Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: ARU hopes attacking teams get rewarded

  1. #1
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    travelling_gerry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia, Australia
    Posts
    18,483
    vCash
    5090000

    ARU hopes attacking teams get rewarded

    ARU hopes attacking teams get rewarded

    By Adrian Warren, AAP February 2, 2010, 4:10 pm

    Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill believes the northern hemisphere nations could step into line with their southern rivals and reward attacking teams at the breakdown, even if the rules can't be changed before next year's World Cup.
    Australian Super coaches were largely supportive of the SANZAR decision to look more favourably upon the attacking side at the breakdown hot spot in this year's Super 14 and Tri-Nations tournaments.


    While the experimental law variations were dismissed by the northern hemisphere O'Neill believed they might philosophically fall into line with the south after enduring some wretched rugby late last year.


    "There was a lot of criticism in the northern hemisphere in November about how negative and boring some of the rugby was," O'Neill said at the Super 14 season launch in Sydney on Tuesday.


    "I think some of the messages are getting through in the north on a slightly delayed basis.


    "When England played Argentina the week after we played them, at half-time England was booed off the park, if that starts happening, you know something is wrong.


    "I think we could all end up on the same hymn sheet philosophically.


    "The laws aren't going to change between now and the World Cup, it doesn't mean your approach to the style of rugby you want to play won't change."


    Bolstered by star Wallabies Rocky Elsom and Matt Giteau, the Brumbies were the popular tip to be Australia's chief standard bearer in the 2010 Super tournament.
    Brumbies coach Andy Friend believed SANZAR's directive to referees about the breakdown would help his powerful side.


    "The new laws and the desire to have entertaining rugby definitely fits with the Brumbies style," Friend said.


    Waratahs coach Chris Hickey felt the directive could tilt the balance back towards attacking rugby, though he thought it could take a while before there was a consistent interpretation from the referees.


    "I think under the interpretations we played last year, the pendulum was 60-40 towards the defensive team," Hickey said.


    "If the new interpretations bring the contest back to 50-50, that should hopefully supply all teams with an opportunity to try and get continuity in their play."
    New Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie felt while the game wouldn't be as loose as last year, the attacking team would still be rewarded.


    "It will tighten up a little bit, but if you're got good attacking players, you will get more reward," McKenzie said.


    His Western Force counterpart John Mitchell thought his new look side had enough backline versatility and forward depth to prosper under the SANZAR directive.


    "We will play to our strengths and I'm a great believer you've to earn the right to play entertaining rugby and certainly we will be wanting to get the balance between attack and a kicking game," Mitchell said.


    The tournament, which will be expanded to 15 teams next year with the introduction of the Melbourne Rebels, commences in just over a week, with the Reds hosting the Waratahs and Force entertaining the Brumbies in two all-Australian matchups.

    O'Neill said there was ongoing dialogue between the ARU and Melbourne over the signing window for locally based players, but didn't want to comment on whether there would be any changes to the end of May window which the Rebels would like brought forward.

    http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-get-rewarded/

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  2. #2
    Apprentice
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    31
    vCash
    5000000
    I am in awe of JO’N’s great energy and generosity of spirit in always being prepared to find time to counsel the other Unions as to how they might so lift their performance that they might one day stand on the same lofty heights as the ARU. John O’Neill surrounded by the CEOs of the lesser nations inevitably calls to mind an image of Cortez and his men:

    “Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
    He star’d at the Pacific – and all his men
    Looked at each other with a wild surmise –
    Silent, upon a peak in Darien.”

    We are all of us in Australian rugby eternally in the great man’s debt; so I hope I am not thought guilty of lѐse-majesté – apologies but it is the only appropriate word – in prevailing upon him to be less generous to outsiders and perform yet another small service for his own country.

    In both of his periods of reign he has operated from the top down – what else could you expect from such an intellect – and each time he has carried our sport to new heights of achievement. His kneeling courtiers are hardly in a position to suggest that all is not for the best in this best of all possible worlds so it behooves a humble commoner to address a plea to him.

    Is there any chance, John, if I may be so presumptuous, that you could spare a little time attending to rebuilding Australian rugby from the bottom up? The walls are crumbling and the foundations are sinking into the mire. Also there hardly seems to be anyone living in the joint any more.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  3. #3
    Champion MI5_Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Rockingham
    Posts
    1,728
    vCash
    5000000
    Don't be silly Bruiser! He'd have to get his hands dirty and talk to the plebs.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  4. #4
    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Rockingham
    Posts
    20,551
    vCash
    1348000
    And know more about grassroots rugby than international finance!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    C'mon the

Similar Threads

  1. SANZAR gives nod to referees to reward attacking teams
    By travelling_gerry in forum Rugby Laws Discussion
    Replies: 52
    Last Post: 01-02-10, 20:57
  2. Replies: 4
    Last Post: 30-01-10, 08:55
  3. The TriNations teams: faster, smarter, harder
    By travelling_gerry in forum International Rugby
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 30-11-08, 18:04
  4. The ARC and lessons from New Zealand
    By Burgs in forum Articles
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 04-08-08, 22:24
  5. Laws of Rugby - Law 22 - In Goal
    By Darren in forum The Laws of Rugby
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 30-07-07, 14:52

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •