Can We Relegate The Wallabies To The Mitre 10 Cup?
If the Rugby Championship is too hard the Mitre 10 Cup could be just the ticket, writes Jamie Wall – and he’s only half joking.
It’s a tough life for a Wallabies fan in 2016. Since the World Cup final they have suffered five straight losses – three of which were certified hidings – at the hands of both England and the All Blacks.
It’s clear the Wallabies finding The Rugby Championship a bit tough – maybe it’s time to try a competition where they might have a little more success. The good news is that there’s one in New Zealand called the Mitre 10 Cup.
If you’re unfamiliar with New Zealand’s top provincial competition, it might be because it’s had various names over the years – it used to be the Air New Zealand NPC, then it was the ITM Cup. It’s also been slowly eroded of any All Black involvement, meaning the Wallabies won’t need to worry about getting too many more thrashings.
The 2016 Wallabies would be right at home, as this season’s play so far has seen some pretty sketchy defensive patterns and high score lines – the average after two rounds is 36-21.
In all seriousness, the Mitre 10 Cup could actually provide a helping hand to Australian rugby. Integrating their players into this provincial comp would probably do their development a world of good. It wouldn’t be unprecedented either – Brock James once turned out for Taranaki, Julian Huxley had a run for Northland and Christian Lealiifano had a season for Waikato.
All were short stints that went on to produce solid careers (unfortunately Lealiifano’s is on hold due to cancer treatment). If the next crop of Australian players could get a taste of who they may end up facing in the future when they pull on the gold jersey, it might produce fewer one sided results and give them confidence playing on New Zealand soil.
Richie McCaw last week publicly stated he wanted the Aussies to get better so at least it’d be a close game. It’s probably fair to presume that NZ Rugby agree with him, and that they’re getting a little bit worried about the fact that future Bledisloe tests might not even sell out, given their increasingly one-sided nature. So helping make Australian rugby at least competitive again would most definitely be in their best interests.
The current Australian provincial competition, the National Rugby Championship, is a noble effort to create some depth in the country. Unfortunately, it hasn’t translated into any sort of national success. It’s currently dominated by a stacked Brisbane City side, who just seem to be the Queensland Reds in different jerseys. The most notable piece of play to come out its existence a terrible refereeing call.
It’s hard to believe that we’re joking about the Mitre 10 Cup being a radical saviour for a country that made it to the World Cup final last year. But something needs to change, and quickly, because Stephen Moore and Michael Cheika can’t keep blaming the referees forever.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments