
Eddie Jones treated the players and fans badly. They didn’t deserve it. I was one who watched the Wallabies at the World Cup. I saw the crowd booing Eddie. They were having fun doing it. Now I want to boo Eddie too, but for better reasons. Hamish McLennan went down with Eddie. He got Australian Rugby through a tough time. He was egoistic like Eddie. It was sad to see them both making excuses and riding into the sunset. Good luck in Japan, Eddie, and don’t come back!
Over the past few years, being a rugby union fan in Australia has been tough. The game nearly went amateur during the pandemic. We had historic losses. I once hoped for an upswing to come soon, but it never did. Now, I think we might be on the cusp of change. This situation has shown Australia’s root issues more than ever before. I hope this is the darkest moment before dawn. I see opportunities for Australian rugby moving forward.
With the France debacle behind us and a new head of Rugby Australia, it is a chance to reset. A new director of high performance and coach are impending. Hopefully, we can see positive changes ahead. A new clear identity could inform the style of play and empower the players.
The push for centralization is also key. All states and territories need to give up control for the performance and contract management.
It is time to build our internal pathways, strengthen coaching skills, and recognize the openness and passion in the Australian rugby community.
Centralization is a must-have. We don’t have the resources, but we do have the talent. We can learn from other countries and develop our talent overseas, just like South Africa did when they won back-to-back World Cups.
The World Cup gave experience to our young talent. Now, we need to see their growth and improvement.
We have exciting player talent and a good coach stock. Focus is needed on the development of community coaches. The goal is to turn over every stone for Australian Rugby.
With a Lions Tour in 2025, a men’s World Cup in 2027, and a women’s World Cup in 2029, we have clear targets to aim for. This gives us a common goal and urgency to develop Australian Rugby. Let’s all get behind the Wallabies and Wallaroos in the next decade and showcase the value of the game to new fans.