a combination of old heads and young hearts still maintaining a bit of false hope for the also-rans and allowing the established players to feel a little bit smug now they’re back on deck.

Trial 3 of course is the routine return to the usual suspects. I’ll bet you could all correctly name today 90% of the final Trial teams that will turn out for the franchises in a few weeks time.

There is only one exception to this rule of thumb. If they’re playing a Trial overseas or in a very far away place there’s no way they’re going to waste a wad of dosh on airfares for anyone that hasn’t a skerrick’s chance of making the squad.  

For the established players the moral of the story is never give a sucker an even break ‘cos just very, very occasionally there might be a talent that rears it’s ugly head and actually supplants the incumbent, although that’s most unlikely. 

The Trials are certainly not going to resolve the burning issues of the day like:

• Can the Reds successfully rebuild (again) using the same building blocks as last year?

• Is the Force spent with the departure of Gits?

• Are the Brumbies going to reach their undoubted potential and blitz all-comers?

• Are the Waratahs going to be an Ugly Betty again this year or a Sally Loane (whom I might say is a very stylish and attractive lady)?

On with the Trials and let’s get them over with as quickly and as painless as possible, especially from an injury perspective.

As you’ve read in Moses’ post the Waratahs take on the Reds in Lismore this Saturday.  

They then travel to Orange to play the Fiji Warriors at Wade Park on Saturday, 30 January before their final Trial against the Brumbies at Viking Park, Tuggeranong on Thursday, 4 February.

It’ll be interesting to see how ‘Dud’, Anesi and Rory Sidey go for the Tahs and Hanson, Kingi and Daley for the Reds. I’d like to say Chambers as well but it looks like he’s out injured.

The Western Force are taking part in a Tri-Series in Cape Town against the Stormers and Sharks. The Stormer’s game is this Saturday and the Sharks on Tuesday.

The Stormers have a few big guns appearing like Bryan Habana, new signing Jacques Fourie and maybe Peter Grant. This will be an interesting clash with the Force fielding the usual suspects including some new signings like ‘the General’. 

They complete their pre-season Trial phase when they return to WA and step out onto ME Bank Stadium for a meeting with the Reds on Friday, 5 February.

The Reds play their second Trial in Brisbane the week before v the Crusaders on Friday, 29 January at Ballymore.

The Brumbies have two Trial games. The first is on Friday, 29 January at Westpac Stadium v Wellington Hurricanes. The second is against the Waratahs as mentioned above.

I think this game will probably be the most interesting for the pundits with two potential Super 14 finalists meeting for an early stoush with probably the majority of their First Xvs on deck.

Trials might be boring and there’s a bit of baggage attached but you’d have to say they were a necessary evil. In terms of match fitness they’re probably the next best thing to a real game……..

Bill McLaren

I can’t post this blog without mentioning the passing of commentator Bill McLaren.

This man was the doyen of television commentators whose style, substance, enthusiasm, knowledge, brogue and ‘McLarenisms’ were without peer. And they still are to this day.

He’s the best commentator of the game I’ve ever heard in any medium. They certainly won’t be dancing in the streets of Hawick today.  

How do you wipe those smiles?

It’s undeniable, 2009 was the year of the Saffas; Super 14, Tri-Nations and the Lions. What’s also undeniable was the extreme game-plan that the Springboks employed along the way; a game-plan that exploited a unique set of new IRB laws through their talents – both established and emerging. What has this meant for rugby, and more importantly, how do you beat it in 2010?

When watching the Springboks this year you had a good impression at how differently they were playing the game, but it’s only when you look at the resultant stats reports from the IRB that you realise just how stark and extreme their strategies were.

The Saffa game plan
In the first, high pressure test against the Lions (which South Africa won 26-21), the Boks held possession for a total of just 11 mins 59 seconds (the Lions for 19mins 50secs). In the previous 5 years of both Tri-Nations and 6 Nations competitions, only once did a team hold on to the ball less, and it was when South Africa lost to Australia 49-0 in 2006. The tier 1 international average is around 19 minutes of possession, or 60% more than the Boks in this Lions test.

Such a deliberate ceding of possession was reflected in the kicking and passing stats. South Africa passed the ball a total of 49 times in the whole match, their entire back-line only 16 times. In contrast, the Lions scrum half alone passed the ball 75 times and the team 195 times. South Africa, despite the lack of possession, still managed to kick the ball 36 times, 30% more than the Lions. The Boks therefore averaged 1.4 passes per kick – an “unheard of ratio” – versus 5.7 passes per kick for the Lions.

As the Lions series progressed, South Africa eased up on this strategy, most notably in the final test (which they lost) when the series was won and they had made 10 changes to their starting line-up. Come the Tri-Nations though, and they were back to type. The Boks averaged 85 passes per game across the Tri-Nations, as compared with 125 (50% more) for both Australia and New Zealand. They also on average made 40% more kicks than their competitors per minute of possession.

Throughout the season an organised kicking game, superb line-out, largely solid scrum and long restarts all served to help keep the pressure on the opposition, as the Saffas chose where (your half) and when (rarely) they wanted the ball.

A new scoring paradigm
In 2009 this was the recipe for success. Overall there were 38% (27 vs 43) fewer tries scored in 2009 than 2008, and the lowest rate per game for 9 years. In the Tri-Nations only 1 try was scored from a kick return (vs 7 in 2008, 5 in 2007 and 7 in 2006), and only 19% started further out than 40 metres from the goal-line, compared with 33% in 2008, 53% in 2007 and 50% in 2006. In other words – booting the ball deep was safe as houses.

Crucially, the advantage at the breakdown had also tipped to the team without the ball in 2009, with the tackler having full rights to the ball, even after the ruck had been formed. This law, together with the no passing back into the 22, made fielding or running the ball in your own half a kamikaze proposition. Against this background, Heinrich Brüssow and Morne Steyne, a world class scavenger and goal kicker respectively, burst onto the scene. Could there possibly have been a better year for these two players to appear in the South African squad?

This new imperative in the game – keeping away from the ball – also translated into how the meager number of tries were scored in 2009; 67% of them were scored with 3 passes or less, against 40% in 2008. Of South Africa’s tries, 9 out of the 10 were scored with 3 passes or less preceding them. 71% of all tries were scored within 1 ruck or maul, vs 47% in 2008. Continuity is dead.

Whether or not this is a good or bad predicament for rugby overall is probably a matter of perspective. While the rest of the world bemoan a fragmented kick-athon, South Africa and Ireland (another exceptionally low passing/high kicking team in 2009) revel in what they call “traditional tight rugby”.  The IRB has mumbled something about reviewing the breakdown laws, but nothing is committed. So the question for 2010 is how do you beat this game-plan?

Untouchable?

Fighting back
To start, with the laws as they are, there’s no getting around the territory game. In the deciding Tri-Nations match at home in Hamilton, a  full strength All Black team held the ball for over 21 minutes (the highest Tri-Nations figure in 2009) and still lost. As unedifying as two sides trying to not to have the ball may be, you must master aerial ping-pong. Reading this blog entry from the Assistant Springbok Coach Gary Gold, you’ll see how much they think about their kicking game, and know what they’re trying to achieve with it.

Kicks, therefore, must be more accurate and designed to create pressure, which only comes from an organised, consistent kick-chase. For the Wallabies, this was patchy at best in 2009 and needs to improve. What Australia did build on was getting runners behind the ball to create attacking opportunities, a potential kick-fest anti-dote, if used judiciously.

The other plank in combating this game plan is to attack the Boks key possession and strike platforms – the scrum and line-out.

The scrum was their strongest try scoring platform, with 4 of their 10 tries coming from it along with 20% of all Tri-Nations penalties. The good news here is that the Boks scrum wasn’t traveling well by the end of the Tri-Nations, and this carried over into Europe. It’s also becoming a point of strength for the Wallabies.

The Bok line-out is no weak link, but the amount of possession surrendered to it was astounding. It won almost 40% of all opposition throws in 2009; twice as many as the other two teams combined. Simply taking your own throw would dramatically shift the balance of power, but with only 44% of South Africa’s line-outs even being challenged (vs 65% of Australia’s), there’s also plenty of headroom to get some pressure onto their own ball as well.

What this means is that the Wallaby line-out has to be the next point of focus for the Wallabies management. As mentioned in a previous post, Nathan Sharpe being the sole specialist line-out jumper in Australia has become a case of neglect. The Wallabies need to be fast-tracking some 200cm+ specialist locks (forget the lock/flankers), getting an expert coach (Foles, Googy, Vicks, from up North?) and imparting as much of dark arts as possible, ASAP. I see no reason why there couldn’t be clinics run within the S14 franchises to accelerate the process ahead of the next international season, so vital is the accelerated development here.

While this may be a blueprint to take care of the Saffas in 2010, it’s also what’s needed for any team who aims to lift Bill in 2011, as this game plan is what we always see come finals footy. The questions is; can the Wallabies face up to the stats and do what’s needed to be done to become true contenders?

As you can see in our 2009 highlights package, we’re pretty frikken proud of our Wallaby scrum. Minus a few dodgy ref calls earlier in the season, they’ve taken apart nigh on all-comers, blooding a brand new tight head prop along the way. But how can we quantify how well they’re doing? Below are some pretty fascinating stats, within which lie a few tales.

The stats come from Gary Gold’s blog Rugby IQ. Gary’s the Springbok Assistant Coach and ex forwards coach of the Stormers. He writes an excellent post, backed up with stats and reasoning that really gives you an insight into how these guys are viewing the game. Even if I don’t agree with that vision.

In his latest post Facing the Real Problems, Gary reasons that in the average test match there are, per team; 60-70 breakdowns, 65-75 ball carries, 30-40 kicks in open play, 17-20 lineouts, 85-95 tackles, and only 8-10 scrums. On top of this, 50% of tries are scored on turn-over ball, which leads him to say:

“Do you see now what I am getting at? Do you see which areas significantly affect the outcome of a match and those that do not have as significant a bearing, although all are still incredibly important?”

In other words “in the big scheme of things, scrums are the least of our problems” (my paraphrasing).

As an Australian reading this, a wry smile creeps across my face. Surely the Wallaby team for the majority of the noughties provided the controlled experiment that proves this Eddie Jones-esque logic tragically flawed. Gold accepts that being dominated in the scrum is a physical and psychological blow. See the Aus v Eng 2007 RWC QF debacle as a perfect example.

However, there’s another reason why I believe Gary really wants to think hard before going down this route; in a word – reputation. For in many failed scrums it’s a crapshoot as to what’s gone wrong, and refs watching it in real time with a single viewing thank their lucky stars when one team’s poor past performances are of such public note. It’s taken at least 3 years and the jettisoning of experienced personnel for the Wallabies to start to shift the mantle of “weak scrum”. If the Boks don’t mind it, they are more than welcome to it!

Having minimised the scrum overall, Gary then gets stuck into what are truly a fascinating set of stats (below).

You can read his take on the Saffa scrum stats in his blog, but here’s what he has to say on the Wallaby scrum:

“Significantly, however, we (South Africa) are second on the list in terms of actually getting the ball out – i.e. the least re-sets. Of course, it’s nothing to boast about, but it does show just how small the margins are in international rugby, yet it is significant that Australia are clearly the worst. This suggests, as has been suspected for years, that Australia are perennial scrum collapsers should they not get the hit they require, and have the most resets.”

What he’s looking at is the % reset stat on the Wallabies own ball, which says that about 31% of Wallaby scrums are reset, versus an average of just over 20% across all nations (it’s misleadingly worded). It won’t surprise you to know that I see it differently to Gary’s interpretation.

With the Wallaby scrum having become so much stronger over the past two seasons, my contention is that few opposition scrums can handle the power that the Wallaby pack is exerting, at the height it’s exerted. So many times this season we’ve seen the opposition tight head collapse, legs splayed backwards. Or the loosehead crumpled, with head bent over into his chest. In the first case they’ve overbalanced forward and lost their footing, in the second they’ve not been able to hold their back-hip alignment at that height.

Why do they do this? As a prop, if you allow a scrummager like Benn Robinson to get under you, you’re gone. His short powerful legs and rod straight back, with a timed shove from the rest of the Wallaby pack, will either force you to stand straight up or simply lift you off the ground. There were plenty of examples of these outcomes over the season, probably none better than the flying lessons Fat Cat gave John Smit.

But if you’re not believing your eyes (see the video at the bottom) and my reasoning for the strength of the Wallaby scrum, look at the opposition scrum stats. The Australian scrum comes only second to France in the proportion of scrums won against the feed, at 12.8%. Even more significantly, across all of the nations in this table, there are only 4 tight heads won, and the Wallabies took 3 of them. (Interestingly, South Africa seems to have taken the mantle of “serial scrum wheelers”, a weaker scrum tactic?)

Unfortunately though, pre-conceptions take time to dispell, and the meantime the impact is huge. In the “Own Ball” stats above, Australia loses the highest percentage of own-ball scrums, at 12.2%. This deficit comes from the Wallabies having the highest proportional penalty and free kick rate against them of any team, driven by 11 full or bent arms.

Bad rep

Where did they come from? In just 3 tests this year – against France and then New Zealand in Auckland and Sydney – Al Baxter was penalised 6 times. We’ve previously discussed how these were more driven by perception than reality, but the statistical reality is that with 6 fewer penalties, Australia’s own scrum loss rate falls to just 6.1%, second behind Italy, who has 4.9%. You can see why Al stayed at home this spring.

In post tour interviews it was good to hear Benn Robinson describe the Wallaby scrum as a “work in progress”, because indeed it is. But for me, one of the most seismic shifts for the Australian scrum this season was from presumption of guilt, to a presumption of innocence from referees. We’ll take it, even if Gary won’t.

Match winner!

Finally! On to the REAL men.  The pigs. The pack. The piano movers. The forwards! Starting at the back of the scrum we consider the top Number 8 of the decade, and I reckon it is a bit of a battle. There are, realistically, three stand out candidates and each have had moments of superb form. But each have also fallen off the pace and not been as consistent as we would have liked.

But to the list, in the 123 tests since 2000 to 2009 we have had the following ten players wear the Wallaby Number 8 jersey:

Toutai Kefu (31 starts), Wycliff Palu (30), David Lyons (28), George Smith (8), Richard Brown (8), Jim Williams (6), Rocky Elsom (4), John Roe (3), Stephen Hoiles (3), Scott Fava (2).

The Top 3, we here at G&GR came up with, are the top three on the capped list as well. So, starting at the top of the list we have…

Toutai Kefu

Toutai Kefu

Like many of his World Cup team mates, Toutai Kefu started the decade on top of the world. In fact Kef was probably at the very top as the best 8-man in world rugby, and one of the best forwards.  Unfortunately he had a slow start to rugby in 2000 and he had to play his way back into the Wallabies from the bench as Big Jim Williams demonstrated his skills in Kef’s old jersey.  Even when back to full fitness coach MacQueen seemed to use the two on a horses for courses basis. Jimmy for the massive Bok pack whilst Kef would take on the more mobile All Blacks. Come season’s end Kef was back in the starting pack and ready for anything.

Anything would come the following year in what would be one of Toutai’s most memorable seasons. He was instrumental in the Wallabies’ 2-1 series win over the British Lions forming a powerful back row combination with the rookie George Smith and the cunning Owen Finegan. A win over the All Blacks in Wellington was soon followed by that most famous of tries. Kefu’s last minute, match winning, Bledisloe retaining, Tri-Nations securing, captain farewelling try was phenomenal from every perspective and will go down as one of the most memorable moments of Australian rugby.

Unfortunately for Kef his Wallaby career ended prematurely. Whereas he had targetted finishing on the high of a home World Cup, instead he bowed out one match early when injury suffered in a Tri Nations match against South Africa ruled him out of the tournament.

Wycliff Palu

Wycliff Palu

Cliffy Palu seems to has saved his best until last. At least the last few tests of the decade. Palu’s form on the 2009 Spring Tour has been career best.  For the first time since his debut in 2006 he has managed to string together a series (more than two) of high quality, high impact games in a row.  His ball running was consistently damaging, his defence destructive and his work rate surprisingly high.

There have been glimpses of his abilities over the last four or so years in the green and gold. We’ve seen the barnstorming running game with the deft off loads.  We’ve seen the occasional massive hit reminiscent of Willie O.  We’ve seen flashes. But we never saw enough of it, and rarely with the high work load he brought to the table in the Grand Slam attempting tour.

When Palu has been injured or out of form the Wallabies of recent years have never looked as capable of winning as they are when he is on song and firing.

David Lyons

David Lyons

David Lyons debuted for Australia against Argentina in the very first match of this decade, just two days after his 20th birthday. This is quite the achievement when you recall that he had only made his Super 12 rugby debut that same year.  It would be a full year, though, until his 2nd test. This time coming off the bench in the first test against the touring Lions team. What an initiation, but what an experience.

And so it would still be another 12 months after the Lions test that he would actually play his third test, against France. The following week he would get his run on debut against the same outfit. He still played most of his rugby from the bench, but at last he was a very real member of the squad. And the experience would prove invaluable come the Rugby World Cup in 2003.

When injury ruled Kefu out of the World Cup squad, Lyons stood up exceptionally to lead the pack. He was a stand out in the very first match of the tournament against the Argentinians, in just his 2nd test start in the position, and would continue his form all tournament to be Australia’s most consistent player.

His form continued the following year in which he won the John Eales medal, but his consistency began to be called into question and injuries began to arise more regularly. He managed to make it to the 2007 World Cup, starting in just the one game, and that was it for the Wallabies. His last game being a relatively low key affair against the Fijians.  On his day he was a damaging wide running 8 with plenty of potential.  I’m personally not convinced we ever saw him at his very best.

So how do we stand? Did we get it right this time from a top three perspective? Does King George’s time at 8 deserve further consideration? Or have we undervalued the worth of Jimmy Williams? Let us know in the vote below, and in our comments section here and in our blog. We need to start getting these positions tied down as we are only a week or so away from naming our Wallaby Team of the Decade.

[poll id="52"]

Liam Gill

The Australian Schoolboys team were given a lesson in composure by NZ Secondary Schools at Ballymore tonight after a disappointing loss, despite leading 12-6 at halftime.

bro’Town decided to ‘tap yo’ Australian Schoolboy’s ass’ in the second half scoring three consecutive tries including one with only 14 men on the park, as a result of a yellow card.

The final scoreline was a close 28-24, but it was in fact a resounding defeat. It was only a couple of late tries by the Schoolboys that put some respectability on the board. That’s not to say that at times Australia looked more than competitive.  

The Schoolboys completely dominated the first half in terms of both possession and territory but couldn’t put any substantial points on the board. The whole of this half was played in New Zealand territory. The Aussies dominated the breakdown, pushed the Kiwis back in the scrum and spoiled their lineout ball. If there had been stats provided you wouldn’t have believed it?

It was awe-inspiring stuff but alas, no tries. The Kiwi defensive effort was outstanding. It was as if Sir Howard Morrison and his Quartet were fighting the British at the Battle of the Waikato. Or it could have been Muhammad Ali v George Foreman’s rope-a-dope. Let the Aussies punch themselves out first. Jeff the Maori, Pepelo Pepelo and Sione tackled their hearts out.

One of the highlights of the first half was the Kiwi fullback Albert Nikoro siddling up to take a penalty kick at goal around about his own 10m line. It was more or less 58m. The crowd chuckled and Francois Steyn was mentioned a few times. FFS – Frans Bro’, just turned 17, actually kicked the mother! Unf*ckin believeable! Now there’s a talent.

I’m not sure what the Kiwis injected into their kina at halftime, but it sure was choice stuff, hey cuzz? The game completely changed. Maybe bro’Town had taken Australia a bit lightly due to their 47-7 smashing of Australia A last Monday. Or perhaps it was just the Schoolboys playing out of their skin? However, like Whacko Jacko and the Black and White Minstrels it just didn’t last.

The Kiwis played themselves back into the game. It was like someone flicked on a switch. ‘Brains to Virgil, Thunderbirds are go!’ The scrums steadied, lineout ball was now won and crikey, they even won some of the opposition ball! The breakdowns reverted to type….you know….NZ committing more men and with more physicality…..Aussies smashed off the ball. Was it only testosterone these guys were on? Too many pimply faces.

Then it happened – wham, bam, thank you ma’am. Jonah Lomu (Francis Saili) at inside centre second five eighths was deftly positioned into a gap whilst hot on attack. This came to pass because the Kiwis had put pressure on an Aussie defensive kick in goal and it went out in touch, in goal. The five metre attacking scrum resulted in Jonah gliding through untouched to score under the posts.

Not only was Jonah playing well but their No 10 Lima Sopoaga was inspirational. He could step like Paul Mecurio. I actually met his Mum before the game and had a bit of a chat. She was quite hot actually for a Kiwi yummy mummy, apart from that appalling accent. Well, when you’re my age….

Lima had on these bright blue boots. I thought for a moment that it was Carson Kressley but I was mistaken. Lima and his blue suede shoes mesmerised and entranced the Aussie defensive effort: “Well, you can knock me down” – no they didn’t. “You can step on my face” – no they didn’t. “Slander my name all over the place” – they may have tried. “But don’t you step on my blue suede shoes” – no they couldn’t catch him to do that?

Next up, Lima Kressly puts in a perfectly weighted chip kick over the defensive line and the No 13 Chauncy Edwardson, in the form of Cory Jane (Chauncy’s mum must have been a Peter Sellers fan), plucks the ball out of the ether in front of the Schoolboys fullback  and sprints over the line.

Lastly, in the 62nd minute (of a 70 min game) Lima conjures up the Dan and Richie show with his No 8 Antonio Kiri Kiri. When the Aussie defensive line is stretched in their 22m, he kicks to his unmarked winger – actually No 8 Kiri Kiri seagulling, who accepts the kick without opposition and falls over the line.  That takes it to 28-12. Game fairly well in the bag.

A short time later it was Australia’s turn. After a series of phases, the replacement five eighth Kyle Godwin threw a beautiful overhead pass to winger Chris Feauai (‘the artist formerly known as Chris Sautia’) who scored in the corner.

In the last minute of play, the replacement Schoolboys fullback Mitch Felsman (proudly from super coach Graeme Silvester’s U17 team at my club Brothers in BrisVegas), used his exceptional speed to get around his opposite number and score in a frantic finish. In an attempt to be able to receive another kick-off before the fulltime whistle was blown, Mitch nonchalantly dropkicked the conversion from the sideline. Gee this boy has some skill. His old man was a good footy player in his time as well.

Unfortunately, it was all too late. For the pimply faced Wallabies Liam Gill (Gregory Terrace Brisbane) at No 7 was terrific. He is a class player and will inevitably be snapped up by the Melbourne Rebels or whoever. I was impressed by No 10 Rohan Saifoloi (Brisbane State High) before he went off injured.

Winger Kimami Sitauti (the man responsible for Chris Sautia’s name change) was a handful every time he got the ball and is another who’s going places. He actually played in the Brisbane Premier Grade Grand Final the other day for Souths at 18 yrs of age and as a current student at Nudgee College. Funnily enough, he was also eligible for NZ and had played U17 representative rugby for them last year.

The No 4 Luke Jones (St Pius X College) was another standout. This guy is tough and mobile – I liked what I saw. Tyson Frizell (Illawarra Sports High) showed some go-forward at inside centre and Paul Alo-Emile (Brisbane State High) muscled up at the breakdowns. Like David Feao before him, he’ll be a Premier Grade player in a year or so.

The halfback Nick Stirzaker has a bullet pass although on occasions it didn’t land in front of Saifoloi as required. Very crisp service mind.

For the Kiwis their 10, 12 and 13 were magnificent in defence in the first half, and attack in the second. Impressive forward pack in the second half, buggered if I know what their coach said at halftime but it worked?

My Man of the Match was Lima Sopoaga from NZ and his mum.

Brent Cockbain Melbourne's John Wellborn?

SEE ALL OUR LATEST NEWS, GOSSIP AND RAMBLINGS ABOUT THE MELBOURNE REBELS HERE

The good news for the proposed Melbourne Rebels Super 15 franchise is that the two main parties, VicSuper15 and the VRU Rebels, have formed a partnership and the third is now sniffing around looking for an opportunity to participate.

This is now happening under the auspices of the ARU’s co-opted financial guru, John Wylie. That might mean we now have a viable option or indeed, a going concern.

Once it comes to pass and we’re potentially handed the baton by SANZAR, they’ll be establishing the structure that will deliver the stuff that we’re really interested in like who’ll be the coach; which players will they recruit; how competitive will they be; what will they be called and what will their playing strip look like?

You’d have to say that the establishment of the Western Force is a pretty good template to follow in terms of structure, implementation, coach and players. Sure, the Firepower sponsorship was a bit of a disaster but you can’t win them all. The franchise in WA has been bedded down and apart from the ongoing difficulties with not having a proper rugby ground, which has affected attendance, things seem to be going reasonably well. They have a competitive union side which is there to stay.

I’m going to talk about the prospective coaches and players that I’d potentially recruit. Everyone will have an opinion on this but I’ve given it a bit of thought and made a few assumptions as well. The assumptions are that:

• We’re a new franchise in a limited market and as such are permitted by the ARU to recruit Australians from abroad whether they’re currently eligible to play for Australia or not.
• We’re permitted to recruit a smattering of Pacific Islanders and Argentinians.
• We’re also allowed to recruit a marquee player.
• Their current contract status is unknown.

Playing Style – forward orientated to some extent; a European style based on scrummaging, mauling and breakdown domination; wet weather capable (it is Melbourne); competent kicking game and an ability to break the line out wide.

Coach – these are the guys I’d be flying to Melbourne to interview:

Steve Meehan. Began his coaching career in Queensland in Premier Grade for GPS. He joined Stade Francais in 2002 and worked as a backs and skills assistant to Nick Mallett then Fabien Galthie. He was then recruited by Bath Rugby in 2006, taking over from Foley. He’s finished 8th, 3rd and 4th in the Guinness Premiership and has been competitive in the Heineken Cup. Bath have had a slow start to this season. They have played an attractive brand of rugby under Meehan. The drug related scandal at the end of last season may have taken its toll but its not his fault they had a few planks in their side.

Anthony McGahan. He came up through the Queensland coaching system via Brisbane Easts and schoolboys (including Churchie); also Australia U19. He was the defensive coach at Munster for a few years before getting the big gig last year. Laurie Fisher is his forwards coach. He made the Heineken Cup final against Leinster and won the Magners Celtic League, so has runs on the board. They’ve had a mixed beginning to this season.

Michael Cheika. Everybody’s talking Michael Cheika! I guess that’s because the mail is saying this will be his last season for Leinster. He’s been there since 2005 and has built it up solidly, peaking last year with the Heineken Cup win. He originated out of Randwick via Padova. He built up a partnership with David Knox which terminated acrimoniously last year. He now has Alan Gaffney and Jonno Gibbes in support. They’re continuing in the same vein this year, winning four out of five Magners League games to date.

Ewen MacKenzie. If he’s still available? Link is famously from down that way and attended Scotch College in Melbourne. He would be a good fit for this job – some have even been linking him to the CEO position. You’d think setting up a franchise from scratch would appeal to him. He was a successful Brumbies and Wallaby assistant and achieved good things at the Waratahs. His premature departure from Stade Francais was disappointing but, hey, they’re Frogs aren’t they? Taciturn and sometimes ‘ornery in public, I’d imagine Link drove some of those NSW Alikadoos crazy…..

I’d also consider Jake White, Pat Howard and Rod Kafer (I reckon Kafe’s a tactical genius – shame about his RUPA connections).

The Players – Melbourne Connection. I’d recruit some players with Melbourne associations to provide important local content to the side:

Digby Ioane. Diggers can become a world class player in the mould of Rupeni Caucaunibuca if he so chooses. He is such a difficult player to tackle with his continuous step and pumping thighs. He just needs to remain injury free. He also needs to focus on being a Wallaby and not what he can earn elsewhere. His whanau live in Melbourne.

Lloyd Johansson. Yes, I know what you’re going to say. But Johansson was exposed way too early to the big time. He had it too easy from schoolboy to Wallaby level. He now plays for Calvisano in Italy as a centre or five eighths. He’s still only 24. I’d like to see a more mature player return – he has all the skills.

Tom McVerry. Tom plays for Kyuden Voltex in the Japanese Top League. He is another player originating from Melbourne. A hard working openside flanker he had limited game time for the Reds due to David Croft’s mortgage on the position, so they converted him to blindside or occasionally No 8. A journeyman but one with heart who could make a contribution.

Marquee Player – Greg Somerville. Tighthead prop who can sometimes play loosehead. Somerville has been a world class player but is now coming towards the end of his career. I’d pick Carl Hayman as first choice but it’s unlikely that he’d be available in 2011. Somerville is a rock and a tough Canterbury boy.

The Rest

Rodney Blake. Rodzilla has had a couple of season over in Bayonne playing Top 14 against some hard nuts. He never really cut it during his Wallaby stint. He was seen as ‘the great white hope’ in response to our abysmal scrummaging performance during Eddie Jones’ tenure. But it was all too much pressure for Rod. Now that he’s matured I reckon he could challenge for a RWC 2011 Wallaby tighthead spot, despite some press rubbish from Tonga speculating that he could end up playing for them.

Marcos Ayerza. This guy is an Argentinean bull. He is a world class loosehead prop who plays for the Leceister Tigers. He’s only 26 yrs old and is taking over from the veteran Rodrigo Roncero (Stade Francais) in the Argentinean pack. He thinks the Super 15 proposal that would include players from Argentina a great idea. In his spare time he plays pianoforte – Chopin and Bach. I think he’d fit right in to the Melbourne scene?

Alex Walker. An Australian U21 player now plying his trade with the Newcastle Falcons. Previously with Leeds and Saracens. A former tighthead prop, he is a strong scrummager and mobile around the park. He holds both an Australian and British passport. Only 25 and a very promising player.

Brent Cockbain. The former Welsh lock is currently playing for Sale in the Guinness Premiership and probably his best is behind him. He is an aggressive forward in the tight with his lineout work a strength. You’d be able to use his experience in a similar manner to the way the Force did with John Wellborn.

Dan Vickerman. If he was fit, playing professional rugby and wanted to return to Australia you’d jump at the chance to recruit him. At his best he’s a world class lock and lineout forward. He would add so much starch to a new franchise and perhaps you could use his business acumen as well? If he was unavailable, I’d go with Al Campbell from Montpellier.

Ben Mowen. Another Queensland product and one of the Waratahs’ stars this year. A tall, rangy and athletic loose forward with lineout skills and a big future. This is a kid whom you could base your franchise around – future captain.

Scott Gray.  Like Bam Bam he is originally from Zimbabwe but ended up in Queensland. An openside flanker, he was recruited to the Brumbies Academy but switched codes and played with the Broncos before joining Bath in the Guinness Premiership. From Bath, Gray joined Border Reivers until their disbandment. Now with the Northhampton Saints he has a number of international caps for Scotland.

Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe. A hard, grafting, classy No. 8 now with Toulon. A natural leader with tactical nous and a touch of charisma. With his captaincy experience for both Sale and Argentina he’d be a leading candidate for the leadership.

Nic Berry. ‘Chuck’ has been with Racing Metro 92 Paris for the past couple of years, gaining promotion to the Top 14 this year. He’s a former Red, nippy on his feet with a good pass and box kick. He departed the Reds at a time when the halfback stocks were relatively healthy – he would be an asset there right now and in contention for a Wallaby spot.

Brock James. He’d be one of the first players I’d recruit. He would be just right for Melbourne conditions and the style of rugby I’d want to play. He has been an outstanding success at five eighth with Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 but had an average time with the Force and the Reds previously.

Jonathon Thurston. I thought I’d throw this one in just to put you off! We all know his skill level and potential. He’d make a fantastic union player in the halves. The way it’s been reported you’d think that he even might be keen to give it a try. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t come anywhere near to adjusting to the union culture – stick with league mungo!

Paul Warwick. Originating from Brisbane Premier Grade GPS rugby, he has played league with the Broncos, union with the Reds and Connaught in the Magners League and now with Munster. London Irish were trying to recruit him recently but it looks like he’s staying at Munster. He has developed into a very capable fullback or five eighth at this top level, with a strong kicking game.

Mafi Kefu. Another player who has developed into a top line inside centre away from Australia. He was essentially a club and fringe Reds player when he went overseas but has now carved out a starting centre spot with Toulon in the Top 14. One of the famous Kefu clan, a strong and busting player who looks the goods on Setanta.

Marc Gasnier. Le Gaz has also turned into a fine player at Stade Francais as we’d all probably expect, as either a wing or centre. Link speaks well of his progress and there is potential for him to return to Oz for a shot at the 2011 RWC. Maybe he’d go where Link went?

Lachlan Mitchell. Young player out of the NSW Academy who was snapped up by Wasps in the Guinness Premiership last year. He played a number of games for both the A and First XV teams. Speed to burn and impressive skill-set. Looks like a kid with oodles of promise.

Cameron Shepherd. It’s time Shepherd had a change of luck with injuries restricting his appearances for the Force. When fully fit he’s a class fullback with a big boot. The sort of guy that would do well in Melbourne conditions. A safe defender and some speed on attack – he frequently seems to be in the right spot at the right time.

Notwithstanding those mentioned I’d also look at some Pacific island players, maybe former Australian residents like Josh Afu (Newcastle Falcons) or  Dan Leo (Wasps) or a few Fijian backs like Seru Rabeni or Sireli Bobo? And I’d probably plunder the Reds Academy as well?

Here is a list (not exhaustive) of where some of the better known Australian players are based:

Italy: Cam Treloar, Brendan Williams, Justin Purll, Michael Aldridge, Todd Ollivier, Mark Sweeney, Arthur Little, Peter-William Marrapodi, Christian Warner, Luke McLean

France: Ben Coutts, AJ Whalley, Sam Cordingley, Chris Siale, Fotunuupule Auelua, Luke Rooney, Manny Edmonds, Craig Gower, Troy Takiari, Junior Pelesasa, Paul Dearlove, Matt Jolley, Henri Veratau, Lachie MacKay

UK & Ireland: Peter Hewat, Chris Malone, Tim Donnelly, Julian Salvi, Liam Bibo, Clinton Schifcofske, Steve Kefu, Ben Jacobs, Daniel Roach, David Lyons, Greg Barden, Shaun Berne, Chris Whitaker, Chris Latham, Andrew Farley, Ben White, Tim Swinson, Matt Carraro, Sam Norton-Knight, Tamaiti Horua, Gareth Hardy, Dan Parks, Ed O’Donoghue, Tom Court

Japan: Shame Drahm, Radike Samo, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Jone Tawake, Dan Heenan, Tim Atkinson, Nathan Grey, Elia Tuqiri, Toutai Kefu, Hugh McMeniman, Mark Gerrard, James Hilgendorf, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan, Scott Staniforth, Tai McIsaac, Brett Stapleton, Joel Wilson, Damian McInally, Gene Fairbanks, Peter Miller, Josh Gamgee, Mark Gilbride, Craig Wing

NZ: David Te Moana, Tajhon Mailata, Olei Ovei

Rebel with a cause

Update 29 Sept: It has been reported in today’s media that the VRU Rebel’s bid Chairman (and media buying giant) Harold Mitchell has broken bread with VicSuper15 Group’s Ray Evans and Glenn Fowles, with a resultant merged board likely to result from the negotiations and with Mitchell appointed as Chairman.

If this is the case, a strong contender for ultimate control of the franchise would likely eventuate. This ‘merged’ group are reportedly due to meet ARU appointed ‘number cruncher’ John Wylie later this week for discussions.

It is not known whether the third bidder, the Belgravia Group, will have any role in this proposed partnership. This is positive news, especially for key stakeholder the VRU, who are fighting off attempts by the ARU  to seemingly cut them out of the action. 

Original Post

I’m confident that the argy bargy over the model for the new Super 15 side in Melbourne, once the Australian option is ratified by SANZAR, will establish a viable template for rugby operations within our Southern State and provide a new stream for expanding the international talent base within Australia.

Sure, it hasn’t been a great start by the ARU as they’ve managed to not only get the VRU offside but the other bidders as well. Interestingly, the ARU Board refused to concur with their own administration’s recommendations for a preferred private equity partner – VicSuper15.

Although you’d imagine the Board would have signed off on this model prior to going to tender. Maybe they’d just gotten cold feet or was it perceptions that JO’N had ridden roughshod over all the rugby stakeholders in Melbourne that hasn’t really gone down a treat? A potential red trouser day for ARU President Ron Graham perhaps?

It seems that consensus is going to be the answer. They’ve appointed a financial ‘guru’ to crunch the numbers and negotiate an outcome that will satisfy all concerned. Sounds a bit like socialism but hey, lets get it up and running before the Saffa Southern Kings (aka the Southern Spears) sneak up from behind and pull off a lekker snotklap!  

Isn’t it great that there has been significant interest in the franchise from Melbourne and beyond, and that there is real money ready to be invested in rugby’s spread throughout Australia. Melbourne is a corporate giant with a surprising number of rugby supporters amongst its AFL dominated elite. In fact, rugby was first played in Victoria in the 1840′s.

There are a fair number of private schools (in particular) that play and foster rugby union. In recent years quite a number of top quality players have originated from Victoria i.e. Digby Ioane, Rocky Elsom, Tamaiti Horua, Dave Fitter etc. In addition, club rugby is thriving and there is a strong base for future development throughout the state – they play it in Ballarat, Bendigo, Boroondara, Border Army, Rabbits, Great Wall of China, I’ve been everywhere man……  

This year, the  Combined States team at the Australian Schoolboys Championships (which contains Victorian players) were  finalists for the first time ever against a rugby playing state – Queensland 1. There were nine Victorian players selected in this side and today (27/9/09) there has been four Victorian boys selected in the Australia/Australia A sides to play NZ  Schoolboys in the next week or two. That’s evidence to me that the VRU and the ASRFU are doing a pretty credible job down there.  

It’ll be interesting to see how the Melbourne Rebels v Melbourne Storm competing franchise/code plays out. They’ll both be operating from the same location, the new 31,000 seat rectangular stadium at Olympic Park (in addition to the Melbourne Victory soccer team). This stadium will be completed early next year and is state of the art stuff.

The Storm of course have a head start and runs on the board in terms of success but they’ve never really cut it when it comes to corporate support, profit making and ‘bums on seats’. The Storm is owned by News Ltd and is losing money hand over fist.  In fact, they reportedly lost $6m in 2007 and are still bleeding. It appears the NRL artificially props it up and use it as a ‘loss leader’ in marketing terms. Television coverage of Storm games (not necessarily in Melbourne as it’s not live free-to-air) is what keeps it going. 

The Victorian Government have become strong supporters of  ‘rectangular stadium’ games. Soccer and rugby league are essentially the reason this stadium is being built. Not only for regular scheduled club matches but for internationals, inter state and related games. The initial Melbourne Rebels bid in 2005 was a contributing factor to this project. There was always a likelihood that Super 12/14 would expand and inevitably arrive at Melbourne’s door.  

All the available evidence suggests that there are many more rugby union supporters in Melbourne than mungos. Especially with that very large ex-pat Kiwi and Saffa connection down there. Like Perthfontein, a significant proportion of the supporter base will be barracking for the opposition but WTF, as long as they rock up. It might be like going to a Reds v Crusaders game where most of the fans seem to be decked out in red and black?  

An important component to grow the game in Melbourne would be some sort of free-to-air coverage of rugby union. At the moment, no rugby of any code is shown FTA. This needs to be sorted in the negotiations with News Ltd for the new SANZAR contract. Well, it needs to be sorted with any FTA content in any state but realistically, if you wanted to grow rugby in new markets, i.e. WA and Victoria,  it’s ‘all the way with FTA’. 

Foxtel is great but FTA is the only track if its going to catch-on big time. That’s also dependent on the quality of the product but lets not go there just now……   

Once the orgnisational and administrative template is bedded down, the Melbourne Rebels will be looking at a coaching structure and recruitment drive. That’ll be the basis of my next post.   

The SFS - similar to 'any suburban park'

If yesterday was round 1 to the ARU (via Grumbles Growden) then today is Demo and the players’ turn to strike back. However, I’m not sure they’ve helped their cause much at all, potentially the reverse.

At the bottom of this post is the RUPA’s official reply to Grumbles’ expose yesterday. It’s goal appears to be to cast the ‘money-grubbing’ spotlight back onto the ARU, saying that the players only wanted paying if the match was to be a commercial venture. On the face of it that would sound ‘fair enough’ to many.

However, there are some important details in the RUPA statement. In it, the ARU first asks RUPA in May whether the players will want a match fee for an internal trial at the SFS. RUPA finds out that such a match will also help NSWRU out of a hole, as their members were due an Australia A game as part of their initial package.

Over the next two months “discussions also took place directly between the Wallaby player group and the ARU senior management…over the subject”. In a column today from Rupert Guinness of The Herald, we read (via an ARU source) that

“there was an offer that if there was any surplus once the costs of the match were met, it would be donated to a charity of the players’ choice.”

however,

The Wallabies said they were always keen to play the game for free if it was a non-commercial venture, but the source said if there were match proceeds, the players wanted them shared between the states and not just given to NSW. NSW members of the Wallabies supported either idea, the source said, but those from the Reds, Western Force or Brumbies did not.

In other words, even if the match was non-commercial, and all the proceeds went to charities across the states, the non-Waratah contingent of the players were against it as it would help the NSWRU out of their predicament.

Carefully then, read these words from the RUPA statement:

In August the RUPA, on behalf of the Wallaby group, conveyed to the ARU that if the game proposed was to be played at the SFS to ensure the NSWRU fulfilled its obligations to its members and therefore generate revenue then it was only reasonable the players be paid the usual fee for a similar Australia A type match – $2,500

So, even though there would be no proceeds from the game going to the ARU or NSWRU, the fact that this would help the NSWRU out of a $100/120k hole not of their own making (they didn’t can the Australia A programme) RUPA and the players wanted a taste. As the players fees would amount to $110k (coincidental?) this would still leave the NSWRU fully in the shit.

They were happy to play at “any local suburban park” for free, just not at the SFS.

If you were running the ARU, and saw a way to help one of your state unions who had got inadvertently screwed over by a tough financial decision you had made, while running a trial match that your coaching staff and fan-base wanted, what would you do?

How would you react if your employees, the players (yes, believe it or not they work for the ARU) told you they wouldn’t let you help that union, and serve the needs of the coaches and fans, out of spite?

If these are the facts, then today it certainly doesn’t look any better for the players or for RUPA.
The upshot is:

• No charity will be seeing any surplusses (which no doubt would have been bigger from a match at the SFS than Lindfield oval)
• A state union has to find $100k from somewhere else – development maybe?
• Fans are denied a spectacle
• The last non-club game we have to decide tour form was that clusterfuck in Wellington.

While there are no winners out of this debacle, I reckon I know who’s winning the media war. 2-0.

The RUPA response to “Wallabies sink tour trial for $2,500″ SMH Article:

The RUPA responds to the inaccurate nature of the article published today by the Sydney Morning Herald entitled “Wallabies sink tour trial for $2,500″. In that article it is claimed that a proposed Possible- Probable’s [selection trial] match was postponed because of extraordinary pay demands from the Wallabies players.

The facts in this matter are as follows:

1. In or about August 2008 the ARU gave the rights to the NSWRU to host an Australia A match at the SFS;

2. In reliance on this the NSWRU sold from September 2008 as part of their membership package for 2009 an Australia A game;

3. In or about December 2008 the ARU withdrew from the Pacific Six nation tournament thus preventing the NSWRU from hosting the A game they had sold to members as part of their membership package;

4. In May 2009 the ARU first approached the RUPA to seek the player’s view on match fee for a game at the SFS to prepare the players for the game against the All Blacks scheduled to take place three weeks in Tokyo and to use it for selection of some younger fringe players for the upcoming European tour;

5. Discussions between the RUPA and the ARU then proceeded on details surrounding the match. From those discussions it emerged the match would be billed as the Wallabies V Australian Barbarians played at the SFS on a Sunday afternoon so that the NSWRU could honour its commitments to its members who has purchased the membership packages with an Australia A fixture included;

6. Discussions also took place directly between the Wallaby player group and the ARU senior management in June and July over the subject;

7. In August the RUPA, on behalf of the Wallaby group, conveyed to the ARU that if the game proposed was to be played at the SFS to ensure the NSWRU fulfilled its obligations to its members and therefore generate revenue then it was only reasonable the players be paid the usual fee for a similar Australia A type match – $2,500. If on the other hand the purpose of the match was solely to be used in preparation for the All Blacks match and for fringe selection purposes then the Wallabies would of course be happy to play the game at a local suburban park without request for a match fee;

8. In August 2009 the ARU responded to the RUPA suggestion by advising the game was not now proceeding in the format proposed but instead that the players’ preparation for the end of season tour would be altered to prepare them for the Tour in a different way;

9. The NSWRU has reimbursed its members for the Australia A game cancelled by the ARU last December.

The Sydney Morning Herald’s article is factually incorrect in a number of ways:

1. The match under discussion wasn’t simply about playing a trial – but about providing a substitute match for the NSWRU after the ARU cancelled their Australia A game last December;

2. The RUPA didn’t demand a payment of $2,500 but suggested a fee of $2,500 in response to a question by the ARU as to whether the players expected a fee;

3. After suggesting the fee the ARU decided to scrap the game without further discussion;

4. The ARU did not in recent days cancel the proposed Wallaby V Australian Barbarian match. It was called off in August;

5. The only venue proposed by the ARU to the RUPA was the SFS – not North Sydney Oval.

Tony Dempsey Chief Executive Officer of the RUPA said:

“It is easy for someone to suggest there are cracks within the player framework. Worse still it is easy to infer the players are money focused. A more challenging, difficult and yet constructive task is to provide positive solutions to the Wallabies recent lack of form against the All Blacks.

It is not clear what source the SHM relies upon when writing an article of this nature. Equally puzzling is why clarity was not sought about the issue from the RUPA before publishing it.

The Wallaby players’ themselves are generous both with their time and money when it comes to supporting charitable causes. Examples this year include donation of their first round Super match fees to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and participation and support of numerous charities including but not limited to Cystic Fibrosis Australia, Starlight Foundation – various appearances, Blue September, Arthritis Australia – kids camps, Mission Australia – various programs, The Smith Family – various programs, The eMerge Foundation, Ovarian Cancer Australia, RSPCA, Cook Islands donation of books, Ronald McDonald House – various appearances, Xtrata Charity Rugby Day, Camp Quality – various, ActewAGL Country Visits, Red Cross Blood Donation, Cerebal Palsy, Breast Cancer – various, Movember, Pyjama Foundation, Red Kite, St Vincent de Paul – Youthreach/Matt Talbot, Retina Australia Foundation, It’s Time Foundation, Patch (Canberra Hospital), Red Frogs, The Why Genera tion, POW Sydney Hospital, Humpty Dumpty Foundation, This is Oz run by Acan – anti discrimination, Eightytwenty Vision, Wallabies Rewards program – Values in Sport Forum & Junior clubs, National Aboriginal Sports Corporate Australia (NASCA), Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Rugby CONNECT – womens rugby, disabled, indigenous and Culturally & Linguistically Diverse populations.

The players also spend numerous hours volunteering their time to help out at grass roots rugby functions and events.

In addition to assist Australian Rugby with the downturn in the general economy Wallaby players agreed earlier this year to take a Test match pay cut. Further, players from the Waratahs and Reds (including Wallabies from these two states) have agreed to forgo one week’s leave without pay.

It is not the first time and dare we say the last that during a Wallaby form slump that it is suggested the players are either overpaid or money hungry. The reality is players are just as committed as ever in representing their country and take great pride in representing their country.

What is needed now in Australian rugby is a galvanizing of support for the Wallabies as they prepare for the November tour – not misinformed ill advised rhetoric about the attitude of players to money.”

Message Ends.

For Further Information contact:
Glenys Smith
PA to the Chief Executive Officer
The Rugby Union Players’ Association Inc