Australian Rugby is in big, big trouble | Matt Williams

[@justinhollis5579]

As an NRL and League fan I couldn't be happier with the way things are going. The only draw Union had for League players was it's world cup but the ARU has taken care of that for us, keep up the good work!😅😂

[@jameslourens8691]

Australian rugby's decline is very sad. As a young South African kid I used to idolise many Australian players such as the legendary David Campese etc. This highlights the fact that mismanagement and a lack of ground roots up development will destroy a sport even in a nation with a strong rugby heritage and a culture of participating in physically demanding sporting activities.

[@nepiahemopo1702]

Gracious sentiments. Don't be sad, rejoice!😂

[@mnnh1]

@@maccleba6721 not many nations would be able to win a cup in Rugby Union regularly where NZ was involved. So that’s not that surprising.

[@simonjames772]

i’m sorry but no other country has two codes that are as strong as ours. there is nothing wrong with our grass roots, we are the biggest footballing nation in terms of “rugby” players. The talent is spread so thin across 17 NRL teams and 5 super rugby teams. If Latrell Mitchell (who you wouldn’t even know) played 15 Cameron Murray at 12 and even Selwyn Cobbo on the other wing it would be GREATNESS again. I’m so sick of Australians beating us up publicly.

[@jameslourens8691]

@simonjames772 Interesting. So, in essence, there are insufficient numbers of talented players available to play rugby union because of rugby league. Sadly, that's probably even worse for the future of the Australian rugby union as it implies a lack of interest by potential players because there is more money to be made in RL.

[@simonjames772]

@@jameslourens8691 oh no doubt, however, eddie is implementing programmes into schools to get AFL (our national sport) kids playing rugby. We currently only source players from 2/6 states anyway because AFL is so dominant.

[@desmondmccabe8321]

i always like matt's insights and eloquence

[@chill2363]

Great assessment Matt...fair dinkim...good luck .....

[@DarwinNorth]

As someone who attended the same school as 6 Wallabies and Eddie Jones what put me off Rugby Union was the snobbery the sport has towards rival codes. A reason I haven't attended a Rugby Union game in years.

[@peterhoughton3770]

I managed and occasionally coached a junior rugby team in Melbourne (not a rugby stronghold). I could never get any support for the kids, equipment etc. I remember an annual meeting in a pub where all they talked about was trying to get a new coach who was apparently some big wig kiwi guy. I made the case that the senior teams would improve by default if interest and retention was held in the junior teams. And that their biggest asset was some of the mums who turned up week in and week out to run the club.They literally laughed at me. Now that club has no juniors at all. Like any sport Rugby is a pyramid with the elite at the pinnacle. And as broad a base as possible. The base in Australia is just too narrow.

[@dirkdiggler8794]

It started when Israel Folau was chased out...

[@DEvilParsnip]

The chap, chased himself out

[@Trajan2401]

I never really rated Folau he was a better league player than union player as with most league converts

[@qwalitala1924]

Well said, it all started when that woman was in charge of ARU. Kicked Folau out and everything started declining from then till now..

[@Trajan2401]

​@@qwalitala1924if I remember right Folau cost Australia the win against Argentina I think in one of his last games

[@Ste267]

Australia went woke Now they go broke!

[@johnadams20132013]

great insight by Matt Williams he Knows his stuff on what hes talking about

[@zig6427]

Aussie rugby has been in trouble for a number of decades.Little in the way of regional and junior support,depth has suffered greatly,another decade in the wilderness.

[@doyle1884]

Could listen to Matt all day

[@patrickmoore6775]

Dude speaks the truth

[@iamnutty8471]

i helped installed wallabies erp system you can see the dip in talent retention, part of that is small world view and dominance of Anol facker league and the NRL , rugby union of course needs domestic and international sucess to gain support from wave supporter thus super rugby has suffered with small crowds! was in oz for 2004 WC and 2013 lions tour,

[@jk3050]

NRL is taking all the elite talent. We don't expect uneducated Europeans to understand. If Australia had the NRL players, Australia will win every World Cup until the end of time 👍

[@kobusdutoitbosman6240]

No matter who says what : Eddie and Team have a helluva job ‼️ No matter what they do they have a really tough hill to climb successfully Good luck to them unbridled ‼️‼️🔥👊

[@drh02]

I totally agree about the treatment of Foster. Whole lot of kiwis think they are experts. Many of whom have barely picked up a rugby ball let alone coached. I truely believe Foster has been holding some things back and trying to refine some systems which we will start to see building into the world cup. I wish he, the coaches, the staff and the AB's all the best. People singing about Scott Robertson, it's an old tune.

[@Andy_M986]

I think,now that the coaching issue is done and dusted, the pressure is off him and the team,nit that he has been holding back,he has new coaching staff as well,it's not all on him at all.

[@maxhart7907]

So you're saying Foster lost the Ireland series, then let go of his two assistants and that was all part of the plan? 😂

[@drh02]

@@maxhart7907 I'm not saying that at all.

[@asiggy18]

If the pressure wasn’t put on foster he’d still be running the show. He’s not now. Ryan runs the forewards and Schmidt’s running the attack. Don’t ask me what foster does, the press conferences probably.

[@noworries3641]

Yep and that’s our right! We buy the gear, attend the games, and buy the tv package so yeah nah we can voice our opinion. I’m a Wellington supporter and am thrilled to see Robertson coming in. I’m sure Foster is a great guy and all that but he is a second rate coach.

[@geotruthnz7013]

There is a lot more to the OZ Rugby issue that should be known. Firstly the money in the North has stripped many good players & coaches in there prime. The pro sport market is very competitive in OZ and mainly that it is the only country in the world with a very well run Rugby League comp which is innovative and quickly evolves to capture the fans. The OZ & NZ Rugby unions have been amateur in comparison (also hampered by World Rugby) and have allowed the NRL to progress to be well ahead of Super Rugby in capturing the interest of neutral sports fans. Rugby union across the world is still very amateur when compared to well run pro sports so what we see in OZ is a picture of this so we can only hope that the NZ & OZ Rugby unions break a bit from World Rugby and make decisions to improve our product to re-engage the fans and have a truly well run innovative pro comp to be the leaders in world rugby again.

[@KickOutTheForeignersInNZ]

Rubbish no one cares about the nrl outside Australia and SR get way more views than the NRL that proves my point

[@geotruthnz7013]

@@KickOutTheForeignersInNZ If you think Super Rugby is doing better than NRL in OZ than you are delusional. If you can't learn off your opposition when they do something well than your a fool.

[@MW73107]

@@KickOutTheForeignersInNZ I appreciate that if you aren't Australian you may not give a crap about the NRL, however the comments aren't rubbish. The points made above are correct.

[@kanecampbell3145]

I personally think that international rugby is far superior then provincial. A bit like the NRL and NBA and somewhat soccer having a superior provincial product in comparison to there international versions.

[@Trajan2401]

​@@kanecampbell3145true club comps are no comparison to test matches

[@kina_winner2603]

ARFU self destructed when they sacked Rennie, 6 tests out from a World Cup. Jones not the savior. R.I.P😂

[@MW73107]

Rennie wasn't the saviour either.

[@tim.jenkins75]

It's also not am Australian issue.....rugby by every metric used has declined since becoming professional...... World wide!!!! Really only france has a viable national league.........even English clubs are disappearing

[@Trajan2401]

Nothing wrong with test matches which matter more than club matches

[@caintindal1671]

Yes that is where Rugby Australia have stuffed up is our domestic competition is something we don't have NRC was to be that except they tried to play League rules that was a big mistake. We do need 4 QLD Teams, 4 NSW Teams 2 Victorian Teams 1 side from Canberra, South Australia and 1 or 2 Teams from Perth up and going playing 13 games a year. Even starting form 12 teams is a start.

[@thewielloyd988]

Yeah I think reviving the NRC and spending plenty of time on the game day experience is the way to go. Take games to smaller grounds like Leichhardt or even Coogee Oval (with temp stands on the eastern side) and get local brewers and food trucks involved to offer something more premium than the watered down VB and stodgy pies on offer at NRL games. Put the games on Sunday arvos so it doesn't compete with Shute and Hospital Cup which also gives kids a chance to attend well before bedtime. Get it on Channel Nine or Nine Gem so you don't have to have an obscure streaming service to see it. Have a sevens component to it in late Jan and Feb leading into the season before NRL starts too. I think with a strong marketing push, the NRC could offer something more exciting for Perth and Melbourne crowds than what Super offers.

[@DarwinNorth]

Good luck with that

[@caintindal1671]

@@DarwinNorth I agree got the find the money from somewhere and I got to see if they can save Melbourne rebels which I doubt.

[@hctnati]

I can tell ypu now that the inside word is that Foster was saved by the certain senior All Blacks and was to be sacked prior to SA. I think Schmidt and Ryan are responsible for the turnaround than Foster. Particularly Ryan who has turned the forwards back into an AB pack. The way we are playing has Schmidt all over it.

[@robertwood6297]

Looking forwa to hearing what Matt says after the world cup

[@carpusbarsum]

This is spot on. The wallabies don't have the players. When they do sign NRL players they are fringe ones like Tom Wright or Fijian wingers. The real talent like Wighton, Mitchell, Holmes, Walsh etc are ignored because they didn't go to the right kind of school. At least Suaalii is a decent prospect.

[@barneyboy2008]

They need good tight forwards, not flakey league players.

[@patrickjackman8688]

Recalling quade cooper and Bernard foley smacked of desperation.

[@gideonporter537]

Kiwi fan here. Respect you Matt. And your rugby knowledge. But Fozzie was deservedly vilified - come on you say it yourself. "He did nothing wrong except his team lost" The ones who should hang their heads in shame is the NZRU administration. Overwjelming public, media, and even coaches (although they won't admit it), did NOT wanrt Fozzie. His coaching record was mediocre. There were better candidates. We all warned NZRU. They chose him anyway. The majority of us believe Joe Schmidt ( remember him Ireland?) and forwards guru Jason Ryan, are the main reason the ABs are doing so well now. They just let Fozzie take the limelight. Us Kiwis can't wait for Grant Robertson (the winningest Super Rugby coach ever) to take charge. We just hope Joe and Jason can do enough to help Fozzie bring home this cup. Robertson will get the next one.

[@someforeignguy]

Scott Robertson* 😂 The Finance Minister is out of depth as he is LOL.

[@gideonporter537]

@@someforeignguy Oops! 😅🤣😂

[@drh02]

I'm a kiwi and a huge fan of Foster. So many like yourself speak like you are in the coaching and team circles and know what is being said and done. What a load of rubbish. Will you eat your words if NZ win the world cup? Or will you give all the credit to Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt? Or if we lose the semi or quarter will you blame it all on Foster? Speaking like you're an international coach and have any real knowledge of the game. Good luck with that. Another who wants to see Foster unjustly crucified.

[@teripitini3785]

1. As kiwis we all know being head coach of the All Blacks is the toughest job in the world 2. Foster lost to Argentina & the series against Ireland in our back yard that's his achievement & his record to keep forever... 3. NZRU has never in its history fired an appointed head coach at best they would let them see out their tenor before releasing them or in this case Foster has opted not to re apply for the position regardless of weather or not his run from now to the end of the 2023 RWC is perfect even if he manages to win the 2023 RWC hes gone regardless. 4. Foster is not the only All Blacks coach to be vilified - crucified by both the media - management and even its own citizens..( home or abroad ).Does anyone remember Sir Graham Henry?...not only did he have all the above mentioned but also received hate and death threat mail it was even extended to his own family members.....' Now that is Disgusting'

[@gideonporter537]

@teripitini3785 Agreed. Henry was a very good coach though.

[@sonofanarchy6628]

Please may it continue in pool matches🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@markbph2336]

crazy MICHAEL HOOPER has not being selected. he is still one of the best players in the world..... NOT convinced at all by EDDIE JONES. "young players to put australia in good stead for the next world cup".... what about this world cup? its like making a excuse for getting knocked out in this world cup without firing a shot. DAVE RENNIE had australia in a position to be a serious challenger to win this years world cup..... the australia rugby union management have no idea.... axing the western force, axing israel folau.... dave rennie out..... bad decision after bad decision....

[@hdg0pc70]

It isn't great for rugby that the Wallabies have been punching below their weight for the last decade or so. As top level competitors drive the sport forwards. The same is true for Wales. The governance of Rugby in those countries has to take responsibility for their men's teams form.

[@movieklump]

There is no way rugby in Australia can compete with the NRL and Aussie Rules which literally have half the stoppages.

[@Will.Flavell]

Same with Cricket and A League.

[@KickOutTheForeignersInNZ]

But no one cares about those games they're only big in Australia but nothing outside Australia and rugby get way more views than league or afl

[@movieklump]

@@KickOutTheForeignersInNZ As the video referenced rugby in Australia your comment is a false equivalency.

[@Trajan2401]

​@@movieklumpwell like I said no one cares about league or afl outside Australia you can have those games

[@movieklump]

@@Trajan2401 Rugby Union is the main sport in one country with a population of 4 million. It really is the world game. Up against NRL and AFL it hasn't got a chance because there are too many stoppages. Bums on seats is better evidence than your subjectivity.

[@kitionemok1960]

Exactly it's time to bring in new blood. Try new people and plan for the next world Cup. Australia have some great young players and they must be given the chance to showcase their skills and talents. Plan for the future development now is very important.

[@redneckReno]

but he is right about the Aus "front office"....I think you can thank Ralene Castle for the recent dive

[@sambeckingsale2542]

Two words: Schmidt & Ryan. Foster was forced to bring in the two assistants, or he was going to be fired.

[@Munkey205]

European countries have been pathetic at the World Cup, they couldn’t win a raffle. 0BMT. The Aussies have won 2 cups, double all the European teams together.

[@markbph2336]

in australia, in the winter sports market, the afl (australia rules football) and nrl (rugby league) are killing both rugby union and soccer in australia. the afl and nrl games are faster, easier to understand and just more exciting. in the australian rugby heartland of nsw and queensland the majority (9 in 10 rugby players) of the rugby talent is playing in rugby league-nrl (and the same trend is happening in all pacific nations). rugby fans are sick of the rugby union-arl mess. not looking after grass roots rugby union, the israel folau saga, the axing of the western force team, and the axing of dave rennie. australian rugby union,-ARU shoots itself in the foot. australia has a lions tour and world cup of rugby in the next few years (a financial lifeline). rugby union in australia will be dead if there is no success for the NATIONAL TEAM in the next 5 years....!

[@Samizouza]

Definitely RA's fault there for not taking the grassroots seriously like they're supposed to by taking SR games to the heart of the community in smaller stadiums for bigger crowds.

[@markbph2336]

@@Samizouza maybe.... i think the lack of funding for traditional rugby schools and established club rugby in sydney and brisbane has seen a HEAP of potential rugby union talend go else where.... also kids get fed rugby league and afl on free to air tv prime time.... so thats what they want to play.

[@clemfandango619]

Killing soccer. A sport that was only every a minority sport. Good job.

[@nepiahemopo1702]

I love rugby.

[@KickOutTheForeignersInNZ]

But no one cares about those games outside Australia and those games don't even come close to rugby in views even SR get more views than the NRL or AFL let alone the test matches

[@Samizouza]

Apparently RA and WRU clearly have similar problems in the grassroots level.

[@lonederanger2603]

Player base is diminishing in Wales, I am no champion of the WRU, but that is not necessarily the WRUs fault. However, that being said, where blame can be attributed to the WRU is in their neglect of the junior game, and a lack of any clear thought on how best to use the diminished player base. The nurturing of talent throughout the age grades through competition is disappearing to be replaced by hugs and cuddles.

[@Pafuki25]

If Rugby doesn’t expand into public schools, then they’ll just have to enjoy the ride into the ground.

[@redneckReno]

oh jeez, about Foster, c'mon Matt! The guy is a loser. If it wasn't for Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan, the AB's would be in disarray

[@aperaruapeeta4309]

The Australian under 20 side beat the All Blacks 2 games to 1 this year I think the youth is building.

[@MW73107]

There is some good talent. Some of the Aust u20 RWC 2019 runner up team players are starting to come through as well. This years u20 team also only lost the one game v Ireland. They had their chances against Ireland, but they handled the atrocious conditions better. However two Irish players who subsequently were suspended for foul play in that match, so it could't have been a different story if picked up at the time. They then drew with England and just missed out to them for a semi place. There is some promise.

[@andrewmartinfarrell8167]

Saffer fans, with nothing to listen to back home, will be confused. Apparently Matt only shows up when SA lose a game.

[@nepiahemopo1702]

😂😂😂

[@RockyB334]

Where did they find this guy?

[@newbie973]

In Australia

[@ivotheg2397]

Sorry Matt Foz got all the scrutiny and criticism he deserved. The changes made in the end that brought in Schmidt and Ryan were forced by NZRFU and rightfully so, and it has paid off so far.

[@robertcollins403]

Yes I agree 👍 Wallabies got a big big trouble . Rennie is a good man for the WALLABIES TEAM. God around comes around. Australia Wallabies fire Rennie. So what was happen now four games Eddie Jones and the Wallabies team lost four games. Good luck Wallabies at the World Cup. 😊😊

[@prof_kaos9341]

Aussie rugby's fall is a tragedy, self inflicted. From the current world record test crowd, 108k, Sydney 2000, Bledisloe. I was in Brisbane when they played France, 2021, tickets were $35.00 (& not full) while in NZ tests start at $200.00

[@Marcburg21]

The MCG had 85,000? The death of Australian rugby was pay tv. Used to be on free to air. The same happened to the NBL.

[@prof_kaos9341]

@@Marcburg21?? 108k Sydney, 2000, Homebush Olympic Stadium with extra seating for Olympics

[@seamus9750]

If Eddie has a wild card he needs to play it today...

[@Truth4Freedom]

I used to like Rugby in the old days- Campese, NF Jones, T Horan & J Little etc. Nowadays with too many technical rules and ref’s involvements leading to a game decided by how well your kicker is. Not free flowing as it used to. I get tired from watching. 12:49

[@commentarytalk1446]

Agree, Union is no longer the game it was. NRL at least is exciting quality rugby every week it's running with running rugby. Yeah no drama with the scrum/line-outs sadly but otherwise so much to like once you get used to it: Amazing highlights from all the games in all aspects of the matches. Super Rugby gutted without SA and empty stadiums even in NZ. Terrible refereeing and rules system in Union, it's so tedious to watch and arbitrary.

[@xcskidog6937]

As an Englishman I'm thankful we at last dumped the useless Jones . How did he con his way into a new job ?

[@wbodenham]

It could be said that Eddie is the disease rather than the cure. 🤢

[@davidparsons3432]

Yes....the wallabies are rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic..

[@ivotheg2397]

As a die hard All Blacks fan I don't want to see the Wallabies succeed. They can in rugby league, cricket, AFL, but not in rugby. It's our game, and we deserve to be the best. And I'm not from Canterbury either.

[@NjPakau]

Don't give up oi!😂 Australia has great talent in their squad. You cannot coach natural instinct, stay positive, believe in each other! 🦘 ARU 😢 oi! Kiwi made 😂✌👍!!

[@olliegoldsmith54]

You mean a philosophy of play that is Stuart Lancaster's not Leinster's

[@ola500]

Matt Williams, did you just say that this Wallabies backline won't make it anywhere in Europe! 😂

[@markbrown-sb2zm]

I think its the basic lack of respect for themselves and the game. Them loving Nick White diving. Loads of head shots and cheap shots,terrible disclipline. I did say karma would level Nick Whites diving and,well,I was right.

[@paulfrancis8764]

It’s never going to compete with the NRL.

[@Trajan2401]

Club comps are boring compared to internationals

[@paulfrancis8764]

@@Trajan2401 Nah

[@Trajan2401]

@@paulfrancis8764 domestic comps yawn would rather beat another country more of an achievement than just beating your own in domestic comps that no one else care about

[@regfries8279]

Eddie is making a bad situation worse. His team selections are almost laughable.

[@michaeleager4635]

Australia will struggle with the size of the English forwards? When Tupou came on last week the pack topped 980kg!

[@padraigenright119]

Get someone that lives in Australia the last 30 years to talk about Australia

[@fAkAKiNa39]

The idea that it's no fault of Eddie is what it is...a pile of crap.Eddie took the job with eyes wide open.If Eddie know any better he would suggest that Rennie take the Wallabies to the World Cup but no...Eddie need a job quick to heal the England mess in his head.

[@MW73107]

Rennie didn't want to work with Jones

[@fAkAKiNa39]

@@MW73107 I wouldn't expect anything else. They have different philosophy to coaching.

[@MW73107]

@@fAkAKiNa39 too many chiefs

[@Trajan2401]

Eddie probably took one look at the cushy rwc draw and thought I should be able to look good here

[@bb21again.67]

To me as a New Zealander the decline of the All Blacks is what hurts me so much Ireland,England,France,Springboks, f@#k@n Argentina have all shown us up.Stop blaming the coaches,the players are the "glay".

[@GS-tk2dy]

Awww regretting it AB's fans!!!. C'mon get real .... Joe Shmitt, and Jason Ryan who will be next year own this success and every improvement. Not the lame duck coach.

[@tomhenry8151]

Sad. about Australia rugby you have eddie jones for 5 years good luck the game at the G tonight it was a one sided game good win to the All Blacks see you next week

[@steelcity4581]

Wallabies have went from being feared by northern hemisphere teams to almost being a teir 2 rugby nation in less then 10 years what the hell happened

[@Br0wnCh3]

It’s not administered properly. The board of rugby has neglected the grass roots for a long time and relied on the product to sell tickets. Rugby is played exclusively in private schools only here in oz and systems below super rugby are terribly lacking in talent. Public schools play other sports like rugby league, soccer, afl, tennis, basketball etc.. Hence the talent goes elsewhere. Nobody wants to play for the losers, the wallabies. They look elsewhere to find their new heroes.

[@Marthinusvanderbyl-e3l]

The team need physical strength to build a good team because the all black have good and powerf 0:36 0:36 0:36 0:36 strength to go through

[@Andy_M986]

The decline of Australian rugby started during the Gregan era,that group were their last decent team, but they had too much player power,they dictated who was going to be their coach. That alone to me,was where it went downhill.

[@mckellardenzyl]

Nah I think the last decent Wallaby team was the 2010 and 2011 team, they had the star and talent in that as well.

[@Monaleenian]

Reece Hodge is only 28. He's not in his thirties. OTB needs guests who are better informed.

[@bodhid]

He's 29 in one month. Splitting hairs there mate. So what, one-year off - its not like he's 21!

[@Pafuki25]

He plays like he’s in his late 30s

[@poerava]

I’ve got $8,000 on the all blacks winning by 19 against the convicts. Paying just under $40,000

[@markbph2336]

victory by at least 4 tries for the all blacks. australia is a shambles under eddie jones. what a disaster sacking dave rennie....

[@poerava]

@@markbph2336 Exactly. Made $30,000 tonight Thanks Eddie jones.

[@MTG776]

Convicts? How'd you come to that?

[@lebanonjames1807]

That’s what they get for getting rid of Folau

[@clemfandango619]

The wallabies have been eliminated from 4 world cups by england, but matt's still confident. Onya, cobber.

[@artform-melbourne]

But you forgot the one WRC whereby we kicked England out of their own World Cup in the Pool rounds, then went onto beat Wales with 13 Players, Argentina and Scotland and made it to the final

[@clemfandango619]

@@artform-melbourne yeah, so its 4 -2 to England in knock out games.

[@MW73107]

@@clemfandango619 2015 was a knockout game for England

[@clemfandango619]

@@MW73107 yeah, I included that.

[@MW73107]

@@clemfandango619 sorry. thought you saying it wasn’t

[@paulyflyer8154]

It doesn't help having a safe and effective juice slowly shutting down the players' bodies.

[@oratilemakgaka8411]

Take a lesson from SARU (South African rugby union). we left super rugby because NZU and the Australians disrespected us and because it was not beneficial to us... and honestly we should leave the Rugby championship.... Honestly it boring . Three matches and winner determined... Put your country first

[@robertcollins403]

Let's see and wait ✋ What's happening when the World Rugby Cup 🥤 started. I hope the Wallabies team try their best 👌 to put Wallabies on the top of the 🌎 Good 👍 luck. Wallabies.

[@redneckReno]

not big on matt williams

[@raeputakdyer-tutai3186]

Doomed for RWC campaign due to coach replacement was the major decent, Ronnie on target bit lack of confidence in their own selections was thw down fall of this management development of junior some what flawed as it play a recruitment for other pro game option to transform to other codes made easy options most lucrative then the amateur mindset by these dude on the board also due for replacement.

[@RobertForrest-c2d]

Matt Williams would know. He destroyed Scottish Rugby some 20 years ago 😂

[@James-ih4gz]

Bledisloe cup for me is really a pointless cup to be honest so one sided its boring fixture to watch cause you always know Australia will lose

[@Trajan2401]

Could say that about the RC too

[@antonpercel4158]

yep yep yep foz treated horribly we all know this but hes got em as good as can be

[@Alex-mj5dv]

The gulf between Eddie Jones (and other top test coaches) and Williams is a chasm. Williams is about the worst head coach in modern history. Take his opinions with a mound of salt. Using himself as an shining example of the Aussie system of decades gone by.. he’s delusional! Gregan, Larkham, Mortlock, Smith… yes. Williams ? Er, no.

[@Kiárán92]

As they say the worst scotland manager of all time. Only beat 3 two tier nation teams. Shocking record!.

[@graemeromans9374]

Worrld Rugby is in big trouble. This head injury problem can become terminal very quickly. Giving in to the World of 'woke' is a bad tactic. Theyll keep upping the drama.. They got rid of our top try scorer because he quoted the bible. Yet he is a Pasifica and had helped gay rugby. As for Oz, we have a host of young talent coming through. We need a much better system a la the Irish model that's for sure. But we have a great pack a great new 10 who takes it to the line and is fearless in defence, smart centres and great wingers. So pull your head in Matt.

[@tcr4507]

I doubt Phil Waugh will be any less short sighted than hamish McLennan. All those two clowns think about is trying to sign league players.

[@strickystrickland5065]

Aussie is only crap against the top tier and there not that bad during the games it’s not completely gone they should work on producing better coaches

[@smoozerish]

I would say that apart from swimming, Australia is falling behind the rest of the world in many other sports. They are not producing the hungry driven athletes they used to across the board. In a word, they have become a soft nation due to their prosperity from natural resources. Where it's simply easier to take a well paid job where you don't have to do much than train hard and sweat blood and tears to be the best in your chosen sport. Also many of their best athletes go into NRL or Aussie rules which are generally indigenous sports unique to Australia played by few other nations.

[@davidkelly499]

Pretty good at cricket, especially test cricket.

[@DaisyChesneysGirlfriend]

Aussies are becoming like Americans they believe that they don’t need anyone else and to an extent they’re correct , both the afl and nrl will go from strength to strength over the next ten years+. I’d disagree with them not producing hungry athletes, just these athletes don’t care about international sports.

[@brunogiandinoto3346]

Being argentinian I compare this to our reality and personally I think that could be accurate. Our players in ANY sports (except from football) is totally self driven with heart, sweat and blood 'cause they don't have government support. And the well paid jobs are so few almost non existent. Is a sad reality that makes you realize that is mostly the players ambition to be at the top of their sport.

[@MW73107]

Thats not correct. It's really only rugby that there has been a decline.

[@taraishot100]

For Christ sake just put rugby in public schools for crying out loud rugby starts with the grassroots and Australia has cut rugby’s grass by not letting rugby be played in public schools

[@Samizouza]

Yet for some reason RA won't bother doing that by keeping it in private schools, let alone not taking games to smaller stadiums for bigger crowds.

[@mauricemunoz242]

Watch what you say about your country mate…!!! We all know you’ve been hiding in Ireland for over two decades now because you knew you were never gonna have a career in Australia!

[@vuyaniman9440]

Hot air.

[@jameslast7555]

Australia should have stayed with the Kiwi coach, Eddie Jones is not a good coach IMO.

[@prof_kaos9341]

Aussies don't like being told what to do by Kiwis. The sacking of Robbie Deans showed this, the only team he couldn't beat was the golden era McCaw ABs. Same for Dave Renie. The problem is in the administration, so they blame the coaches, how many have they sacked for no change?

[@lukesuds5002]

Ooooooooozzzzzzzzzzz

[@iceman4660]

this hasn't aged well

[@benjaminmanning8043]

This didn’t age well… 😮

[@Dodiwho1]

Eddy will destroy ozz rugby

[@mauricemunoz242]

Be very careful everyone… this is Australia in the World Cup… !!!! We gave an easier path to the quarters, after that it’s one off. we’ll be dangerous…!!!!

[@Honest_Max]

Matt Williams seems bitter bloke angling for a job.

[@GP-dr4ub]

Eddie Jones ruined England and he will do the same to Australia, as an Englishman you’re welcome to him, he’s cocked up any chance of England winning World Cup with his tinkering with the team and tactics and never having a plan b. He’s living on two results SA losing to Japan and England beating NZ in World Cup semi, he then had no idea how to beat SA in the final, clueless.

[@nzfreeski]

The pressure and critique and impact on Foster was no different than any professional sport anywhere. If Foster was winning do you think he'd have that pressure? its the All Blacks and NZ - 2022 was not acceptable. jesus fck, quit whining about the pressure on Foster

[@nzfreeski]

.......Farrell and Schmidt

[@BonuxCouleur]

Yeah I would be careful slamming Australia just yet. We know rugby union there is in disarray pretty much since their national championship disappeared but their National Team remains capable of beating anyone on the day. The national championship is basically the link between their grassroots and their Super Rugby franchise gone meaning players who arrive in Super Rugby will not be as experienced as a player who played a bit of club rugby as an Under-20. Which means in the past Super Rugby was probably less of a testing ground but more of a confirming ground. If I caricature a bit Aussie players go straight from university rugby to Super Rugby these days I would assume. I suspect I am not far from the truth. They are missing a step without a club championship in between. With a championship in between it means you can fail at Super Rugby level, return to club rugby and eventually have a second chance. With no intermediary level what do you do if you fail at Super Rugby level? I guess you have no choice but to quit rugby altogether which makes your pool of players that much smaller. The Australian Rugby for whatever reason has not protected its national championship. It failed where other sports succeeded. Now I understand League and Aussie Rules (in and around Melbourne) are bigger than Union but these are sports where the skillset and athleticism requirements are very similar. A few League players transferred to Union quite successfully in the past in Australia. Less so in Aussie Rules but it could have been the case had Union made their grassroots stronger. Making your grassroots stronger means ensuring that your clubs can promote to an higher League or Intercontinental competition and that players can grow steadily, it means the money has to trickle down to amateur clubs. As it stands, I think both New Zealand and Australian Unions got it awfully wrong with their respective grassroots. I remember 10 years ago hearing clubs criticizing the NZRU for not investing enough into grassroots rugby. Australia and New Zealand (and South Africa) should have agreed on a new formula that would rejuvenate their respective grassroots. To me, it would have been way more interesting to see the 6 top teams in NPC, playing the 6 top teams in Currie Cup, playing the 6 top teams in the former Australian Club Championship (whatever it was called). So you would have to qualify to an Intercontinental Cup by reaching the top of your National League first and foremost. That would stimulate the grassroots because it offers a bridge between levels of rugby all the way to the National Teams. Now having said all this, I have little doubt the Wallabies will do well at the World Cup, they have always been there and about with two World Titles to their name and the last game in Dunedin shows it does not take much for them to play a brilliant game of rugby. International rugby needs the Wallabies. As much as I support les Bleus and regardless of rivalry on the field, the sport needs these "brand name". Growing up in France when you hear All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks at a young age, you don't always know which one is which and where these teams are from but there is a mystic about these names, you know they come from the antipodes and you know they are the teams you want to beat. Maybe Australians should realize the Wallabies is a brand name that resounds outside Australia. No one would enjoy seeing them disappear. Same goes with the haka that took a fair bit of criticism these last few years but you would not have the All Blacks without the haka, the way I see it the haka belongs to the rugby "World Heritage" so to speak. Going back to the Aussie subject, if New Zealand has the NPC still, and South Africa the Currie Cup, I cannot quite understand why Australia had to kill off their National Championship. Surely in a rugby mad country of 25 Millions with a brand like the Wallabies, there is a place for Union but the Aussie Union needs taking care of the grassroots and invest in it like you invest in your children. It seems to me the parents spent all the money and left their kids behind to themselves... too much greed from people who maybe have put their own interest and that of their mates ahead of the greater good of the sport. Maybe their Union needs to go back to square one and make sure kids play union at university level which means they have to entice universities to do so and maybe do the same with clubs if they still have clubs, I suppose they do. Involve the Wallabies in promoting the sport the way the All Blacks do with events for kids and so on. Be closer to your grassroots is key and offer the supporters something closer to heart than a franchise. McDonald is a franchise but there are only that many Big Macs one can eat willingly...