To be or not to Wallaby? A question posed to Tier 2 by the Rennie-vation of Tier 1 rugby

In my first ever Roar article I ask if we may take what is currently good and functional about Australian rugby, and deploy it to strengthen what is still weak in our competition.( Tier 2, we’re lookin’ at you ).

Last week Roarer, Stu opined: “Maybe we could have an annual Wallaby’ Probables vs Possibles’ match at $20 bucks a ticket? ”

In resonance with Stu’s wish to see more of our wider Wallaby squad members strut their nonsense, I greeted at the time with one of my current hobby horses- the form of an ideal Trans-Tasman Super format.

More on that below, but firstly, a Rennievation update 😛 TAGEND

This Test season has investigated the Rennievator with sleeves rolled up to his joints, tinkering with the ideal design of the modern marsupial mongrel( and mongrelite ).

From the higher than average skull thicknesses up front, “whos doing” somewhat overplaying,( as in Swints’ swinging and Philip’s’ swimming’ ), all the way back to the Lazaresque’ underplay’ of Australia’s most controversial post-Campo creative,’ Aussie Dave’ Rennie has knit a coherent team.

And a single blueprint bible to for everyone to knit from.

Something seems simple, and right, about this development, from a stance amongst a tired Wallabies adherents group, watching on to areas outside the renovation fence.

But this unit has earned three on the trot, and a game beckons tomorrow night.

Could Rennie’s’ Dad’n’Dave’ Army mix of elder and joey macropods hop-skip over the 15 South American carnivores looking for revenge for last week’s score, and this week’s Byron visitor logistics?

Could Latin passion stung by bestial circumstances and rotten scheduling throw away a stumble catch?

Might Skippy drop, rather than hop, on the morrow? Could any more analogies be maimed into service?

Tomorrow night will reveal how solid the Rennievated structure is. For a very long time, I have wondered what a wily NZ coach would do with our Wallaby stock. And in Dave we have an answer. And some cartel( for some of us, at least ).

I liked Robbie Deans. A lot. But, in hindsight, he and we were culturally naive to think that Robbie’s gentle Canterbrian style would move to that distracted amigo-led lot of yesteryear.

But back to Dave, our Aussie Dave. He has a team- ScoJo Wisemantel, Dan Mc, Taylor( did I miss any ?) in patronage. Together they have placed a dignified guidance for an Australian team. Not precisely a Research crew. A representation squad for any level. A culture of’ team’. The one with no’ I’( but a lot of resonant skill) in it.

We could do with a bit of that at Super level. And at NRC level( or at’ How about we even have an NRC? ’ level ).

( Photo by Chris Hyde/ Getty Images)

WHAT HAS ALL THIS GOT TO DO WITH Super Rugby?

Back to Stu, and his wish for some Possible vs Probable action.

Stu is not alone in wanting to see the broader squad members play-act at Tier1. 5.( Not a test. Not Super ). Such a flair exhibition and distillation would be great for fans, actor showing and selector/ developer IP. Agreed, Stu.

But in a populace schedule where would such activity( s) fit in?

What if such a spectacle comes within the framework of our existing planned, and simultaneously enabled our provincial contact with New Zealand to be more competitive, marketable, and profitable?

That is, what if Australian Super participates could once more, unto the breach,’ frighten’ the five rugby plants to the east?

What if some of such recreations were simultaneously one of the purposes of an early WB pre-test season?

Following is my draft Trans-Tasman model, modestly entitled –

Another leg of rugby: The Trans-Tasman distillation

I’ve mentioned this idea on these timbers before, but not as a stand-alone article.

1. Background New Zealanders are rugby smart.( To those be supposed that I am buying 50% of the Roar elects now, you’d are quite right ).

NZers have for some time asked us to reduce our super unit numbers.

We are “spread too thin” is one common observation. Oz rugby can’t sustain 5 Super surfaces, “theyre saying”.( And this year’s OZ TT reactions sidestep for war ).

Well we once tried to cull. We flicked the Force. But they boomeranged. And who regards silly now, after the Tahs finished last in both phases of the SR competition? Flicking doesn’t work anymore. Too many love in cumbersome locates, like Perth. Too many boomerangs.

Plus most of Oz purists believe that we need as much national footprint as we can possibly get.( Okay Aussies have large-scale feet, but there’s still plenty of scarlet junk unprinted ). We need at least 5 pro teams hopping forward. If not more,( if not an NRC again, one day)

So how do we reconcile a “No Culling” policy at home, with

“Just Send Us Three Teams Bro” from across the ditch when it is marsupial butchery season next?

2. Foreground Oz rugby may build a strong future, but has not already been a strong present.

Here are the distillation details-

Detail 1: Let the domestic leg of Super Rugby run with as countless squads as all the nations pleases. For Australia soon that would be 5. All franchises reinforced similarly by RA.

Detail 2: When the international chapter of tournament arrives, NZ accommodates its usual five units. Pasifika would supply two. Both these crowds are currently proposed.

But here’s the revolutionary bit- Australia merely offers 3 units to this short phase of competition.

Detail 3: The 3 OZ squads offered to the Trans-Tasman phase of the competitor, are to be made up of 😛 TAGEND

i) the SRAU winner, This year it was the Reds.

i) Possible/ Probable Rep team1 Green

iii) Possible/ Probable Rep team2 Gold

These two Rep teams to be formed from the most wonderful participates from the four OZ wooden spooner franchises.

Eg. This season would’ve seen a TT with 1. Scarlets 2. Oz 1( Brums and Rebs’best) or 2+5 grading 3. Oz 2( Tahs and Force’s best) or 3+4 ranking

Detail 4: These two Rep crews figure an early Wallaby squad formation, to be designed and supervised by the WB coaching and growth crew with assistance from Super coaches, and resourced at dealership level.

3. Potential positives:- Increased penetration in Oz TT squads

– Increased competitiveness against NZ SR excellence

– Growth in OZ elite coaching competence

– Early squad gathering and development of WB possibles for Rennie and Co ., a possible boon in light of Pumas rise after the Jaguares’ cohesion over time.

– If competitiveness increases so will the engagement of love and sponsors. This stage of fun might lead to more entertaining ticket $?

– Retention of all SRAU rights, before and after the TT leg of rival( ie. no more Force nonsenses, an phenomenon decided on under external influence)

– An increase in OZ cross-franchise cooperation and systems resonance over the broad Wallaby catchment.

4. THIS IDEA IS SHORT TERM- an experiment

This proposal is intended as a short-term development experiment to serve the system in the region. while increasing its quality.

If and when Australian Super squads increase in strength such a example would be abandoned for one more appropriate, such as a full provincial comp including all OZ franchises.

But for now, while OZ rugby rehabilitates its Tier 2 proficiency, public and degree, who wouldn’t love to see an increase in competitiveness in Trans-Tasman struggles, while still allowing all Australian franchises to live, prosper and retain devotees either line-up of the TT phase?

So, Roarers, I’ve set up my dartboard. I expect some hurls. Shoot straight at me.

Read more: theroar.com.au