Rugby League has taken over says Campese
The Rugby Paper|August 20, 2023
AUSTRALIA legend David Campese is concerned that rugby union is starting to mimic traditional rugby league and is a poorer sport as a result.
NICK POWELL
Rugby League has taken over says Campese

The 1991 World Cup winner, who won 101 caps and retired as the leading try scorer in Test rugby with 64, feels the game’s adopting of rugby league laws, former RL players as coaches and a focus on defence is making union appear like its sister sport.

“We’ve got rugby league laws in our game, but rugby league don’t care about us,” Campese said, on The Rugby Paper podcast.

“You’ve got Andy Farrell, an ex-rugby league player, who’s made Ireland all about defence. When they beat the All Blacks last year in New Zealand, they did not commit one player to a defensive ruck. So with four All Blacks on the ground it’s 15 vs 11.

“The game is very simple these days but it’s all about defence, it’s not about attack. Unfortunately the game my era used to play is a distant memory.”

Campese feels the sports have swapped in their priorities, with league becoming the more offensively-tuned game.

He believes that people on the wing, in the position he played, are being deprived of opportunities.

Esta historia es de la edición August 20, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición August 20, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE RUGBY PAPERVer todo
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
The Rugby Paper

Four-try David calls the shots for Bears

MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
The Rugby Paper

Scott-Young keen to follow his father

TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
When value for money is not part of the deal
The Rugby Paper

When value for money is not part of the deal

ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
The Rugby Paper

'I want to prove my worth to Bath'

OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Townsend: We'll have to be at our very best
The Rugby Paper

Townsend: We'll have to be at our very best

GREGOR Townsend may have several wins over South Africa on his CV as a player, and one as an assistant coach.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Gatland's a facing big day at the office
The Rugby Paper

Gatland's a facing big day at the office

WARREN Gatland has known plenty of huge fixtures during his coaching Grand Slam career games, Six Nations title-clinchers, Lions series deciders and World Cup semi-finals, plus European and Premiership finals.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Ireland all at sea as McKenzie pulls the strings
The Rugby Paper

Ireland all at sea as McKenzie pulls the strings

SOME games live up to their billing and others don’t. This fits firmly into the second territory with a subdued Ireland falling a long way short of their world No.1 status while New Zealand, you sense, were often struggling to engage top gear themselves for long periods of the match.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
More heartache for England as Aussies steal it at  the death third attempt the odds
The Rugby Paper

More heartache for England as Aussies steal it at the death third attempt the odds

THE Wallabies had the last waltz in a match of extraordinary ebb-and-flow drama at the Old Cabbage Patch, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with an audacious, blistering injury time try by winger Max Jorgensen.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Cunningham-South gunning for Boks
The Rugby Paper

Cunningham-South gunning for Boks

CHANDLER Cunningham-South is aiming to be a big hit against the Springboks on Saturday after adding New Zealand to his highlights reel.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Baxter backing Slade to adapt to changes
The Rugby Paper

Baxter backing Slade to adapt to changes

EXETER are confident that the decision to change their defensive system will not jeopardise Henry Slade's place in the England side.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024