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Well said. And I for one see little point in retaining a deep affection and passion for a sport if one 'keeps on lowering expectations' that one's local team or country can play it really well and have some level of sustainable success in doing so. That categorically does not mean we expect to...

Something similar. When since 2004 has any part of the ARU and State RUs thoroughly reformed themselves with clearly positive results without a major crisis on their doorsteps? Generally the typically inbred cultures of those bodies, coupled with poor leadership, has led to institutional...

^^^ I'd surely prefer Fisher as indicated elsewhere but, from all recent data I've seen, he's locked in in the UK. Recall how EJ (Eddie Jones) drew upon Fowler, Ella, Johns for coaching and ideas input when he was last here. It was in the spirit of experimenting with 'special persons' that I brainstormed...

Well, you may say that, but I am unashamedly for brainstorming some radical solutions given, shall we say, a 'rather serious situation' emerging for the Wallabies and their paying but declining fan base. Thorn has absolute and enormous forwards cred, he's one of the best international rugby...

Seb - you're right. But is it not clear from all of 2016's Wallaby efforts that what you correctly advocate is not self-fixing within this Wallaby system and neither is it being fixed by Cheika who's de facto forwards coach (or so it seems). Cheika knows all about this - intense...

No. That will not suffice. The problems of Australian rugby we see so clearly today are at root embedded within the whole of the current Australian rugby's institutional system and generally poor leadership, the whole system and its self-indulgent and insufficiently competent leadership is...

You should do a blog post but wear your angry pants not your 'must be positive and diplomatic' pants. Your blog essay after the Wallabies loss to Ireland RWC 2011 was (IMO) one of your best and one of the best ever here. Then you got all positive and nice again. Channel nasa.

Ummm, no. Via that 'rigorous global search' they searched the following locales for the new ARU CEO in 2013: - lives almost next door in Mosman, Sydney to the then ARU Chairman - was at Sydney private school with said Chairman - played school rugby with said Chairman - played regular golf...

Excellent reminder. Many of us said at the time he went: we'll rue the day we let such a capable coach, technically and in terms of player management, go overseas. Maybe Fisher could not be persuaded to stay, but the impression gained was not that. We fret endlessly re players going overseas...

.......but it's also true that JC did an outstanding job for the QRU/Reds commercially, financially and marketing brand-wise in the 2010-12 period. He was an outsider, who together with Link, made a huge positive impact. When the QRU has opted for insider HCs and CEOs over the last 10-12...

A LOT to like about it, good job Torp. It may not be perfect, that's asking way too much, but it would be vastly better than what we have today, we saw their total handiwork (after weeks of preparation) writ large last night. A detail: Wilko would be hard to get, but Stu Lierich here in...

A wise poster somewhere here wanted to add the most important acronym of all to the thread title - namely 'ARU'. No teams, no skills base, no motivation, no institutional quality ever exceeds the calibre and ability of its ultimate leadership. Ever. It's been clear since 2004 that the ARU...

What Cheika needs most is the managerial courage and insight to totally rebuild his coaching team, and very quickly. The only two support coaches, on results, worth keeping are possibly Ledesma and most certainly Byrne (who must be wondering what he's got himself in for). The Wallabies would...

There are tweets from UK rugby sites overnight that it looks as though the FRU will grant the Top 14 clubs no less than €28m (A$41m) in total funding for the development of 7s both within each club and for an upgraded pair of national teams. Above not fully verified as yet, and the period is...

Yes! One of the many reasons we need a radical restructure of the men's 7s program is that its comparatively weak performances and thus profile will be a drag on building governmental funding momentum and 7s-wide sponsorship. Plus don't forget: the AOC is another source of income now the game...

I thought this was interesting from the GAGR men's 7s comments section following Barbarian's front page article of a few days back....I have also heard from own contacts in international rugby that it's assumed from the 2016-17 World Rugby 7s on that total sponsorship $s into World Rugby for...

The biggest problem The Wallabies have today is not in player selection - it's called Larkham as Attack Coach. Huge role in any national 15s team. Critical that the occupant is both a proven success in his career and still learning, changing and developing. Larkham has woefully...

Of course I get your point, to an extent. But I think it's both easier and better than that, if one is assessing how to get a proper domestic 7s tournament off the ground. Just for example: When the Reds' crowds started to really build in 2010, it was not at all due to seeing lots of...

Apologies if this has been posted before somewhere, but the article via this link is one of best pieces of in-depth analysis I have seen of elite rugby 7s' attacking plays. I really commend it to readers here. C Morgan is one of the best rugby 15s analysts in the UK. The article covers the...

Barb - firstly re the Force. The ARU have become lender of last resort there precisely as there has been zero ROI in Perth after 7 years; rather, it's totally broke and bleeding cash big time. A number of us predicted this outcome and there is no credible evidence that the Force will ever be a...