Lance Free; son of Grumbles Growden

[RedsHappy]

At the risk of dissing Lance, asserting that we're no longer a first-tier rugby nation, although we have on average ranked 3.1 since 2003, is a good example of negative hyperbole. We may - and do - aim higher than that. But redefining 'first-tier' to mean 'first' achieves nothing: it is merely wallowing in our misery.

Let's just be clear about one thing: the vast majority of everyday Aus rugby fans - both hardcore and floaters - really don't give a toss about esoteric debates as to whether we are, or should be, 3.1, 2.75, 4.3, whatever on the IRB rankings. Look at the trend lines on S14 and Test attendances, the inferences as to our fans' desires and motivations are clear. What our Aus fans want to see, with reasonable consistency, are:

- exciting, dynamic, entertaining play, ball-in-hand mostly, for Wallabies and S14(/15) teams (the best of AFL and league on TV have conditioned our fans for this style, the NH style of rugby is disastrous here);
- State S14 teams winning a lot, especially at home;
- S14 teams getting into Finals, or getting damn close;
- Wallabies showing consistently gutsy play style, with above features;
- a good number of dazzling star players in S14 and Wallabies who provide a gasps factor when on song;
- Wallabies regularly knocking over Saffas and ABs (especially at home), winning all June Tests convincingly, beating England and France in EOTY, and ideally all the other Euros when away.

Any credible plan for Aus rugby's survival and competitive code growth has to target the achievement of the above, asap. The central fact being that we are not achieving the above today (by a long shot) and that is precisely why the code here is threatened, and in relative decline.

LF probably made his only mistake in his headline. I think what he essentially meant is this: 'our Wallabies second-rate play style and increasingly consistent losses against the teams that matter most here make it feel like and be like we are not a top tier team any more, whatever the rankings may or may not say. It feels to a lot of us as though we're just second rate and getting worse, period.'

 

[Gnostic]

Whilst I agree with RH, I would qualify that the standard and mode of play is far more important than winning. The Reds this year and last are the best example anywhere in the world that I can give of this. They didn't win the title, make the finals or even finish top from the Oz teams but I doubt if anybody in Oz could argue that they weren't the best S14 team from Oz this year. The crowds loved the Reds gam,es and I hoped they would make the finals just so I could watch them play again.

Does anybody note the sacrilege that I have committed as a Tahs fan to make this point?

 

[Scotty]

Well, they weren't the best Oz S14 team, because they didn't place the highest.

They did play the most entertaining brand of rugby though, so they were the best to watch.

 

[Richo]

Gnostic,

Not to take anything away from the way they played, but part of the surge in support for the Reds was based on their horrific run for nearly the last decade. Putting themselves in contention meant winning -- and winning big games against tough opponents.

Point being, when it comes to popularity winning is just as important as playing exciting, running rugby -- not less so.

 

[Groucho]

Let's just be clear about one thing: the vast majority of everyday Aus rugby fans - both hardcore and floaters - really don't give a toss about esoteric debates as to whether we are, or should be, 3.1, 2.75, 4.3, whatever on the IRB rankings. Look at the trend lines on S14 and Test attendances, the inferences as to our fans' desires and motivations are clear. What our Aus fans want to see, with reasonable consistency, are:

- exciting, dynamic, entertaining play, ball-in-hand mostly, for Wallabies and S14(/15) teams (the best of AFL and league on TV have conditioned our fans for this style, the NH style of rugby is disastrous here);
- State S14 teams winning a lot, especially at home;
- S14 teams getting into Finals, or getting damn close;
- Wallabies showing consistently gutsy play style, with above features;
- a good number of dazzling star players in S14 and Wallabies who provide a gasps factor when on song;
- Wallabies regularly knocking over Saffas and ABs (especially at home), winning all June Tests convincingly, beating England and France in EOTY, and ideally all the other Euros when away.

Any credible plan for Aus rugby's survival and competitive code growth has to target the achievement of the above, asap. The central fact being that we are not achieving the above today (by a long shot) and that is precisely why the code here is threatened, and in relative decline.

LF probably made his only mistake in his headline. I think what he essentially meant is this: 'our Wallabies second-rate play style and increasingly consistent losses against the teams that matter most here make it feel like and be like we are not a top tier team any more, whatever the rankings may or may not say. It feels to a lot of us as though we're just second rate and getting worse, period.'

RedsHappy, it is slightly naughty to quote the first two lines of my argument but not my conclusion.

But I very much agree with your main points.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

RH has stated it best I think. For the punters to keep coming to the games, our S15 and test teams need to play a brand of footy that makes them want to do that. It doesn't have to mean 80 minutes of razzle dazzle every week, but it does mean gutsy play and an attacking mind set. Those are two hallmarks of Australian rugby and key reasons why I love our style of footy so much.

 

[Nusadan]

The two games of the NZ's NPC I watched on the weekend on foxsports were entertaining to watch...despite one scoreline blowing out towards the end, wish all Super 14 games were/are like that...

 

[Gnostic]

Nusdan I want to address your post first, I watched the NPC (or whatever it is called this year) as well. Great games. But let me say I do not want Rugby to follow the League style of homogeny. Most League games are pretty much the same from my perspective (bearing in mind I have not watched League seriously since the Blue Bags got booted in 1983). They have a very consistant product to quote JON. The standard is pretty much the same game in game out.

Rugby however throws up variables in style between teams, eg England V France etc etc. Those variables give Rugby a huge amount of character that other codes lack.

I would never want to see that character lost from Rugby. I want to see a team play to its game plan (actually having one would be good Robbie) and execute it with skill. England got bagged for their 10 man Rugby 2003-2005 but it was effective and perfectly executed. I must say I enjoyed seeing them execute their play (against everyone except us).

Again I say it is the mode of play that is important. It doesn't have to be razzle dazzle every week as Hornet rightly stated, but a good game plan for the opponent in question and executed with skill.

What has been so distressing for me watching the Wallabies this year has been the lack of a discernable game plan and the poor skills execution. The same goes for the Tahs. The games so far have been so much running around like headless chooks with no idea of how to get through or break down the defence and it appear no plan except "play what is in front of you" which has invariably been the defender.

 

[daz]

it appear no plan except "play what is in front of you" which has invariably been the defender.

Short and sweet. A fair summation of the Christchurch match, which is all the journo's needed to write in the post match blah blahs.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

just wondering, are they related, both are so negative....

After Lances most recent effort on the Blog "Dream on Robbie: hot Frogs will cane our scrum", would you care to revise your assertion.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/dream-on-robbie-hot-frogs-will-cane-our-scrum/

Compare this with anything recently from Grumbles (I ate all the Pies) Growden.

Careful. SMH have a Mole here. Grumbles may get wind of the fact that Gaggerlanders are generally less than impressed with his contributions.

 

[Groucho]

RF - quote some text and argue against it. Or put more effort into your argument. Don't want to hit and run like this, especially against a guy providing free, independent, knowledgeable rugby commentary for us.

Scarfy, given that Lance defines his own brand as "Lance Free: A nasty, opinionated little man whose narrow views and felonious intent can only mean 'Trouble' with a capital T", I'm not sure he'd necessarily want you jumping in to defend him.

It takes time and effort to craft a lasting public persona.

 

[lincoln]

Careful. SMH have a Mole here. Grumbles may get wind of the fact that Gaggerlanders are generally less than impressed with his contributions.[/QUOTE]

My guess is if the online petition to get rid of Grumbles from 4 years ago didn't get the message through then nothing will.

 

[Groucho]

After Lances most recent effort on the Blog "Dream on Robbie: hot Frogs will cane our scrum", would you care to revise your assertion.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/dream-on-robbie-hot-frogs-will-cane-our-scrum/

Compare this with anything recently from Grumbles (I ate all the Pies) Growden.

Careful. SMH have a Mole here. Grumbles may get wind of the fact that Gaggerlanders are generally less than impressed with his contributions.

Unless the ARU provide a press release about this website for him to plagiarise, I can't imagine Grumbles actually being able to write about us.

 

[dougdew99]

The Rugby coverage here is breathtakingly superior to Rugby Heaven... the most pathetic thing is that gossip article... "Who was the senior NSW official caught groping a waitress?"... the most irritating is Mr Crowden's pronouncements... when will they move on and try to compete with G&G?

 

[RugbyFuture]

I personally think its about time GaGR bought out fairfax media...

 

[Lance Free]

Boys, I just like to tell it how it is (in my 'nasty, opinionated' little way!).

PS HJ - you're way too kind.....

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I personally think its about time GaGR bought out fairfax media...

I daresay that we would need to sell a few more stubby coolers before we can do that.

Nice thought though.

 

[Reddy!]

Nah Lance Free is good - it would be boring if all the bloggers of GAGR were trying to paint a pretty picture of Australian rugby. And who knows, his "negative" journalism may prove to be correct!

 

[dobduff11]

With a few more stubby coolers G&GR could bring out a monthly magazine, if publication is a problem it could be an internet magazine.

What about action figures of the scarf wearers or some t-shirts with Gilbert and his falcon on it.

 

[Reddy!]

Haha - nah, it wouldn't be about the rugby anymore then.