Better Rugby Rules

Hang on, Rugby World Domination, that’s what we want isn’t it ???? Will Hanson be our new leader for a suppressed and ravaged NZ rugby public, will he create a new world order, and a 1000 year Reich. Here is the instruction book let, a little used.

Source: Ambitious Hansen – too good or too greedy? –Duncan Johnstone

Top coaching jobs in New Zealand are thin on the ground. To have one man holding two of them doesn’t seem right. Talk about having your cake and eating it too!

Goodness, there’s a job going at the Blues as well. Why not throw Graham Henry in there as well given his Eden Park background?

Might as well send Wayne Smith south to the Highlanders to sort out their questionable back play while we’re at it.

 The NZRU needs to be careful here. Their track record isn’t exactly brilliant. It took them a fair while to get the right mix at the Chiefs and the Blues’ failings can be closely attributed to a series of appalling coaching appointments.

They cannot afford to stuff up the Crusaders.

My Comments: There should be separation from All Blacks and Super 14 coaching roles. Mr Tew decisions are changing NZ rugby forever, watch and wait, let’s see if the NZRU can actually say NO to something !

Source: Fitzy urges picking overseas players

The New Zealand Rugby Union should consider picking overseas-based players for the All Blacks, former captain Sean Fitzpatrick says.

“In the end …. selecting our overseas players is inevitable,” Fitzpatrick told the Herald on Sunday newspaper.

MY COMMENTS: THEN NZRU IS DOOMED.

“We have to start selecting from the overseas players’ base, simply because there are now so many of them and because we have to take care that we don’t spiral into a culture of loss.”

MY COMMENTS: NO WE DONT, FITZY MUST BE GOING INTO THE AGENT BUSINESS.

Flyhalf Daniel Carter and captain Richie McCaw have re-signed with the NZRU until the 2011 World Cup but have sabbatical clauses in their contracts.

Carter is expected to take up a six-month contract with a French club at the end of the grand slam tour later this year.

“I was never a fan of opening up the doors before but I think the sabbatical given to Dan Carter and Richie McCaw could open up a can of worms,” Fitzpatrick said.

MY COMMENTS: THIS IS TRUE.

“Allowing those doors to open will also safeguard New Zealand player stocks better than sabbaticals.”

Fitzpatrick, however, said the NZRU should abandon their domestic-only policy and consider the multitude of players plying their trade in Europe and Japan.

The All Blacks, who beat England 37-20 at Eden Park on Saturday, have had 11 players either leave New Zealand for overseas clubs or retire since the World Cup last year.

The 92-Test hooker said his biggest concern was diluting the player pool in New Zealand and lowering the standards in the Super 14 and domestic provincial competition.

“It isn’t as if our franchise or provincial rugby would suffer a great deal more than it is already,” the 45-year-old added.

MY COMMENTS: WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING, THE FRENCH/ENGLISH/IRISH CLUBS COULD TAKE ANOTHER 30 PLAYERS, THIS WOULD LOWER THERE PRICE, BUT STILL MORE PLAYERS OVERSEAS.

“The standard has already dropped and we are now risking such a lack of depth in the All Blacks that we risk losing.

“And I think that is the last thing the game needs in New Zealand and globally.”

MY COMMENTS: FOR NZRU IT SHOULD BE NZ FIRST, GLOBAL TENTH!!

MY COMMENTS: I hope this guy doesn’t end up on the NZRU board, if this is the standard of ‘thinking’ in ex players. Maybe Fitzy should have done some more time at school. He should have a look a Argentina (rugby) or Brazil (soccer). Some journo probably got a few beers into him to get this type of smarts, who knows, sure its an opinion, but lets hope that all it is.

UDPATE1:

Source: Fitzy’s just the man to lead rugby union– Chriss Rattue

Fitzpatrick’s insistence that never-ending All Black selection changes must end and that it is wrong to ignore overseas stars is a godsend. He was even forced to state the obvious, that great test sides are formed around established combinations which foster an honest belief and knowledge in each player’s game.

My Comments:I agree with the player combination theory, that is true, but the selection overseas players is doomed to fail. Why, look at NZ Rugby League and Soccer and see there troubles getting players released from the wealthy European clubs.  You may argue that the IRB can pass a law to allow the players to be available, yeah right,  that would work, once again review Rugby League execution of this policy. Fitzy knows about teams and playing the game, politics and money, please stand aside mate !

Source: NZRU underestimated anti-Henry sentiment– Tew

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew admitted the organisation didn’t envisage Henry’s new two-year tenure – made after he guided New Zealand to their worst ever placing at a World Cup in France last October – would have been greeted with widespread condemnation.

Jes Wayne, if you got this wrong what else are you underestimating.

What should have been done since RWC 2007

• 1) Henry sacked: For the sole reason there was some one better to take the job, no matter the known rift between Mr Tew and Mr Deans.
• 2) Night rugby in June – July moved earlier: From 7.30pm to 5.30pm
• 3) Open forum on how to create interest from the International season: Tri Nations once every two years, bring back the tours.
• 4) Blind love for the ELVs is plane wrong: Many don’t like the ‘touch football style’ ELV rugby style. Sure there experimental, well they better be, because they sure need work.
• 5) Sabbatical rule quashed: If it means the player misses Super 14 season before internationals.

Some of the above require more than phone call to fix, fan interests must be placed higher than other interest, after all we pay for the tickets!

Arrogance in the NZRU board decisions is alive and well.

UPDATE1:

Source: Cup not really an obsession, says Henry, we just enjoyed challenge – Henry

 “So I don’t think we have been obsessed as a team about Rugby World Cup. We are disappointed we did not win it, obviously, and that has caused a bit of pain, but as I say, every test match this team plays and every competition they are in is extremely important to the side.”

My Comments: Maybe not the players, but Henry and the NZRU made obsessive gestures and still are: Players out of competitions, special clauses for players that don’t require playing in Super 14 rugby prior to internationals. Henry has been deeply scared by the RWC 2007, this maybe good or not so good for the RWC 2011, because self impose pressure can destroy the man.

Source: Andrew taunts Kiwis about World Cup ‘obsession’ – Rob Andrew

“There is an obsession with the World Cup and we are now in the country that has the biggest obsession of all,” he said.

“Why haven’t they won the title since 1987? Because they’re too obsessed.

It takes an unusually bold variety of Englishman to stroll into All Black country, where the red rose army have achieved the grand total of two test victories in the 45 years since they first paid a visit, and tell his hosts where they are going wrong on the World Cup front.

The New Zealand time of 7.30 pm Saturday (test match kick off), is:

• – Dublin – Sat 8.30 am
• – London – Sat 8.30 am
• – Paris – Sat 9.30 am
• – Moscow – Sat 11.30 am

So why cant the NZRU and the broadcasters re schedule the kick off to New Zealand time 4.30 pm (or 5.30pm). This will allow more chance to avoid such bad weather the Ireland vs AB game was played in.

The northern rugby fans wont mind getting up a 6.30 am.

Mr Tew (CEO NZRU) said “Win back the Fans!”, well he missed this stella idea.

Maybe there will be press release in the next couple of days, with news of this, wait and see.

• – Player Power/Agents: 1
• – NZRU: 0

CARTER: Good luck Dan ! Internationals (most likely at the RWC 2011) and $$$$ not a bad deal for the next 4 years. Well done.

NZRU: Your one negotiating strength  (international selection) can now be down graded from stone to straw. Agents will huff and puff it down from now on, idiots.

The result should have been, stay or go for 4 years, that’s it. If he had gone his status would not reach the lofty heights of All Black great, sure he would be rich. Now he has a chance for both.

The next Lomu, Brook, Patrick, Kirwan, Jones can and will expect the same treatment. This new trend is here to stay.

Mr Tew and the board just hasn’t got large enough nuts to make the big calls. The jury is still out on Mr Tew, and this happened on his watch, so its not looking good.

UPDATE1:

Source: NZ public ‘out of love with All Blacks’ – British press

Meanwhile, the London Independent‘s rugby writer says the biggest issue New Zealand will face is the fallout from the decision to grant Daniel Carter the chance to play in Europe while still being eligible for the All Blacks.

‘By allowing (Carter) to stay on contract and remain a test candidate…the union has finally accepted that northern money calls the tune in modern-day rugby.

“Every employment lawyer from Whangarei to Invercargill is alert to the Carter affair, secure in the expectation that other celebrated All Blacks of the day will demand a piece of the same action.

“Heaven knows, the English do not have everything right. But in pure rugby terms, the red rose is enjoying a vastly better time of it than the silver fern,” he said.

 My Comments: The above is true.

“New Zealand rugby is at a crossroads,” wrote Alistair Eykyn of the BBC.

“The credibility of their national game is at stake. Defeat to England at Eden Park on Saturday night and the All Blacks may well consider themselves at crisis point,” he said.

My Comments: Piss Off !

Source: Carter’s deal a special case, says happy Henry– Duncan Johnstone

But the coach clearly doesn’t want to see a rash of players heading away on short-term deals and says measures need to be put in place to control that. [ME: ha ha ha, too late now !]

“I think you need to qualify (for a sabbatical). I think there needs to be some criteria … maybe a number of test matches, longevity in the All Blacks, that sort of thing,” said Henry.

What does Henry care about the long term effect of this deal, his only concern is winning back his reputation at the next world cup, after that, thats for the next poor bloke ! 

The lack of big nuts by Mr Tew and the NZRU will see in future years the top 5+ players off overseas in the immediate years after the world cup. Dan will be eligible for the All Blacks selection when he comes back, but will not be required to play in the preceding super 14 like his other team mates. Sure he could loose his position, but special deals like this is leaving the door wide open for hungry agents to work harder for more lucrative commissions. Damn NZRU fools ! This is why they couldn’t run a real business. I am sure the current local sponsors (Murdoch) are just rapt, (not) !

I guess sabbaticals will happen, but if the player does not return and play in the Super 14, how can match ups be viewed. Then the selectors personal bias allows an overseas player to walk into the All Blacks, where as currently a one on one contest allows the not in favor player to better the in favor player, and get selected based on true performance.

 All this fuss over Nick Evans, who cares, they guy doesnt know how to pass, its all me me with him ! Far to much media hype has gone to this guys head, hell let go now !

 Other posts on the subject: Dan Carter rule, very naughty!

UPDATE1:

Source: Carter Clause sure to irritate – Wynne Gray

Where there is money, more money, different rewards and criteria, there will be some resentment. The NZRU have done well if they have been able to stitch together some deal but no matter the wording of the press release, when Carter’s sabbatical is ratified, it means they have agreed to pick All Blacks from offshore.

How many other All Blacks would like a similar break and following Carter’s exemption, will feel they deserve the same treatment?

My Comments: Confirmation, thanks Wynne!

Source: Sonny Bill could switch codes within two weeks – manager

The manager of Bulldogs player Sonny Bill Williams says the Kiwis forward could walk out on rugby league within two weeks. 

Former Australia coach Eddie Jones said Williams could earn up to $800,000 (AUD)  a year if he headed to Europe.

Jes wayne, news that Dan Carter could earn $1,400,000 NZD for 6 months work in France has the league boys seriously re-thinking rugby union.

Funny that !

Source: Finals expansion on cards – Greg Growden

..”THE expansion of the Super 14 finals to a six-team play-off next year is all but a certainty after this season’s logjam saw two form teams miss the cut.

SANZAR officials have been considering revamping the finals, with the most obvious first step being to increase the number of teams involved following repeated complaints that a four-team final is far too restrictive.”..

 I have no problem with this, but it obviously a commercial decision for more (Murdoch) TV money, and the ARU and NZRU need the funds (to cover previous management errors).  So more rugby for the elite in the professional game, you can bet the professional players wont be seen in the amateur Air New Zealand cup as much (if at all), not so good for that sponsor. This is of course little concern to the ARU.

More here : Warning – ARU CEO John ONeill, Super rugby – It’s in safe hands (not) !

              Naughty Boy (Dominion Post/NZRU)!

Source: Rule on Carter Needs Backing – Dominion Post

Extract

If the “Daniel Carter Option” that allows the great five-eighth to go to France for six months, earn $1.4 million and then return to play for the All Blacks in June 2009 isn’t a done deal, it should be.

The rule that a player (or a coach, for that matter) has to be involved in the Super 14 tournament is sound, as far as it goes.

But in exceptional cases, where a once-in-a-lifetime player is concerned and a special deal can be arranged, then the rule should be adjusted.

The point about Daniel Carter is that he is not leaving New Zealand rugby for a number of years. It’s a matter of months, only. 

Are you freaking kidding me !

• i) He has done nothing that confirms GREAT, he’s no C Meads or M Jones.
• ii) He has potential, that’s all, but if he does not play internationals he will never get the ‘great’ tag, and that should be up to him, why let him hedge his bets, let him choose the money or forever lasting ‘All Black Great’.
• iii) Once in a life player!  Very early to say that he is nothing more than a solid international player. I think Mr Jonny Wilkinson still holds the ‘world best’ title and if Mr Dan Carter wants to contest this crown let him compete for it the same way any other player does.

Having special rules for your kids means you create envy and animosity. Rugby players are only a decade out from the school play ground, why do you think it will be any different? It’s the same when a wrong goes unpunished, if you remove the deterrent then why would any one follow the rule!

The writer of this article must have one unruly house hold, dam fool ! This goes for the NZRU, if this is so !

More on this post HERE

Source : Newby: NZRU must introduce private ownership

 ..”Departing ex-All Black Craig Newby says the NZRU must embrace private ownership of its five Super Rugby franchises in a bid to secure funding to tackle the player drain.

But I would be all for it.

You look at worldwide soccer, and how they are successful with that, it is all privately owned. It is definitely the right way.

The money generated from crowds and sponsors locally is just not going to be big enough. We are only a small country.”

Really, Soccer has the winning formula… What does Kevin Keegan think ?

Source: English Premier League a bore 

“This league is in danger of becoming one of the most boring, but great leagues in the world. The top four next year will be the same top four as this year.

All the great players, the big players, the top players potentially, will go for where the honours are, and then if they don’t make it there, they will drop down to a Newcastle or any of those other clubs.”…

The rich get richer for the benefit of the few. Capitalism does not work in sport, a more socialist approach is affordable and manageable. Players earning megga bucks is good for the player and there commission based agents, it is not good for competitions and national representation. Just look a soccer !

The latest headline is that Super Rugby will be re vamped, maybe as early as 2009. Broadcasters say that viewing numbers are falling, SANZAR must re jig the competition to keep players at home and to spark more interest for the fans and players. (Source : rugbyheaven.com.au)

Why the rush for change, why by 2009. Why not take more time to research, plan,  explain and sell the changes to the fan base. Are the fans deserting the game in droves because there love for the game has diminished, is this the reason or is it because the administrators have completely stuffed up. By over paying players (ARU), by resting players (NZRFU), allowing second rate players to be selected (SAFRU to boost the black player profile), or have unions miss managed there affairs producing financial losses (Yr 2007 results: ARU -$7 mil, NZFRU -$1.7 mil).

Playing viewing numbers should not be expected to sky rocket every year, remember the viewer has economic boundaries and an attention span that can only support so much rugby in a calendar year. So I put the forward the notion that the demand for the change in super rugby is not fan demand lead, it is administrator incompetence lead.

So what can the pandora box of a new re vamp super rugby competition be leading the fan into, god only knows, but rest assured fan, you are in good hands as the new plan has been well researched and thought out, all will be well (not) ! See more on performance of NZRFU and ARU in this post.

Do we really want Auckland to be a fruit salad of players (ooops it is now) from many different countries of origin? Do we really want to see the Western Force sign all the players from Christchurch boys high school 1st 15 with the promise of massive salaries?  (Ok maybe not in year one, but these new super rugby rules will be the yellow brick road for these changes !).

There may be a serious economic slowdown around the corner and the business of rugby will not escape a consumer lead recession.  So SANZAR priority must be to develop the quality of the product to ensure its survival. I get the real feeling that a lot of the super rugby changes will be throw of the dice and hope ! The fan is at the mercy of the pinheads running the game.

Some much needed guidelines for the Rugby Administrator:

1) See post on this blog, Win back the Fans. I have just read and article by Paul Lewis: NZRU in need of outside help to revitalise game , here there is no mention of the ELVs, I would estimate that the ELVs and the Checkers vs Chess posts cover at least 60% of the problem. Another article by Richard Loe: Tough encounter guide to All Blacks stating that the Blues vs Crusaders super rugby game on 25-4-08 was the ‘best game of the season’, and I thought that if this game was the RWC final it would be a massive embarrassment to world rugby  (see my review on the  ELVs post UPDATE2 at the bottom).  Where have the deep thinking philosophers of the game gone?

2) The best fan draw card is a contest between great teams, good players are secondary. Robbie Deans TV advert quote ‘A great team will always beat a great player !’ I would add a great rugby chess game within the contest is the best draw card of all.

3) Rugby fan loyalty has always been geographically based. If you are an Aucklander born and bred then Auckland will be your team. However this fan loyalty may be severely tested if the players are not Aucklanders born and bred. This is the tribe vs tribe theory. How are the Warriors doing with there 6 Aussie players, didn’t Eric Watson say he wanted to beat the Aussies at there own game (with Kiwis) ? A sound fan base is built best on the tribe theory and not the fickle ‘we won last week’ theory.

4) Get super rugby on free to view TV and or internet (Delayed, most likely).

5) Dont over charge at the stadium gate. There have been some very high ticket prices set for game’s. I think the French at the RWC 2007 did a fantastic job of getting attendance by packaging multiple games together for a single ticket.

6) Maintain national identity within super rugby teams. For the NZFRU to allow a New Zealander like ‘Dan Carter’ or ‘Jona Lomu’ to play for a non New Zealand super rugby side for $1.5 mil just so you can keep him happy and allow him to be in the national squad is opening the door for a rugby mad billionaire to come along and buy (say) the ‘Western Force’ and fill his team ‘star’ players at sky high prices. Oops the dawn of a soccer style rugby club. Then the ‘price’ of star players will have no limit. This will prove to be a major fundamental error of SANZAR. If a player wants the money then let him go, and dont allow him to be selected for international duties. The SANZAR unions must hold onto the international duties as there only valuable bargaining chip, once this is gone, they are doomed. No individual or group of players is greater than the game. So let them go! When the famed coach of the rugby league team the Broncos ‘Wayne Bennett’ had players demanding top dollar, after years of developing the young players up thru the grades, his response was ‘See ya latter!’. Yet players a like Allan Langer and Darren Lockyer never left the Broncos club for the big bucks. Loyalty, team culture and a sense of family is worth more to a player than cash. If it’s not let them go, you will never win with cash motivated player! Currently super rugby has a major fan pull of tribe vs tribe, thats Blues (tribe:NZ) vs  Brumbies (tribe:AUS), and it would be negative to see ‘Harlequins’ (tribe ?) vs ‘Badgers’ (tribe ?). It is not so much the individual match up of Dan Carter vs Stephen Bretts, its not tennis dude, it is a team (and combinations) contest.

7) Tax Break. Ok lets do the sums, NZ has about 150 professional players, lets say the player average income is $130,000 per year. That is gross revenue of $19.5 Mil, tax to the IRD at 30% equals $5.8 Mil. Lets give the players a tax rate of 15%. So thats reduced the players tax bill by 50% and the government looses $2.4 mil. But do they? If the commercial spin offs from professional rugby were to die off then the tax revenues lost from a poor performing super and international rugby season would be much greater than $2.4 mil. Would the government offer such a tax break, well the gave the Americas Cup Team $30 Mil plus, and there has been little return so far!

8) Create a SANZAR (and/or NZRFU) Official Super Rugby Internet Email Forum. An email forum where threads can be posted by the fan and answered by administrators and officials. Participation from the union CEO down to the touch judge is critical to the effectiveness of such a forum. The English RFU have such a forum were I have often seen administrators partake in ‘one on one’ fan issue discussions. This is a must have ! They are currently running a forum thread on the ELVs, good on the English RFU ! (If there is one already I cant find it !)

9) Player exodus. What benefit is it to french rugby to have a club like Toulon import so many foreign players just to get it out of the second division. This setup is purely a billionaires play thing, how does a flood of non french players improve the opportunities of french rugby players (Example, just consider the depth and experience of english soccer players for there national side). The player exodus is fueled by supplied side economics, that is the supply of money from a non central body, the control is not with a central rugby union. Therefore the central union should fight back and cap the number of foreign players per team. IRB please step up! Correct me if I am wrong, didn’t English cricket step and cap the number of foreign players for each county side.

10) This article is so important Pinetree blasts All Blacks coaches, NZRU. I bet before the day is over he will be rubbished and written off as a silly old fart and completely ignored.

This part is priceless…

The report was on the RWC 2007 failure.

“When the report was out [this month] the only one who was discredited was Richie McCaw because he didn’t instruct someone to have a dropped goal. Yet Graham Henry swears he sent down messages to them. What the bloody hell is rugby coming to? You have someone sitting in the box and trying to get a message to the captain.

“In our days we weren’t even allowed to leave the field at halftime. Once the game was on the captain was in charge and you never even heard from the coach until after the game.

“I think we’re getting over-coached and over- organised. You now have four selectors, a tackling coach, a scrum coach, a lineout coach and you have a couple of technical advisers. Now, which of those buggers do you have to listen to?”

Notice:

Join the fight to save the game, start a blog, email NZRFU.

Here are the necessary steps. 

1)      Return the traditional rugby structure back into the game. See Foundation Posts and ‘My ELV Amendments’ on home page ( right hand side).

2)      Move south island games from 7.30pm during Jun/Aug to 5.00pm (or earlier).

3)      Re vamp the repetitive boring tri nations.

4)      Some how, make sure northern touring teams are at full strength.

5)      I guess it will happen (sad), and that’s a minor (amateur) and major (professional) rugby competitions that run side by side from March to June.

6)      International playing window. See post of the same name.

7)      3 months break from rugby on our screens (Dec to Feb).

8)     Ensure that the contest is 15 vs 15, unless extreme foul play has occurred, get smart like Rugby league and use the ‘player on report’ system. If a player is to leave the field use the 3rd Ref TV ability to make sure the decision is correct. Rugby is destroyed when it is reduced to a uneven contest, and referee’s are made to look stupid if a sending off is not legitimate.

9)     Make sure that each try is legitimate, get smart like rugby league (again) and have a look back for ‘forward passes’ and the ‘ball is in touch’ to confirm each try. TV replays can make the game look very stupid, cricket and rugby league is way ahead of rugby union on this issue.

1)      Using silver jerseys in the 2007 RWC

2)      Playing any rugby after 7.00 pm between Jun and Aug in the NZ South Island

3)      Appointing co Coaches in the 1999 RWC.

4)      Failure to co manager the 2003 RWC in Australia.

5)      Allowing Adidas to design such stupid rugby playing gear.

6)      Resting players from Super 14 2007.

7)      TV fund raising for heartland rugby via Justin Marshall advert.

8)      After the release of ‘Why we lost RWC 2007’ report, keeping Henry as coach. And please explain how Wayne Smith is still the backs coach, how does this happen!

9) Spending $8 MIL on a ‘Higher Performance Development’ project between 2004-2008.  Was this type of project ever needed between 1901 and 2000, and we did ok !

And these should never happen..ever

a) Allowing overseas players to be selected for the All Blacks (consider Brazil in soccer)

b) The loss of legal and financial control over player contracts.

c) The dismantling of rugby union in the high schools.

d) Allowing rugby to slip into a hybrid game, and loose its identity.

Some good things

a) RWC 2011.

b) Womans NZ Rugby.

c) NZ Rugby sevens.

d) Thinking….thinking…will get back to this…