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A decade of inconsistency and disappointment for Australian rugby
Australian rugby is licking its wounds after a miserable year that drew the curtains on a decade best consigned to the sport’s historic dustbin.
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Rugby enters a new 10-year block facing serious challenges to its status as a premier Australian sporting product, the Israel Folau storm of 2019 the latest and most damaging from a collection of off-field blow-ups.
Negative headlines have outnumbered celebratory moments, the last of which came three years ago when the women’s sevens team collected gold at the Rio Olympics.
Men’s results have tailed off although the Wallabies sparked memories of the glorious 1990s when the 2015 side under Michael Cheika defied all predictions and reached the Rugby World Cup final.
Cheika was at the helm when the NSW Waratahs won a maiden Super Rugby crown a year earlier, mirroring the deeds of the 2011 Queensland Reds.
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Otherwise, Super Rugby was a grim landscape for Australian sides, translating into a struggling Wallabies te am whose form was rarely better than patchy. A winning ratio of just over 50 per cent across the decade was the sixth best among tier-one nations.
Reclaiming the Bledisloe Cup was a task too hard for Robbie Deans, Ewen McKenzie and Cheika, whose Wallabies coaching tenures all ended on low notes.
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Turnover king David Pocock was a world-class forward operator but a dearth of x-factor backline players made the sport a hard sell.
Aside from Folau, it’s hard to think of an attacking back that repeatedly got hearts racing, although Will Genia and Quade Cooper were a lethal playmaking pair for a fleeting time.
Cooper became as well known for his off-field run-ins, a member of the “three amigos” – alongside Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor – the young Test stars who kept officialdom on their toes.
Honours Board:
– 2011, Queensland Reds win Super Rugby
– 2011, Wallabies win the Tri-Nations.
– 2014, NSW Waratahs win Super Rugby
– 2015, Wallabies win the Rugby Championship
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– 2015, Wallabies reach the Rugby World Cup final.
– 2016, Women’s sevens win gold at the Rio Olympics
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Winning percentage (tier-one teams)
New Zealand 86.6%, England 68.3, Ireland 60.8, South Africa 59.8, Wales 55.0, AUSTRALIA 53.7, France 46.9, Scotland 46.6, Argentina 35.6, Italy 23.4.
Best Wallabies XV
Fullback – Israel Folau. Before disappearing in a blaze of controversy, Folau was easily the most devastating attacker to wear green and gold this decade. Kurtley Beale had his moments at the back.
Wingers – Adam Ashley-Cooper and James O’Connor. The lack of quality wide men is highlighted by two players better known for their versatility getting the nod. Of the spe cialists, Drew Mitchell peaked the previous decade and 2019 World Cup star Marika Koroibete left his run too late.
Centres – Tevita Kuridrani and Kurtley Beale. Fielding a settled Wallabies midfield was rare. Kuridrani was strong and reliable while Beale on his day could be a match-winner but he was shunted around the backline.
Five-eighth – Bernard Foley. Solid and racked up points at a decent rate but only really shone at the 2015 World Cup. Quade Cooper’s flashes of brilliance were too fleeting.
Halfback – Will Genia. The game’s premier No.9 early in his career before tailing off by the end but always one of the team’s most important players. Nick Phipps was an admirable backup.
Back row – David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy. On sheer ability, champion ball scrounger Pocock and the workaholic Hooper are both there, despite criticism their combination created an under-sized pack. The industrious Fardy blended with them best in 2015.
New York has left Mathieu Bastareaud feeling all chilly at new club Rugby United https://t.co/yaYmpvRW8q
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 20, 2019
Locks – Rob Simmons and James Horwill. Simmons was a model of consistency across the decade. Horwill was promoted to captain, edging him ahead of some worthy candidates.
Props – Sekope Kepu and Scott Sio. Kepu was the most capped Wallaby during the 10 years, playing 107 of the 136 Tests. Sio was a brutal performer in recent seasons, seeing off the claims of James Slipper and Benn Robinson.
Hooker – Stephen Moore (captain). Like so many of the 2015 Rugby World Cup finalists, finds a place in this selection. A tough as nails skipper, complemented by Tatafu Polota-Nau off the bench
– AssociatedPress
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Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
27 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
26 Go to comments