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So NZ have a population of only 4.596 million (2015) the smallest population playing professional rugby and they are dominating world rugby for most of the time I can remember, Well we have 2.589 million (Sep. 2014) in Western Australia that is half of what we have in NZ we have 23.78 million (2015) in Australia, if I quote the league CEO are we are lazy parents and soft players do we have shit head coaches and players with no commitment. Is it too hard to get up at 6am on a Saturday bitching and moaning in front of your junior player kid. complaining about the officials complaining about the junior junior, complaining about the state union , complaining about the ARU. The kids hear this they take it on board they do the same from young.
Toughen up lets raise our kids with courage lets raise our players as champions, winners, competitors, not participants. Grassroots is where the foundation is created, grassroots is where the culture is established Grassroots is where it all begins.
New Zealand and South Africa are the only countries with a stable (or relatively in South Africa's case) where rugby is the number 1 sport. If you are genuinely asking that question, I think you underestimate how much that means. What proportion of the 2.589 million people in Australia play or follow rugby vs the number in New Zealand? What proportion receive the social reinforcement from being a Wallabies supporter that they get being an All Blacks supporter?
It is hard to be the best because we are an insignificant sport in the scheme of things in Australia. The sport has an overarching culture which, while good in many ways (very few incidents of poor behaviour from players relative to AFL/League), is also elitist, born-to-rule and closed-minded. We have limited player stocks, little focus on junior development, poor pathways that often promote reputation over talent and a bunch of other things that I can't think of off the top of my head. My hope was that this whole 5 into 4 debacle might lead to some quality introspection about where the game is going to. Unfortunately more of the same. I guess if the Force get booted at least we don't have to sit by as a wounded animal dies a slow death.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
What do we think the score would be if Australia took on New Zealand in a fair dinkum game of Australian Rules Football... Rugby is a sport of religious proportions in NZ. In business terms NZ has specialised and completely dominates its market segment and more power to them, while NZ is epic in rugby and punches above its weight in several other things like sheep dog trials... let's not get too far up ourselves eh bro!
the dogs were found guilty,by the way
Seeing as how Australian Rules Football is basically invisible as an international sport, it would be more relevant to compare the two Rugby codes, IMO.
Rugby League Test results between the two stand at 102 to 32 in favour of Australia. Rugby results run 109 to 42 to NZ. A fair reflection of both sports standing in each country I'd guess. Simples.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David