KEY POINTS:
All Black coach Graham Henry says he is concerned about the future of the game, saying in recent years there has been a lot of time-wasting by some teams to slow the game down.
"We played a test this year against France and I would have gone
home at halftime if I hadn't been the coach." says Henry. "I think people also get irritated by the spectacle because we are not strict enough on how we referee the game."
He also sees parallels between the way the English rugby clubs are going about their business and English soccer clubs who have recruited legions of foreign players to the detriment of the England national side. Is Henry right, does rugby need to change? Here is a selection of Your Views:
Mama Mia (Auckland)
No need to change, Henry. Just pick the toughest of the toughest All Blacks, like e.g. Dan Carter, Richie McCaw etc, etc, etc. And, most important, too, do re-introduce the Cut Throat Haka. The sooner the better. Because, that is bound to scare the pants off any team daring to challenge the mighty All Blacks.
Gary (India)
With compared to the Southern hemisphere, club rugby in UK/France is average at the best of times. Without the infusion of talent from countries such as New Zealand, Northern hemisphere rugby is likely to become a non-event for both spectators and potential young players. This is a much bigger threat for the international game.
Billie Wallace
It's simple. For more flair in the backline increase the width of the field by 5 metres so that those with the morph body-type can't keep up and reintroduce the 2-3-2 scrum so that the ball is raked back to the wing forward quicker. Finally get rid of the coaches who have killed the spontaneity that used to exist when rugby was just a game.
Pete.G
Yes, Graham Henry is right. Rugby as we know it (knew it), is heading for doomsville. On the world cup, (played every 4 years, gr8t concept, gr8t intentions) but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The saddest fact of all, there is very little Graham, or any one else for that matter, can do. The wheels of big money, TV rights, powershift to English/French clubs, (are done & dusted) and the other wheels of international rugby, tests, loss of top class players to club money, devaluation of test matches, pandering to corporate needs, over rugby public needs, i.e greater stadia, facilities, have fallen off the wagon. IRB rule changes will only be bandaids. Graham, the injuries are well and truly advanced. The good ole days are over!
Claude (Brisbane)
It's a funny thing being an ex-pat kiwi and watching the Wally Blacks contest a cup or series. Basically my support is with the Kiwis in footy and netball but I am also a fan of good games. Go the winner! To the question of changing the game to suit the times, essentially it has and always will. It bears little resemblance to the game as it started out. The Bledisloe made good watching. The scrum in both codes though, has become a farce. It has been since one side put giants and heavyweights up against lesser size and weights. Crouch, touch, pause, engage. Really, it may do something to reduce injury but it is a laughable spectacle. And what about the repeats per favour of the ref. The rulings are so inconsistent ref to ref. Give us a break.
"New Zealand coach Graham Henry says Saturday's match will not have any bearing on the World Cup other than to provide a measuring stick for both teams for what they need to work on." So it's really just try-out time in a not so important match or three? Looked important enough to me. The aggression level in all contact sport needs real, genuine, consistent firm action by their codes' administrators. If I pick one thing that needs changing it is the absolute banning of any player swinging arms, using fists or knees and the many other things that can be seen on camera. Probably quite a few that cannot too! Sport is great to watch, war is not.
Frustratedrugbynut (Perth)
Change indeed - not being aware of the new rules the IRB are looking at, here are a few suggestions to get the game back ontrack. Tire the forwards. At knock-on the clock stops until the ball comes out of the scrum, no penalties allowed except for foul play. The forwards will soon keep the scrum up or they'll all die of exhaustion resetting scrum after scrum.
Add a roaming offside ref running the side line, teams are constantly offside, 2 team warnings and then brutally use the yellow card until no one is left on the field-players will soon stay onside promoting running rugby. Lineouts must be thrown in within 30 second of the touch judge putting up the flag or the defensive team gets a free kick. Bring back rucking, this speeds the game and presents the ball quickly and should be allowable on any player on the wrong side of the ruck, it will also require the defensive team to commit more players to the ruck - I don't believe there is a forward in the world that would disagree - don't let mothers ruin the game. That's a start from a frustrated ex-2nd rower.
Patrick
More whining about the horrible rich English clubs taking our boys up North. And yet it's ok for Sivivatu, Rokocoko, etc to play here instead of in Fiji? Get over it.
Gangster (UK)
Blah blah blah Mr. Henry. The word hypocrisy springs to mind. Just look at what NZ has done to Pacific Island rugby through its use of economic power and incentive. Unfortunately we live in a global economy now and NZ needs to realise that and keep up. And you lot thought Sir Clive was a whinger.
Andre (Singapore)
I agree with Graham Henry's comments that English and French clubs will eventually ruin England and France's ability to compete in Test matches. However, I hope he, and the rest of New Zealanders, now know what it feels like to be a Pacific Islander. All our best Fijian players have been bought by New Zealand Provinces for years. And the same goes for Tongans and Samoans. Sure it is better for the individual players and their families, but has been lousy for our Test Rugby competitiveness. In 1939 Fiji was the only international team to tour New Zealand undefeated, one draw against King Country.
Non-rugby fan
Doesn't the man ever smile? He always looks so boorish, and sounds so boring.
Faresa (Hatfields Beach)
The exodus of young rugby talent from the major Southern Hemisphere rugby nations to the lure of bigger dollars on offer in Europe, can be summed up in one statement: Welcome to the world of Pacific Islands' rugby.
Adam
A couple of things really irk me about rugby at the moment. We've been raiding the Islands of players for years now and not helped as much as we could in development of rugby there. England/France clubs raiding our players is just Karma and it's what we deserve. Rugby has gone the way of boxing and cricket, it has sold it's soul to the highest bidder. Now it is Newscorp who dictates when games are played (at night in NZ) and based on European TV schedules. Super14 and Tri-Nations were developed to please Newscorp who wanted to know what they got for their money. The game was changed to make it faster, more tries and more exciting - only it's not. Did you notice how many tries were scored this Super 14 from a forward pass or knock on? They suspended the rules to make it more of a try-fest. Finally it's Eden Park. I get searched on the way in like a criminal and I only get to drink little plastic bottles of the beer the rugby union has sold the vending rights to. No one considered me (the consumer) in this arrangement. I might like a fancy imported beer at a reasonable price but that's not available on the terraces. It is in corporate boxes. Until the rugby union starts considering the rugby fans in everything it does, it will always face the possibility of dying off. Remember when the whole of New Zealand came to a stand still on a Saturday afternoon to watch the All Blacks play. I'm not sure they can make New Zealand do that again.
Grant James (Perth)
The purists won't like it, but if Rugby is to survive in coming decades the rules must be altered to allow greater continuity of play. The football codes that have been increasing their support ones in recent years are the ones that have continuity of play, hence the AFL's profile overtaking rugby's in Brisbane and Sydney in recent years, and soccer's profile becoming increasingly dominant over rugby's in Britain. Like it or not, a territory regime that relies on players kicking the ball out of bounds all the time is simply not going to cut it with today's youth who are sick of stop- start play and technical stoppages. They want spectacle and continuity, as well as strategic complexity. Soccer, and ultimately Aussie Rules in coming decades, will be their drug of choice.
Steve-O
Commercialisation penetrating yet another facet of life, soon enough other forms of entertainment (eg. video games) will go through what is going on here and become stale. It is such a shame to see that someone such as Luke McAlister's calibre show their faith back to the faith that the AB coaches had put into them. I'm sure Graham Henry would be ripping out what hair hasn't fallen off yet. This year's rugby to date was stale, like 4 month old potato chips it has lost its crunch.
Michael (Melbourne)
It might sound like luddite speaking but yes the game should change. Essentially we have a game now that has no real contest in either scrums or lineout or ruck and backlines with locks, props and hookers cluttering the preserve of the real entertainers. Scrums should be allowed to proceed with less technical interpretation of the rules and more application to making sure that the ball is fed in straight - after that it should be up to the players to make sure that they get clean ball - in other words it is the technique and strength that should rule, not the ref. Rucks - I am not a Kiwi but wouldn't be lovely to see the lost art of the driving raking of the ball on the deck rather than so called placement of the ball (playing of the ball on the ground in my eyes) and the call of the ref to other side to leave the ball alone. I am for forwards being committed to the forward battle and the backlines having clear space for their part of the contest. What we have at the moment is a cluttered (and second rate) version of League and I am losing interest.
Timmymcm
It is a fact that all professional sport is focused at either the individual player or club competition level. While as an ardent player supporter and administered in the amateur environment I can appreciate the views expressed by the likes of Graham Henry and Grant Fox over the loss of the old traditions and rivalries. However the basis of these traditions was the ethos of an "amateur game". In the amateur era the lament heard was with regard to players switching to Rugby League so in effect that problem is still the same: individuals will pursue their most rewarding opportunities. Graham Henry's own employment record is a little contradictory to his current position in that he saw no problem in taking employment in Wales and then selecting New Zealand players who had "followed the dollar" and gone to play in Europe. So in answer to all the angst, get used to it. The New Zealand economy cannot compete at the individual employment level for any profession, so why would rugby players be any different than Doctors or business leaders.
Sia Lemafa
Change is inevitable. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Contradicting principles but the two arguments that always come up when this issue raises it's sometimes ugly, but always necessary, head. For me, rugby "ain't broke" not completely anyway. But I'd like to see the "change is inevitable" principle applied to the rules of the game. I live in AFL mad Australia and they love their game because basically all you do is catch and kick. Ok there's a little running and jumping involved, and a fair bit of punching in back play too but that's essentially it in a nutshell. They use goal posts so big they're visible from space and no crossbar means no height requirement. The ball need only be kicked along the ground through the middle to count. They even have 2 more posts for a consolation point if you miss the "major" scoring posts. It's so simple even an Aust... well you get the picture. Unfortunately simplicity isn't even on the agenda every time rule changes are made. It's so bad now I see kiwi kids over here wanting to play soccer. Heck I've seen a few take up Aussie Rules! But who can blame them when the ref and coaches tell them "you can't do that" 20-25 times per half. I'm not saying dumb the game down. But in terms of its position on the world stage I believe Rugby Union should be a lot closer to Football than it is currently. Simplicity will not only strengthen the game at its highest level but improve its appeal at all levels around the world. Getting people interested and keeping them enthused starts with how it's played. I don't know if it's truly the game they play in heaven but I do know I'd like to see more of it watched and played here on earth.
LV
Henry is right rugby needs to change or it will go the way of the dinosaurs. For so long international rugby was the crown in the jewel of rugby. This has to change if rugby wants to be a commercially viable sport. The game has become a bore. The ball is only in play for 30mins in a 80 min game Is rugby as it is now an attractive commercially viable product? No.
Does anyone think Newscorp or any other large broadcaster will want to throw any more money at a product that has so many meaningless boring games. No. But lets be realistic, rugby will never be a major sport like football, basketball, tennis, ice hockey, baseball or golf because it just doesn't appeal to the majority of people world wide. The rules are too complicated, the ball is hardly ever seen, to many stoppages and no meaningful competition etc etc. Despite what the NZRFU, Sky commentators and the IRB tell people, rugby still is ,and will always be, a niche sport that globally appeals only to a small number of people.
Parkes (Mt Albert)
I agree with the comments on the ties between Rugby Union and pay television, and I would go further to point out the difference between attending (or attempting to attend, if you can get tickets) an All Blacks match and going to see the Warriors play on a Sunday afternoon. With the latter, tickets aren't astronomically priced and the games are played at a time that's more conducive to taking your children. I (very) much prefer Rugby Union over Rugby League, but more and more it seems to be becoming more of the "gentleman's game" it is in Europe, patronized only by the well-to-do. With the shift of young players to Soccer, will it be simply a generation before NZ can no longer compete in the professional game?
Ra[Tok]
It is the changes in the rules that are affecting the game of rugby. Referees have no chance because the rules are too complex! The game of rugby is simple, changes have made it less so. Philosophy, I teach young rugby players is forwards are there to win the ball for the Backs to score tries! Our rules should support this! Like scrums & lineouts, all 8 forwards must be involved. This will allow the backs the space to do there stuff, teams have huge forwards running at little guys in the backline from set play, so the tackle ball area becomes congested and overcrowded with bodies hard for referees to police! We also need referees with the skills for the job. Mr Pat Murphy was well into his 60s and still better than the lot we have today, he did not make knee jerk decisions and players responded positively! Why have a rule where teams can be penalised because someone is asking a question of the official? Refs need to harden up. We teach players to ignore comments from the sideline or opposition and concentrate on the game! Penalise them for high tackles, knock ons, forward passes, fighting, etc! Scrums team putting ball in must win ball (their reward other teams mistake).
Spence
Graham Henry is spot on. As a Bathonian originally who used to keenly follow rugby in England, it's sad to see the soul of the game gradually disappear by continual recruitment of overseas players. They should be developing their own talent with such a huge player base but the clubs rule unfortunately and they are clearly going the way of English football. One would have thought that a lesson could have been learnt from there with the English national team no more than a bunch of overpaid prima donnas now who can't compete on the big stage. To see that Butch James has just been signed by Bath is very uninspiring for me as a (past) fan. We are now at the stage where young guys from NZ are going over there so it's starting to have a detrimental effect on the game here in that the likes of McAlister, who could be great a All Black, are lost to the NZ game.
Tibsy (Aus)
The biggest impediment to the game in my view is that you have to subscribe to pay TV to see it. I have unsubscribed from pay TV because of generally lousy content (apart from Union) and now see very little Union on TV, and I am not alone. The game will die as people get fed up with having to pay to watch it on TV and now head to League and the ARL. It needs to get back to free to air TV.
Strifemit
I agree. The game has fantastic potential but lately it has been spoilt because coaches who attempt to play open rugby are stopped by coaches who use tactics to slow the game down. The same is happening in both rugby and league. The areas that frustrate me are: teams taking every opportunity to slow the game down not prevented by referees, the perpetual offside not penalised and bad decisions by the referee. It isn't always the referee's and linesmen's fault because the rules are extremely difficult to police accurately. This is proven when the man upstairs has difficulty making a decision and even then making questionable decisions.