The lack of meaningful games until the next World Cup is hurting the Southern Hemisphere game
When the revolution comes, let’s not give any credence to the views of players.
World rugby leagues, be they based around clubs or countries, are on their way and, boy, do we need them down in the Southern Hemisphere.
You’ll remember the hue and cry from various players’ associations last year, when they leaked a story to supportive media about a proposed Nations Championship. Then-All Blacks captain Kieran Read, for instance, enlightened us with these observations, in voicing his opposition to World Rugby’s proposed 12-team competition:
“We need to be very careful that we balance the commercial needs of the game with the player welfare needs and ensure the quality and integrity of matches meets expectations,’’ Read said.
“Fans want to see meaningful games; they don’t want to see fatigued players playing a reduced quality of rugby as part of a money-driven, weakened competition that doesn’t work for the players and clubs.’’
Bodies such as New Zealand Rugby (NZR) need masses of money for one reason alone – to meet the extraordinary wage demands of their players. The same players who also want to be rested, rotated and sent on sabbatical when it suits them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8-C1mvAE4b/
Meaningful games? The All Blacks won’t play one between now and the knockout rounds of the next Rugby World Cup.
There’s already no integrity to Super or All Blacks rugby because of all the workload management that’s going on.
Honestly, the more Six Nations rugby you watch, the more futile you feel the footy we get down here is.
Sure, some of the skill-execution leaves a bit to be desired in the Six Nations, but there’s no doubting the intensity. It’s not confined to the playing field either. The passion of the fans puts us all to shame as well.
But who could blame us? This year, Scotland are here for a Test, then Wales for two, before the eternally dull Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks’ team will be unrecognisable from one week to the next and sometimes the players won’t even be in the same country. Playing Argentina, for instance, is such a non-event, that history suggests half the team will fly direct to South Africa instead.
Heaven help us if the All Blacks really start doing things to diminish the ‘integrity’ of the competition.
World Rugby might have been rebuffed a year ago, but money will eventually talk. Reports that CVC Capital Partners are about to purchase a share of the Six Nations suggest significant change is coming.
Already stakeholders in the Pro14 and English Premiership competitions, CVC are said to want a more global game. To that end, talks between themselves and World Rugby are well underway.
What becomes of those discussions remains to be seen, but you can feel fairly certain that our best players – whether as the All Blacks or in their Super Rugby guise – will be spending more time in airports and the like.
Frankly, we need them to. The Six Nations still stirs up its fanbase, but we don’t have too much to cheer about down here.
Change has to come, in whatever form.
The last World Cup cycle featured a British and Irish Lions tour, but there’s nothing to look forward to this time. Just more and more matches with nothing on them. No title of significance, no promotion or relegation, no tournament qualification. Just a glorified friendly match to satisfy the TV paymasters, played by men whose reward will be to sit the next one out.
Players might like what’s on the horizon. They might complain en masse, as they did about the Nations Championship, but it’s them who’ve put us in this position.
They all enjoy the trappings of professional rugby, but few of the obligations that go with it.
Take New Zealand’s three best players: Beauden Barrett is still on holiday, Brodie Retallick is boosting his retirement fund in Japan and Ardie Savea is wondering aloud about playing rugby league.
You can’t look at that and tell me change isn’t long overdue.
Ardie Savea reveals shock Rugby League ambitions:
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
1 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
2 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
23 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
2 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
23 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to comments