Australian Rugby / RA

[Rebel man]

Why though, because the Wallabies lost? It comes across as a bit of a sore loser mentality to say "fuck fiji"; sporting programs have their own health and social benefits.

I'd suggest every man and his dog in DFAT/Aus Govt Foreign Policy would celebrate the soft politics success achieved through programs like this in the region, on top of other humanitarian ventures they support.

Why, well there are many reasons. As we face cutbacks to everything why are we funding foreign sport? This is about to ramp out with funding of RL in the PI even though it’s only expat communities in Aus and NZ that give a shit about the game.

I get that they also support humanitarian initiatives. You are naive if you think chucking some money at rugby will stop them from taking a better deal from other governments if it was on offer. The most it does is stop them from actively trying to seek out investment.

 

[Rebel man]

That's really besides the point. Rennie recognized the significant pacifica element in this team & he tapped into that aspect strongly.

Rens brought out the best from the Pacific Island boys through empathy, care & meaningful connection. Eddie doesn't have a loving bone in his body. Rennie was ridiculed for having the Wallabies engage in singing and guitar sessions FFS, what people like McLennan brush over is the fact that (unlike Eddie) he developed a positive inclusive team culture, just ask any of the boys - they'll tell you of how Rennie did a outstanding job in uniting a significantly fractured playing group after the flaming of Cheika...

And yet he never got results on the park, despite being a great coach, picking a better squad and getting the best of those players

 

[Derpus]

And yet he never got results on the park, despite being a great coach, picking a better squad and getting the best of those players

He certainly got more results than EJ (Eddie Jones).

 

[Rebel man]

He certainly got more results than EJ (Eddie Jones) (Eddie Jones).

He was a dud who was rightly sacked it’s time to move on

 

[Slim 293]

It's not really that simple though...

Rennie wasn't being kept on past this RWC.

Was it worth sacking him prematurely to bring in Jones?

Wasn't the point of that so Jones could achieve some short term results this year, prior to building for the Lions tour and 2027 RWC?

The Wallabies' RWC isn't over yet, but if they bomb out this weekend against Wales it's going to look like a major fail from RA.

 

[Tomthumb]

That's really besides the point. Rennie recognized the significant Pacifica element in this team & he tapped into that aspect strongly.

Rens brought out the best from the Pacific Island boys through empathy, care & meaningful connection. Eddie doesn't have a loving bone in his body. Rennie was ridiculed for having the Wallabies engage in singing and guitar sessions FFS, what people like McLennan brush over is the fact that (unlike Eddie) Rens developed an incredibly positive & inclusive team culture, just ask any of the boys - they'll tell you how Rennie did a outstanding job in uniting a significantly fractured playing group coming in from the divided & splintered remenants of Cheika...

Taniela Tupou & Suli Vunivalu have been much better under Jones then they were under Rennie

 

[Rebel man]

Taniela Tupou & Suli Vunivalu have been much better under Jones then they were under Rennie

Will Skeleton as well

 

[Slim 293]

Taniela Tupou & Suli Vunivalu have been much better under Jones then they were under Rennie

I'm not so sure about that...

There's not really the sample size to compare Tupou's form under each coach, and aside from one ok performance against France Vunivalu hasn't exactly been an improvement on other wingers.

 

[Slim 293]

Will Skeleton as well

Skelton was pretty good on the EOYT last year... having more time in preseason with the Wallabies this year has been a big factor.

 

[Tomthumb]

It's not really that simple though...

Rennie wasn't being kept on past this RWC.

Was it worth sacking him prematurely to bring in Jones?

Wasn't the point of that so Jones could achieve some short term results this year, prior to building for the Lions tour and 2027 RWC?

The Wallabies' RWC isn't over yet, but if they bomb out this weekend against Wales it's going to look like a major fail from Rugby Australia.

Was it? He was given a contract until 2027, and every move he has made seems aimed at long term thinking

Rennie was a Raelene Castle hire and never really seemed to mesh with Rugby Australia

 

[Slim 293]

Was it? He was given a contract until 2027, and every move he has made seems aimed at long term thinking

Rennie was a Raelene Castle hire and never really seemed to mesh with Rugby Australia

Yes... they could've signed Eddie on a lengthy deal following the RWC.

 

[Tomthumb]

I'm not so sure about that...

There's not really the sample size to compare Tupou's form under each coach, and aside from one ok performance against France Vunivalu hasn't exactly been an improvement on other wingers.

Tupou's scrummaging has improved out of sight, and Vunivalu had a good game against France and made a difference off the bench vs Fiji

 

[Tomthumb]

Yes... they could've signed Eddie on a lengthy deal following the RWC.

Could they have? USA were circling him, Japan are obviously keen as are Japanese club teams

They weren't happy with Rennie, Jones was available so they took their chance

 

[Slim 293]

Tupou's scrummaging has improved out of sight, and Vunivalu had a good game against France and made a difference off the bench vs Fiji

It was looking pretty good when he was fit a couple of years ago.

And he's only played a few games this year.

 

[Slim 293]

Could they have? USA were circling him, Japan are obviously keen as are Japanese club teams

They weren't happy with Rennie, Jones was available so they took their chance

Yes.

Lions series and home RWC > the basket case that is the USA and return to Japan.

RA could've also done what NZRU did with Robertson.

They clearly felt they could get a short term boost out of Eddie going into the RWC.

 

[Tomthumb]

It was looking pretty good when he was fit a couple of years ago.

And he's only played a few games this year.

I was really disappointed with his development (or lack thereof) scrummaging wise over the last few years. Struggled a number of times against NZ, South Africa and Argentina

This year he has dominated both France and Georgia super easily, and he's scrummaging far straighter and getting cheek to cheek as opposed to turning in and exposing his chest.

 

[Tomthumb]

Lions series and home RWC > the basket case that is the USA and return to Japan.

That's your opinion, doesn't necessarily mean that's Eddie's

 

[fatprop]

I disagree - surely Twiggy is licking his lips on how cheap it will be to buy equity. Drops an extra $100 million buying talent, setting up pathways and you'll get a pretty good return in less than a decade.

I know he'll be losing a bit of cash due to the divorce, but, you'd imagine he'll still have a dozen or so billion left over.

"Drops an extra $100 million" well yeah, my point is that if the product wasn't so shit, it may have been $200 million

 

[Rebel man]

"Drops an extra $100 million" well yeah, my point is that if the product wasn't so shit, it may have been $200 million

The whole point of investing is buy low sell high it’s a perfect storm

 

[fatprop]

The whole point of investing is buy low sell high it’s a perfect storm

For the buyer, a tad shit for the seller