I do appreciate those who have commended me on my “passion” for the game; I am disturbed that some of you are telling me you have lost yours.
Please hang in!
There was an overwhelming expression of anger at the treatment of Quade Cooper being denied citizenship. As Robert said, “This is typical of incompetent and unproductive bureaucrats …” Robert, we see them everywhere.
Referees inserting themselves into the game don’t impress the rugby family.
Says Jerry, “I hate refs instructing players, telling them to roll away, get their hands off the ball, get back, etc. The ref should just penalise the player infringing. I don’t remember, in the ‘olden days’, referees instructing players on what they should be doing.”
Jerry, you are absolutely right.
That aside, there is so much happening around the world that we enjoy a pervasive feeling of excitement. Let’s face it, the need for distraction from all the doom and gloom around this coronavirus has never been more pressing.
The Lions in South Africa!
In about 161BC, the Roman playwright, Publius Terentius, commonly known as Terence, coined the Latin proverb, “Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat”, meaning “fortune favours the brave”.
It sums up the first Test between South Africa and the Lions.
In the first half, and I did sit up, the Springboks played kick and chase rugby and built a 12-3 lead, thanks again to the endless involvement of the referee.
The Lions tried to play some rugby; when they did, it looked good. But Nic Berry was hot on the whistle and Handre Pollard kicked South Africa to a strong lead at the break.
Lions coach Warren Gatland had a big decision to make at halftime. His experience and gut feeling turned things in the Lions’ favour.
Gatland made two tactical changes in the second half that brought the Lions back into the Test match; first, he told his team to match the South Africans’ kick and chase game so the Lions could get some territory. By doing this, he took Pollard and his deadly goalkicking out of the game.
Secondly, he told the Lions to take a risk, kick the penalties into the corner, unless they were dead in front of the posts.
This tactic turned the Test on its head just after halftime, when the Lions did just that and scored a try from a well-executed lineout drive. Even the backs joined the drive as the Lions made a statement. From that point on, the Test match exploded.
South Africa responded almost immediately and were unlucky to have a try disallowed.
That disappointment was short lived, as the Springboks scored moments later through their brilliant halfback — and how good is this little fellow, Faf de Klerk — but the Lions collected more points through penalties and with about 15 minutes to go, they went ahead by two points.
In the later stages of the match, the Springboks were denied another try by the TMO, but the Lions’ brave tactical changes in the second half were enough to secure a 22-17 victory.
The ball is now in South Africa’s court.
Will they continue to play kick and chase rugby or will they throw the ball around?
I’m not suggesting it’s basketball, but there has to be some controlled possession and you must give outside backs a chance to play with the football and demonstrate their skill with time and space.
Faf de Klerk is a brilliant running No 9; Damian de Allende is a powerhouse in the centre and Cheslin Kolbe is arguably the most elusive back three player in the world. So will the Springboks observe Terence’s proverb, “fortune favours the brave” and have a crack? I suspect they will.
To matters closer to home.
It’s a good thing the Wallabies and the All Blacks have found a way to play the Bledisloe Cup series.
It’s one thing to beat a weakened French side; it’s another thing to take down the All Blacks.
I like that the coach has replaced the injured James O’Connor with Quade Cooper.
Properly managed, Cooper is an amazing athlete and has so much experience to share.
Sport throws up incredible stories. Cooper’s shot at redemption is a great story.
Maybe now Scott Morrison will give the man a passport.
Incredible too is the story of Samu Kerevi. Most fans were scratching their heads when Kerevi turned his back on the Wallabies and headed to Japan.
He was at his peak as a midfielder, a genuine world class centre. How could he turn his back on Australian Rugby when we needed him?
It’s recently been revealed that Kerevi made the sacrifice to surrender his Wallaby dream so that he could better provide for his extended family.
It makes sense now that a young man who has the responsibility of providing for his family in Australia and Fiji would choose to put his family ahead of his country.
Marika Koroibete has chosen the same path as Kerevi, to play club rugby in Japan at the end of the season, also for family reasons.
Surely now Australian Rugby needs to face facts and abandon the Giteau Law.
Players should be encouraged to look after their families and that shouldn’t rule them out of playing for the Wallabies. To be honest, it’s a restraint of trade.
Consider this:
The Springboks put out a Test match squad in the first Test against the Lions and 13 of their 23 players play club rugby outside South Africa; six of the Springboks play club rugby in Japan; four play in France; two play in England; one in Ireland.
Five of the starting backline play their club rugby overseas.
The commercial reality is that our game can’t provide for all our top players.
Many of them can better provide for their families playing club rugby overseas. We should be supporting them.
Where the hell is the RUPA, the Rugby Union Players’ Association, in all of this? They did nothing for Israel Folau when he needed the Players’ Association to stand up for him.
Justin Harrison and the CEO of RUPA have to think clearly about their role and whom they represent. If it requires a “brawl” with Rugby Australia, then bring it on.
All Australian players should be considered for Wallabies selection, regardless of where they play club rugby.
The Wallabies brand will continue to languish when we don’t pick our best.
Recently, the True North Sports Research Group published their winter sports survey which measures the “emotional connection” sports fans have with their teams.
The Wallabies were 10th on the list of national sporting teams behind the Australian Olympic team, men’s and women’s cricket, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball and the Kangaroos.
That won’t change until the Wallabies start winning and we are more likely to win if we pick our best team. Our game is on life support.
Listen to the Latin proverb, “fortune favours the brave”.
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Your comments last week were broad in their detail and incisive in their construction.