Brumbies 2018

[Brumby Runner]

How sad a statement and state of affairs is this. How could it ever have been allowed to evolve into this.

It's totally insane if it is like this.

There is nothing more important to player and team development in rugby than top quality generalist and (as appropriate) specialist coaching. It's just that type of game.

It's Q.E.D'd everywhere and all the time, there is no doubting this simple truth. Yet scandalously our clueless ARU is only just, barely now, discovering this core fact. So one single lonely figure of M Byrne is hired. And is expected to rapidly transform Australia's rugby skills after 10-15 years of systemic neglect.

Think about this:

- if we took the $15-$18,000,000 ARU cash that has been totally wasted on the creation of the Rebels (just look at the coaching situation there and its results and weep for the players and fans), add the approx. (at least) $2-3,000,000 cash pa waste in ARU 'corporate' overheads (that consistently yields zero benefit), add in the (at least) c.$4,000,000 cash pa that is totally wasted in unnecessarily duplicated State RUs overheads...

- and then turn that money into a perpetual fund for the global recruiting and retention of say 30+ international class specialist rugby coaches, cut back the reckless over-quantity of rugby 'footprint quantity' we have ('reckless' because we can't and don't afford the requisite coaching quality to accompany it and ensure high quality rugby is nurtured and delivered in it), and the result would be

- major uplift in player, team and general rugby code quality and system-wide morale within 3 years.

The resources were there, and in many ways still are.

They're just directed into entirely the wrong people, places and priorities.

All bloody great stuff RH, but I fear that horse has well and truly bolted.

 

[Gnostic]

The death of Australian Rugby one poor coach appointment at a time.



Realistically, in the last ~7 years only the Brumbies under Jake White, the Reds under Ewen McKenzie and the Waratahs under Cheika can be considered teams that were "well" coached.



The rest has been a shambles. Its a real shame.

And note that those stints had performance years with no carry over, they made a run, had a peak and then collapsed, and no making the finals based on winning a conference of mediocrity doesn't mark success.

 

[Gnostic]

With regard to coaching appointments, when is a board going to require at an actual interview of potential candidates, (there actually has to be an interview process, you know actually do something for the cash HPU and board members, there is a novel idea), the candidate to put forward a proposed coaching team and program, including of recruitment. If they are applying for the job they need to have done the homework on the strengths and weaknesses and how they will best address those factors to create a side with depth capable of being truly competitive.

Can somebody remember when Australian Rugby actually went through a genuine interview process for a coach? You could say when King Robbie was APPOINTED, but for the fact he didn't actually undertake the interview process.

 

[mst]

For the salary our teams are offering, do we really think top coaches are going to be even applying?

Assistant coaches in Europe can easily get more than head coaches here. If coaches don't want to apply or rebuff approaches, then you can't begrudge them.

How sad a statement and state of affairs is this. How could it ever have been allowed to evolve into this.

But this is not new nor anything beyond many other business and organisation face. there is always someone with more money.

In Rugbys case it is France and then Europe. That's just the reality. But not everyone wants to go O/S and most that do go are seeking opportunity as there is nothing here.

With regard to coaching appointments, when is a board going to require at an actual interview of potential candidates........

Can somebody remember when Australian Rugby actually went through a genuine interview process for a coach? You could say when King Robbie was APPOINTED, but for the fact he didn't actually undertake the interview process.

Would you waste your time when most of the teams in Australia do this, or like the Brumbies, do an inhouse "ÿou come to us" process with McKellar being touted as the chosen since last year?

 

[RedsHappy]

^^^^ @mst

You clearly didn't understand my point, or I'm sorry if I expressed it badly.

I fully appreciate the 'superior money' aspect from the NH.

My point being though that

(a) this truth makes it even more critical for Australia rugby to stop wasting the serious quantum of $millions it _so obviously_ is every year and divert the wasted 'dead end' $s to far better priorities and

(b) if we have to sacrifice other priorities (eg the always-insane 'national footprint' model) so as to invest in a far higher standard of Australian rugby coaching infrastructure (and to thus compete with the NH for the best coaches) then that is absolutely the right objective and priority as without it a national rugby strategy and aspiration is utterly destined for failure (as is happening today).

 

[RedsHappy]

All bloody great stuff RH, but I fear that horse has well and truly bolted.

Mate I get that of course re the lost millions via the Rebels; I just wanted to make the point re the massive, massive opportunity cost to Australian rugby of that failure (which was pre-destined IMO).

But my other points re current operational cost waste today - in $millions - is valid and realisable as a potential investment upside re globally competitive coaching salaries and infrastructure if Australian rugby was well managed (which it's obviously not).

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Mate I get that of course re the lost millions via the Rebels; I just wanted to make the point re the massive, massive opportunity cost to Australian rugby of that failure (which was pre-destined IMO).

Pulver agrees with you that it was predestined, now.

 

[RedsHappy]

Pulver agrees with you that it was predestined, now.

Ummm, yes.

Pevsersely the ARU now concedes it had serious doubts about the viability of the Rebels - and the whole 5 Aus Super team set up - the very year they themselves started the Rebels and their investment in them.

As the Yanks would say, go figure.

 

[mst]

^^^^ @mst

You clearly didn't understand my point, or I'm sorry if I expressed it badly.

I fully appreciate the 'superior money' aspect from the NH.

My point being though that

(a) this truth makes it even more critical for Australia rugby to stop wasting the serious quantum of $millions it _so obviously_ is every year and divert the wasted 'dead end' $s to far better priorities and

(b) if we have to sacrifice other priorities (eg the always-insane 'national footprint' model) so as to invest in a far higher standard of Australian rugby coaching infrastructure (and to thus compete with the NH for the best coaches) then that is absolutely the right objective and priority as without it a national rugby strategy and aspiration is utterly destined for failure (as is happening today).

I was actually agreeing with and referring to your points about investing in a higher standard of coaches and strategic investment / right objectives.

 

[RedsHappy]

I was actually agreeing with and referring to your points about investing in a higher standard of coaches and strategic investment / right objectives.

Oh, OK, thanks for clarifying.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Ummm, yes.

Pevsersely the ARU now concedes it had serious doubts about the viability of the Rebels - and the whole 5 Aus Super team set up - the very year they themselves started the Rebels and their investment in them.

As the Yanks would say, go figure.

I just don't believe them.
I think the fact is they have no idea whats viable and what isn't.
Love to see the greeting they get in Tokyo from their SANZAAR buddies - they wouldn't trust the ARU to divide up the dinner bill is my bet.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Should have the new coach announcement after the team comes back from the tour before the Rebels game or not long after that.

 

[MarkJ]

It's going to take them that long to figure out if it's spelled McKellar or MacKellar?

 

[mst]

I think it more to do with timing.

Announcing him as HC in the middle of an Aussie coaching crisis will be like comedy that writes itself.

I fear this will be the perfect platform for the critics to tee off on the Brumbies again.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I'm still holding out a slight hope that Hill will get the nod over DMcK. I know there have been reports that McKellar and Fisher are the only two in the running, but it's time for some courage to be shown and appoint someone who might have a slightly different approach for the team.

 

[RugbyReg]

Should have the new coach announcement after the team comes back from the tour before the Rebels game or not long after that.

Wayne Smith?

 

[Brumby Jack]

Wayne Smith?

Nah, I haven't read his article about it yet

 

[Brumbieman]

What is this shit I hear about Staniforth being poached by the Tards?!

 

[Braveheart81]

What is this shit I hear about Staniforth being poached by the Tards?!

Thinks he'll get more opportunities at a side with zero Wallaby contracted locks compared to a side with two.

 

[Slim 293]

That would be very disappointing............

I would like to seen him start at 6 after Fardy departs.