Game plagued by image crisis

[travelling_gerry]

Darren Walton
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Wallabies coach John Connolly believes Australian rugby has an image problem and says John O'Neill is the man to set things right.

The Wallabies are officially ranked No. 2 in the world, behind only the all-conquering All Blacks.
Australia had 10 wins, a draw and five losses in 16 Tests under Connolly's 18-month rule heading into the Tri Nations clash with South Africa in Cape Town overnight.

Three of their defeats were against New Zealand and the others were against South Africa and Ireland. But only the most loyal Wallabies fans give Australia a hope of landing a third World Cup this year.
"We've had some bad publicity for one reason or another," Connolly said.


"Not just the Wallabies, but rugby in general, and I think unfairly at times.

"Perception is a thing. We've had [people from] a couple of quarters, for whatever reason, knocking the game as a game and that's disappointing."

Connolly said that since the November tour, the Wallabies have had seven games, of which they've won five, drawn one and lost one.

"Australia at the World Cup in soccer won one, drew one and lost two," he said. "So perception is an important thing, there's no doubt.

"[Outgoing chief executive] Gary Flowers has come under some pressure. He's had nothing to do with NSW and Queensland but because those [Super 14] teams are losing, the perception is that rugby is not travelling very well. But I've said all along that when we get our best team together, Australia will perform well and compete with the best of them.

"We've a couple of quarters in the press that are very pro-rugby league and are quite happy to attack rugby, and I'm sure John O'Neill will seize that and we'll get on the front foot."
O'Neill officially replaces Flowers as ARU boss at the end of this month.

Meanwhile, former Queensland forward Brent Cockbain has refused to give up on his World Cup dream despite being axed from the Welsh 41-man training squad.

"In no way is this the final curtain," the Australian-born Cockbain said.
"I'm still a good player with a lot of confidence in my ability. I'll be back training with the Ospreys soon, I'll be working hard and who knows?

"Maybe there'll be one or two players not included in this squad who may yet make the final 30."

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/ar...414611548.html

[frontrow]

I don't necessarily feel rugby has an image problem, i think rugby has a management problem, which will hopefully be solved by O'neill...
It also doesn't help having selectors and coach's of the national team saying one thing and doing another, ie picking on form?????......and blatently, pig headedly sticking to an obviously flawed experiment with the team...

[.X.]

Maybe players such as Baxter have an image problem - he obviously is a much better player then the majority of members of this forum give him credit.

Perhaps Henjak's non-selection is a result of image as well.

This would explain a lot

[frontrow]

Baxter has an image problem, and a rugby problem, specifically a scrumming problem...Learn to prop and maybe the criticism will cease...

[GIGS20]

John Connelly has an image problem, he clearly has an image of himself as an urbane, insightful man with a brilliant plan for the salvation of the Wallabies' world cup. It appears no-one else in Australia can see that

[hopep]

Australian rugby has a good image, apart from underperforming.
Australia are not ranked number 2.
Connoly is looking to someone else to fix up 'perceptions' that he had a role in developing.
The only Wallaby wins on Connoly's watch have been against 2nd or 3rd teir nations or understrength teams.
O'Neil can fix any problem by finding a Coach for the national team.

[Burgs]

Maybe the heading should read:
Wallabies have an All Black and Springbok Problem"....