It is barely 18 months since rugby coaches from New Zealand were in a three-way fight for global domination, with the bookies placing them just behind Mark Zuckerberg and slightly ahead of Huawei. Kiwis to the right of us, Kiwis to the left. You couldn’t walk the dog without bumping into one.
The country’s media was characteristically bullish about this silver ferned hegemony, throwing around numbers like confetti.
A third of the head coaches at the World Cup in Japan would be from the All Black nation, it reported with something approaching complete satisfaction, while the figure in Super Rugby had sailed past 50 percent.
As there was also a healthy presence in all three major European leagues – a Chris Boyd and a Pat Lam here, a Jono Gibbes and a Vern Cotter there, a Dave Rennie and a Kieran Crowley somewhere else – it was tempting to wonder if the New Zealanders were seeking a monopoly. If you can’t beat it, they appeared to have decided, colonize it.
Which was beyond satire. Prominent NZRFU figures attacked the professional model in Europe from the get-go – in so far as they ever warmed to the big club tournaments in England and France, it was only to the point of merely loathing them – yet they were perfectly comfortable with the idea of prize assets heading for the northern hemisphere badlands in search of self-improvement.
Denne historien er fra July 05, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 05, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
