Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

LISTEN: Change has to happen in Australian rugby

That losing feeling

After the Wallabies’ devastating loss in the first Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney, you’d be forgiven for presuming the code is dying in Australia.

ADVERTISEMENT

But the truth, according to Aussie rugby pundit Jaybor Staunton, is that isn’t the case. But it doesn’t mean that there aren’t serious problems at the top.

Speaking exclusively on The Short Ball with Scotty Stevenson and Mils Muliaina, Staunton says:

“Rugby in Australia is not in the place it needs to be. (ARU boss) Bill Pulver has said club rugby isn’t at the same level as the Wallabies, well that’s not the point. It’s the only level that’s working.”

“The top of Australian rugby is twisted and broken, but the foundations are still strong. It’s not dying, it’s just sick and injured.”

Stevenson chimes in, saying:

“The guys at the top have no idea what’s happening in club rugby, about the groundswell of support…as is evidenced by what you saw in Perth.”

Listen to what they have to say about the whole situation on the latest episode of The Short Ball:

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
Another 8 hours ago
Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list

"It seems like the idea of Ardie Savea moving to openside flanker is no longer on the table"


Says who? Savea was picked on the open side, with Wallace Sititi at 8, against France. It makes no difference to Savea’s game, whatsoever and allows Sititi to play in his preferred position. It also provides an option to bring in a third loose forward that may provide a better lineout option and a big body to compete with some of the big bodies found in other teams.


It was unfortunate that Finau was injured so early on against France before he had a chance to show how he might combine with Savea and Sititi, and there is still a possibility that Hoskins Sotutu might be effective alongside them too.


Don’t count out viable options.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Does South Africa have a future in European competition? Does South Africa have a future in European competition?
Search