I've been following the Jnr RWC for too many years (since 2010 in Argentina where we got the silver medal after having our arses handed to us by NZL in the final) , and Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda pretty much sums up our performances since then.
There has always been much discussion and disquiet over selections and tactics, last year being not particularly different from other years in that regards, although the Injury Fairy was particularly angry in 2016.
Comparing the process to select the 2010 team for JRWC to what it has evolved into now with the Curtain Raiser Cup shows how much Australian Rugby has matured and grown over time. Unfortunately the same can't be said about the selection and monitoring of Coaches and Selector performances over that time period.
I am really chuffed by the latest development where Coaches that have demonstrated and achieved lower level success are being given the challenge of moving up to the next level. I'm also quite impressed with the calibre of the cohort of players who will be available for 2017 U20 World Champs. They have the potential to do well. Let's hope that Team Rehab Selectors just stuff off and leave our Athletes alone next season.
For too many years, it has seemed that paper qualifications, and knowledge of the secret handshakes and ins and outs of what the leather patch shiraz swilling brigade want have counted more than demonstrated success as a coach.
Twice in a week, I find that the ARU deserve praise. Sometimes change takes a while to come to fruition. Billy Pulverisor comes in for a fair bit of criticism from the peanut gallery on these threads, but I can only think that he has been behind some of the really positive stuff that has come out of St Leonards recently and he should be given credit for those achievements, many of which have been achieved while the organisation has been on the precipice of financial difficulty. That takes some doing. Being an awesome CEO when the bank accounts are full isn't all that difficult.
