Can NZ get some revenge for last week? Will Australia show up and get their act together?
this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2024
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No I think you have to make changes immediately, for NZ, losing to Australia this year is losing to a 10th ranked team and that is unacceptable.
The reality NZ faces is that the game at the lower levels is hollowed out economically and basically a drag on NZR as a whole; this has led to NZR focusing more & more on the top end. That has coincided with a major push into elite rugby schools which in the long run is reducing our player pool. Basically if you don't get into one of the top 20 or so schools on a rugby scholarship you won't get into an academy and won't get a pro contract.
So we're now relying on a smaller group of academy prospects who're identified when they're 16 to somehow become international quality players by competing against each other in the Super Rugby reserves competition and/or competing against ever weakening Australian teams. Its an NZR problem as much as an ABs coach problem.