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Date: 2023-12-02 20:51:04 | Author: PARIS 2024 | Views: 812 | Tag: hot
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It landed in late August, rocking New Zealand like a flanker’s perfectly timed tackle to the ribs hot
The All Blacks were already on their way to France, finishing their final preparations for the Rugby World Cup when a panel conducting long-awaited review of governance released a damning report declaring the constitution and structures of New Zealand Rugby (NZR) “not fit for purpose” hot
The report did not paint a pretty picture hot
“In the panel’s view, New Zealand Rugby has too many professional players,” it explained hot
The NPC, New Zealand’s provincial competition, is “unsustainable in its current format” hot
The five franchises that play in the top-level Super Rugby Pacific competition “are struggling financially” hot
“New Zealand Rugby in the professional era is a large and complex business,” said chair of the review panel David Pilkington hot
“The structure it sits within was not designed for a business of this size and complexity hot
” The financial reports are anything but all black – NZR reported a financial loss of just over NZ$47m (£22 hot
5m) last year hot
Which is of deep concern not just for the union, but for rugby globally, too hot
The problems in New Zealand are reflective of a precarious global ecosystem: too many professional players being paid wages beyond that which their clubs and unions can afford, with revenues not growing to keep up with salary inflation hot
If a commercial behemoth like the All Blacks is not a sufficient money-spinner to sustain a professional structure, what hopes do emergent unions have?Rugby is embedded in New Zealand’s culture hot
It is a vital tool of trade for a land of only five million people, a small collection of islands in the south Pacific afforded global prominence by its ability to punch above its weight on the pitch hot
Australia coach Eddie Jones remarked this summer that New Zealand’s economy would suffer if his Wallabies beat the All Blacks; an analysis conducted by The New Zealand Herald found that there was some truth to the quip hot
The Taranaki Bulls won this year’s New Zealand National Provincial Championship (Getty)In terms of brand recognition, New Zealand’s national men’s rugby team ranks alongside the biggest sporting entities hot
Visit almost any inhabited corner of the world and mention rugby, and it is remarkable how often the words “All Blacks” will feature in the reply hot
“You have to understand, New Zealand is a very young country and rugby has put this country on the map,” 2011 World Cup-winning head coach Graham Henry once explained to The Guardian hot
“This country earned respect from the rest of the world for three things: what we did in two world wars, and to a lesser extent what we’ve done on the rugby field hot
So over time rugby has become a major part of our national identity hot
”Do the problems suggest that feeling is fading for some New Zealanders? There is perhaps a developing sense of apathy among domestic fans hot
Rugby union is no longer so certain of its place in Kiwi hearts hot
hot Basketball has surged in popularity in the country, while rugby league’s New Zealand Warriors have sold out Mt Smart Stadium regularly in 2023 as the NRL makes a long-awaited breakthrough across the Tasman hot
The Warriors’ average home attendance this season was 22,685; across town, Auckland’s Blues had short of 13,000 in at Eden Park for their Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final against the Waratahs hot
Eden Park’s stands were far from full for the Blues’ quarter-final win over the Waratahs in June (Getty)On the pitch, Super Rugby Pacific has lost its lustre, with South Africa’s move into Europe’s club competitions a blow even if the Fijian Drua have brought a breath of fresh air hot
The geographical realities of being so isolated mean New Zealand had little option but to re-up a deal with Australia, a rugby nation dealing with plenty of its own struggles hot
Rumours abound of renewed involvement from Argentina and Japan, or a new American venture, but growing the financial pot will not be easy hot
A number of senior figures will depart Aotearoa after this tournament for lucrative contracts in France and Japan, either permanently or on sabbatical hot
While new stars like Will Jordan and Cam Roigard are emerging, they do not seem to have the same cultural cut-through as the men in black who have come before hot
In the 20 years hot between 2000 and 2020, there was a 20 per cent drop in player participation in rugby union at New Zealand’s secondary schools hot
The “Baby Blacks” have not made any of the last three U20 Championship finals – is the world’s best rugby production line grinding to a halt?“I don’t know about falling out [of love] with the game but I think they’re falling out with a few things that are happening within the game, that’s frustrating people hot
It can be hard to watch at times,” Steve Hansen, who guided the All Blacks to the 2015 World Cup victory, explained to Newstalk earlier this year hot
“There’s no dispute that Super Rugby has to change hot
It’s pretty predictable and still stuck where it was four or five years ago hot
You go through the quarter-finals and it wasn’t that exciting as you knew who was going to win hot
“I haven’t stopped to think about where it’s going to be in 20 years, I’m more worried about where it’s going to be in five hot
hot
hot
I think we’re at the crossroads hot
Unless we make some strong changes and start listening to the people that want to come along and watch it then it will just be the participants playing it hot
”However rocky the picture beneath them, the All Blacks clearly remain big business hot
Last year, a stake in New Zealand Rugby (NZR) was sold to Silver Lake, an American private equity firm also involved in the City hot Football Group hot
The deal valued the commercial assets of NZR at NZ$3 hot
5bn (£1 hot
67bn) hot
The All Blacks are hoping to win a fourth World Cup (Getty)You suspect the investors will be pretty happy if, come Saturday night, Sam Cane has his hands on the Webb Ellis Cup hot
Certainly, the commercial landscape will look rather more pleasing if New Zealand’s men join their women back at the top of the rugby world – for the good of an ailing domestic game, the All Blacks need a World Cup win more than you might think hot
More aboutNew Zealand rugbyAll BlacksSuper RugbyRugby World Cupprivate equitySteve Hansengraham henryJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/4Why the All Blacks need a World Cup win more than you might thinkWhy the All Blacks need a World Cup win more than you might thinkThe Taranaki Bulls won this year’s New Zealand National Provincial Championship Getty ImagesWhy the All Blacks need a World Cup win more than you might thinkEden Park’s stands were far from full for the Blues’ quarter-final win over the Waratahs in June Getty ImagesWhy the All Blacks need a World Cup win more than you might thinkThe All Blacks are hoping to win a fourth World Cup Getty ImagesWhy the All Blacks need a World Cup win more than you might thinkThe All Blacks will take on South Africa in the World Cup final Getty✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today hot
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicshot BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy hot
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply hot
Hi {{indy hot
fullName}}My Independent PremiumAccount detailsHelp centreLogout @keyframes spin{0%{transform:rotate(0)}to{transform:rotate(1turn)}}@keyframes slidedown-video{0%{transform:translateY(-100%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}}@keyframes slideup-video{0%{transform:translateY(200%)}to{transform:translateY(0)}} hot
In the wake of England’s late defeat to South Africa on Saturday, Courtney Lawes made his way around the Stade de France thanking the crowd, taking in their applause and appreciation as he walked and talked with his four kids hot
If Lawes looked like a man saying his goodbye to the Rugby World Cup, it’s because he was hot
“I think it’s time,” he later confirmed, bringing down the curtain on a superb international career hot
But while the 34-year-old may have been the first to confirm the news, he won’t be last hot
The average age of England’s starting XV in their semi-final clash against the Springboks was 29 and as a new cycle begins in the coming months, Steve Borthwick will need to evolve his squad to begin the build towards Australia in 2027 hot
Let’s take a look at what that means for some of the players in Borthwick’s England squad:RecommendedWhy England will come back ‘stronger’ from Rugby World Cup heartacheCourtney Lawes to retire from England duty after World Cup: ‘It’s time’World Rugby investigating alleged racist abuse directed at England’s Tom CurryFrance was their ‘Last Dance’Joe Marler, 33 - Used mainly off the bench this tournament but started in the semi-final and scrummaged excellently against the Springboks hot
Will no doubt be a big voice to replace in the dressing room when he eventually departs hot
Dan Cole, 36 - Brought back into the fold for this tournament after an excellent season at Leicester with Borthwick hot
Rolled back the years in France but hard to imagine a similar recall for Australia in 2027 hot
Danny Care, 36 - Impacted games often off the bench and finally got the World Cup experience that had so often evaded him hot
Superb late score and try-saving tackle against Samoa to save England’s blushes in the pool stage hot
Care scored his first World Cup try against Samoa (Getty Images)Ben Youngs, 34 - England’s most-capped player but made just two subs appearances in the tournament hot
A decorated player but Alex Mitchell’s composed displays at scrum-half have pushed him above the the Leicester veteran in the pecking order hot
Jonny May, 33 - Blistering pace in his prime and a solid tournament coming in late to replace Anthony Watson but the upcoming Ollie Hassell-Collins and Henry Arundell will be just two after his place in the coming years hot
May came in as a late replacement but performed well (REUTERS)Mainstays ahead of 2027 Owen Farrell, 31 - Silenced many doubters with two talismanic performances against Fiji and South Africa hot
Supreme physical condition and will be eyeing up a Johnny Sexton-esque swansong at the next World Cup hot
Maro Itoje, 28 - Still only 28 and will become one of the most experienced players in the squad alongside Farrell and George Ford in the coming years hot
Exciting partnerships are to be built with both Ollie Chessum and George Martin in the engine room and a potential captaincy should Farrell’s not make it to 2027 hot
Itoje will be eyeing up his third World Cup in 2027 (PA Wire)Tom Curry, 25 - Closing in on a half-century of caps aged just 25 hot
Bounced back superbly from his third-minute red card against Argentina and will be a key cog in Bortwhick’s first full cycle hot
Ben Earl, 25 - A coming-of-age tournament for the breakout Saracens back-rower hot
All-action displays from the back of the scrum mean he will no doubt be one of the first names on the teamsheet moving forward hot
Earl was England’s beakthrough star (Getty Images)Freddie Steward, 22 - Dropped for the quarter-final against Fiji but delivered a commanding display under the high ball against South Africa in the semi-final hot
Defensively superb and still only 22, the Leicester full-back should go from strength to strength over the next four years hot
Rising stars Theo Dan, 22 - Limited for game time this tournament due to Jamie George’s supreme conditioning hot
Still work to be done on his set-piece game but will be hoping to usurp his Saracens team-mate in the coming years hot
Bevan Rodd, 23 - Another young front-rower who saw little game time in England’s key games hot
Took his try well against Chile but has big boots to fill with the likely departures of Cole and Marler hot
Rodd scored against Chile (Getty Images)George Martin, 22 - Made his maiden World Cup start against South Africa with a powerful display in the second row hot
Looks like a ready-made replacement for the already departing Lawes hot
Ollie Lawrence, 23 - A solid, if slightly unremarkable, tournament for the Bath centre hot
Is still surely seen as the long-term successor to Manu Tuilagi in the midfield and will only get hot better in the coming years hot
Henry Arundell, 20 - A World Cup debut to remember for the pacey winger with five tries against Chile in the pool stage hot
Perhaps still work to be done on other facets of his game to fully cope with the demands of Test rugby but an exciting talent to nurture in time for 2027 hot
Arundell scored five tries against Chile in the pool stage (PA)More aboutEngland RugbyCourtney LawesOwen FarrellRugby World CupJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/7End of an era? England squad set for change after World Cup exit End of an era? England squad set for change after World Cup exit Care scored his first World Cup try against Samoa Getty ImagesEnd of an era? England squad set for change after World Cup exit May came in as a late replacement but performed well REUTERSEnd of an era? England squad set for change after World Cup exit Itoje will be eyeing up his third World Cup in 2027 PA WireEnd of an era? England squad set for change after World Cup exit Earl was England’s beakthrough star Getty ImagesEnd of an era? England squad set for change after World Cup exit Rodd scored against Chile Getty ImagesEnd of an era? England squad set for change after World Cup exit Arundell scored five tries against Chile in the pool stage PAEnd of an era? England squad set for change after World Cup exit England’s Courtney Lawes is preparing to wave goodbye to Test rugbyPA Wire✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today hot
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicshot BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy hot
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply hot
Hi {{indy hot
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