Buck Shelford: IRB care about money not the game

Buck Shelford says a lot needs to be sorted out before the next World Cup. Photo / Greg Bowker

1987 World Cup winner and former skipper Wayne 'Buck' Shelford has issued a damning indictment on the IRB's running of aspects of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Shelford, who never lost an All Black test as captain, said the IRB had got it wrong on a number of fronts, saying "a lot has to be sorted out before the next World Cup".

His remarks came amid a key vote to decide the next head of the IRB. The vote, which was to be held in Auckland yesterday, will give a clear indication on IRB member countries' mood for change. The vote was subsequently delayed until December to let the Cup final take centre stage.

Shelford said the IRB needed to do more than simply pander to the big nations in order to run the game properly in the modern era.

"The tournament thus far has been brilliant. There have been issues of the rules of the tournament: The unfairness of games, of breaks between games, all those sorts of things, a lot has to be sorted out before the next world cup.

"We've got to step into the 20th century big time with the way we're running this game, this tournament - it's not just about the big boys - if they want to make this game global, present it as a global game," Shelford said.

"Make it fair for everybody and have a little bit of respect for the players who come here, not throwing them out of their hotels the day after a game - that's terrible, I think just give them a couple of days grace to leave.

"But it's all about money. And that shows you that greed of the IRB, that it's all about money.

"I'd say everyone in the world would think they should be given a couple of days grace. I think it's pretty mean to throw them out of the country after losing.

"It's the players that bring the tournament to life not the IRB.

"It's become a big money making venture and they are making lots of money. If you want to spend money on the players, well here's another way of doing it.

"They've (the players) just actually brought the money through the turnstiles, through the sponsorship to actually help this game, so your helping them for a couple of days for a hotel bill, for a, you know, food bill, they'd appreciate that tenfold."

He also took a swipe at organisers over tomorrow's 3rd-4th place playoff clash between Wales and Australia.

"They've got to play for it, they've got to go out there and play for that position because that's part of the tournament whether you like it or not.

"It's a tough one for both teams... It's a character game. After both losing their semi finals it's a big one to come back and play for a losers position.

"I don't know why the administrators don't look at that as well, it's probably just another money making venture, another game to make money. They could have put a plate final on along the way and get the best out of the rest."