Thursday’s Rugby News see’s big news out of World Rugby, big news out of the Tahs and Brumbies, big news out of New Zealand and big chat on the NRC semi-finals.
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WC Selection
The Rugby World Cup Council is set to meet on November 15th to decide the official host of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and all eyes are on South Africa to take the crown after the most comprehensive host-selection process in World Cup history.
The Rainbow Republic looks set to be the front runners to host Bill in six years time, after the RWC Ltd Board, with independent input, recommended them above Ireland and France as the nation best suited to host the event.
ARU Rugby Australia board members Bill Pulver and Brett Robinson will be part of the 39-strong Council that will all vote on November 15 to decide the eventual host. However, should South Africa be successful, that could be of huge benefit to Australia’s future chances of hosting Bill again.
At least, according to Jim Tucker of The Courier Mail.
“Selecting a World Cup host has followed a rhythm between a northern hemisphere staging and a southern host in the next cycle,” wrote Tucker.
“The 2019 edition in Japan is a one-off in terms of a worthy expansionist vision for the code in Asia but South Africa’s nod for 2023 restores the rhythm and the certainty that Ireland, France or another England-led bid will be the setting in 2027.
“The 2003 World Cup flushed a windfall of more than $40 million into the coffers of the then-Australian Rugby Union and the tournament is the one mega-economic engine outside a broadcast rights deal (and wins filling stadiums) that can restore the code’s finances.”
Tucker also highlighted that after the year we’ve had (from both an on-field perspective with poor performances, and the off-field disasters such as the continual financial propping up of the Melbourne Rebels and the cutting of the Western Force from Super Rugby), it “only reinforces that Australian rugby has to form a working party to brainstorm a 2031 plan.”
The decision will be an important one, not just for Australia or for the eventual host, but also for rugby as a sport, with it being the first World Cup to be decided using a brand new bidding process that encourages more involvement from all major rugby nations.
“This is the first Rugby World Cup host selection to take place following a complete redesign of the bidding process to promote greater transparency and maximise World Rugby’s hosting objectives,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.
“We have three exceptional bids but it also identified South Africa as a clear leader based on performance against the key criteria, which is supported by the Board in the recommendation.”
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Kiwi SR squads released
While plenty of action has been happening in Australian rugby, the five Kiwi Super Rugby franchises have released their squads for next years Super Rugby season. In short, get ready for more of the same.
You can check out the squads in their entirety here, but for those short on time and keen for a quick summary:
The Blues have named 10 current or former All Blacks in their squad, but have flushed their talent with much of the promising upcoming youth from the Mitre 10 Cup, as many of the feeder teams of the Blues have been enjoying strong seasons. Expect plenty of experience combined with youth stepping up as the Auckland look to try and get off the bottom of the Kiwi table.
The Chiefs have been able to retain the vast majority of their roster, with 31 players returning from the 2017 season. The men from Waikato have seven All Blacks at their disposal, as new coach Colin Cooper looks to focus on experience for his first season in charge.
The premiership-defending Crusaders have named an unbelievably strong squad, with 12 current All Blacks named in their squad. Coach Scott Robertson has seven new players, including several exciting under 20s prospects. One notable inclusion is a certain Ethan Edmund Blackadder, the son of former Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder.
The Highlanders have also had a changing of the guard in the coaching ranks, with new coach Aaron Mauger naming a squad featuring 30 players from the 2017 team. This includes an imposing eight All Blacks and seven Maori All Blacks. Much like the Chiefs, the Highlanders will be looking to build on consistency and focus on building the current squad.
And finally, the Hurricanes have named eleven new faces in their side, with several young rookies coming up. However, there are also ten All Blacks and even a Wallaby in the ranks, with Toby Smith getting the nod after moving over from the Rebels.
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Tahs reviewing, Brumbies planning
Okay, I know a lot of people would rather I talk about anything other than the state of our remaining Super Rugby franchises. But, some interesting news has come out of Brumbies HQ and Waratahs HQ over the last 24 hours that will either make you optimistic for the future or make you spill your morning coffee in frustration. Honestly, it depends which franchise you support.
First off, let’s start with the good news, which leads us to the Brums. In spite of being the best of a pretty average bunch, and struggling to fill Canberra Stadium, the Brumbies look set to, against all odds, turn a profit for the 2017 year.
That doesn’t sound like a lot to get cheerful about. But considering the fact that for years the franchise was consistently in the red, on top of suffering from plenty of off-field drama, the fact they turned a profit at all is a miracle.
There is also signs that times are looking better for the Canberra franchise going forward, with membership takings up on this time last year. In addition, they have also re-secured a new contract with jersey sponsor Plus500, who will be signing onto the club for another three years.
“We think it’s a fantastic vote of confidence in the organisation and where we are trying to take it and we also think it’s a great statement for rugby union in ACT and southern NSW,” Brumbies CEO Michael Thomson said to rugby.com.au.
“We have been through some challenging times – just to have surety as well in terms of the financial side of the organisation and to not be in a position where we are chasing a naming rights sponsor every year.
“We’ve moved from the 18 team season to 15 teams, three conferences, which means we are going to have eight regular home games, including the Waratahs and Crusaders, which are the two big ones.
“We dropped prices across the board by about 10 percent – a little bit more than 10 percent in some categories.
“Our take-up has been better than this time last year, we just closed same seat cutoff and we are a reasonable amount (compared to) where we were last year.
“Overall, people’s responses have been really positive – we continue to drive membership and we will continue to focus on being out and about and engaging with the community.
“This year we will turn a small profit – about $14,000 or so – and we will be the only Super Rugby team in Australia to do so, I would imagine,” he admitted.
“Now we have got finalisation of what Super Rugby looks like, once we get the appointment of a CEO at the ARU that will probably bring a bit more stability. For us, our squad is going to be stronger next year than what it is at the moment.
“We will keep building on what we’ve got and Laurie coming back gives us more rugby knowledge than what we had this year and Dan is slotting into the job as head coach well, so there’s a lot of upside.”
The mood is a lot more reflective over in New South Wales, with the franchise releasing their external review results to rugby.com.au.
And how did the Tahs fare? Well, about as well as you might expect. But at least Tahs CEO Andrew Hore didn’t mince words.
“I expect the fans to be cynical for a while,” Hore said.
“I can walk around in the emperor’s new clothes for as long as I like but the reality is, I’m nude.
“The fans were disappointed at the lack of results and the perceived lack of desire in the back half of last year and I can understand that.
“It doesn’t matter what I say, the reality is we won’t change anything until we get on the field next year and prove that things are different.”
The number one recommendation provided by the report was the need “put the structures in place to support the rugby department across the whole business as well as ensuring the systems within the rugby department have the right people leading the right areas.”
Hore hopes that, from a coaching perspective, things will be better next year. Daryl Gibson came under plenty of fire this year, but Hore hopes the inclusion of Simon Cron to coach the forwards will do much to improve the Tahs game plan.
Hore also aims to set a goal to encourage players outside of Michael Hooper to take up more leadership roles. He was quick to praise Hooper for his success and role model efforts as a player.
“For us, it’s now about getting other guys to take up some of that as well and getting people outside of Michael to take roles in leading on and off the field.”
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All roads lead to Viking Park
The NRC is officially into the semi-finals, and with the four teams remaining all vying for the Toast Rack, Brett McKay got the chance to ask those who have been eliminated their thoughts on who will lift the trophy this year.
“Canberra Vikings will take it out, I think, this year,” said Sydney Rays skipper Damien Fitzpatrick.
“If anyone watched our game against them, they may well have played their best game of the year, or they’re just an incredibly good side. They’ll play Queensland Country in the final. I thought, watching them play throughout the season, that there was a maturity to their game that was perhaps lacking in previous seasons.”
Fitzpatrick’s thoughts were echoed by Warringah Rats and NSW Country Eagles coach, Darren Coleman:
“I think the favourites are a pretty safe pick for the final. I just think Canberra have been consistent, and they’re at home,” he said.
“Perth have got to get back home, get back over for the game, even getting a few players back this weekend. I think that’s the game most in doubt – if anyone can spring an upset it’ll be Perth, and they’ve shown week-in, week-out, year-in, year-out, that they hang tough.
“I feel as though Fiji have lost their momentum, unfortunately.
“Playing away this weekend, with six or seven of their best players having left to join the national team – Queensland Country will get their fringe Wallabies and their Barbarians back.”
Finally, Mick Heenan (Brisbane City’s coach), also got to throw his hat in the ring, and he had a slightly different prediction.
“[Canberra have] had a pretty settled line-up all year, they’re at home, and Perth have to deal with the travel factor, so you’d have to say Canberra start favourite in that one.
“And in the other one, again, Queensland Country have been pretty settled all year, and Fiji are now missing six or seven of their best players.
“So that makes it a Canberra-Country final.
“Obviously the home ground factor will be significant for Canberra, but I think Country can spring an upset there.
“They’ve been great all year, and they only narrowly missed beating them in Canberra in the first round. They’ve dealt with the travel better than most this season, so I’m going for Country.
“They’re settled, they probably their best players coming back, so I think Country can do it.”
Slight bias, but there ain’t nothing wrong with a bit of tribalism. To see all of Brett’s interviews, including the thoughts of Melbourne Rising lock Steve Cummins and Greater Sydney Rams flyhalf Mack Mason, click here.
The weekend will see Canberra Vikings host the Perth Spirit in Viking Park on Saturday 4th November, while Queensland Country will host the Fijian Drua in Toowoomba on Sunday, 5th November. The winners of those matches will play in the finals next week.
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