Rugby World Cup 2023: why the shift in power to the Northern Hemisphere is disastrous for Australian rugby

Wallabies fans don’t cheer the All Blacks – until now, that is. Because with the most radical change in rugby coming in 2026, we need the southern hemisphere to be strong once again.

DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND – AUGUST 05: Australia faces the haka during The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australia Wallabies at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 05, 2023 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)

It sounds like sporting heresy – and goes against everything Australian rugby supporters have always believed in – but these really are desperate times.

For the first time – and let’s hope it’s also the last – Wallabies fans should be cheering for New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup.

As nauseating as that sounds because the All Blacks are the Wallabies’ sworn natural enemies, a Kiwi failure in France could have a disastrous impact on Rugby Australia too.

Once a powerhouse on the field, Australia no longer has much clout in the international game because it simply doesn’t have the financial muscle of the major European nations.

Australia can’t compete financially with the major European nations. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Truth be told, Australia has succeeded despite its place in the global game not because of it.

Rugby Australia have been overachievers, winning the World Cup twice with a generation of superbly talented Wallabies, and being awarded multiple hosting rights, including the next men’s (2027) and women’s (2029) editions, because of a fantastic reputation for throwing parties.

But with the Wallabies no longer competitive on the field, currently ranked 10th in the world, Rugby Australia’s stocks in the global boardroom are also sinking.

Australia’s biggest bargaining chip row is that it is joined at the hip to the All Blacks, one of world sport’s most recognisable brands.

So if the men in black bomb out in France that could spell trouble for Rugby Australia because it will further erode the team’s diminishing appeal.

Like everything in sport, it’s all about timing – and a southern hemisphere blowout at the 2023 World Cup could not come at a worse time for rugby countries below the equator.

It’s no secret that one of the fiercest battles that has taken place in the sport since the game turned professional in the mid 1990s has been off the field – between the powerbrokers from the northern and southern hemisphere.

The Europeans have always had more money but their influence has been restricted because the southern hemisphere giants always had the best players – winning eight of the nine World Cups held so far.

New Zealand celebrate a try against Italy at the World Cup. Picture: SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

The last time the global showpiece was held in Europe – in 2015 – Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina claimed all four semi-final berths, but things are very different this time, because the balance of power has shifted.

New Zealand were beaten by France in their pool A match, South Africa lost to Ireland, Argentina went down to England and the Wallabies were humiliated by Wales.

If none of the southern hemisphere teams make the final, which has never happened before, it will give the northern hemisphere a much bigger say in the big decisions the game is currently facing.

And the biggest of all is the proposed Nations Cup, scheduled to start in 2026.

Desperately needing another mega event to fill the four-year void between World Cups, World Rugby has agreed to the most radical change to the international game since it turned professional in 1995.

Years in the making, the plan is to create a ‘world league’, played biennially in even numbered years to avoid clashing with the World Cups and British and Irish Lions’ tours.

The 12-nation competition will be made up of six teams from the northern hemisphere and six teams from the southern hemisphere, who will play each other during two separate windows – over three weekends in the southern hemisphere in July then another three in Europe in November – culminating with a ‘grand final’.

Australia are assured of an initial spot in the southern hemisphere division but not forever, because promotion and relegation will be introduced down the track.

Wallabies fans will need to get behind New Zealand at the World Cup now – for the good of rugby. Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images

Critically though, the deal has still not been signed off yet because the commercial details and financial numbers are still being finalised with a vote expected soon.

Talks are ongoing so the timing is hugely important.

In 2020, Rugby Australia backed Argentina‘s Agustin Pichot when he ran for the job of World Rugby chairman against former England captain Bill Beaumont.

Pichot lost then quit as vice-chair. He has since been replaced by Scotland’s John Jeffrey.

For Australia, the stakes could not be higher than right now.

With private equity on the backburner for now, Rugby Australia needs to get the best deal they can get to fund the game and help build a war chest so they can assemble a team capable of winning the World Cup at home in 2027.

Having New Zealand back on top of the world would help.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup 2023: why the shift in power to the Northern Hemisphere is disastrous for Australian rugby