Would Kiwi players help Aussie teams?
Former Wallaby Mark Ella has suggested radical changes to Super Rugby that include allowing Australian teams to sign New Zealand players.
“After the Waratahs’ loss to the Blues last Saturday I can’t see an Australian team beating a New Zealand team this season,” Ella said.
“If that happens, we would have gone two years without winning a single game against Kiwi opposition. That is totally unacceptable.
Ella raised some valid points with his suggestion that if the imbalance stretches too far, the competition suffers and as a result, the broadcast rights aren’t worth as much. His proposed solution is an open player market, with each player free to play for any team within the competition.
“If you can’t beat them, sign them.
“Imagine what a difference it would make if the Brumbies signed Beauden Barrett or if the Waratahs recruited Brodie Retallick.
“If players were free to play for any team in the competition, it would help to level out the playing field and make Super Rugby a much better competition.
“Right now it is just a competition between four strong Kiwi sides.”
Whilst his suggestion has some merit – the problem is and has always been rugby is about national interests, not about creating an even professional competition. Super Rugby is window dressed as a league but it is trying to be something it can never be – it’s stuck somewhere in between due to governing interests.
It’s a counterfeit pro league when you compare to the likes of the NFL, NBA that have drafts and free agency to spread the talent around the competition to prevent imbalances of power. This was always going to happen if one country built their system to be stronger.
The second issue would be headline All Blacks like Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick wouldn’t leave successful organisations to play for struggling Australian teams. The teams would need to stump up large multiples of their current salaries for them to even consider it, and they don’t have that kind of money.
A free market wouldn’t fix the imbalance now. You would have to wait years and years for the market to swing around. Australian sides would have to sign up and coming talent from New Zealand on overs – with no guarantees they will pan out as professional players without the same level of coaching.
“You would just need one or two key Kiwi players to make the Australian teams competitive again,” he said.
Ella’s belief that just one or two players would shift the balance is deluded. Putting Beauden Barrett on the Brumbies wouldn’t turn the Brumbies into a powerhouse. The team is poor, the coaching is poor and the skill level across the board isn’t there. Barrett would improve the side, but it would be like using two buckets instead of one when trying to empty water from a sinking boat.
Australian teams would be better served signing established New Zealand coaches with credible track records. Dave Rennie, now at Glasgow Warriors or Chris Boyd who is set to join Northampton, would be quality additions that could provide more impact than one or two star players. These two have long records of proven success at Super Rugby level – but convincing them to cross the ditch is another problem all together.
They may not win titles but the players and style of rugby would improve. A long-term turnaround would require handing over control of recruitment and pathway programmes to the head coach, who can then put the right people in to oversee it. Because it’s not just the coaching that needs changing – one of the biggest issues in Australian rugby is the number of people at the top who have been proven incapable – coaches, recruitment managers, executives, boards – yet, for the most part, they still find employment within Australian rugby.
Without falling deeper into Aussie rugby problems, a good place to start would be bringing in an innovative, brilliant coaching mind with a proven track record. It might be surprising what kind of difference it makes.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
That loss to the Blues still stings! The Reds have fallen short in 4 of the 6 games decided by 7 points or fewer. Are they not fit enough to close out the close games or are there tactical issues when games go down to the wire? The pleasing thing is no Australian side can better the Reds record of 3 wins from 5 against Kiwi sides but the Brumbies can match it. Les Kiss has instilled a belief in the Reds that they can match it with all the New Zealand sides.
30 Go to commentsA potential 5th star for Leinster and redemption adter losing 2 tight finals against La Rochelle against Toulouse and the chance for Jacques Nienaber to have some success without Rassie Erasmus running the show.
4 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and welcome back 😁 Vulavalu does look better this year, and about time. I suspect Schmidt will knock the hubris out of him. That one handed put down was so embarrassing. Mind you, I had thought Kiss would deal with that. Leaving aside the different games and skills, in NRL he had a very good (but no bullshit) type of coach in Bellamy, something he hasn't had in Union until this year. Bellamy would have roasted him unmercifully for an unprofessional put down.
30 Go to commentsYou’d think the first step would be taking responsibility for the stupid sh*t you did and to stop blaming other people. Does he seriously think that people believe him when he says it just magically got into his system without him knowing anything about it? You’re gonna notice if you’re on the juice, bruh.
2 Go to commentsI watch the Reds now, and many of their players, and think back to watching London Irish in their last two years under Michael Kiss. I recall Nick Phipps looking a very competent scrumhalf, Rob Simmons a lynch pin in the lineouts. Both men writen off by many on the rugby sites. There is no question in my mind that Kiss has a very different touch to any coach the Reds have had in years. It will take time, but this team could develop into a very good team, hard to beat by any one down here in the SH. You highlight two players especially, Nick. Vunivalu and Paisami are thriving this year, especially the latter. And so many others. The now heavier Fraser McReight, his great mate Harry Wilson, and the “Fardy” man, Liam Wright. That is only three, ut in reality every player is acroos the whole squad is the better for the new regime.
30 Go to commentsRecord Score Downloading…………..
1 Go to commentsWonderful insightful interview with Crusader Johnny McNicoll. He was exceptional in the wins over the Chiefs and Rebels and I am sure he will get a contract again for 2025. He was an excitement machine for Canterbury and the Crusaders in 2011-16 and he still is. He has added to the attack particularly. Had a fine career with Wales in the intervening years.
1 Go to commentsAmazing what decent coaching can do! I always felt Folau never improved much as a player and never had a great coach using his talents. Suli seems different at qld this year.
30 Go to commentsI’m sick to death of waiting 3 years for league players to become half decent. It cripples Australian rugby in the meantime. The Reds actually looked half competent without Vunivalu not starting last week. He’s just a liability of errors. Paisami is looking better than he has in previous years but I’d have Kerevi back in a flash. A kiwi wont tho …...
30 Go to commentsExcellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
4 Go to commentsMorning, John. Do you think that it may be a good idea to rest both teams from the Madrid comp leading in to the Olympics
2 Go to comments« I am preparing myself for much more, something much bigger. I’m focussing on the next cycle, » You don’t say…
2 Go to commentsGeez plenty of time to come right before test season starts. Dont panic mr Mannering!!!!!
1 Go to commentsGreat read Nick. The Reds really have been great to watch this year, and the improvement of not only the players you mention, but the squad in general has been obvious. The Reds 10/12 play making axis is a nice counterpoint to the 10/15 partnership at the Brumbies and Rebels. If Schmidt was to pick say, Lolesio, Paisami and Wright / Kellaway, would this be too many play makers? I notice in a lot of those clips Tim Ryan playing across the field in support of Vunivalu. Is this a feature of Kiss’s structure?
30 Go to commentsSo sad, god rest him. Too young to be gone. RIP
2 Go to commentsRIP big man 🙏
2 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
5 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
30 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to comments