There's An Answer To Rugby's Problems - And It's Not More Leaguies

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday May 2, 2006

SPIRO ZAVOS

QUESTION: Who was the most valuable back for the Waratahs on Friday night against the Highlanders?

Answer: Peter Hewat. On a cold, misty night and an icy field that made the ball more slippery than an eel, Hewat played an immaculate game in attack and defence. He was the difference between a defeat and a win.

Q: Why isn't Hewat a Wallaby?

A: Because Eddie Jones, the Wallabies coach from 2001 to 2005, doubted his defensive capabilities and, more importantly, fell into the trap of believing that rugby league stars had more to offer the Wallabies than their rugby union counterparts.

Jones started Wendell Sailor in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, for instance, leaving Joe Roff, a far superior rugby player (and probably league player for that matter) on the bench. England scored a crucial try down Sailor's touchline.

Q: What is going on in the minds of rugby union experts when they insist that rugby league stars such as Sailor and now Mark Gasnier are somehow the answer to any problems the Wallabies might be having?

A: Too many rugby union officials believe the hype that rugby league is a harder and more skilful game than rugby union. This may stem from league being the dominant football code in NSW and Queensland, and their media are forever spruiking how hard the hits are in their game.

The fact is that since rugby union became a professional game the defence has become much harder and more sophisticated than league. And so has the attack. The two league stars, Mat Rogers and Sailor, are the worst tacklers in the Waratahs back line.

Rogers tried to cover up his tackling weakness by rushing up on Friday night and was lucky not to be penalised for offside.

Q: Does the ARU deliberately stage-manage publicity stunts like the Gasnier defection to take the gloss off rugby league Tests and State of Origin matches?

A: Don't blame the ARU, blame the managers of star rugby league players. The managers like to talk about their star client defecting to rugby union around the time of Tests and State of Origin matches to get a bidding war going between officials from the NRL and ARU.

Unfortunately, the ARU tends to fall for the trick every time. There is no good reason why the ARU should want to pay a massive amount for Gasnier. He will not be more effective than, say, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Scott Staniforth - or even Willie Tonga (who has more rugby skills than Gasnier) if the Queensland Reds make him an offer he can't refuse.

Q: Are there any rugby league stars who should be pursued by the ARU, if they want to defect?

A: Some of the names being bandied about by their managers (Ryan Cross, for instance) just don't rate as worthy prospects. A journeyman career in rugby league is no guarantee of Super 14 success.

Frank Pritchard ("Penrith sensation," according to league writers), has offered himself to the All Blacks. But this seems more about his current salary negotiations with Penrith than with a defection to the dark side.

Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall seem more likely to join up with New Zealand franchises if they defect.

Q: Can the Waratahs win the Super 14?

A: They can if Hewat continues his brilliant form in the backs and if Dan Vickerman stays fit. Vickerman's power and skill in the lineouts and in the scrums are crucial for the team's success.

And there is a lesson in the careers of both these marquee players that the ARU needs to take on board. The Reds, obsessed with poaching rugby league players, were not interested in Hewat.

Ewen McKenzie gave Hewat his chance, which the player has grabbed. Vickerman, like Clyde Rathbone, came to Australian rugby from South Africa. The impressive Blues second-rower, Greg Rawlinson, a likely All Black this year, is also a South African.

Memo to the ARU: Forget spending a fortune on buying rugby league stars. Spend some of the saved money on scrum coaches and scrum schools. And, perhaps, encourage some young beefy South Africans to prop up our scrums.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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