T
TOCC
Guest
Riveting stuff
^^^^^^ I haven't been able to find any numbers for the 2014 Wellington 7's but a figure of 89K was widely reported for the Auckland 9's which is getting on for 3 times what Westpac holds I.e. attendance-wise the 9's kicked the 7's arse. How much of that was novelty factor? I guess we'll find out this weekend.....
Errrr no. its the same in NZ as well - we dont select from overseas so comparing the Black Caps to the ABs (what you did) is pointless.
And it is simple. Again, money isn't everything. Is the Wallaby jersey enough for Australian players to stay here for? Not for White, Higgers etc
Sent from my iPhone
Errrr no. its the same in NZ as well - we dont select from overseas so comparing the Black Caps to the ABs (what you did) is pointless.
And it is simple. Again, money isn't everything. Is the Wallaby jersey enough for Australian players to stay here for? Not for White, Higgers etc
Sent from my iPhone
No you've missed the point again - you can't play cricket for Australia unless you play here, Australian cricketers by and large stay here because playing cricket for Australia is a big deal, it's our national sport - it's exactly like rugby in NZ.
I just don't think you understand that rugby is a minor sport in this country.
A Wallaby jersey doesn't pay the mortage or the school fees in 20 years time.
Errrr no. its the same in NZ as well - we dont select from overseas so comparing the Black Caps to the ABs (what you did) is pointless.
And it is simple. Again, money isn't everything. Is the Wallaby jersey enough for Australian players to stay here for? Not for White, Higgers etc
Sent from my iPhone
And it shouldn't either. People, especially sports people have to get away from this idea that they have of just because their sports career is only 10-15 years at best, they should earn a lifetime's wages in that time. This is an age of career mobility, through somewhat bitter experience, why should a pro-sportsman be different?
So they face exactly the same career choices as we all do at some stage, money being but one factor. I sassume that all of us make career choices with some thought to the future and how we will look after ouselves and our families. But the idea that a person (any person not just sportsmen) should take a certain career path for less money because it gives other people some enjoyment is bizarre.
All this does imo is prevent the Rory Kockott scenario where he is now eligible to play for France due to residential eligibility.South Africa have made their U20's side their second side in a bid to stem the drain of younger players:
http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/story/254141.html
It may only be a matter of time before Australia does now, though I'm not sure it'll be the right decision.
English Private/ public schools will be rammed with Saffer kids now on scholarships.
No you've missed the point again - you can't play cricket for Australia unless you play here, Australian cricketers by and large stay here because playing cricket for Australia is a big deal, it's our national sport - it's exactly like rugby in NZ.
I just don't think you understand that rugby is a minor sport in this country.
A Wallaby jersey doesn't pay the mortage or the school fees in 20 years time.
The equation changes once a player has achieved a Wallaby jersey. Money does come into play.
Often players do start to look towards life after rugby and will take big dollars when on offer, historically towards the end of their careers.
That landscape is changing now with some players opting for a greater financial return earlier in their careers.
Who can really blame them.
So what you're saying is that the lure of the Australian jersey, being a Wallaby, doesn't have enough lure for Australian players to stay here. It's not a big enough deal for them?
That is exactly what I've been saying.
I get what you're saying but you're using examples of All Blacks who have decided to stay against examples of Wallabies leaving to say that New Zealand players care more about being All Blacks than Aussie players care about being Wallabies.
You could also use examples like Nick Phipps and Stephen Moore as players who have decided to stay to continue playing for the Wallabies.
There are numerous examples on both sides of players making either choice. Nic White is really the only young Wallaby who has decided to go overseas after the RWC. Who knows, if Genia also goes overseas, someone substantially worse than him might end up on a Wallaby top up contract and he'll realise he didn't make the best choice.
It's not just about age but also where they are in the Wallaby set-up and what they have achieved.
I think judging someone's test career in terms of trophies they've won is a bit myopic. It is only one aspect of it. Of course the players would like to win more trophies but I don't think that relates so much to pride in the jersey and representing their country etc.
Not every team is going to be successful as the All Blacks (particularly in an era where the All Blacks have been so successful) and if your chief drive is purely down to winning the Bledisloe and winning the RWC you might end up finishing your career feeling pretty unfulfilled.