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For once it seems Mat Rogers isn't talking out his fundamental orrifice!
Rocky rugby road means selectors have it right
By Mat Rogers
The world cup squad the Wallabies selectors have named is perfect and, if anything, highlights one of the limitations of Australian rugby.
There has been plenty of talk about how maybe the selectors should have been more adventurous, but that would have been a ridiculous path to head down.
Getting it right on the field is what wins you games, not pleasing certain parts of the media because you pick a few people who they think should be there.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Australia just does not have the depth in talent that the other rugby union nations have. We can't chop and change at will, and we can't offer someone a position simply because they have promise.
So to all those who think they got it wrong, think again.
Yes, you will see the same old faces running around in the gold jersey but who cares. They're the same old faces because they have been getting the best job done in the past and are our absolute best chance of getting it done in the future.
In terms of young up-and-comers getting their chance, I think if anything the structure of rugby union is the problem that fails to cater properly for that.
There is nowhere for a young player to genuinely develop their game to a level where they can handle the pressures of Test match rugby, or even Super 14 for that matter. The Matt Giteaus of the world who can adjust quickly to the next level are as rare as hens teeth in rugby.
Kurtley Beale is a prime example of the problem.
He's a fantastic player with tremendous skill, but the grind of week in week out competition at a high level for the first time this year took its toll on him. He'll be far better next year, but he has to adjust to that large step in class.
I know the ARC is being put in place to hopefully alleviate this situation, because I know club rugby doesn't and I've been in trouble before for saying that, but I still do have my reservations about the ARC and what it will achieve for the game.
The ARC will not really help accelerate players like Beale. That is, those players who you know are something special and have the talent, but have to develop. And the reason they have to develop, and where they trail rugby league by a country mile, is with that experience at younger ages.
That's where league differs so much. I'm sure if you took any of the NRL junior sides and matched them against the development programmes of junior rugby players it's chalk and cheese.
By the age of 18, if these kids in league are good enough, they're ready both physically and mentally. They play in a tough competition week in week out and that's the reason young players in school are getting lucrative contracts, like that kid who was signed by Penrith this week.
The league programmes for each club start at 15 years old, the players are on serious weight programmes and fitness regimes and playing in a wider pool of talent so the good players are forced to lift.
And when they get that preparation before they hit the professional game, that's when you get the likes of Israel Folau and Greg Inglis. The clubs don't often get it wrong with young players, and they hit the ground running.
Some may think it sounds stupid, but sending someone like Kurtley Beale over to NZ for a few months and a stint in the NPC I think would be great for his game. Just playing that high standard of rugby week after week in a very tough environment would be perfect. New Zealand do seem to develop great player after great player so why not take advantage of it.
Berrick Barnes has had that with the Broncos and I'm sure although it wasn't his best season I think mentally he is well beyond the other contenders and that's why he was attached to the squad. I don't envisage him getting enormous amounts of game time, if any, barring injury. But it'll be a great experience for him and if we do happen to win he will be a world cup winner which is fantastic.
Just a couple of points I would mention against his view on development, as for once I actually agree with most of what he says!
The ARC is in its first year, hasn't even started, and so is a base to build off.
Until it is trialled all the tyre kickers in the world, no matter how well credentialed, have no idea if it will float or not. The NPC is often put up as the difference between Australian Rugby and New Zealand Rugby, yet the same people argue that it can't work here. Well put up an alternative!
There are 14 NPC sides currently in New Zealand following the re-jig last year.
In 1976 they started with 7!
I am going to do up a thread for the Articles section however, the point for this thread is that you have to crawl before you walk.
There were many many people in Melbourne who never believed a Geelong VFL team could work. These same stalwarts (and no doubt a few from Geelong) didn't believe a Sydney team could work. Heaven help anyone in the mid 80's who suggested that a team could be based in Western Australia, or that Premierships could be won by teams in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney!
It takes men (people!) with courage and conviction to see through changes and to move forward.
Union in Australia is not as strong as it could or should be.
The saying is, if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.
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