|
|
 |
|
 |
|
| Features > | |
 |
|
Following an idyllic stay on St Maarten on the French Caribbean and a week on Saatchi & Saatchi business in Japan and Korea, I was able to get back to New Zealand last month. The two South African tests made fascinating viewing. I was nervous ahead of Wellington, particularly given South African determination, resolution and pride. And their inbred desire to win in New Zealand. I believe we were fortunate in Matfield's lack of test match play recently, Smit's (who I consider to be a great leader) injury, and the continued selection of the Neanderthal Butch James at 10. Habana must dream of playing outside Carter or Giteau and must almost have given up ever seeing the ball in space with the head-hunting James constantly slowing the ball down. We saw a terrific, passionate performance from the All Black pack with sublime performance from the mid-field and Muliaina. And an epic victory over the World Cup holders. I went in to Dunedin even more nervous because wounded Springboks are dangerous beasts. We failed to nail their one attacking idea (Januarie) and paid for it. Despite that I thought we deserved to edge the victory but it certainly has set up a fascinating Tri-Nations. The Springboks clearly couldn't wait to get home and had already checked out by the time they got to Perth. Mission accomplished. A win in New Zealand and in the House of Pain no less. Springboks have never taken the Wallabies super seriously so it was no surprise to see a fairly lacklustre performance. So it's all to play for. We can win this. These are interesting and tough times for New Zealand rugby. The pendulum has swung away from the Southern Hemisphere commercially and this is having an adverse affect on everything we do at the professional level. The English Premier League is vibrant and pulling in spectators, sponsors and the media despite a pretty mundane product livened up only by the Southern Hemisphere playmakers who have taken over the Number 10 position in most sides. The French Championship is booming with lots of new money coming in from private investors and from the media and with many top players moving there. The cost to both England and France in this of course though, is the lack of their own domestic player development. Every side seems to have invested in a Southern Hemisphere Number 10, a Fijian Winger, a Pacific Islands Prop, and a Springbok Tight Forward. No surprise to see these kind of positions drying up domestically. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
The Six Nations continues to play to packed houses despite varying playing standards; the ritual, the travelling fan, the corporate support remains a positive. And finally the Heineken Cup is really full of passion, commitment and provincial interests. Munster, Leicester, Wasps, Toulouse all fly the flag magnificently. Contrast that with the downbeat mood in New Zealand. Rugby World Cup failure has become an immense burden. The player exodus is frightening. We are all fatigued with the Super 14 and with SANZAR. The NPC has lost much of its lustre. And look at our lack of playing depth at Lock, Number 8, Halfback and Wing. When have we ever been so vulnerable? In the midst of this gloom, there are of course some bright spots. We are World Champions in the Under 20's and stomped the rest of the world. The New Zealand Maori would win the Six Nations. Fresh talent is coming through the NPC and our Junior systems at a rapid rate of knots. Carter, McCaw, So'oialo and all our Props are world class. Where to from here? Steve Tew is facing the greatest challenge any New Zealand Rugby CEO has faced since David Moffett took the game professional. I urge him to study Blue Ocean Strategy and figure out what we need to eliminate, reduce, raise and create to re-establish our number one position in every facet of the game. As a starter I suggest we begin with eliminate. We must eliminate doubt, excuses, referee-blaming, and losing gallantly. Two - we must reduce the number of good players leaving the country through innovative, pro-active, competitive initiatives. Three, we must raise the NPC back to being the best competition in domestic rugby anywhere in the world; we must raise our commitment to true All Black values (Sean Fitzpatrick and John Kirwan put together a book describing these which is given to every All Black; we need to live them!); we need to raise the All Blacks' ferocious will to win at all costs every test match and to smash every opposition, every week. Finally, we need to create new investment in the game from sponsors and media partners by increasing the value of the Tri Series and the Super 14. Most importantly of all (and I would say that wouldn't I) we must create a franchise in the U.S. which will be a primary factor in bringing new investment and new interest for fans and players alike to the Super 14. Steve and his team at NZRU must pick up the baton and provide inspirational leadership to all constituents in New Zealand and take a positive, winning attitude back into the rest of the world. And the All Blacks must recapture the mongrel spirit of Fitzpatrick, Fox, Kirwan and Shelford. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
COPYRIGHT NZEDGE.COM IP HOLDINGS LIMITED
1998-2007. |
|
|
|
|
|
