Rugby Australia's and Michael Cheika's legitimacy is on the line this weekend
Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former American diplomat and political scientist who worked for both the Johnson and Carter administrations is quoted as saying, “The legitimacy of the leadership depends on what that country thinks of its leaders.”
In context to the game of Rugby in Australia, those leaders are Rugby Australia itself and its coach Michael Cheika. Their country is the Australian Rugby public and what must that public now be thinking after failure in the opening round of this year’s Rugby Championship.
I question, do Rugby Australia and Michael Cheika still enjoy legitimacy as leaders?
Last weekend’s 35-17 loss to a ‘second string’ Springboks in Johannesburg and the usual rhetoric that followed, which Wallabies fans have been used to, is enough to suggest legitimacy is in question considering Cheika said, “I believe we showed a lot of good signs”.
Mate, we got pumped.
Furthermore, after coming off a 2018 season that at best could be described as dreadful, the worst in Australian Rugby since 1958, I ponder the question, have we not heard this stuff before?
Perhaps these ‘good signs’ are as good at it gets for Wallaby fans under the governance of this Rugby Australia administration and their chosen coach?
By not sacking Michael Cheika at the end of that horrible season, as he probably should have been, Rugby Australia had locked in behind the ‘Cheika Plan’ and by default must place its utmost faith in such ‘signs’ to save face.
I could almost think that Michael Cheika is now a John Dee type figure to Rugby Australia’s CEO Raelene Castle who would assume the role as Queen Elizabeth I waiting upon his next astrological utterings and signs. Both peering out the window from Rugby Australia head office at Moore Park for the moving’s in Saturn and Jupiter and discussing what they might mean to a Libra or Scorpio within the team?
This is what Michael Cheika said after the 38-17 loss to England at Twickenham in 2018, “There are a lot of great people in our team and a lot of great things happening behind the scenes that right now aren’t turning themselves into wins, but we will turn them into wins next year”.
What perplexes me even more is that when live-wire English winger Johnny May crossed for the first try of that 2018 match in the third minute after Australia had failed to exit their own 22, gifting the venerable English forwards a five-yard scrum, the Wallaby scrum subsequently disintegrated. One does wonder if the Wallabies learnt anything from the previous encounter with the English in 2017?
In that match the Wallabies were defeated 30-6, yet astutely Australian skipper Michael Hooper said prior to that match, “Obviously they’ve got a great set-piece, a good structure around how they kick and also attack, so for us it’s about being able to relieve pressure, getting out of our zone effectively so they can’t build the scoreboard like they have in previous games.”
Well, its 2019 and we are still waiting, Coach. Looks like someone’s Jupiter might have actually been in Uranus, not Saturn as the signs were showing? That’s if you actually believe in such mumbo-jumbo.
Which brings me to my next question; do the Wallabies actually learn from their errors or just wait upon the signs? It would appear not considering the apparent lack of improvement during 2018 into 2019 which makes me question, is Rugby Australia and these Wallabies a failing or actually a failed state in a sporting sense?
Consider that a failed state has been described in the ‘Fund for Peace’ (2015) as “a political body that has disintegrated to a point where basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government no longer function properly (see also fragile state and state collapse). A state can also fail if the government loses its legitimacy even if it is performing its functions properly. For a stable state, it is necessary for the government to enjoy both effectiveness and legitimacy.”
Now I accept that Rugby Australia and the Wallabies are not a political body in the classic sense, but I do not subscribe to the notions that politics and sport are not intertwined. The politics of Australian Rugby over the decades is best described as an ‘illogical blood-sport’ at times. Hence, I would argue there is some congruence with the aforementioned definition.
Yet sports fans the kicker for me is the definition that “A state can also fail if the government loses its legitimacy even if it is performing its functions properly. For a stable state, it is necessary for the government to enjoy both effectiveness and legitimacy.”
Effectiveness and legitimacy; From a governance perspective, I am not convinced that these Wallabies will succeed as since 2018 the Wallabies have won just 4 of their last 14 matches. From 2016 to 2017 the Wallabies lost 14 and won 13 test matches, the trajectory these Wallabies are on is one of failure, therefore, how can one honestly argue the governance of these Wallabies has been effective from a strict on-field perspective.
Now to off-field issues. In his 2008 published piece in the Third World Quarterly titled The Fallacy of the Failed State Charles Call illustrates that characteristics of a failed state include both human rights violations and poverty.
Consider that Rugby Australia in 2019 finds itself in a legal imbroglio with its former employee and superstar of the Australian game, Israel Folau, over contractual issues that clearly have a human rights flavour to it, this does not bode well for Rugby Australia when considering Call’s piece. Furthermore, the financial issues at Rugby Australia are well known. I do not suggest the game is in abject poverty but it isn’t in ‘clover’ either.
Therefore, does anybody really think that from a Wallabies performance perspective Rugby Australia has been effective to the requisite standard both on and on the field? I would suggest not. Therefore, should this regime of Rugby Australia enjoy legitimacy?
Well as Brzezinski would argue, any legitimacy would depend on what the Australian Rugby Public actually think.
Whilst there will always be goodwill for the game and the Wallabies as a brand within Australia, the Australian Rugby Public have grown tiresome of excuses and controversy. They want to be proud of their national team and how this game is governed. They want to be able to wear the Wallaby jerseys with pride the same an Englishman, New Zealander or Irishman wears their national strip. If the Wallabies are to lose to Argentina in Brisbane this weekend then Rugby Australia should not be enjoying any legitimacy as leaders of the game in this county and nor should their coach.
Whilst Michael Cheika can look to the signs, he would know himself his side only has one ‘Salta’ in it. Double Barrelled blow ups at half time to motivate your troops is not a modus operandi that has a long shelf life. Michael Cheika and his Wallabies must, must be victorious this weekend if they are to salvage any real legitimacy moving forward as the fans have been trusting the rhetoric and signs for too long and been too let down too often.
Rugby Australia’s and Michael Cheika’s own legitimacy depend on it as Rugby Australia does appear to be a failing sporting state with a failing coach cruising down the highway of mediocrity headed for destination failure ignoring the real signs along the way.
Michael Cheika speaks to the media ahead of the Argentina test:
Comments on RugbyPass
Ouch. 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.
25 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.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to comments