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Calls for Warren Gatland to resign after latest record-breaking Chiefs loss

More pressure has been heaped on British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland, after his Chiefs side slumped to a record-breaking eighth defeat in a row in Super Rugby Aotearoa. The Crusaders handed the luckless Chiefs a 32 – 19 loss at home, which included an awarded try for the Christchurch based side despite what looked like a clear knock-on.

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Another ropey decision won’t have saved Gatland’s blushes. It is the most losses in the franchises’ history.

Gatland was magnanimous in defeat, suggesting the Crusaders were deserving victors, even when asked to comment on the forward pass that led to one of away team’s tries: “Yeah it’s a big call. They see it differently… it’s definitely going forward.. but you gotta take those on the chin at the moment.”

Some of Chiefs fans are even calling for his resignation, while fans in the UK and Ireland will undoubtedly be watching on nervously a year out from the Lions tour of South Africa.

CRUSADERS 32 (Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Tom Sanders, Codie Taylor tries Richie Mo’unga 2 cons pen) bt CHIEFS 19 (Lachlan Boshier try Damian McKenzie con 4 pens) at FMG Stadium Waikato. Referee: Ben O’Keeffe. (AAP)

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J
JW 1 hour ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

Wow, the case of Australian Rugby. It doesn't really need or want divisive articles like this, that's for sure!

At the same time, according to Melbourne-based Kiwi journalist Geoff Parkes writing on The Roar: “At a pre-season Rebels sponsor evening on November 24 last year, Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh told the local audience how Victoria was ‘leading the way’ with regard to connecting the amateur and professional game, using the catch-cry, One team from club to country. Yet within a fortnight, Rugby Australia had switched paths. As their actions would increasingly show, they had determined that the Rebels were no longer ‘family’.”

Lets just start with the elephant in the room. Everybody had the same problem with that neighbour, Australia were still the second best rugby nation in the world for large periods of the 'present' window. There was still the other 2/3s of the competition to win against.

The outcome of its first attempt to axe the Force, by force, was disastrous.

The outcome was great. As has been shown recently (with money not becoming a problem), the Force just want to be a rep team. They belong in a competition like the Bunnings NPC, not an elite competition like Super Rugby. Their hearts not in it. The game would have been so much better off if Twiggy had been able to setup rapid rugby.


As it was COVID delivered the Force a great opportunity to step up to the SR plate by bringing in a heavy overseas contingent, both players wanting to return home, and in the case of Argentinians, wanting to remain in SR. Their hands remained in their pockets. That was a golden opportunity to snap up some of the Rugby Championships best talent and keep a heavy Argentinian flavour to the competition, and who knows, perhaps even pathing the way for an easy return of jaguares a couple of years after COVID. Perhaps even by hosting a lot of games in the same region!

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh told the local audience how Victoria was ‘leading the way’ with regard to connecting the amateur and professional game, using the catch-cry, One team from club to country. Yet within a fortnight, Rugby Australia had switched paths.

These are some pretty poor quality views to share. The financial state of Rebels is no reason not to acknowledge success. This just sounds like a bitter local, or someone making up stories along the same lines of the clubs own skullduggery.

It is certain there will be far more chance of sustaining a winning Wallaby culture with more intense competition for squad places at Super Rugby level.

The two biggest beneficiaries from the demise of the Rebels will be the traditional twin powerhouses of Queensland and New South Wales, and they have made strides in recruitment where it really matters, in the front five forwards.

From an outsiders view it seems to be helping the English game nicely, and is just the right timing for a similar short term boost to the Aus game. There is a surprising, and shocking, amount of depth needed for such a short competition.


It's good to see a way forward. The Australian story is definitely a case of missed opportunities, and it is that which needs to be told as theres far too much doom and gloom coming from their fans as it is.

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