Quietly (and I say quietly because Rugby powerbrokers market their product as frequently as the Fox Sports News anchors say something funny. That is, never. Seriously, I have seen more ads for Marlboro then rugby). Quietly, the upcoming rugby test season is one of most loaded in recent memory.
Not since the ’01 season (the British Lions tour of Australia which resulted in an epic showdown with an ageing Wallabies team that had dominated the previous 3 years) and the ’03 season (a in-their-prime English side coming off a 6 Nations sweep beat both, the All Blacks in New Zealand, and the Wallabies in Australia to cement themselves as the favourites heading into the ’03 World Cup) has test rugby been so compelling.
To mark the occasion and to get away from thinking about how the Broncos have turned into the Globetrotters (all offense, no defence), I figure a highly speculative and questionably insightful preview is in order. 3000 words ‘ought to do it. That’s what I would want, nay, what I would DEMAND if I read some guys sports column (hey, if Rove can call his monologue “comedy”, I can call this a column).
---
1.
The British Lions “we do our best to uphold amateur rugby morals and values by drinking heavily and banging copious amounts of hookers and rugby groupies” tour.
Probably the most underrated and unique sporting event in the world, the rugby BLT is like a ... well ... it’s like a BLT. When they are good, they are great; when the ingredients are old and it’s not put together well, it’s a disaster.
(It’s essentially the international state of origin of rugby. Can you imagine if every four years an all-Europe soccer side toured South America or Africa? That would be the lollapalooza to the World Cup’s Glastonbury. In fact why hasn’t this been done? If nothing else, they should at least send a side to tour before the AFCON.)
This year’s tour is a juicy fresh pulsating BLT. South Africa tours are always the best for three reasons:
A) It really is a throwback to amateur rugby because of the state of country and the passion South Africans have for the game; The white ones at least. When you visit SA it’s like visiting Australia in 1990. There is far too much denim, people still smoke in restaurants and at stadiums, the music is old because no bands toured during Apartheid, all the buildings still have that 80s look, EVERYONE drives drunk because it’s the safer option to taking public transport and cabs, and no one really has any concept of political correctness or reality TV. It’s worth going their just remember how much things have changed in Australia. It’s why players routinely get sent home from Springbok tours but they don’t from All Black tours. It’s the land of anything-goes, and therefore ideal for a rugby tour.
So if this anything-goes environment is the furnace for debauchery, then the extreme passion and cultural meaning of rugby in the republic is the fuel for debauchery. I’ve done more travelling then the average person and I can honestly say the scariest place I have ever been is a Bulls game in Pretoria. People lament about the passion New Zealanders have for rugby; its nothing compared to South Africans. It’s the only place I feel like there could be a murder because of a knock-on or something. It’s like what I imagine college and high school football is to the South of America. Towns shut down for the big games, local stars have far too much power, the games mean too much, and results swing the economy.
(It’s not reflected in the stands at games because it’s dangerous to go outside, let alone to a game. For instance: Ellis Park is located right in the centre of the Jo’burg CBD. All businesses have abandoned the CBD and now the empty commercial buildings are slums. To go to a game you have to park in Hillbrow (otherwise known as one of the most dangerous suburbs in the world), pay a guy to look after your car, promise him more money when you return so he doesn’t take your first payment and steal your car, and then hope to god you don’t get mugged during the 5 minute walk to the stadium.)
B) They hate the English. I thought about conveying that in less syllables but I think I got the simpleness of the message across. Each year when the Springboks tour and play England (and until recently, usually get killed) people breakdown, knowing that, depending on the result they might have to endure 12 months of crap from the guy in the cubicle next to them, who even though he is 3rd generation in SA still roots for England. I would put the over/under for bar fights in the upcoming month at 100 and take the over. And that’s just for chicks by the way. Furthermore, you can’t underestimate the historical tension that still exists. Apartheid only ended 15 years ago and before that, alot of people abandoned their families or friends when they fled the country for England. Their isn’t a more entertaining mix than sport and cultural hate.
C) The colours. Every BLT is memorable because of the sea of red that, literally paints the towns red, but mixing that with the racing green of the Springboks is something special. It’s a throwback to colonialism and the tours of the 50s and 60s.
I restate my original point: SA tours are the best. The Australian and NZ ones just do not compare.
As for the games: I think the ‘boks will sweep the series. Not because the Lions team is bad, but because SA are that good. Seriously, they are on the verge of a strong two to three year international run. They are deeper then the economy right now.
Even though SA Rugby may be the most corrupt rugby organisation in the world, Jake White taught them how to grow talent and build a deep squad that peeks heading into the world cup (I would argue they have the best farm system in the world. The way they nurture high school talent through to the Currie Cup and then to the big leagues is unparalleled, even in NZ. It’s a great system). If NZ weren’t hosting the tournament and didn’t have the LeBron of rugby (Dan Carter: if Giteau’s ceiling is St. Peters then Carter’s is the Ozone, if he has one), I would pen them in for the team to beat in 2011.
That may seem ambitious, but I think Springbok prominence is unavoidable. Their rugby culture is just built for modern day sports world. For years they suffered because they produced one dimensional players who never seemed able to adapt and needed the hometown crowd to push them over the edge when they played world class competition.
However, as rugby ironed out the wrinkles of professionalism during the previous decade, their one dimensional culture became an asset. As sports become professional they essentially turn into a business. Like any good business they compartmentalise roles and operations, identify and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and play the numbers.
SA Rugby had an advantage because their players already had a strict understanding of role play and how fluid execution of 15 simple one-dimensional roles on a field or 22 roles in a squad was better than 15 guys trying to be heroes. They were like army soldiers—conditioned to do whatever was asked of them, but unable to think adapt on the fly. The players were professional but the coaching and administration weren’t.
The big change occurred when Jake White ushered in a new professional approach to coaching and player management after the debacle that was the 2003 World Cup. Suddenly they had the brains to identify matchups and orchestrate game plans that played to the strengths of their personnel and exploited the weaknesses of other teams. Their players just needed to adhere to their roles and execute—which they did.
Combine that with the reintroduction of European players (who were used to playing on the road and in hostile environments) and suddenly they could win outside the republic. now everyone is trying to catch-up (The ARU with the developmental leagues and NZR with the European exportation of their talent). That’s my theory anyway.
2.
The NRL Tactics “this-was-awkward-to-begin-with-but-we-know-what-we-are-doing-now” full-fledged showcasing of the ELV’s.
Everyone who is anyone has had requisite exposure to the new laws now. Players should be Superbad “talking-about-their-childhood-penis-drawing-obsession-with-their-friend” level comfortable with them. If the Super 14 is anything to go by (and I’m not sure it is), the rugby should be expansive and the points should flow. I’m not convinced test level offence has caught up with test level defence yet, especially when teams are using the up-and-in rush scheme more and more.
However, I do think the games will be noticeably more watchable than in previous years. The Wallabies proved they have more explosiveness this season then they have had in previous years when they spread the ball against the Barbarians; the All Blacks will be strong with Nonu coming into his own and Stephen Donald having the opportunity Chris Whittaker never got; the Springboks run the best lines in the world; the Lions will play exhibition style rugby; Italy and France traditionally have a lot of speed out wide and will be forced to use it when they are down by 17 after 20 minutes.
3.
The Happy Gilmore “par 5 hole-in-one” coming out party of James O’Connor.
I don’t think he is ready to start in a tournament test because of his size, but as a utility off the bench he could be devastating late in games. He needs to fill out before he can be a every game starter. Fullback is his best position because he can slide in and out of the first and second receiver role. However I would give him a licence to hang around the back of the ruck and dart when he sees a gap.
What is fascinating about O’Connor, beyond his astronomical rugby IQ (it’s Ella-esque), is his control over his body. He gets everything out of It, and then some. His biggest asset is his shoulders. The way he uses them to create separation is unbelievable for someone his age. It’s a skill players usually acquire later in their career when they need to compensate for losing a step. His ability to hit the ball running, dart between tacklers, use his shoulders to free his arms, and offload is second only to Giteau in Australia, and maybe fourth to Carter and Contemponi in the world.
I wrote in an April column that he was the 3rd most valuable asset in the Australian system behind Giteau and George Smith. In the few weeks that have passed since then I’m convinced he is more valuable then Smith. He isn’t ready to go yet but I think he could be the guy who forces the ARU to change their policy on overseas player selection. Think about it: If he fills out, develops as scheduled, and lights the 2011 World Cup on fire, he will see record amounts of money thrown at him from Japan and Europe. If a euro team throw a million-plus a year at him when he is 21, the ARU will have no choice. They won’t be able to match the offers and they can’t throw away a guy who still has another THREE world cups in him.
To be honest I don’t think this will be a bad thing. Its going to happen eventually, so better sooner rather then later. Rugby is growing like soccer and we can’t all be the EPL. The Super 14 is destined to be a developmental league. Giving guys that freedom to chase real money will be beneficial for youth development, which will lead to a deeper talent pool. It doesn’t help anyone having Giteau and Carter carve up young guys who are just trying to find their feet like Cooper and Lealiifano. The game is already 2nd to the NRL, AFL, and A-league, and that’s with the star talent in place, so they don’t have that much to lose.
What the ARU and the NRL have failed to realise is, moving to another country isn’t as difficult as it was ten years ago. With globalisation, the prevalence of the internet, and the increase of money, packing up and moving to France or England isn’t as stressful or life-changing as it once was. Sonny-Bill came back happier then he had ever been at the Bulldogs, Peter Hewat didn’t think twice about it once the Wallaby selectors screwed him over, and you have to drag soccer players back for internationals. If someone offered to pay me three times my salary to do my job in a less pressurised environment and I would get to live in the south of France ... in a bad economy? Yeah I think I would do that.
Back to Kid Convict (I like that because it has an Australian ring to it. However we could go with JoCo or a Terminator reference. All I know is he needs a moniker if he is going to be the face of Australian rugby). He is great. He is going to be great. There is no question about this. If I was the ARL I would have Tahu secretly murdered, take the money from his “if-he-wasn’t-making-so-much-he-wouldn’t-even-be-in-the-squad-let-alone-on-the-field” contract, and put that into a some form of social bubble wrap for the Golden Boy (Another one! He could be our Tom Brady, right?). Anything that would guarantee he doesn’t ever meet let-alone turn out like, Andrew Symonds. He needs to be their LeBron, not their Tim Smith.
4.
The All Blacks Big Brother Season 5 “why even bother devoting time to getting to know these guys when they will be out of my life in a year” rotation of players issue.
I know NZ Rugby is in a transition phase right now with most of that Crusaders dynasty core moving on, and I realise the importance of rotating guys in to give them some test level experience, but can you just pick a core?
There is a new line up every week. Every guy has like 14 syllables, every 3rd guy has the same name, they are all built the same, play the same style, and have the same reserved personality. I just can’t keep up. If it wasn’t for the hairstyles and the beads, I’d be totally lost. Give some of these guys some time to grow a personality.
At some point this focus on depth hurts the game. Sports is all about marketing your best and most personable players. Fans need to be able to interact with players on an emotional level; they need to watch them grow, suffer, and succeed, judge them on their reactions and eventually develop a relationship with them. Naturally, I have all ways hated the All Blacks, but I hated them even more (and in-turn I needed them even more) when I saw the same guys each year. There was nothing sweeter then beating Christian Cullen or Andrew Mehrtens or freaking Doug Howlett. I hated those guys, but even more, I loved watching them play and I loved watching them lose.
5.
Giteau’s follow up album to his debut chart topper.
Unfortunately for Gits, his grace period is over. He has been living off his hit singles (“if I had come into the world cup final earlier we might have won”, “I’m going to lack assertiveness because I’m biding my time behind Steven Larkam”, and “It’s not fair to judge me because I’m transitioning between 12 and 10 while trying to build a new franchise”) longer than Wolfmother lived off their first album. If Giteau’s last six years was his first album, then this year marks the debut of his follow up.
His moving from 12 to 10 is like when the Rolling Stones made Their Satanic Majesties Request; there is going to be some success because they are that good, but they would have been better suited to sticking to what got them where they are. It’s an ego thing for him. He wants the 10 jersey because he needs to know this is his team. I’m cool with that. In fact I prefer it when good players get chippy about this stuff and don’t play the “it’s just a privilege to be part of the team” card. If Quade Cooper was that way I wouldn’t be so cool with it, but good players, fine. But he is a full fledged 10 now. He has to be assertive and take over this team.
My view as always: I just think that as good as he is at 10, he is better at 12. If they didn’t have another reliable distributer I would understand, but Barnes is right there. He is a pure five-eight and the logical fit at 10. He doesn’t have the athleticism to be impactful at 12. Giteau does. He thrived in the early stage of his career because of the extra space he got at 12. I know they love using Barnes as a pivot for wrap arounds from Giteau but with the plethora of young speed the Wallaby’s have now, keeping it simple, spreading it, and letting Giteau weave some magic seems like the best tactic for this team.
---
So there are some thoughts on the upcoming test season. I think it will be far more interesting than the lacklustre Super 14 season. At this point rugby is like a nerdy girl who is awkward in a social setting and doesn’t really bring much to the table personality wise (the Super 14 season), but when its business time (the test season), she completely changes and reminds you why you hang out with her. I’m picking the Wallabies to have a few issues against this Italian side, but blow them out in the final quarter.
Brisbane Sports Fan
No comments:
Post a Comment