For once, World Rugby is absolutely correct.
And I could say it twice.
The game - the overall game of rugby union is in very good health. Or whatever version of it that they put out in the press release after the recent shape of the game.
Any die-hard rugby fan will find it hard to disagree.
Yes, we can bicker about small things, and whether law changes make the game better. The honest answer is simple: Some do, others just miss the mark.
Again, you never know if you don’t try, I suppose and for that they are forgiven.
Yet overall, the game is in stupendous health at the moment. The Rugby Championship last season was, despite the Springboks’ dominance, the most competitive in years.
Australia won at Ellis Park, stunning us all. The Boks blew the All Blacks away in Wellington. There were immense performances by Argentina and overall it was a great tournament.
SIX NATIONS IS EXCEPTIONAL DRAMA
The current Six Nations is exceptional as well. From England’s “marching to Paris for the Grand Slam” folly to France’s capitulation at Murrayfield. Wales are standing up from the ashes and Ireland could win the tournament despite being written off after week one.
The storylines and the drama have been exceptional, and no scriptwriter could do better. England were the best in the world, their press said, and now they’re wondering what went wrong. Italy has become exceptional - although not to those of us who were watching over the past few seasons.
Tomas Menoncello and Ignatio Brex are arguably the two on form midfielders in the world right now, and have been in good form for some time. With Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane they have strike power and to think they haven’t even used Ange Capuozzo much because of injury/
Italy has two victories in the current tournament and if they beat Wales could end up having their most successful run. They certainly aren’t an easy opening game for the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup next year.
ALL TOURNAMENTS HAVE A UNIQUE VALUE
For all the endless mindless debate about rugby’s powerhouses, each has their value. The Vodacom United Rugby Championship may be a bit disjointed without a global season to see it right, but it is close to test rugby. South Africa’s entry into it has made the other countries’ stronger and more resilient.
We were always a bit flippant when South Africa was in Super Rugby that the north was a bit different. But anyone following the URC closely will know what a powerhouse competition it is, and how innovative some of the northern hemisphere sides have been. Add the travel factor and the differing locations and weather and it certainly isn’t an easy competition.
Super Rugby has its own allure. The basketball rugby style isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it suits the Antipodes quite well. The games are entertaining, if a bit insular, but as a competition it has a lot of value. Knowing how much value is put on afternoon games returning in New Zealand, it certainly is a good thing.
RUGBY IS THRIVING
The point is, rugby is thriving at some levels, and constant tinkering with the game is not necessary. The ball in play is more than it has ever been (not that this is a judge of quality, despite some assertions), there are more tries being scored and teams are more innovative than ever.
The constant battle against depowering the scrum seems to have been won, until after the World Cup at least. South Africa and France bandied together to ensure that and we will forever be thankful.
Where rugby does need work is at other levels. We wait to see the impact of the Nations Championship and its unintended consequences, but beyond that, World Rugby needs to give attention to other parts of the game.
While the scrum gets attention, ringfencing test rugby for the elite won’t help and what becomes of nations like Portugal, Spain, Georgia and virtually the whole of South America.
Hopefully World Rugby doesn’t make the same mistakes that Fifa have in America, but that waits to be seen. The constant clamouring to break through in the States continues to struggle and eat up resources that could grow the game globally.
MINNOWS NEED MORE SUPPORT
Rugby’s showpiece next year has so many new nations competing in an expanded format that unless there is a deliberate effort to give them game time against bigger nations, World Rugby will find themselves embarrassed by one-sided scorelines and a pool format that is hardly worth watching in terms of competitiveness.
The Sevens Series - despite the Blitzboks success - is a shadow of its former self, having been corporate-slimlined into submission, and has removed all the colour and flair that made it special.
Safety and the laws around head contact remain a concern, including the increasing inconsistency that we see it being implemented around the world.
Nobody wants injuries, but the difference between rugby incidents and card-worthy incidents is still a very grey area. And the TMO often is either totally absent or the overbearing overlord that interferes too much in micro-managing the game.
World Rugby will never get it perfect, we know that. But if the game is to remain healthy and the one we love, it needs intervention outside the elite game.
And we need to stop tinkering with every law every season. It confuses players, fans, coaches and is often reffed inconsistently.
They have said the game is in a good space.
For once, let’s leave it there and enjoy it for what it is.