NZ'ers whining about RA acting in their own interests. The hypocrisy is almost hilarious. Almost.
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NZ'ers whining about RA acting in their own interests. The hypocrisy is almost hilarious. Almost.
Here are the actual quotes from Jeff Wilson, Mils Muliaina, and Sir John Kirwan
Video has been queued up for your convenience
https://youtu.be/FHSmSE1uCOw?t=1280
Would love to see a return of GRR or the NRC. Truth be told, for a long time I thought the Force/Spirit home games in the NRC were the highlight of the season. And on a side note, speaking of Japan, if either the GRR or NRC doesn't re-emerge -or we get the arse from Super Rugby again once the pandemic is over- I'd love to see WA (as the Perth Gold, Spirit or Force Gold) playing in the new Japanese league. We wouldn't have to be SuperRugby level to be competitive, we could field a lot of local talent and compete.
That's not a bad idea, the Drua were already an NRC team, so adding a Polynesian team wouldn't hurt
I'll be honest, people keep talking up the idea of Japan joining in some sort of Champions League, but I simply can't see it. With all the best will in the world, I just can't see the Japanese teams being competitive at that level. Half the problem with SR is that it's become a predictable procession, and that will be the case in spades if the Japanese teams go up against the likes of the Blues and Crusaders.
A couple of teams could maybe do it by abandoning all 'Japanese-ness' and just buying the Crusaders, but that would only turn their Top League into an absolute joke and I don't see them doing that. So for mine the logical thing would be for Japan to put a Wolf-pack style team into a Champions Cup comp (which is actually what Jamie Joseph was talking about a couple of years ago) while the individual teams play in something more like a GRR. In time that standard might have to improve to keep up with them, but you'd hope that would be the case anyway. Maybe in 15 years time the circumstances might have changed and things would need to be adjusted, but for the immediate future they need to be realistic about the actual relative standards. And while they stand as they are, there is probably an opportunity for someone.
I certainly think an Asian regional competition has far more intrinsic appeal and potential to generate income than any version of NRC, even if RA had any inclination to do such a thing (and, more importantly, do it properly). Doing it without them, and showing them how it could/should be done, might actually be the only way it'll ever happen.
Japan is seen as the cash cow of World Rugby.
But for all the overtures - the cash has never been seen.
It's a bit like how Melbourne/Victoria is the Sporting Capital of Australia. Sure it's true - if it's a sport they like.
Indeed X. I don't doubt Japan can like rugby, the RWC showed that. But it is no surprise they didn't really like SR much and I think they would enjoy ritual slaughter at the hands of the best SR sides even less. It could well turn them off a role in the RC should such come to pass, but that wouldn't really matter anyway - NZ has now set the tone and apparently everyone keeps the money they make, so no Yen for anyone.
What they need is something they can participate in as equals, and perhaps even take on a leadership role. Something like GRR could offer them that, along with regional matches where they might feel they have an level (or perhaps even upper) hand. They would need to own their share of the comp, not feel like a tolerated blow-in the way they were in SR. But regardless of what such a comp could be in time, and that could just about be anything with a nominal market as large as Asia, no question at all it would inevitably start small.
New Zealand Threatens To Join Breakaway Australian Rugby Comp From The Side
https://www.betootaadvocate.com/spor...from-the-side/
‘They are not good partners’: McLennan puts boot into Kiwis ... again..
https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/rug...21-p5ave5.html
Then it all falls apart when Meanwhile, former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns has echoed McLennan’s comments
And in comments that will only inflame tensions between the countries, McLennan pointed the finger at New Zealand for South Africa’s decision to leave Super Rugby, and potentially, the Rugby Championship in years to come.
“Why are they so annoyed at us exercising our right to explore our options when they forcibly kicked out South Africa and Argentina from Super Rugby for good?” McLennan said. “South Africa leaving SANZAAR will have a far more devastating impact on rugby in our part of the world.”
Well, holee shee-it! :eek::yelrotfl::notworth:
A lot of the talk and words have been around what NZ has not done to help Austrlian rugby, I think we need to ask Mr McLennan and his board what has Australia done to make itself better of the years....
ARC...
NRC....
Culling of the Western Force....
Financial and other support for the Rebels....
Salary cap that is not a true salary cap due to top ups....
and this is just a few items off the top of my head.......