Fix the Wallabies
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<p>That article is just a petty shopping list of grievances. While I understand that life is obviously hard for a rugby club in the bush, he doesn't strike a killer blow at all.</p>
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<p>The point seemed to be 'Robbie Deans was a good bloke, and for a while we couldn't get Foxtel (but now we can)'.</p>
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<p>And I always love the criticisms of the ARU as being 'desk jockeys' or 'suits in their ivory tower in Sydney' or somesuch. As if they are supposed to work, where, in the change sheds at Parramatta Oval? The marketing manager in short shorts and boots?</p>
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<p>A lot of this smacks to me of 'back in my day' rubbish to be honest.</p> -
<p>It's striking a chord in country rugby.</p>
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<p>That may be so, but I don't really know what he wants the ARU to do?</p>
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<p>I'm not against ranting for ranting's sake (the Fern is built on that concept), but the thing that unites him and Papworth's articles is the lack of any clear demands other than 'do better'. Actually Papworth has 'give us money' as well.</p>
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<p>I'd respect the article a lot more if it gave a couple of tangible actions the ARU could take - eg. run more local coaching clinics, give us new goalpost pads, help us hire cheaper buses.</p> -
<p>But it does. It quite clearly points out the difference between previous efforts in upgrading skills and the cost of running clubs that people want to be involved with, rather than the ARU using club rugby as a cash cow.</p>
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<p>Does it? All I see are anecdotes from the past few years where this bloke thinks his club has been slighted.</p>
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<p>I think it would be far more effective if he gave some stats about dropping player numbers, and some ideas where ARU $$ and manpower would be really helpful.</p>
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<p>But the only concrete recommendations from the ARU perspective is be more flexible in getting the coach to rugby lunches, and give more notice for NRC fixtures.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="611702" data-time="1472888113">
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<p>Does it? All I see are anecdotes from the past few years where this bloke thinks his club has been slighted.</p>
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<p>I think it would be far more effective if he gave some stats about dropping player numbers</p>
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<p>Like the drop in clubs playing subbies rugby?</p> -
<p>Yeah but that's in Sydney, that's not his point.</p>
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I'm not trying to say things are rosey. Everyone knows numbers are down across the board - in town, in the bush, juniors etc.</p>
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<p>It's very easy to point that out. It's a lot harder to come up with any tangible solutions.</p> -
<p>I'm not sure that the drop in numbers is purely an Aussie phenomenon. In England, overall numbers may look good but at grass roots level there are fewer seniors playing than before. I have nothing to back this up but anecdotal evidence but it seems that guys are retiring much earlier. We are not seeing these blokes playing on into their late thirties and early forties as before and these guys were the backbone of both the lower sides at club level and the running of the clubs themselves.</p>
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<p>I have no idea why this might be nor how to fix it - not even sure if it needs fixing.</p> -
<p>There is definitely a move away from contact sports at an adult level. Increasingly people are turning to fast, active, non-contact participation sports like touch rugby, indoor soccer, mixed netball etc.</p>
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<p>I haven't looked at numbers, but I'd be willing to bet senior numbers are down in AFL and League as well.</p>
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<p>My experience matches yours Canto - blokes retiring younger, wanting to keep their bodies in decent shape and have their weekends to themselves. There are less and less blokes in their 30s, 40s and 50s playing rugby. It's a shame because these guys are like gold dust to a footy club, full of knowledge and great stories.</p> -
Matt Burke wades in <a class="bbc_url" href="http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/83880026/Bledisloe-Cup-2016-All-Blacks-master-the-grey-areas">http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/83880026/Bledisloe-Cup-2016-All-Blacks-master-the-grey-areas</a><br><br>
I love the sound of Aussie whinging in the morning, it sounds like victory..... -
<p>[media]
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<p>Franks really should have been given a break for a few weeks (imo). </p>
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<p>I also cannot work out why Aus persist with Moore as captain. He constantly gets on the wrong side of refs and it seems to impact (rightly or wrongly) on how refs interact with him. Would Aus be better going with co-captains with the other captain being the one who talks to the ref?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="611853" data-time="1472943782">
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<p>Matt Burke wades in <a class="bbc_url" href="http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/83880026/Bledisloe-Cup-2016-All-Blacks-master-the-grey-areas">http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/83880026/Bledisloe-Cup-2016-All-Blacks-master-the-grey-areas</a><br><br>
I love the sound of Aussie whinging in the morning, it sounds like victory.....</p>
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<p>Lol, he's whinging about a marginal forward pass now. Didn't hear squat from him in 07.</p>
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<p>"Referees, touch judges and the governing bodies are making weak calls in games involving the All Blacks."<br>
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<p>He's essentially calling the refs cheats. It always makes me laugh when opposition fans raise this. Why wold a neutral referee deliberately go out to favour the All Blacks, when we all know that the rest of the rugby world including World Rugby would prefer not to have such a dominant team for the betterment of the game. That accusation makes no sense at all. I see he decided to conveniently not mention Moore's elbow to Whitelock's head. If ever there was a red card offence....</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="611857" data-time="1472945852"><p>[media]
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Franks really should have been given a break for a few weeks (imo). <br>
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For what?<br>
2 weeks for doing no harm but looking like you could do harm?<br><br>
The new Aussie lock would have to get 2 weeks for the same thing against Read<br><br>
Rougerie gets no ban for actually gouging and people want Franks banned for not doing any damage.<br><br>
Franks looks worse than it actually is, big deal -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="611860" data-time="1472946556">
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<p>For what?<br>
2 weeks for doing no harm but looking like you could do harm?<br><br>
The new Aussie lock would have to get 2 weeks for the same thing against Read<br><br>
Rougerie gets no ban for actually gouging and people want Franks banned for not doing any damage.<br><br>
Franks looks worse than it actually is, big deal</p>
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<p>For intentionally giving a 'face rub' that made contact with the eye area (actually looks like thumb makes contact with the eye). </p>
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<p>If the Aussie lock did a similar thing I'd expect the same sentence. </p> -
There is a picture of the Aussie doing the same thing in the natch thread...the fact the media haven't jumped on this one shows bias
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This would explain the unexpected D lapses: http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/09/07/has-the-pooper-run-its-course/
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Not sure whether this is the thread to post this ...
ARU, schools in historic talks as major reforms loom for grassroots of rugby
ARU, schools in historic talks as major reforms loom for grassroots of rugby
Safety issues, longer seasons, more links with clubs and changes to traditional competitions are all on the table as leading schools and the ARU discuss the future of the game.
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That can only be a positive thing. Its not that people outside the GPS never get into rugby, its just that the level of competition drops off a cliff outside a few select schools, particularly outside First XV, and there is no real incentive to get better.
Its comforting to hear that the schools themselves want a bit of help in streamlining everything, too. Sometimes those organisations can be a bit self-serving.
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@antipodean How the ABs do it: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11703616
But Marshall notes (in second half) that despite a strong NPC Kiwi club rugby is also under pressure: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/Justin-Marshall/news/article.cfm?a_id=916&objectid=11703650
