Thursday’s rugby news has a radical plan to save the ARU, Quade talking up the Reds mental dominance and a star All Black dropped.
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ARU considering pooling s15 funds
The cash-strapped ARU are apparently considering merging the Rebels, NSW and Queensland Reds to pool assets and cut costs. This centralised model would follow New Zealand, where the Super franchises control their administrative and membership operations but cede control to the NZ Rugby Union on issues including high performance.
The idea has found a vocal critic in Melbourne Rebels boss Rob Clarke, who yesterday declared the operation ‘an absolute joke.’ ‘If anybody went down that path, [they’d] be running an enormous risk of blowing up the game once and for all,’ Clarke said .The Rebels boss was also adamant that the underachieving Rebels will be safe from the axe when the new Super Rugby broadcast deal is negotiated next year. [/one_half]
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ARU desperate in cost-cutting
It now appears that provincial administrators were being warned four seasons ago of the danger of the ARU going broke, appealing for the reduction of player salaries and Super Rugby grants. An ARU presentation to the Brumbies in 2010 outlined the real danger of potential ‘receivership’ within the structural decline of Australian rugby.
Rugby has lost considerable ground to AFL and league since 1997, with a resulting loss in gate takings, sponsorship revenue and Test viewership. The situation has only worsened since 2010, with the ARU recently cutting Test payments despite the concession that the move ‘may have an impact on on-field performance.’ The ARU has also imposed a controversial $200 levy on every junior team and senior club in the country this year. [/one_half]
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Quade says Reds have mental edge
After five straight wins over their traditional rivals, Reds playmaker Quade Cooper has said that his team has solidified a psychological edge over the Waratahs. ‘Momentum tends to stay in your favour for a while and it is a tough task to slow that momentum,’ he said.
Meanwhile, NSW prop Benn Robinson has said that, despite the attacking brilliance of the competing backlines, much of the battle will be contested in the front row. ‘With Holmesy playing tight head and Slipps at loose head they are a very efficient front row,’ Robinson said. Despite the benching of Will Skelton, the Waratahs pack still outweighs Queensland 905kg to 883kg. [/one_half]
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Dagg dropped by Crusaders
The Crusaders have made the surprising move of leaving prominent All Black Israel Dagg out of the starting line-up to face the Blues on Friday night. Dagg, who had a number of handling errors and poor passes in last week’s loss to the Chiefs has been relegated to the bench to make room for replacement 15 Colin Slade. Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has also promoted Tom Taylor to starting five-eighth after Tyler Bleyendaal missed all five penalty kicks at goal.
As for the Blues, coach John Kirwan has decided to give promising youngster Simon Hickey the start at 10, leaving Benji Marshall on the bench as an impact player. [/one_half]
