IRB bullies?

[jawmalawm24]

First they give Alesana Tuilagi a $10,000 fine, than they think they own the airspace in Wellington telling people not to fly over the stadium and now they're telling us we don't need the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup. What Next??

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/wo...64/all-blacks-receive-blunt-message-from-irb/

 

[Deadmonton]

Tuilagi thing was stupid, airspace thing is also stupid, but they really don't need the All Blacks, or for that matter, any team.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

it's the first time i've seen a shift in attitude toward the irb during a world cup, has it ever happened before.

it seems like players, teams and fans are fed up with a few things but is everyone really turning their back on the irb?

i can see some issues with sponsorship and also the structure of the world cup as well as the rules of the game (yet again), do you think the irb will listen and overhaul a few things completely? or will it be same old same old until something/someone cracks?

it seems as if the world cup needs to be split into 2 or 3 groups based on each teams ability and some sort of finals structure which allows which allows the lesser teams to feel a sense of achievement instead of their achievements being that they lost by less than 100 points this time.

 

[UilamOsa]

it's the first time i've seen a shift in attitude toward the irb during a world cup, has it ever happened before.

it seems like players, teams and fans are fed up with a few things but is everyone really turning their back on the irb?

i can see some issues with sponsorship and also the structure of the world cup as well as the rules of the game (yet again), do you think the irb will listen and overhaul a few things completely? or will it be same old same old until something/someone cracks?

it seems as if the world cup needs to be split into 2 or 3 groups based on each teams ability and some sort of finals structure which allows which allows the lesser teams to feel a sense of achievement instead of their achievements being that they lost by less than 100 points this time.

Do you honestly think that any team that participated in this world cup or any before that were absolutely hammered wouldn't still want to come to a world cup? What if Australia were relegated to a lesser pool for the Soccer World Cup?

It's fine the way it is, how else do they know what playing the best of the best is like?

The IRB is just ensconced in their old world way of doing things, it's likely to change gradually (not fast enough for most) and hopefully with the allowing of non RWC sponsorship deals going through, other teams may have legitimate source of income to utilise.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Siva Tau]

Well status quo has been maintained so they will be tickled pink.

The Rugby World Cup without the All Blacks would be like The Football World Cup without Brazil.

I wouldnt be at all surprised if a breakaway group was mooted. May not get off the ground but a forward thinker like John O'Neill is what rugby needs globally.

 

[monkeypigeon]

In fairness, the 'Allblacks are replaceable' quote was some jornalist looking for a eye-catching headline. Much more than hat was said

Planetrugby gave a more comprehensive report about what was said http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7220816,00.html .

He makes some interesting points and from what's been said it looks like they will be reviewing the finances post-world cup (which Tew already knew.... hmmm) and they seem to have acknowledged that the scheduling is unfair and will try to make it better next year.

Saying the Allblacks are replaceable seems a bit of a strange move though, all it was going to do was draw attention away from the positives mentioned.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

i get what you are saying mate, it's a difficult situation for a great team like samoa who would possibly be put into a lower group when they can give the top 4 teams a good run.
maybe splitting the comp up completely is not the answer but maybe putting all the same tier teams into pools together and having the winner from the pools go through to the next level. it would put more emphasis on winning pool games.

i don't know to be honest, it would be a far too complex structure to work out now

 

[William18]

Honestly, the IRB don't need the All Blacks in the world cup. The world cup would probably still make the same level of profit if the All Blacks were there or not. The cup would not be the same without us there but I would not like to see a world cup without England either, for instance.

 

[ranger]

Interesting choice of words.
Not "We can do it without them." , but "No one is irreplaceable"

Instead of just carrying on with no NZ team, perhaps he has it in the back of his mind that he could gather up all the non NZRU contracted Kiwis and turn them into a sanctioned side run by the IRB especially for the tournament. (Evans, Hayman, Howlett and the like)

 

[Black Heart]

I'm not too worried about the whole All Blacks sentiment. All the NZRU needs to do is hold their ground. They've already got the support from the ARU and after that I wouldn't be surprised if South Africa made a case as well. Let's see the IRB hold a 'World Cup' with the three Southern Hemisphere giants threatening a boycott.

 

[ranger]

I'm not too worried about the whole All Blacks sentiment. All the NZRU needs to do is hold their ground. They've already got the support from the ARU and after that I wouldn't be surprised if South Africa made a case as well. Let's see the IRB hold a 'World Cup' with the three Southern Hemisphere giants threatening a boycott.

Argentina would have to follow suit to not fall out of favour with their new 4 nation parters. Tonga and Samoa are already offside with the IRB and would probably sway toward the NZ union that has been pushing their dual nationality case and providing training assistance this whole time. Fiji could possibly be persuaded but i doubt it.

Whats left? They may as well give the Webb ellis to the six nations winner.

 

[Black Heart]

Argentina would have to follow suit to not fall out of favour with their new 4 nation parters. Tonga and Samoa are already offside with the IRB and would probably sway toward the NZ union that has been pushing their dual nationality case and providing training assistance this whole time. Fiji could possibly be persuaded but i doubt it.

Whats left? They may as well give the Webb ellis to the six nations winner.

The prospect actually sounds quite intriguing.

If it were the case we can boycott all matches with the NH sides altogether and instead we can have extended Super 15 and Four Nations tounaments. On top of that we can develop the Pacific Islands by organising more frequent tests with them. Screw the EOY tours, they're a waste of time anyway.

Pretty soon the IRB will be begging us to let them join in on the fun. If not, stuff it, they can keep old Bill.

Talk about turning lemons into lemonade

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

Interesting choice of words.
Not "We can do it without them." , but "No one is irreplaceable"

Instead of just carrying on with no NZ team, perhaps he has it in the back of his mind that he could gather up all the non NZRU contracted Kiwis and turn them into a sanctioned side run by the IRB especially for the tournament. (Evans, Hayman, Howlett and the like)

I know there are a lot of kiwi players who went overseas for big club dollars, but I seriously, hugely doubt many of them would stab the AB's in the back for a 6 week tournament and play for a IRB constructed New Zealand side.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Well status quo has been maintained so they will be tickled pink.

The Rugby World Cup without the All Blacks would be like The Football World Cup without Brazil.

I wouldnt be at all surprised if a breakaway group was mooted. May not get off the ground but a forward thinker like John O'Neill is what rugby needs globally.

God, please no. Just no.

 

[ranger]

I know there are a lot of kiwi players who went overseas for big club dollars, but I seriously, hugely doubt many of them would stab the AB's in the back for a 6 week tournament and play for a IRB constructed New Zealand side.

I think with enough monitary persuasion they could get enough players to put a squad together, even if they cant lure many superstars.
We could be looking at a side like:

1)Campbell Johnstone
2)Scott Linklater
3)Karena Wihongi
4)Mike Tewhata
5)Troy Flavell
6)Edwin Cocker
7)Kristian Ormsby
8)Sione Lauaki
9)Tyson Keats
10)Cameron McIntire
11)Afaleke Pelenise
12)Dan Bowden
13)Regan King
14)Sosene Anesi
15)Orene Ai'i

If league managed to snag Ridge, Innes and Botica even though it banished them from Rugby union indefinitely, i cant see why the IRB wouldnt be able to turn a few unwanted/frustrated/really old ex NZ reps

 

[Black Heart]

I think with enough monitary persuasion they could get enough players to put a squad together, even if they cant lure many superstars.
We could be looking at a side like:

1)Campbell Johnstone
2)Scott Linklater
3)Karena Wihongi
4)Mike Tewhata
5)Troy Flavell
6)Edwin Cocker
7)Kristian Ormsby
8)Sione Lauaki
9)Tyson Keats
10)Cameron McIntire
11)Afaleke Pelenise
12)Dan Bowden
13)Regan King
14)Sosene Anesi
15)Orene Ai'i

If league managed to snag Ridge, Innes and Botica even though it banished them from Rugby union indefinitely, i cant see why the IRB wouldnt be able to turn a few unwanted/frustrated/really old ex NZ reps

That side looks miserable. Good luck to the IRB.

 

[donmcdazzle]

I think with enough monitary persuasion they could get enough players to put a squad together, even if they cant lure many superstars.
We could be looking at a side like:

1)Campbell Johnstone
2)Scott Linklater
3)Karena Wihongi
4)Mike Tewhata
5)Troy Flavell
6)Edwin Cocker
7)Kristian Ormsby
8)Sione Lauaki
9)Tyson Keats
10)Cameron McIntire
11)Afaleke Pelenise
12)Dan Bowden
13)Regan King
14)Sosene Anesi
15)Orene Ai'i

If league managed to snag Ridge, Innes and Botica even though it banished them from Rugby union indefinitely, i cant see why the IRB wouldnt be able to turn a few unwanted/frustrated/really old ex NZ reps

That is one shithouse team alright.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

I think with enough monitary persuasion they could get enough players to put a squad together, even if they cant lure many superstars.
We could be looking at a side like:

1)Campbell Johnstone
2)Scott Linklater
3)Karena Wihongi
4)Mike Tewhata
5)Troy Flavell
6)Edwin Cocker
7)Kristian Ormsby
8)Sione Lauaki
9)Tyson Keats
10)Cameron McIntire
11)Afaleke Pelenise
12)Dan Bowden
13)Regan King
14)Sosene Anesi
15)Orene Ai'i

If league managed to snag Ridge, Innes and Botica even though it banished them from Rugby union indefinitely, i cant see why the IRB wouldnt be able to turn a few unwanted/frustrated/really old ex NZ reps

Honestly, I think there are things people will do for money and things they'll do for extra money and for most of those players it'd just be extra money. It's not like turning your back on the NZRFU and the All Blacks for a contract with a club. That just takes you alone away from the All Blacks, it's not helping produce an artificial New Zealand team. It'd be like taking a big steaming, fine effort all over the AB's jersey by these fellow New Zealanders. Not sure how many of those guys (especially when I'm sure they aren't broke), would do that.

 

[ranger]

With the massive, massive amount of NZ players overseas, there will be 30 guys willing to. I guarantee.

Even if the team is complete shithouse. I mean its not like the IRB would want an NZ team to win the thing. Put a bunch of mugs in a black jersey and most fairweather fans won't know the difference.

 

[DallyM]

We managed without the Springboks in '87/'91. the world cup won't fail if the ABs don't appear