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BY: WAYNE SMITH From: The Australian June 14, 2012 12:00AM
DAYS after ARU chief executive John O'Neill ridiculed criticism from former Wallabies coach John Connolly about the state of our game, Australia crashed to its second straight shock defeat at the under-20 World Cup.
O'Neill, who returned to the helm of the ARU midway through 2007, had labelled Connolly's criticism that the past four years had been the worst in the history of professional rugby in Australia as absurd and not based on fact.
But barely had he uttered those words than the David Nucifora-coached Australia slumped to a 31-7 defeat to France in South Africa.
Also losing to Argentina, Australia has missed the semi-finals for only the second time. Indeed, it must now meet France again at Newlands on Sunday in a playoff for fifth, a loss ensuring Australia would have its worst finish in the history of the tournament, having placed third last year, second in 2010, fourth in 2009 and fifth in 2008.
"Until this year, the country's best under-20 players would train on a daily basis with and against senior players in the five Australian Super Rugby teams," Connolly said. "Now they only train with players who are around their own age. They're not getting that daily exposure to training with the top professional squads."
The franchises opposed the ARU consolidation plan, but to no avail.
Connolly also claimed that while Nucifora has monopolised the Australian under-20 coaching position, New Zealand had furthered the development of its brightest young coaches by each year appointing three to handle the NZ side that has won every title.
"Each year, one of the coaches from the previous year drops out and a new coach is brought into his place, so NZ has basically a production line of coaches getting international experience," Connolly said.
"By contrast, Australia each year has Nucifora handling the team, assisted by Anthony Eddy. How is that helping the emergence of the next generation of coaches?"
Connolly said his call for a full review of Australian rugby should the Wallabies lose the three-Test series against Wales was not directed against coach Robbie Deans. "It's about bringing consistency and professionalism to Australian rugby. The players are busting a gut but they are not getting the support they need."
The former Wallabies coach also queried why the ARU would allow O'Neill to take on the role of acting chairman of Echo Entertainment.
O'Neill, who last week took over as Echo chairman at a time when a battle is looming for control of the company, has a clause in his ARU contract that enables him to accept external directorships.
"At a moment when Australian rugby needs the full attention of its CEO, it's curious the ARU has no problem with him devoting much of his time to Echo," Connolly said.
"It's now time for the ARU to find someone with vision to run the game."
Meanwhile, the Queensland Reds have left Quade Cooper out of their side to play the Hurricanes tomorrow night in an exhibition match to make certain he is fully recovered from his hamstring problem when Super Rugby resumes on June 29.
Ben Daly, Beau Robinson and Van Humphries have also been rested.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226394872934
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Originally Posted by jono
