The state of Australian rugby
When tasked with writing about “The State of Australian Rugby” and asked to take a “light-hearted angle”, I wondered how in the hell I could find the funny side of what is a truly serious issue.
Very foolishly, I decided to wait until Sunday to start writing as I wanted to see just what was to happen between the Wallabies and the Argies. Having had a sinkful of diesel the night before and feeling like a used condom, I sat looking longingly at the screen of my laptop on what was a dreary Sunday arvo.
With little will to start writing and having pulled out what little hair I have left, I decided I’d earnt myself a break and moseyed 100m down the road to my local rugby club, Wests Bulldogs, to have a few tinnies and watch a bit of footy to help clear my head.
It was here over the following 6 hours that I saw exactly what state Australian rugby is in… and it couldn’t have put me anymore at ease (mentally at least, not so much physically).
It just so happened to be the start of the semi-finals for the 1st Annual Brisvegas 7s, a local 7s tournament hosting 500 players, 45 teams, 5 divisions, over 3 days and 110 games! All of this was organised in large part by a woman by the name of Felicity (Flick) Bennetts.
Flick’s much adored mother, Linda, has been at the club so long that Flick was sleeping in a bassinet behind the speaker at The Kennel on Saturday nights from 2 weeks of age… She’s now 32.
Bennetts and Co. were able to bring together a 3 day event of this magnitude, an event she says is a “massive achievement ticked off the bucket list.” All for nothing more than for the love of the game.
Having shown up to The Kennel a little worse for wear, I decided to park myself down in front of the many TVs around the venue and indulge in a few sherbets. It just so happened to coincide with the kick-off of the Brisbane City vs. Greater Sydney Rams NRC match from Warringah’s Rat Park.
As the first few sips went down like razorblades, I was pleasantly surprised to see two teams going hammer and tong at each other defensively, while showcasing an enterprising level of attack.
It was then that I noticed the 9, 10, 12 combo running around for Brisbane City. It read:
9. Frisby 10. Cooper 12. Hunt
Three Wallabies playing in a semi-professional match alongside the lesser-known Premier Grade toilers like Dan Gorman and Jeremiah Lynch. Top-tier professional rugby players playing with and against the everyday heroes of local club rugby is something that hasn’t been seen much since the advent of the professional era but can only mean that collectively, the game benefits.
Andrew James, Senior Manager of Legal and Strategic Projects (essentially he runs the NRC and negotiates playing contracts, collective bargaining with RUPA – all things player related) at the ARU, said on the Rugby Round Up Podcast recently that “the life blood of the game, the grassroots, can’t see a connection to the professional game.” This is considerably damning considering 95% of the money the ARU earns is through the professional part of our game.
However, his idea to have tickets sold to Wallabies fixtures through local clubs, with said clubs pocketing a share of tickets sold, is something the old heads would have scoffed at in years gone by. He’s a relatively young bloke, but it’s minds inside the ARU like AJ’s that ease the tension when discussing the state of the game, and in particular, the future of rugby in Australia.
Having earlier watched the Wallabies eke out a win against an Argentine team that dropped more pills than a high school dropout at a warehouse rave, the idea that the game in Australia is so reliant on the professional game yet struggles to find “a connection” to the general rugby supporting population is ludicrous.
Support for the grassroots over the past decade has been almost negligible, and as you sow so shall you reap.
So with a second wind and the Grand Finals of the Elite Women’s and Men’s matches kicking off at the BrisVegas 7s, I found myself still a little queasy but considerably at ease compared to a few hours earlier. For this time, the unnerving feeling I was experiencing wasn’t for the state of the game in Australia, but more so the culmination of a few too many arvo lemonades and several recent poor life decisions.
So, how is the “State of Australian Rugby” at the moment? Honestly, it’s no laughing matter, but it’s no Greek Tragedy either. Things are not as dire as many so vehemently lead you to believe. Things are tough right now, but as long as the Felicity Bennetts and Andrew James’ of the world keep doing what they’re doing, then I’m positive things will be fine.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar 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.
9 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.
35 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.
2 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
35 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
35 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.
35 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.
35 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.
35 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 commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to comments