The writing's on the wall. The fat lady has sung. The votes are in. That's the ball game. They think it's all over. It is.
Time for the Wallabies to stop sipping the cool aid and enter the room of mirrors. They're simply not good enough. It's white flag-waving time and time to lower the bar of expectation.
Australia needs to take their place on the second, or maybe third or fourth, rung of Rugby nations, because that's the only way to stop the rot.
So here's the plan...
Eastern Europe or Bust
It all starts on Saturday against Argentina. The Pumas are ranked 10th in the world and go into the match against the Wallabies as favourites (OK, so the odds aren't out yet but if the Wallabies are installed as favourites then put your house on it*).
So win, lose or draw, the Wallabies are at best 10th in the world. That's a good place to start Australia's resurgence. There's a European tour coming up in November, and Italy, Georgia, Romania, Russia and Spain sit between 11th and 20th. Given Australia's current form, all of them could give the Aussies a run for their money, and if they don't, then Australia might be a chance of scoring four tries in a match for the first time since the last World Cup against Russia coincidentally.
A win is a win and it's all about momentum, something the Wallabies might be able to find in Eastern Europe.
The Pacific Nations Cup
The Rugby Championship is a tired concept well past its used by date. Sure, it might only be 2 years old, but that's been enough for Australia to trash its credibility.
So time to look local. Japan, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Canada and the USA lie in wait for an Australian team brimming with confidence after a successful tour of Europe that brought about a couple of ugly but deserved wins. The expat Islander, North American and Asian populations of Australia embrace the Wallabies, down their books and hamburgers and sign up to their local club.
Not Quite Super Rugby
Already Super rugby is facing some big changes in 2016 when the current broadcasting deal expires. Talk of a two conference system, with Australia and New Zealand going it alone won't cut it. Australia needs its own conference, indeed it needs its own competition.
And none of this finals nonsense. The winner of the Australian competition is the winner and that's the end of it. Have a top 4 out of 5 teams and (almost) everyone can come out feeling successful, a vibe that will become infectious come Wallaby time.
Embrace Your Enemy
Time to admit it. The war is lost. Rugby League and Aussie Rules are bigger, brassier and watched by more Australian eyeballs. The Rebels can fall at the feet of the Storm, rename themselves and play matches as pre-match entertainment. Rugby fans can leave afterwards, League fans might see something they like, Rugby in Melbourne will be handed a grubby lifeline.
Ditto the Force and the Dockers, The Brumbies and the Raiders, the Reds and the Broncos. The only exception is the Waratahs who should embrace the inevitable, change their colours to blue and yellow stripes and rename themselves as Sydney University. It won't make much difference to the playing roster and the crowds at University Oval No. 1 are almost on a par with those at the SFS so there's nothing to lose.
*The Rolling Maul supports responsible gambling, tips from guys you meet in pubs, and never backing anything with legs.
Time for the Wallabies to stop sipping the cool aid and enter the room of mirrors. They're simply not good enough. It's white flag-waving time and time to lower the bar of expectation.
Australia needs to take their place on the second, or maybe third or fourth, rung of Rugby nations, because that's the only way to stop the rot.
So here's the plan...
Eastern Europe or Bust
It all starts on Saturday against Argentina. The Pumas are ranked 10th in the world and go into the match against the Wallabies as favourites (OK, so the odds aren't out yet but if the Wallabies are installed as favourites then put your house on it*).
So win, lose or draw, the Wallabies are at best 10th in the world. That's a good place to start Australia's resurgence. There's a European tour coming up in November, and Italy, Georgia, Romania, Russia and Spain sit between 11th and 20th. Given Australia's current form, all of them could give the Aussies a run for their money, and if they don't, then Australia might be a chance of scoring four tries in a match for the first time since the last World Cup against Russia coincidentally.
A win is a win and it's all about momentum, something the Wallabies might be able to find in Eastern Europe.
The Pacific Nations Cup
The Rugby Championship is a tired concept well past its used by date. Sure, it might only be 2 years old, but that's been enough for Australia to trash its credibility.
So time to look local. Japan, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Canada and the USA lie in wait for an Australian team brimming with confidence after a successful tour of Europe that brought about a couple of ugly but deserved wins. The expat Islander, North American and Asian populations of Australia embrace the Wallabies, down their books and hamburgers and sign up to their local club.
Not Quite Super Rugby
Already Super rugby is facing some big changes in 2016 when the current broadcasting deal expires. Talk of a two conference system, with Australia and New Zealand going it alone won't cut it. Australia needs its own conference, indeed it needs its own competition.
And none of this finals nonsense. The winner of the Australian competition is the winner and that's the end of it. Have a top 4 out of 5 teams and (almost) everyone can come out feeling successful, a vibe that will become infectious come Wallaby time.
Embrace Your Enemy
Time to admit it. The war is lost. Rugby League and Aussie Rules are bigger, brassier and watched by more Australian eyeballs. The Rebels can fall at the feet of the Storm, rename themselves and play matches as pre-match entertainment. Rugby fans can leave afterwards, League fans might see something they like, Rugby in Melbourne will be handed a grubby lifeline.
Ditto the Force and the Dockers, The Brumbies and the Raiders, the Reds and the Broncos. The only exception is the Waratahs who should embrace the inevitable, change their colours to blue and yellow stripes and rename themselves as Sydney University. It won't make much difference to the playing roster and the crowds at University Oval No. 1 are almost on a par with those at the SFS so there's nothing to lose.
*The Rolling Maul supports responsible gambling, tips from guys you meet in pubs, and never backing anything with legs.
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