Australian Rugby / RA

[Adam84]

A week prior it was the ‘mini world cup’ idea that was to be run in Australia, all conceptually feasible ideas, but not likely to happen. Still good to generate discussion.

Come to think about it, probably pretty smart having the wallabies jersey colour debate given they’re still looking for a new major sponsor to replace QANTAS.

 

[Pfitzy]

New season coming.
New broadcast partner.
New supporting content.
A friendlier attitude from Channel Nein than in the past as they scramble to stay relevant in the national market against AFL*

Pipe dream or no: talk the game up! Beats the constant negativity we get otherwise.

*I'm assuming Nein are positioning themselves as "The Contact Code Broadcaster" with this move as they squeeze blood from the league stone in opposition to AFL.

 

[Ignoto]

I mean, the biggest difference a little over 12 months makes is, we're debating the colour of the jersey rather than debating whether God hates gays.

 

[John S]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...australian-rugby-revival-20210201-p56ygy.html

From the new CEO - just start winning. Well, that might be a bit simplistic. But I'm sure I've heard from this song sheet before - for Rugby in Australia to do well, the Wallabies must do well.

I'm not sure if it's a cart before the horse situation, or what comes first - the chicken or the egg situation?

At least there's something positive coming out of RA these days - so can't fault them for a) trying and b) communicating.

Will be interesting to see how Marinos goes as CEO.

 

[Tomikin]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...australian-rugby-revival-20210201-p56ygy.html

From the new CEO - just start winning. Well, that might be a bit simplistic. But I'm sure I've heard from this song sheet before - for Rugby in Australia to do well, the Wallabies must do well.

I'm not sure if it's a cart before the horse situation, or what comes first - the chicken or the egg situation?

At least there's something positive coming out of RA these days - so can't fault them for a) trying and b) communicating.

Will be interesting to see how Marinos goes as CEO.

The old everyone loves a winner.

 

[Derpus]

circular line of reasoning....... for the game to be in good health the Wallabies need to do well but for the Wallabies to do well the game needs to be in good health.

 

[VassMan]

Interesting that he says he'll give Rennie full autonomy. What does that mean for Scott Johnson?

 

[papabear]

New season coming.
New broadcast partner.
New supporting content.
A friendlier attitude from Channel Nein than in the past as they scramble to stay relevant in the national market against AFL*

Pipe dream or no: talk the game up! Beats the constant negativity we get otherwise.

*I'm assuming Nein are positioning themselves as "The Contact Code Broadcaster" with this move as they squeeze blood from the league stone in opposition to AFL.

I agree with this, the game has turned a corner, hopefully it goes well.

From a league perspective, it is great to see that union people are finally seeing the real commercial competitor (who is very very aggresive commercially ) is AFL.

Additionally from a p[articipation perspective it is soccer, but i dont think much can be done about that as the world gets softer.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I agree with this, the game has turned a corner, hopefully it goes well.

From a league perspective, it is great to see that union people are finally seeing the real commercial competitor (who is very very aggresive commercially ) is AFL.

Additionally from a p[articipation perspective it is soccer, but i dont think much can be done about that as the world gets softer.

Soccer been the dominant participation sport of the four footballing codes for a very long time. Still hasn't helped the A-League.

 

[Pfitzy]

And they take fields everywhere because of it, then mow them flat because they all think they're in the EPL, and bitch about the grass dying in winter after they stress it to shit.

Sure, a good scrum might chop the deck up a bit, but look at how quickly a soccer club kills the grass on the centre circle and edge of the boxes. Fuckers.

 

[wamberal]

Interesting that he says he'll give Rennie full autonomy. What does that mean for Scott Johnson?

Johnson was brought in to control Chubby. Maybe he can spend his time trying to corral the Soup franchises to work with Rennie.

 

[Dan54]

Johnson was brought in to control Chubby. Maybe he can spend his time trying to corral the Soup franchises to work with Rennie.

I was under impression that Johnson was one who got Rennies and would still work with him. As for Marinos saying he would give Rennie full autonomy, so he bloody should, could never get over when JON used to say it was his job to take Wallabies to top of tree, you are CEO not bloody coach let everyone do THEIR job and you do yours!

 

[Muzza]

What do you think?
Push the series back 4 years for a guarantee world cup at home? Is South Africa in a finance position to wait 4 years?

Rugby pass article

Keith Wood believes it would be the “shame of shames” if the British and Irish Lions are severely damaged by the serious problems facing this year’s tour to South Africa, the former Ireland skipper instead claiming that delaying the Test series for four years may be the best option.
At present, there are three possible scenarios due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – proceed with the scheduled July tour to South Africa without fans, stage a Test series in Britain and Ireland, or move the tour to Australia. The Lions board is scheduled to announce its decision midway through February having consulted the various stakeholders, but for the Lions to delay their South African tour until 2025 would require Australia to agree to put back their tour by four years.
A member of the series-winning 1997 Lions tour to South Africa, Wood told RugbyPass: “Because of the extraordinary problems this year a Lions tour may become a pale version of what it normally is and that may be the least worst option. I cannot see it in South Africa with all the travelling and the need for bubbles. “The Australian option seems fraught with complication, quarantine and potential player welfare issues. It also has a different time zone and the commercial contracts will be impacted. There is nothing easy in any of this.
“We could end up with something in Britain and Ireland and people will say it’s not the Lions, but it may be the most viable option this year. In truth, I believe the Lions needs supporters at the games and if this is not possible it may require delaying the cycle for four years.”
A 2001 Lions tourist to Australia, Wood is acutely aware of the ramifications of delaying the tour until 2025, but his strong family ties – his father Gordon was also a Lion – makes saving the most famous touring team for future players absolutely crucial.
He added: “There is heart and head here. The Lions is commercially one of the big brands in rugby and emotionally it brings together supporters from four countries which is unique in international sport and you want to preserve that.
“However, the Lions is being consistently squeezed and my fear is that if it goes too far from what is a touring side with 30,000 fans to games at home with no fans, will it keep its special place in rugby’s hearts?
“And if the Lions loses its allure that would be the shame of shames. It could be better to say, ‘Let’s delay the Lions cycle by four years with the tour to South Africa taking place in 2025 and push everyone back and preserve what is an incredible spectacle’.
“I don’t think you can put the tour into another year because that would drive the unions mad, the clubs mad while changing World Cup preparation cycles.
“My father went on the Lions tour in 1959 and it was four months playing Canada on the way and Australia and touring New Zealand, so not every Lions tour has to be identical. I like innovative thinking and I don’t dismiss things out of hand, but we are living in unprecedented times and have to think differently.
“When you talk about the tour you put in so many caveats because we don’t have all the information on how Covid-19 is changing and how different countries are adapting its laws to deal with the crisis.“I hope the guys sitting in the room weighing it up with the lawyers and the commercial people are able to say there is a justification to play the tour this year safely, while also protecting the future of Lions tours. That is a near-impossible decision to make.”

 

[Braveheart81]

What do you think?
Push the series back 4 years for a guarantee world cup at home? Is South Africa in a finance position to wait 4 years?

How do you get that guarantee though?

And is it worth it for Australia when we're be favourites to win the 2027 hosting rights anyway? Do you end up giving up a lot (waiting an extra four years for the Lions tour) and not actually gain anything because you would have won the RWC hosting rights anyway?

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

When a plane is delayed they don't mess up every other flight for the day.

 

[Derpus]

Oh god the player welfare bullshit again.

Think the Argies comprehensively debunked that fucking tripe.

Edit: on what planet would Australia delay a Lions tour? Blokes dreaming

 

[Adam84]

Yeah get fucked.
Covid is a bitch, make the best of a shit situation and let’s get on with it.

 

[Ignoto]

The Australian option seems fraught with complication, quarantine and potential player welfare issues. It also has a different time zone and the commercial contracts will be impacted. There is nothing easy in any of this.

There's nothing complicated. You lot can stay in a hotel with a gym and shit, the staff can get a tipper truck to drop food off and you can train uninterrupted for 2 weeks.

The whole timezone is bullshit. They've done tours of Australia and NZ before and it wasn't a problem. Somehow in 2015, Australians watching a RWC final at 3am is fine but asking you lot to watch a game over beans is toast is difficult?

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

There's nothing complicated. You lot can stay in a hotel with a gym and shit, the staff can get a tipper truck to drop food off and you can train uninterrupted for 2 weeks.

The whole timezone is bullshit. They've done tours of Australia and NZ before and it wasn't a problem. Somehow in 2015, Australians watching a RWC final at 3am is fine but asking you lot to watch a game over beans is toast is difficult?

Many sports deal with it. Kick off at 6am. What a day that would be.

 

[Pfitzy]

Right up until McGowan gets a sniffle and shuts the stadiums