Aussie Pro Rugby
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@Bovidae said in Aussie Rugby in general:
Rugby fossil Alan Jones said the same, but I didn't hear him suggest who they could be.
Because there is fucking NOBODY.
So many cockheads in Aussie Rugby think they've got the answer, but press them on the details and its usually "Well club rugby produced RWC-winning Wallabies" or "The NRC is a waste of money" or "Nothing wrong with 3 separate schools competitions in Sydney alone because {insert speaker's school] is doing fine!"
I keep hearing good things are in the pipeline but there's no evidence. I told our Suburban comp a decade ago that their competition structure worked for the top 2 divisions but strangled everyone else, and even sent them a three page summary of suggestions. Only now are they doing something about it after one top division team forfeited three grades + colts from mid-season.
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The Simpsons always delivers
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Christy Doran again:
Don’t worry about Michael Cheika, Quade, it’s time to look in the mirror
Quade, let’s talk.
You were a marvellous player and could do things that many could only dream of doing on the rugby field.
You brought the Reds their maiden — and only Super Rugby — title and left everyone, including your teammates, in awe in 2011.
But that was eight years ago.
Since then, we’ve seen glimpses of your sparkling best.
But only glimpses.
There were positive signs earlier this year for the Rebels, but your season and your club’s season cliff-dived after the heartbreaking two-match tour in South Africa — and that was in March.
Having won three straight matches to start the season, the Rebels won just another four matches from their next nine and those victories came against the Reds and Sunwolves, who finished at the bottom of the Super Rugby standings.
That’s why you didn’t play for the Wallabies in 2019.
Your tweet on Sunday afternoon, where you said that “If he (Cheika) actually cared about Aus rugby he would have done it a while ago …” reeks of a player who didn’t get selected for the World Cup campaign.
After all, it was Cheika who was behind Rugby Australia paying out your deal in Toulon in 2016 to help pave the way for your return to the Reds.
That was after Toulon’s eccentric owner Mourad Boudjellal took you to the cleaners.
“It’s difficult to go from foie gras to pâté,” Boudjellal said, which translated to having Wilkinson as the duck delicacy and Cooper as the standard fare.
“For now, Cooper is not what I was hoping for. But we have to also give him time.
“Right now if I say that I’m not happy with our stars, it’s only because we expect a lot. It’s true that in our imagination, we want them to fly across the pitch.
“We’ve been spoiled somewhat by [Tana] Umaga and then Wilkinson, so maybe we need to give them time…”
It was also Cheika that attempted to broker a deal with the Brumbies and Rebels after your new Reds coach, Brad Thorn, told you that your services weren’t required at the Reds with two years left running on your contract.
Eventually, after a year of earning your healthy pay package by playing club rugby with Souths — which you were totally entitled to do so — you decided to join the Rebels.
After signing in Japan, you thanked the Rebels for welcoming you and “showing (you) nothing but love all season”.
Quade, it’s time to look in the mirror.
You had a falling out with former coach Robbie Deans.
You weren’t welcome at the Reds under Thorn, in part, because of the carry on you had with his former teammate and All Blacks legend Richie McCaw when you were at the peak of your powers in 2010 and 2011.
But mainly because Thorn thought the Reds needed a complete culture overhaul and he didn’t think Cooper would buy into his new regime.
You ran your own race when Richard Graham was coach of the Reds.
Now, you’ve thrown barbs at Cheika just minutes after the outgoing Wallabies coach said he wouldn’t seek reappointment.
The common denominator here is you.
Interestingly, one Wallaby, who wished not to be named, contacted foxsports.com.au in the moments after your tweet to voice his concerns.
He later referred to you as a “cancer” within the side.
The other reason you weren’t selected for this year’s World Cup was because of your attitude and the possibility of being a disruptive force within the group.
As England’s Eddie Jones said after announcing his World Cup squad, there’s more to a team than just those who take the field.
“At World Cups I pick one to 15 first, then I pick numbers 28-31,” Jones said at his own England World Cup squad announcement.
“They are your absolute keys.
“They are possibly not going to have much gametime so the character and behaviour of those guys is super important.
“Then you try to pick a blend from 16-27.
“So there is a process I follow.”
That was shown four years ago.
Don’t trust me?
The Kendrick Lamar music in the background to the highlights reel you posted on Instagram following your only appearance at the World Cup campaign against Uruguay in 2015 said it all.
“I got a bone to pick,” says Lamar.
“I don’t want you monkey-mouth mother******* sittin’ in my throne again.”
Interestingly, the yellow card you copped for another high tackle early in that match wasn’t included in that highlights package.
While the Wallabies crashed out at the quarter-final stages of the World Cup against England on Saturday, the vast majority of the playing group were with Cheika until the end.
There were testing times in 2018 when a fracture was caused within the playing group when Sefa Naivalu was sent home after vomiting on the team bus after a big night.
The fracture was tested again during last year’s Spring Tour.
It was reopened during the sorry end of Israel Folau’s playing chapter with the Wallabies earlier in the year.
But the playing group — for better or worse — was with Cheika until the end.
In the 24 hours since Cheika’s announcement, the likes of Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau and James O’Connor have also expressed their gratitude to the outgoing coach.
Mitchell wrote on his Instagram: “Call me biased of whatever but I’ve had no other coach that I’d die for!! Thank you Cheik.”
O’Connor added: “Just want to send some energy the way of a man who I have a great deal of respect for. When I was looking for an opportunity, you went out of your way to accommodate and provide me with the circumstance for a chance. I want to thank you for that and all you have done for Australian rugby. Hope you find some peace in your retirement”.
Quade, you’re now in the twilight of your playing career.
It’s time to let your sublime vision and unparalleled spiral passes do the talking.
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Forgot that jackass Kearns wanted Castles job .
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@mariner4life Quality article
And jaybus imagine that twat kearns in change, what a disaster! Real question, what qualifications/experience does he have at running a large-ish corp? Or just exwallaby, good on the turps with the old boys hire?
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Think he's the COO of an insurance company or something.
Apparently a sharp businessman, quite at odds to his commentary persona.
@barbarian said in Aussie Rugby in general:
Think he's the COO of an insurance company or something.
http://www.interrisk.com.au/irm/content/our-team.aspx?RID=371
PHIL KEARNS MANAGING DIRECTOR
Phil has more than ten years of experience leading financial service organisations, headlined by his previous position as Chief Executive Officer at Centric Wealth, as well as senior positions across divisions at Investec, the South African-based investment bank.
Whilst at Centric Wealth, Phil has been instrumental in building the corporate and private bank client base and introducing investors to innovative opportunities, including property and other alternative investments. Phil has helped transform InterRISK into a multimillion dollar business.So there you go.
That tendency for the "blokey" side to emerge during the commentary thing is obviously appealing for the ratings thing.
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I worked with him for some time. He is a really good guy. Gets on with everyone, always had time to spend with the juniors. Massive rolodex, can get in front of any CEO in the country (any rugby playing nation I expect). Had a great time with him and clients at the 2011 RWC.
He's certainly not dumb, with no long history in finance he was able to understand different products and communicate with clients. As for being qualified to be a corporate CEO, I'm not sure. Expect he would need a solid team around him, especially around risk and ops functions.
His on-camera persona is a bit at odds with all that I know. I think some of it is caused by genuine passion from a bloke that loved nothing more than competing for his country. And some of it is just a love of winding people up and being a bit controversial.
I'd suggest you take his comments with a grain of salt, they're probably not always reflective of what he is actually thinking.
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Interesting, because I would think that anyone meeting him after they had heard his commentary first would be very resistant to taking him seriously! If he is dumbing down/Trumping up his commentary to get better ratings, it is a sad state of affairs in the world
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Interesting that this is a review in to the "disasterous" World Cup campaign only.
Isn't that a bit of a bullshit focus?
And exactly how was the campaign a "disaster"? The Wallabies lost a pool match to the one of the top 3 teams in the world, in a game they could have won. They then lost the quarter they were rank outsiders in, to another top 3 team.
I would have thought the campaign was pretty much to expectation? A semi-final would have been over-achievement.
By narrowing the focus of the "review" it does two things. Conveniently ignores all the systemic issues that lead up to the Wallabies. And makes a further mockery of the decision to appoint Scott Johnson to head it up.
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So which is the real Kearns ? The one that behaves like an arsehole whenever a camera is nearby or the one that knows HR is looking over his shoulder at work ?
@jegga said in Aussie Rugby in general:
So which is the real Kearns ? The one that behaves like an arsehole whenever a camera is nearby or the one that knows HR is looking over his shoulder at work ?
I think that's a pretty ridiculous thing to suggest.
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The problem with Kearns and the CEO appointment was that his supporters weren't pumping up his tyres because of his business credentials... it was because he's a 'good rugby man'.
Apparently if you've never been at the bottom of a ruck you are somehow unqualified to manage Rugby Australia, or understand anything about the game.
It's a ridiculous philosophy that is firmly stuck in the 1980s.
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The problem with Kearns and the CEO appointment was that his supporters weren't pumping up his tyres because of his business credentials... it was because he's a 'good rugby man'.
Apparently if you've never been at the bottom of a ruck you are somehow unqualified to manage Rugby Australia, or understand anything about the game.
It's a ridiculous philosophy that is firmly stuck in the 1980s.
@barbarian said in Aussie Rugby in general:
It's a ridiculous philosophy that is firmly stuck in the 1980s.
that, right there, could be above the doors of Rugby Australia
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@barbarian said in Aussie Rugby in general:
It's a ridiculous philosophy that is firmly stuck in the 1980s.
that, right there, could be above the doors of Rugby Australia
@mariner4life said in Aussie Rugby in general:
@barbarian said in Aussie Rugby in general:
It's a ridiculous philosophy that is firmly stuck in the 1980s.
that, right there, could be above the doors of Rugby Australia
Mission statement
