Australia Rugby

If one was to believe the talk coming from sections of their local media and the former playing ranks of Australian test players, then we are witnessing the birth of a new golden age for the Wallabies.

Certainly, on the evidence of their opening home tests against the Barbarians, Italians and French, they are debatably the most impressive looking side in the world as it stands.

After all, their arch nemesis, the All Blacks, are effectively limping into the Tri Nations competition.  They have been without the services of so many of their pillars, and even those who are returning, have played precious little top level rugby in recent months.

The Springboks, while basking in the celebrated glory of winning a Lions tour, did not endear themselves to the rugby neutrals by dominating the fabled tourists.  If anything, they may view the Tri Nations as a distinctly secondary task to that of which they have just accomplished, and may not be hungry coming into the Southern Hemisphere’s showpiece championship.

But hunger is something that this convalescing Australian team looks to have in spades.

Robbie Deans is a truly brilliant rugby coach, whose record as the overlord of the Crusaders was unrivalled by any other in the global rugby ranks. 

A man who can put no foot wrong, he is making all the right noises in the Australian rugby fraternity, but even more importantly, is getting the best out of his players. 

The straight talking former Christ’s College boarder pure rugby views are vastly different to the almost autocratic or hands off approach of former Australian test coaches, and to say that this generation of Wallaby players are reacting positively would be a dramatic understatement.

In 2009 under Deans, who did not have to concern himself with Super rugby coaching unlike last year, the Wallabies have looked methodical and well organised. 

It is like he is moulding the Australian test team in the cast of the famed Crusaders champions of the past.

But to avoid a cliché, the real judgement is about to be passed, not only on the Wallabies, but on Deans himself.

After all, for all of his success as the Crusaders coach, he does have his blemishes as an elite coach. 

In 2001, a year after taking over from Wayne Smith; who had just completed a hat-trick of titles with the Crusaders, and the same year he devoted his attention to solely coaching the red and blacks (having coached Canterbury in 2000 along with the Crusaders) his decorated team came 10^th in the competition, their second worst year in Super rugby history.

He was also John Mitchell’s assistant with the All Blacks from 2001 to 2003, a reign that had a huge amount of success, but fell at the biggest hurdle, losing ironically to the Wallabies in the semi final at the 2003 World Cup. 

While no doubt part of Dean’s current magic with the Wallabies is ingraining them with a huge amount of self belief, four early season test wins does not make a great rugby team.

On the final pessimistic note, let us not forget the Deans lost three times to the All Blacks last year, oversaw the Wallabies worst ever test loss, lost to Wales for only the second time since 1987, and only narrowly defeated Italy, the 12^th ranked test nation in the world.

There is though now an unwaveringness in this test side, but most importantly, and unlike their Tri Nations opponents, no discernable weaknesses.

With Captain Stirling Mortlock, George Smith and Matt Giteau, they have three of the best players in world rugby.  The outgoing Western Force and incoming Brumbies playmaker is currently the finest number ten on the global stage.

Adding to this is much contravention to traditional Australian faults, with the Wallabies possessive of as much depth as we have ever seen, and with their forward stocks burgeoning, there is certainly much to like about this team.

But they haven’t done anything yet, and that is why they probably approach the Tri Nations with expectations even beyond that of their illustrious opponents.

Between them, the All Blacks and the Springboks hold all the titles. 

New Zealand, current champions, could almost be expected to concede a tournament title that they have virtually owned.  After all, they are rebuilding more than any other test nation, and have numerous injuries.  But some curious optimists in New Zealand may even welcome the All Blacks having a less than spectacular 2009, thinking better now than in 2011?

And South Africa has just earned another title with a four year battery life.  Irrespective of what they achieve between now and 2011/2013, they are the World Champions and current Lions series winners.

The Wallabies must have a goal of winning at least one of the Tri Nations or Bledisloe Cups.

Otherwise, their apparent progress will be nothing more than a mirage.

Saturday night saw Australia beat a French team 22-6 which arrived on the strength of a drawn series with the All Blacks, including a sporting rarity in the form of a victory at the 'House of Pain' in Dunedin, with a disciplined performance relying on the quality of their defence and the work of George Smith at the breakdown.

The fact that Australia's points were all contributed by their star fly half Matt Giteau will not have gone unnoticed to their Tri Nations competitors and this result is the latest that points to an Australian victory in the upcoming southern hemisphere showpiece.

Giteau is currently on effervescent form, cutting teams to ribbons with his running, sleight of hand and intelligent play with the boot. Witness his now patented 'kick pass' to Drew Mitchell on the open side wing in the first few minutes of the encounter or the innumerable times he has cut across field in search of a man running a hard switch line, only to suddenly straighten and break the defensive line himself. In the absence of Carter he is looking like the world's premier stand off and easily the most creative player in world rugby.

Australia now closely echo the recent Crusaders sides that Robbie Deans has assembled over the years in the use of a first and second five eight in the midfield dictating play with the possible addition of another creative player at full back; a role is is not difficult to anticipate James O'Connor fulfilling in years to come. In this system the role of Berrick Barnes as the second five eight is not to be underestimated.

Barnes has come of age as an international and has come to be regarded as a senior member of the Australia squad, despite having accumulated only 16 caps, and he shares the playmaking and kicking duties with Giteau.

In tandem the two are providing Australia's outside backs with countless attacking opportunities that have seen off a star-studded Barbarians outfit that England struggled to dispatch as well as Italy and France by respectable margins.

Barnes' ability to kick off either foot acts as a foil to Giteau's left boot and the two dictate the team's play between them. The upcoming Tri Nations will prove whether this combination is potent enough to restore Australia back to the summit of world rugby.

The Wallabies have named what appears to be their full strength team for the first big assessment of the season, facing only the fifth team to win in New Zealand since 2000.

On this result, expectations are high that the French will provide a stern test for Deans, who remains firmly entrenched as the darling of the Australian media.

One only has to look at the team that was rolled out to play the Italians in the second test in Melbourne. 

Here was an opponent outside the top ten nations of the world; it is in the early into 15 match international season, you want to try your less experienced players, and some of the big names such as Captain Stirling Mortlock needed a rest. 

So why not make 16 changes to your match day squad, and wield out probably the weakest—in terms of experience—Australian test team in modern history.

Only 20,280 souls turned up, and there were a host of reasons that were not rugby related that could explain what the ARU said was a poor crowd.

Socceroo’s had just played in Melbourne, Victoria is in the middle of a pandemic, or both are a flooded sporting market.

Most indicative though, according to most theorists, including the ARU, was that it was Italy, who was soundly beaten in Canberra, and was not going to draw a crowd.  In comparison to say the 2010 Bledisloe test in Melbourne. 

This is a moot point, as on pure numbers, an All Black Wallaby clash guarantees “full house” signs.

But no one mentioned the fact that Deans himself had actually treated the Italians with a small measure of contempt by happily rolling out the second tier Wallabies (Australia A should be playing in the Pacific Nations, not in a test match), and in essence, did what his boss John O’Neill had said last year must  never happen again.

A midyear test with under strength test teams.

But didn’t Deans do this?

Could some of Melbourne have stayed away because it was a weak Wallaby team?

If another international test coach had done this, home or away, eyebrows would be raised.

So France will try, being close to full strength, and pull off an unlikely test triumph against the Wallabies.  They are at the end of a long season, have been on the road for over a month, and have just toured statistically the most difficult rugby country to play in.

Les Bleus clearly hold the Australians in high regard, and if you believe French assistant Emile Ntamack, claim that the Wallabies are a better team that the All Blacks.

But any French rugby aficionado will tell you that there is no team they would rather beat than the men in black, so the questions going into the Sydney test is simple.

Will the French repeat their documented history, and arrive on the turf on ANZ stadium with no mental edge after performing in a big match?  Have they already exceeded their expectations on this tour?  Will the sight of Gold jerseys opposite them inspire them as does the grim pallor of black?

For all and sundry, we hope that the same France that tore into New Zealand executes the same ferocity on the Wallabies.  It will benefit all parties if this is the case.

Les Bleus will, if they win, return home with an Australasian slam, something very few if any Northern teams could ever hope to achieve.  It will also be the turning of the proverbial corner for Marc Lievremont, who has still to convince as a saviour of French running rugby.

The Wallabies though, whatever the result, will be able to be far more thoroughly assessed by all concerned.  They have been untested in three matches so far, plain and simple. 

Even the All Blacks, who have had vulnerability revealed in the last month, may destroy any debate about their mixed form if their under strength team defeats Italy more handsomely than the Wallabies did.

Yet for no apparent reason, many are claiming that this Australian team is on the verge of greatness.  Perhaps they are, but results are the final caveat on such a statement.

The question of depth is disputable but for now irrelevant, because the Wallabies first XV appears to be the match of any team in world rugby.

In the backs, they are served by their twin foils of Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock.  Both men are on current form the best in the world, with perhaps only an Irish captain laying argument to the latter.

When Rocky Elsom returns from injury, they will have the former Leinster hard man and George Smith—easily two of the top five flankers in world rugby.

And of course, they have Deans, no doubt the most decorated domestic coach in world rugby, but still, both in his time as All Blacks assistant and as Wallabies head coach, still cannot lay claim to be a messiah at international level.

In 2009, surely as things stand, at least two out of the Tri Nations, Bledisloe or Grand Slam must be won.  Or otherwise the bubble may well and truly burst.

The Australian Rugby Union and Rugby Football Union have agreed to terms for a test match November 7 at Twickenham, which will now be the first match of a rare Grand Slam series against the Home Nations.

This occurs 25 years after Alan Jones and Andrew Slack’s famous team became the first and only Australian test team to whitewash the four home unions.

Many believe that this was the genesis for the rise of Australian rugby.

The achievement was all the more remarkable for the circumstances leading into the tour. Jones, whose only top-level coaching experience had been with the Manly Marlins, took over from incumbent Bob Dwyer and would lead the squad to glory.

Despite being unable to break the All Blacks Bledisloe Cup stranglehold midyear, Jones eyed the end of year tour with the goal of sweeping the North, despite the Wallabies only winning one from four in 1981-82’s tour of Britain.

The expedition was a stunning success, with the Wallabies beating England 19-3 on  November 3rd at Twickenham, downing Ireland 16-9 on the 10th of November at Lansdowne road, smashing Wales 28-9 in Cardiff Arms Park on the 24th of November, and then at Murrayfield, on the 8th of December, completing the Slam with a 37-12 triumph over Scotland.

Mark Ella scored a try in every match, and the Wallabies also won nine of their provincial tour matches, while only losing four.

Now in 2009, Robbie Deans' rapidly improving Australian team will have the opportunity to become just the second-ever such side to complete a historic Slam, a year after the All Blacks completed their third last year.

The Springboks still hold the record achieving four Grand Slams (1912-13, 1931-32, 1951-52, and 1960-61).

The match against England replaces the English’s match against Fiji.

The RFU has stated that a significant portion of the profits from their match against the Wallabies will go to the Fiji Rugby Union, who are in financial dire straits, and recently lost their principal sponsor.

Fiji will play the United States in November instead, and will play the Wallabies in Australia in June next year.

"Moving around our autumn schedule is not ideal but to be able to offer Fiji substantive support we needed to find a multi-union approach," RFU chief executive Francis Baron stated.

"Playing a Test against Australia in replacement for the Fiji Test will allow us to generate additional revenue to provide meaningful financial support to the Fiji Rugby Union as part of the global package."

It is estimated that there will be a 7 million pound surplus from the match.

For the English, they will play test matches against the Pumas and All Blacks, before themselves being due in Australia in 2010 for a two-match test series.

ARU boss John O’Neill is obviously enthused about the end of year arrangements.

"We're pleased to confirm that a Grand Slam tour, after all these years, is back on our calendar again," O'Neill said.

"The long trips to the U.K. and Ireland to play all four Home Unions are an integral part of the rich history and tradition of the Wallabies.”

"I'm delighted the footsteps of the 1984 Grand Slam Wallabies will, for the first time in 25 years, be retraced by our current national side."

Grand Slam tour dates:

November 7 - Wallabies V England, London
November 15 - Wallabies V Ireland, Dublin
November 21 - Wallabies V Scotland, Edinburgh
November 28 - Wallabies V Wales, Cardiff

Australia HEAD TO HEAD V home Unions

 

England: Played 36, Australia 21, England 14, Drawn 1

Last match: 15th November 2008, Australia 28 – 14 England @ Twickenham, London

Ireland: Played 27, Australia 19, Ireland 8

Last match: 14th June 2008, Australia 18 – 12 Ireland @ Colonial Stadium Melbourne

Scotland: Played 25, Australia 18, Scotland 7

Last match: 25th November 2006, Australia 42 – 15 @ Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Wales: Played 28, Australia 17, Wales 10, Drawn 1

Last match: 29th November 2008, Wales 21 – 18 Australia

Before I write the Patriot Match, let me mention that the match, which took place on 21 March 1914—just before the World Cup began—was probably the last international match before WWI, and who knows, it also might have been the last one.

On Saturday, 21 March 1914, the Scottish and English rugby teams faced one another in Edinburgh. England won the closely fought match 16–15, but just a few months later the First World War had engulfed Europe—a conflict that both captains, a number of forwards, and the majority of the backs who competed in this particular match would not return from.

Rugby players from all over the world gave up everything as they redirected their sporting qualities—passion, dedication, camaraderie—to the war effort. An enormous number died during the two world wars—from within the eight major rugby nations alone, 185 “capped” international players lost their lives.

It was not only international players from the rugby superpowers who lost their lives. Germany had a very strong side between the two world wars—beating France on numerous occasions and regularly defeating other continental sides. But the Second World War was to devastate the squad—16 international players were killed.

Players from many of the minor rugby nations also joined up, while countless others at club level rushed to enlist but were never to return. Far too many died to be listed here but we can look at some of their representative stories. These men, who came from all the major rugby nations of the time, fought on the land, sea, and in the air. Their tragic deaths are typical of so many, their graves and memorials looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and we will always wonder what they and their comrades would have gone on to achieve had they survived the war.

Dally Messenger had retired at the end of 1913 and, as well as being part owner of a Queensland banana plantation, had moved to Manilla near Tamworth to operate a hotel. He arrived by train two days before the match, travelling for 24 hours without sleep. Messenger said it was worth the journey to contribute, though. He also looked forward to catching up with old Kangaroos and to once more play before the Sydney crowd.

Those who knew Messenger noticed he was well below the weight of his playing days. Dally though wasn't going to give his opponents cause for taking it easy on him. He quickly offered that he was well fit enough and had in fact been playing for Manilla with a local rugby union club—not all rugby union ceased apparently. The Referee quipped that the rules about professionalism had also seemingly failed to reach rural New South Wales.

The first match between "Returned Soldiers" and "No.4 Garrison Hospital" kicked off the patriotic carnival just after midday. In an open affair, the Soldiers won by 20-10. As the crowd began to build, ultimately reaching 13,000, a hard-fought Final of the Catholic Schools A Grade competition was played between St. Benedicts and North Sydney, with the former winning three points to nil.

A number of recruitment speeches were then made by the "Sportsmen's Recruiting Committee." New-found recruits were able to enlist there and then at the ground. The New South Wales Rugby League also acceded to a request to include a "recruiting match" between "Australia and Germany."

The match of twenty-minutes duration was meant to inspire men to sign up. It featured an Aussie team, fitted out in khaki colours while, according to the Herald, "the other wore German uniforms." You can guess who came out on top! The Australians prevailed over the enemy 12-9.

The match apparently produced more hilarity for the patrons than any immediate desire to join the armed forces.

Whenever the "Australians" were in trouble defending their line, fresh replacements would enter the fray to save the day and repel the advancing Germans. The Daily Telegraph reported that "roars of laughter followed one after the other," particularly as those players who became "casualties" enjoyed lying on the field as the match continued around them.

This put the crowd in good spirits for the main game and the appearance of Messenger brought the loudest applause of the day. The referee recorded that once the match began the crowd took to "cheering whenever anything of special excellence was shown by either side".

The scores were locked at 10-all at half time. Kangaroo forward Billy Cann was noted as "portly, quite Falstaffian" by The Daily Telegraph, whose writer perhaps knew more of William Shakespeare than many of his readers. Messenger was not heavily involved and he only entered the play in brief moments, though he did land "one exceptional long range goal from near the sideline".

There was some drama after Sid Deane, the Kangaroo centre, and Balmain's Lyall Wall, The Rest's fullback, came together and an ensuing scuffle ended up in a fight spilling over the sideline. Referee Tom McMahon sent them both off. "The Rest" gained the ascendancy in the second half and went on to win by 20-13.

In the early 1940s Dally Messenger was asked about his recollections of the match: "It seems astounding that I don't remember a thing about that game. Must be because I was only half-trained and took a month to recover from the effects. Getting old I was."

---

Kangaroos: Howard Hallett, Dally Messenger, Sid Deane, Herb Gilbert, Charles Fraser, Pony Halloway, Chris McKivat, Tedda Courtney, Bob Williams, Bob Craig, Paddy McCue, Billy Cann. Reserves: Dan Frawley, Charles Boxer Russell, Con Sullivan, Bob Stuart, Webby Neill, Larry O'Malley.

Rest of New South Wales: Lyall Wall, Jack ‘Junker' Robinson, Ray Norman, W. Conaghan, R. Proust, Cec Blinkhorn, Alf ‘Smacker' Blair, George McGowan, Bill ‘Changa' Schultz, O. McCarthy, F Ryan, Dick Townsend, Reg Latta and Arthur Oxford.

For months the ARU marketing machine has been pushing Sonny Bill Williams turning out for a reasonable Barbarians team against the Wallabies. I for one don't like the approach of what appears to be an attack on Rugby League by promoting him at any given opportunity. I understand the need to promote the game; however shouldn't the focus be more around watching Giteau and Barnes re-united in midfield or celebrating a player such as George Smith.

That is why I will be attending the game. Not to watch a club player from France - albeit a fantastic one at that - who may or may not even make the tour as they are still playing in France.

The point is; Rugby League is imploding on the back of scandal after scandal in Australia, this should a time where Australian Rugby should be promoting the qualities that our sport possesses. One of these qualities used to be not smashing the competition. Rugby doesn't need to do this; league is doing that by itself.

Then we move into the very public chest beating contest that is currently occurring between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa over The Super Rugby rights. Here are some recent headlines:

SARU: Super Rugby "cannot do" without us

SA rugby hit back at O'Neill

O'Neill: 'SARU is just bluffing'

O'Neill: SARU playing games

None of these headlines reflect well on Australian Rugby.

Like it or not South Africa holds the whip hand in negotiations on Super Rugby - not so much based on population but their time zone means a rich viewing audience in Europe.

Australia and New Zealand need to acknowledge this and whilst they have a duty to get the best deal possible for their countries antagonising the major player in the deal is hardly a sound strategy in my opinion.

It is all well and good Australia proposing a new competition with Fiji, Japan etc.. Coming on board. Using these teams as collateral is hardly fair given not once has Australia to the best of my knowledge in the last 10 years travelled to Fiji/Tonga to play a full international match. It would be good to understand what has been discussed with and offered to the Pacific Nations and Japan for this back up tournament.

Ultimately, the game against The Barbarians will be a success, I hope that SBW plays, has a great game - Wouldn't it be great to see Mark Gasnier opposite him at outside centre for The Wallabies - I also hope that the Super 14 becomes the Super 18 (split into two groups of nine playing home and away) which includes an extra franchise from Australia, South Africa and two teams from the Pacific Islands. Now that would be a solution that would suit all.

Australia needs to focus on the positives in our game. It is harder to create positive headlines but in the end they are the ones that carry most weight.

Robbie Deans has made his intentions clear for the selection of his first squad of 2009.  He has stated that nobody, not even his captain, is safe in their position.

Of course, Deans is not a liar, but he is a master of his craft. 

This will not be so much a statement of truth, as much as a carefully crafted piece of verbal motivation designed to draw the most out of his four field armies.

Two of the four Australian teams are still in contention, with the Brumbies and Waratahs both playing for their lives this weekend. 

According to the Canterbury legend, both sides could win if they reach the finals.  He has signified that often teams who win the Super rugby titles have come from a background of adversity and have pushed on.

This is debatable. 

One just needs to look at the championship winning teams.  From Graham Henry’s Auckland Blues, who boasted close to an entire All Black team.  The Brumbies side boasting players such as Stephen Larkham and George Gregan in their prime.  The 2007 Bulls team that wielded fourteen Springboks in their squad, and of course, Deans own seven-time champion Crusaders.

These sides had few if any weaknesses, and had key men scattered throughout the side, and within the coaching ranks.

The Brumbies and Waratahs both have first year Super rugby coaches, and definable weaknesses throughout the side, most notably at the crucial playmaking positions.

But they do have resilience, a hallmark of coming back from adversity.  As Deans has mentioned, it is developing further.

Few could have predicted the horrors that the Brumbies would have had to deal with this season; struggling with injuries, losing one of their own so tragically, before reaching their annus horribilis with a record defeat in Wellington.

But still they fight, and even the supremely confident Chiefs would be nervous of the two-time champions coming into town.

Equally the Waratahs, liked by few, hated by most, there will even be Australian rugby supporters that will refuse to cheer NSW if they reach the top four.

It is almost as if they have reached this point of the competition on sheer bloody mindedness.  They have achieved a point where they are still alive going into the final round, and have done it their way, and whatever will be said about them, one must grudgingly admire their spirit.

And this is what Deans is seeking.

The mark of a great team, according to some, is the ability to close a tight match.  Even if you have been outplayed for 79 minutes, still find the fortitude to take victory.

Great All Black teams have done this throughout the ages, but in the same manner equally dominant All Black teams have not. 

One could argue that there have not been many Wallaby teams that have managed to blow away their opponents like other major test powers.

But there have been many Australian test rugby sides that have won, even when faced with superior opposition or unsurmountable odds.

Deans believes that this was the key aspect missing from his team last year.  It is widely believed that Australia was in a position to beat the All Blacks twice last year, but fell short in the final stages.

Ironically, while Deans believed the Springboks were the best team of 2008, it is this that proves that the All Blacks indeed deserved their mantle as the best side in the world.

They knew how to close out games.

This is the quality that is desperately wanted by the Wallaby coach.  He knows what it is, for he has coached it, but has done so to supremely talented Canterbury sides. 

So the declaration by Deans may not be intended to be a mind game after all.  History has shown that inferior teams, with lesser players can beat more decorated opponents.

Last year, with the best at his disposal, the Wallabies could not achieve this. 

It appears that this year, Deans is seeking men who have a belief, who have come from a background of adversity.  For it has been a dark period in Australian rugby history of late, and after the home series against the Barbarians, Les Bleus, and Azzuri, there will be the usual formidable foes awaiting in an eagerly awaited Tri Nations.

As the Super 14 enters its final month, the harsh reality is that beyond the Wallabies, top level rugby in Australia is about to end.

John O’Neill has been his typical vocal self in stating his and Australia’s requirements for Super 14 expansion.  He is pushing for a fifth team, firmly stating his requirements for a season calendar shift, and advocating a backup plan if the South Africans do not come to the table.

It has been suggested that the NZRU are backing up the O’Neill, but this is only really being made obvious by the Australian CEO himself.

New Zealand chairman Jack Hobbs and chief executive Steve Tew have remained impartial during the ongoing conflict within the SANZAR ranks that still sees us no closer actually to knowing as a rugby public what will occur with our premier competitions – Super rugby and the Tri Nations – from 2011.

Add to this the documented lower crowd levels and television viewing audience, and this will affect the commercial and financial viability of the renegotiations.

Only one country holds a relative trump card in all of this, ironically South Africa.  It is the country of some 44 million that boost the lion’s share of both stadia based audiences and television numbers.

And in this, there is one aspect of the South African proposals that will not be compromised; that of their premier domestic competition, the Currie Cup.

They also believe that they should receive a sixth franchise, based not only on their wish not to have their own tournament infringed upon, but on the evidence that they wield the largest pure rugby market.

Irrespective of the above, it is hard to agree that South Africa warrant a sixth team, the Eastern Cape “Southern Kings”, or a hybrid team of the mistreated Southern Spears.  Especially with two or three of South Africa’s five teams consistently bringing up the rear of the Super 14 table.

As former Southern Spears CEO Tony Mckeever stated roughly some time ago “it is not fair that South African rugby rewards mediocrity”.  Essentially the original agreement with the Spears and the SARU was that they would replace the worst performing South African franchise.

This did not eventuate, and legal battles and existing franchises' stubborn stances caused ugly rifts in the South African rugby landscapes.

It is here that O’Neill is missing the point.

He talks of a lack of compromise by South Africa, and vehemently states that Australia has made a concession in their negotiations.  But in what?

The reality is that it will be South Africa (with the Currie Cup) and New Zealand (with the Air New Zealand Cup) that will be making the compromises.

Australia made theirs a long time ago, which had nothing to do with their fellow SANZAR partners.

When O’Neill came on board for his second term as Australian boss in June 2007, he said the rugby landscape was in “deep ****”.    In 2007 the ARU was in deficit to a horrific tune of $8.48 million.

In the financial report of 2008, they had announced a stunning $9.19 million turnaround; recording a surplus of $712,000.  Expenditure was cut eighty per cent, and no doubt it was a formidable display of O’Neill’s vaunted administrative capabilities.

But it came at a cost; one that will only really be felt this year.

There is no more Australian Rugby Championship, which was a complete fiscal disaster, posting a near $5 million dollar loss after administrators ran it over $2 million over budget.  

But also the Australia A program, essentially the Wallabies B team, was scrapped. 

While there is a significant Wallabies program this year, with a six match Tri Nations and likely Grand Slam tour, that is it.

As O’Neill said, “We (Australia) don't have a Currie Cup or an (New Zealand) NPC but at the end of the day the driving force of our success for 13 or 14 years has been Super rugby or Tri-Nations, we can't forget that," he said.

"The other stuff makes up the numbers but the revenue, if you ask Fox Sports what do they pay the big money for, they pay the big money for Super rugby and Tri-Nations.”

But the foundation of South African and New Zealand rugby power is the success and history of their respective national competitions, and O’Neill must remember this.

For all of the talk of a Plan B, if South Africa is not included in Australia’s and O’Neill’s grand scheme, then the Super 14 as we know it ends - as does the Tri Nations, possibly the world’s premier international tournament.

Australia is not compromising in their proposals for SANZAR as South Africa and New Zealand will need to with the Currie and Air New Zealand Cups.

Thanks to O’Neill, they have already done that.

And it is the Australia rugby public, and quite possibly eventually Australian rugby, that will be poorer for it.

Matt Giteau could make history, only it’s out of his control.

He is currently considering a deal which would see him become the highest paid player in Rugby Union. The 26 year old, who is currently playing the Super 14 competition for Western Force, has told the media he has been offered a four year deal to ply his trade in France for a contract worth in the vicinity of $10 million. This is a substantial increase on the $1.5 million he is making per season playing for the Force [Giteau extends Force contract].

Now you’re probably wondering, “Whats to think about? It’s $1 million more than what you make now, living life in beautiful France, what more could you want?” If only it was that easy.

Giteau’s current contract with Australian Rugby Union (ARU) expires at the end of the 2011 World Cup, and they have already ruled out granting him a temporary release to play in Europe.

Some are calling it the greatest offer that can’t be taken.

Matt is by far the best player in the Wallabies squad at the moment, and with his recent performances in Europe it is no wonder he is attracting some serious interest.

Despite the fact his contract with the Western Force ends in 2009, he still is under contract with the ARU until 2011, which means he can’t play for a Rugby Union team outside of Australia until 2011. There is no transfer or trade system in place, so he cannot simply be bought or bought out from his current commitments. The only option is to go to France in 2011 when his contract expires…when he is 29.

On the local front, he still has a few options. He may choose to re-sign with the Force or move back to his hometown of Canberra and play for the Brumbies. Despite the large sum of $1.5 million a year he is reportedly on, there is a strong chance he won’t be seeing all of it. $750,000 of his contract was from third party sponsor Firepower who is unable to pay. Whilst the Force have found companies willing to make up half of the owed amount, he will make less than stated, but still over $1 million.

Whilst no figures have been thrown around about what he could make in his next contract, I am sure his current price of $1.5 million would be a minimum judging by his form.

It is understood he will make a decision on his future before the next season starts in February as he doesn’t want to bring the attention on him:

“I couldn’t play a whole season, if I was to stay at the Force and lying to my team-mates,” Giteau said.

“So if I’d made my decision, I’d make it public and I’d let them know.” [Source]

If Robbie Deans and John O’Neill had said at the beginning of the season that they would record nine Test wins at seasons closed, both men would have been content.

The fourteen test match season was the most games played outside of a World Cup year, and only losses to champion teams (World, Tri, and Six Nations champions) indicates a better than average season.

It also must be taken into perspective that new coach Robbie Deans—as feted as he is by the Australian media—only took control of the national team just days after his focus was on Canterbury in the Super 14.

Australia seems able to compete with both New Zealand and South Africa, but admittedly won when opposition played poorly.  But the Wallabies have shown a tendency to compete inefficiently for an entire match, either switching off and losing (as they did against the All Blacks in Brisbane) or only switching on when the game is already lost (ergo the game versus the Welsh). 

Equally, when the All Blacks and Springboks have fired complete broadsides at the Wallabies, they have had no answer, with heavy 29 and 45 point losses respectively.

Against weaker opposition—dare I say it Northern teams—the Wallabies have shown a tendency to struggle to dominate structure against their foes.  Italy and France outplayed them in the set piece, and a poor final ten by Italy and a shocking display by French fly half David Skrela allowed Australia to win.  How could the team that competed in the Tri Nations struggle against second tier opposition?

It is easy to say that the Wallabies are re-structuring and re-building, but no more so than any other team in world rugby.

First, the appropriate credit must be given.  Back to back wins over the World Champions, inflicting one of the All Blacks heaviest losses in years, losing just one game at home by four points to the world’s best team—and conquering their historical bete noire, the inability to win away.

But, while Deans is a results man, and would reflect on such as 2008 being a successful season, these achievements cannot mask some lurking problems in this Wallaby team.

It could be said that the Wallabies have made continued progress on their great Achilles heel, the scrum, but while optimists could state that they subjugated a nightmare by beating England and dominating their scrum—the same eight were embarrassed by France and Italy, and at times suffered problems against both the All Black and Springbok packs. 

While Stephen Moore has developed into one of the world’s premier hookers, it is the lack of a class prop that is hurting Australia.  Al Baxter and Matt Dunning are adequate stop gap players, but neither will ever dominate, and should give way to players such as Benn Alexander and Ben Robinson—both who need more development.

Ideally Deans will scrutinise Australia’s propping talent in the Super 14, and must select the form fatties.  He needs players who will scrummage, not players who will plot to mask their deficiencies like Baxter and Dunning.

The locks and loose forwards, suffer from inconsistency.  In George Smith they have the world class player to build around, and with players such as Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill and Richard Brown they have burgeoning talent that will improve over time.  To rule the breakdown is to win the game, but a breakdown is not just governed by a man like Smith.  A large part of Richie McCaw’s effectiveness is that he has 14 players who contest the breakdown with him. 

The Wallabies must remember that every tackle initiates the contest for the ball at all times—not just for periods of the game.

Like the scrum, the loose forwards suffer from not playing the officials suitably.  Say what you will about George Gregan, the Wallabies never lost a game due to poor referee interpretation with him on the park.  Australia needs a leader within the pack.  Either Smith or a Nathan Sharpe need to stand up and ensure that the pack plays the game the way the man enforcing the law sees it.

However, the real hangover of Gregan has surfaced this year.  He played in national colours for too long, and as a consequence, Australia is bereft of a class halfback.  Luke Burgess has had the game time, but is lacking in high level skill.  If he does not perform in the Super 14, a new man—such as Brett Sheehan—should be selected.  Wallaby halfbacks must stop taking steps before linking the ball to their back lines.

The outside backs are far from settled, with the value of Berrick Barnes shown in his absence.  The 10/12 axis must be explored thoroughly by the coaching team.  Giteau belongs in the team no doubt, but is his ball playing brilliance better suited in the middle of the field?  He is individually one of the best players in the world—but it must be asked, can he control a game in the manner of dictating fly half?

Stirling Mortlock, as good as he is defensively and as a ball carrier, does not have the play making skills to do the Wallabies justice.  Furthermore, Deans has spent years playing his teams with two genuine play makers in the 10/12 bloc—his coaching is suffering have two crash runners in the centre positions.

As paradoxical as it may sound, for every strong point the Wallabies have, the same area has a glaring weakness.  Perhaps Deans would do well to watch the natural structures of Australia’s Super 14 teams—for before he tries to mould his team into the “Australian Crusaders” he must remember that he has players very different in style to what he has had with New Zealand footballers.

Australia 2008 Test results:

Played: 14                          Won: nine  Loss: five

Points for: 319                   Points against: 285

Upcoming 2009 fixtures:

13/6       Australia V Italy                 Canberra

20/6       Australia V Italy                 Melbourne        

27/6       Australia V France             Sydney