The Rogues Rant #263

Welcome to The Rogues Rant, an occasional look at all things Rugby.

After watching the highly physical contest between the Crusaders and the Blues at Eden Park last week I couldn’t help but once again make comparisons between what we are witnessing here as opposed to across the Ditch. Earlier in the weekend I watched the Rebels and Waratahs match and there really was no comparison in what I saw. Once again it was like watching a Junior match up against a top grade match. The physicality and skill level in the NZ game was miles ahead of what we witnessed at AAMI Park especially from this Waratahs outfit. The lack of skills like catch and pass, tackling and the ability to gain and maintain possession and to be able to adapt to game circumstances is sadly lacking in the Australian developed player. I really feel for the players not only at the Waratahs level but right around NSW as they have been greatly let down by appallingly poor administration of our game at a state level for twenty odd years or more. Not only should we be concerned for the future of the Waratahs in this current Tournament and more over the cross over tournament with NZ later in the year, we should be concerned for the future of our game in the years and decades ahead. You’ve heard it all from me before but the current state of the Rugby game in Australia at all levels has clearly been on the decline for far too long while the Administrators have dilly dallied and not moved with the times to ensure the growth and prosperity of the game across the Country. We don’t have a growth and development structure in this country anything like what they have in New Zealand and elsewhere and if the Administrators at State and National Level don’t address the situation then we can only expect a further decline of the game all round.

The way Super Rugby is going I think that the upcoming cross over tournament with the Kiwis should be reconsidered. The RA Board really needs to consider the state of the game in Australia and whether participation in this tournament at this time is currently in the best interest of the game in Australia. A lot of consideration needs to be given to the competition structures in Australia. We have to turn around the current situation and make changes to our competition structures as it has been apparent for some time that our systems are just not producing the quality of player required for Australia to be competitive at an International level. Should we be throwing the Lambs to the slaughter or should we be putting in place a more productive structure for the long term future of the game.

All you young ladies out there who are looking for an opportunity to play Rugby locally put this date down in your diary. The IDRU will be running a Coaching Clinic/Introduction to Women’s Rugby Day at Vikings Oval on Sunday 11th April. The day will be open to all ages and there will be some highly experienced Rugby Coaches on deck headed by former Wallaroos Coach Paul Verrell. The day begins at 12.00 Noon and will run for two hours. Another bit of news on Women’s Rugby is that the NSW Country Women’s Under 18 Squad for 2021 will be coached by Illawarra Caldwell Cup winning Coach Ian Westwood. The backs coach for the program will be Don Nepia from Wollongong University.

Three from four last week for the Rogue with the Chiefs getting up for a much needed win over the Hurricanes. It should be pretty straight forward in Australia this week with the Reds and the Brumbies riding high at the top of the Aussie table. My tips for this week are: The Brumbies, Reds, Highlanders and Blues.

The weather is supposed to be fine over the next week, so let’s hope the forecasters are right and we can get some respite from the wet for everyone. There are four matches scheduled for Saturday and if we get a few days without rain we should be able to get them all underway.  Four very interesting match ups this week, so it’s difficult to set which is the Match of the Round. The Macarthur local Derby is on this week with Camden hosting Campbelltown at Wire Lane. Camden had a solid 18-0 loss to Shoalhaven last week in heavy conditions while the Quinnies were washed out. Difficult to get a line on this match but I’ll go for a close Campbelltown win. Avondale will put up the Peter Woods Challenge Shield in their match with Vikings at Vikings Oval. Avondale were the outstanding side in 2020 and will go into this match as rightful favorites. It’s interesting to note that the Blueys have not had a win over Avondale since the 2011 Grand Final. There is a lot of interest in the make-up of the Vikings side for this match with the club losing outstanding representative Locks Jack Hobbs and Cody Roman to Sydney clubs. They may also have an interesting inclusion at Fly-Half but I think I’ll have to stick with Avondale for this one. Avondale to Win. Tech Waratahs and Shamrocks meet at Saunders Oval in what will be a very interesting match-up. Tech were slow starters in 2020 but once they got some match fitness they finished the year very well. Fitness may well be an issue here but we can expect the Shammies will be ready to play but will be without Halfback Corey Aylett who is a big part of their attacking machine. All in all though I think I favor Shamrocks at this stage of the year. Shamrocks to Win. The last match is at Eridge Park where Bowral meet University. Bowral had a year off last year and University only fronted up for 2nd Grade so it will be interesting to see how both sides line up for the new season. I’ll go for the home side. Bowral to Win. The Shoalhaven V Kiama matches have been deferred to the 17th July, which will be Shoalies Digger Weekend.

The other Challenge Shields won’t be in play again for a couple of weeks. The John Haine Challenge Shield will be played for in Round 3 at Ocean Park, when Shamrocks play University, and the Taslk2MeBro Shield held by Vikings will be up for grabs in Round 4 when Vikings travel to Camden.      

RUGBY DIARY

27th March         IDRU Round 2

                          Vikings V Avondale, Vikings Oval. 3.15PM

                          Camden V Campbellton, Camden. 3.15PM

                          Tech Waratahs V Shamrocks, Saunders Oval. 3.15PM

                          Bowral V University, Eridge Park. 3.15PM

                          Shoalhaven V Kiama, deferred till July 17th.

11th April              Vikings Oval - IDRU Coaching Clinic / Introduction to Women’s Rugby.               12 Noon – 2.00PM.                  

12th-14th June     NSW Country Week, Tamworth.

                          NSW Junior State Championships. Various Venues

3rd-4th July         U10/U11 NSW Junior State Championships. Tuggerah Sports Complex.

4th September    IDRU Grand Final.      

All opinions offered in this column are the opinion of the author. They should not be considered to represent the views of the IDRU.