Fix the Wallabies
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="610701" data-time="1472515923">
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Go look at the Schoolboy Rugby threads on GAGR to understand why this is.<br><br><strong>People KNOW what we should do, but look at it through the lens of their own self-interest. Therefore as long as their club/school/kid is represented with prominence, they're happy that things are going swimmingly.</strong></p>
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<p>... and it has ever been thus. It is a long time since I was involved at teenage level, with its coterie of insistent, self focused, maniacal parents however I would venture it is far worse now given the potential income on offer.</p>
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<p>The ARU recently had one who was propelled by that system to the very top whose father, who appeared and conducted himself much like Richard Wilkins, was still not satisfied - he would regularly ring the Super Rugby franchise management and coach complaining about the position his splendid son was being selected in, as if he was still back in the Under 14s with a history teacher as part time coach on Wednesday afternoons.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="BartMan" data-cid="610795" data-time="1472545371"><p>
Fix the Wobblies?<br><br>
No.<br><br>
Let them keep hurting.<br><br>
Or step 1. Sack the coach.</p></blockquote>
I like how you put step 1 at the end.. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mofitzy" data-cid="610850" data-time="1472562781"><p>Does the Olympic gold affect funding in any significant way?</p></blockquote>
Don't believe so - the allocation is to the sport, not the results. <br><br>
The womens sevens here are going to get a new pay deal though, giving them equal pay with the mens sevens. <br><br>
I think it's probably a good move BUT am always wary when big money enters rugby. Professionalism hasn't exactly sparked our professional rugby outfits to glory. In fact, when you think about the period from 99-03 when we were dominant, a lot of the guys involved had grown up in an amateurs environment -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mofitzy" data-cid="610850" data-time="1472562781"><p>Does the Olympic gold affect funding in any significant way?</p></blockquote>
- Or maybe indirectly eg more girls and/or schools playing sevens = more money for the ARU to fleece from parents.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="610909" data-time="1472595054">
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<p>Don't believe so - the allocation is to the sport, not the results.<br><br>
The womens sevens here are going to get a new pay deal though, giving them equal pay with the mens sevens.<br><br>
I think it's probably a good move BUT am always wary when big money enters rugby. Professionalism hasn't exactly sparked our professional rugby outfits to glory. <strong>In fact, when you think about the period from 99-03 when we were dominant, a lot of the guys involved had grown up in an amateurs environment</strong></p>
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<p>Then there'es your answer! Just pick a team of lawyers and accountants who all went to private schools, and play in the Sydney Club comp. Always stick with what works...</p> -
<p>More money to Shute Shield! We, um, i mean, They do all the heavy lifting in Australia!</p>
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<p>damn straight</p>
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<p><img src="http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/04/04/1226612/551017-larkham.jpg" alt="551017-larkham.jpg"></p> -
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<p>We can't all be right none of the time.</p>
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Sure NTA and his cobbers are right about the need to repair the 'funnel' feeding talented youngsters towards the pro game. <br>
But at the risk of being branded a heretic I think the woes of the Wallabies are well overdone. <br>
They may lack some fitness, and 12 is a disaster area with injuries/departures, but having been in France and just got to the replay of Bled 2 I don't think they were that bad for most of the game. In fact what most stood out for me was that the ABs looked like a well oiled machine whereas the Ws had the appearance of not having played much together.<br>
Nothing a decent tour couldn't iron out!<br>
I think they may give the Boks a surprise... -
<p>I was in Aussie some years ago and went to watch a nephew play an U15s game in the GPS Sydney School system. He is a kiwi boy and managed to make the NSW schoolboys that year as a fairly handy prop. The weather was a little wet, nothing untoward - but the respective coaches and referees decided to play the game uncontested scrums due to 'safety' concerns! I couldn't believe the nanny state attitude and felt at the time that if this is the main feeder for Aussie Rugby in the future, they will be in trouble. And so they are...</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="GagaBoy" data-cid="611103" data-time="1472631520">
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<p>I was in Aussie some years ago and went to watch a nephew play an U15s game in the GPS Sydney School system. He is a kiwi boy and managed to make the NSW schoolboys that year as a fairly handy prop. The weather was a little wet, nothing untoward - but the respective coaches and referees decided to play the game uncontested scrums due to 'safety' concerns! </p>
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<p>Also the groundsman probably didn't want to have his nice turf wrecked.</p>
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<p>That's another thing we do like a bucket of shit here: turf management. I've repeatedly requested our local council NOT mow the ground like a fucking cricket field during rugby season. But nope - every fucking week they take it almost down to the roots.</p>
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And the silly bastards wonder why they have to re-turf every few years.</p> -
<p>...someone needs to light a fire under the Wallaby team because the potential is there... firstly though you have to question the coach and captain's ability to motivate the players....insert your own motivational/ leadership quote here...</p>
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<p>IMHO apart from improving their fitness (which wins us games ) it's more an attitudinal adjustment that's needed by Oz..</p>
<p>....i.e dump the apathy and sluggishness/ laziness, not forgetting to dump the useless Quadoh in the process then run at us hard Aussies as if we just banged your missus...</p>
<p>..then throw the ball around like the devil may care , bring some outside backs into the line on forays, string some passes together hoping some will stick and maybe get a roll on...oh and don't forget to tackle - that is the act of seizing and attempting to stop an opposing player in possession of the ball by bringing them to the ground .Defence like fitness wins games...</p>
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<p>...the Aussies though are confidence players so if they can get ahead on the scoreboard they will build confidence and start playing some good rugby...some smart tactical kicking is also required - trying to run the ball out of yr own red zone is not very clever...play in the opposition's half is the story...</p>
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<p>Admittedly the Aussie backline is a mess with all the injuries so some experimentation with combinations may be necessary... NZ has reconfigured their centre combos multiple times so must Oz...there's no synthesis currently...maybe throw a few more Fijians in the mix and play a more unorthodox sevens style of football which is less predictable and highly entertaining...risky I know but if you're going to fail it's better to fail spectacularly...</p>
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<p>Lastly can I say how exceptionally good the last two Aussie coaches have made Robbie Deans look...</p>
