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How Much Rugby Cash Does Ford Have?

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I stumbled across this article from the Scottish RFU Web site this evening – Ford has renewed their sponsorship commitment as the “official vehicle supplier” of Scottish Rugby in a six-figure deal.

Ford has also been the sponsor of many of the New Zealand Super 12 teams throughout the years – as those of us who proudly wear one (or many) Super 12 jerseys can attest, with a big Ford symbol emblazoned across the front.

So a few questions immediately come to mind:

1. Exactly how much cash does Ford have for sponsorships, and where does this money come from?

2. Why can’t the USA Eagles get their hands on some of this Ford sponsorship cash (supporting the home team, ya know 🙂 )

And finally….

3. Would Ford be interested in sponsoring an up-and-coming Rugby news blog/video site (coming soon!) by any chance? (come on Scott Monty, you know y’all want to… 🙂 ) (that’s me, always working the social media angles) 

De Villiers Update: Boks Coach Avoid “Blabbergate” Punishment

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This in from iAfrica today – South African Springboks coach Peter De Villiers, who was brought before a SANZAR review board for recently working the refs… er, recent comments he made regarding the level of IRB officiating in the Tri Nations, found out that SANZAR dropped any charges of alleging that there was referee chicanery going on.  This is good for De Villiers and the Springboks, as they can’t handle many more Springboks going on the suspended list for the tournament.

However, South African RFU president Oregan Hoskins found out he might be under investigation himself for he recent statement that any questioning of what De Villiers said was tantamount to a “declaration of war” against the South African Rugby Union, and the Springboks themselves by the rest of the Rugby Universe.

Hey, whatever it takes for you to get the Springboks ready to reverse that 0-for-the-Tri Nations record you’ve racked up so far this summer.

As for De Villiers, might I recommend, from my position as a public relations professional, that SARFU figure out a way to keep him away from reporters. Hire a spokesman (hey, for all of the grief I’ve given the Springboks I’m still available to speak to the media), appoint someone to keep him busy when the media show up, whatever it takes to keep him from making statements like this on the record.

 

Do the All Blacks Have an Unfair Advantage in the Tri Nations?

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According to a recent report on Scrum, South African Springbok head coach, and overworked mouthpiece, Peter De Villiers, hinted that the New Zealand All Blacks have an advantage over Australia and the Springboks.  Not that they are a better team, but the referees, the Rugby Unions and probably the International Rugby Board are all part of a conspiracy to maneuver the All Blacks into a stronger position to help bolster the attendance at next year’s Rugby World Cup. (Yeah, like people need an excuse to go to New Zealand, home of the Lord of the Rings.  And as if rugby fans need any additional reason to go to the hotbed of Rugby)

De Villiers is quoted in the article:

“I’ve got my own observations about the last two tests [against New Zealand], and I can’t say it in public,” he said on July 21. “But we do have a World Cup in New Zealand next year, and maybe it was the right thing for them to win the games so they can attract more people to the games next year.”

In the U.S., this is what we call “working the refs.” Where an official or two from another team start to complain in the media that they are not getting enough calls their way in big games, or that their opponents are getting an unfair advantage.  Los Angeles Laker basketball coach Phil Jackson is a master of this kind of complaining (In fact it’s one reason Jackson was given his moniker, “The Zen Master.” Not just because of his “holistic” coaching style or spiritual beliefs, but because he’s the only NBA coach who can be up 3-1 in a playoff series and get away with complaining about the refs targeting his team.)

The idea behing this is, if you can force the idea of favoritism in the referees mind, then the next time you play that opponent the ref might take care to make a couple of extra calls in your favor to “balance the ledger” from their alleged favoritism in previous games.  You also get the added bonus of the ref thinking twice about making legitimate calls against you – so you get more of an advantage.  It’s probably as old as sports, in fact athletes in the ancient Olympics were probably doing the same thing. 

So what’s the problem, you ask?  If everyone’s doing it then it should be expected.  

It’s planting an idea in the ref’s subconscious, trying to get through to him in a less than honorable way that your team is the victim of a conspiracy that bothers me. I accept that at the end of the day there has to be a winner and a loser on the pitch, and recently the karma has bounced New Zealand’s way.  Just like last year South Africa was near unstoppable. It’s not the ref’s fault that Bakkies Botha decided to go all “Hulk Hogan” in the first few minutes of game one in New Zealand. It’s not the ref’s fault that South Africa couldn’t figure out an answer to shut down an even more determined All Black team the following week, or that took it hard to Australia when they faced off.  These problems are on the Springboks and Wallabies respectively.

I’m sure readers of the Gonzo Report/Rugby Cafe/whatever I end up calling this 😉 might think I have a slight dislike of South Africa, and nothing could be further from the truth. They are, and have been, one of the best teams in the world. I just wish they would stop playing the role of victim/thug-a-licious rugger long enough to get back to basics and focus on the game they get paid handsomely to play. They remind me of the boxer who has the skill and conviction to be a champion, but still feel like they have to fight dirty to win. And South African RFU president Oregan Hoskins had better take note of that and see what he can do to help turn this around.

If the All Blacks do have an advantage in the Tri Nations, it’s due to passion – not chicanery. And the Springboks better dig down and find their own passion before this tournament is over.

ESPN Announces Premiership Rugby Broadcast Schedule

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Rugby fans, you can rejoice a little bit – even though Setanta Sports appears to be vanishing from the U.S. rugby TV media-sphere, ESPN recently announced their 2010-2011 Aviva Premiership Rugby broadcast schedule.  The Aviva Premiership features many of the top professional teams in European rugby.

ESPN’s coverage kicks off with a London-based doubleheader, featuring Saracens against the London Irish, followed by Wasps and the aptly-named Harlequins, who might actually be able to focus on playing rugby now that they have finished faking injuries like they were soccer players or something.

The complete schedule can be located here.

Sportsmanship – Time to Dust off an Old Column

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Given the Bakkies Botha schtick at this week’s Tri Nations match, I’ve been giving this column about Sportsmanship from 2001 a lot of thought.  It might be time to fly it up the flagpole and see if it resonates with any rugby fans.

– Benson

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In my last column I briefly addressed the idea of sportsmanship and the lack of it as it mattered in the Hopoate case in rugby league.

Well, it’s time to focus on this idea of sportsmanship.

Last weekend I watched one of the best up and coming college rugby teams play. The University of New Mexico Lobos faced off with the New Mexico Tech Pygmies rugby team. The game was very much one-sided. The Lobos scored almost at will. They play with a teamwork and a fluidity that you see in top Super 12 teams. The Lobos never were threatened in the game. Scoring early and often, they won, 91-3.

However, I also haven’t seen such a high level of unsportsmanlike conduct and arrogance, ever.

In my life.

The saying is “Rugby is a hooligan’s sport, played by gentlemen.” What I saw last weekend bore no resemblance to a gentlemen’s sport.

I’ve seen the Dallas Cowboys of the early ’90s, I remember the ‘85 Bears and the “Superbowl Shuffle.” Anyone remember when the Boston Celtics were good?

That wasn’t enough. When is winning ever enough anymore?

In the first half, the University of New Mexico played like they were true champions, they jumped into the lead, they took control of the game, but they allowed the Pygmies to stay in the game.

The difference between the first and second halves could be measured in light years. During the second half, the Lobos were boasting about how many tries they had left to score 100 points. The Lobos kept out one of their best players until the second half, when they were up 41-0.

Near the end of the game, one of the Pygmies was injured, the result of a cheap shot. He was shoved from behind into the knee of another player, no attempt at a tackle. At the end of the game the Lobos ran the ball in from one end of the try zone, ran across the try zone and placed the ball down in the furthest corner they could find and still score.

Was that necessary?

No.

I understand we live in an age where you can’t just win, you have to show up your opponent.

Why only score, when you can score and rub a little salt in the ol’ wound?

“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”

Sound familiar?

Is this what rugby is really about? Running up the score, trash talking, humiliating your opponent.

At what point would the coach step in and say “Enough is enough”?

I like a good, hard ruck as much as the next guy, I’m in favor of hard playing rugby. It’s the taunting, the deliberate belittling of a team playing their best that I’m against.

I spoke with the referee after the game. He said that if the game hadn’t ended at that point, he would’ve taken the player who scored the final try aside and had a word with him.

I’m glad I’m not a referee. I’d have disallowed the final try for taunting. (Be worried, the referee at the game has almost talked me into becoming a referee)

I mentioned a line in the sand that players can’t fully come back from after they cross it. It’s the same with teams. If a team gets a reputation for running up the score, throwing cheap shots, and being bad sports when they lose, then it’s hard to come back and re-create the teams image. Every time a team slips up, the people start to think, “Well, they’re back to their old ways.”

Look back at the 1995 World Cup, New Zealand vs. Japan, 145-17 All Blacks. That didn’t make up for the loss to South Africa. Draw the parallel with the University of New Mexico, they can run up the score against a team they outclass, they can taunt and trash talk. But outside of a sevens tournament in May, their season is over. They lost in the Western Round of 12 to Air Force. And I’ll bet that despite running up the score this weekend, they’d give up every try they scored in order to be in the playoff run.

If you truly love the game, then it’s not a matter of winning or losing, this is the essence of sportsmanship. (But I gotta tell you, I’m not against winning a game, it’s winning without class that I’m against.) The indomitable spirit of the game is being decimated by these antics.

One of the best phrases I’ve heard about sportsmanship comes from “Any Given Sunday.”

From Al Pacino to Jamie Foxx, “Just remember, on any given Sunday, you’re either gonna win or your gonna lose.”

And back to Coach Al, “But can you win or lose like a man? I got it.”

Is it too late to get it?

Botha Called Out By Springbok Captain

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According to a report at Scrum.com, Springbok captain John Smit has called out “Cheap Shot Bakkies” for receiving a nine-week ban for headbutting New Zealand’s Jimmy Cowan at last Saturday’s Tri Nations opening match in Auckland, New Zealand. Money quote:

“The fact of the matter is that in a team sport, you can’t afford to have too many big egos. If you have one that is outside the team ethos, it hurts a team,” Smit said. “It was probably the least penalties we’ve conceded in a long period of time but all you remember is one act of silliness. It’s been dealt with, thankfully. I think it’s just reward for silly behaviour.”

Smit has spoken out at odd with Springbok coach Peter De Villiers, who sticks to his story that Cowan grabbed Botha’s jersey and kept him from getting the ball at one point in the game.  For a team captain to speak out against the coach’s talking points is a bold move, and might be indicative of frustration on the Springbok team with Botha’s antics on the field.

How Do the All Blacks Do It?

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One of the questions asked throughout the Rugby Universe is how are they able to do it?  How have a nation of roughly 4 million people, and twice as many sheep, become the powerhouse of the Rugby Universe?  The New Zealand All Blacks are one of the most, if not the most, feared rugby teams around the world, and they’ve done it while beating teams from countries all over the world with a much higher population rates, such as England (51 million), France (65 million) and Australia (22 million), and where rugby is still an important sport.

It comes down to a level of passion that few people New Zealanders are passionate about rugby. It’s their national sport, outside of taunting Japanese whaling ships.  They are a small nation, population-wise, but all four million Kiwis bleed All Black, with little rugby balls bouncing around in their veins.

New Zealanders love their rugby. It’s their passion, they live for this game.  At the start of their lives, baby New Zealanders come out of the chute, hit the ground and immediately start looking for little Springboks to smack. (You can never start too early) Let me just add…

THEY.
LOVE.
RUGBY.

It’s passion. One of the few intangibles you can’t train in a player, or teach them on the field.  You’ll get that passion when you’re laying on the field at the end of a game – with your energy spent and the steam rising from your body like your spirit trying to escape, but it can’t be drilled into you.

It’s the idea that this is their sport, and no one from any other nation is going to take it from them.  This is part of the reason they are able to repeatedly beat teams from the Northern Hemisphere.  Another question people from the north ask is how the Southern Hemisphere teams (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and to a lesser extent, Argentina) repeatedly beat teams from more “established” nations (after all, rugby was founded in England in 1823).

That, and the fact that they tend to play a more expansive style of rugby.  I’m looking forward to seeing if the All Blacks can turn that home field advantage into a second William Webb Ellis trophy at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Botha Update–Springbok Thug Gets Light 9-Week Ban

Benson Hendrix2 Comments

Springbok thug… er, lock, Bakkies Botha received word today that he’d be receiving a nine-week ban for his flagrant headbutt on New Zealand’s Jimmy Cowan at Saturday’s Tri Nations opening match in Auckland. Botha appeared before a SANZAR judicial officer in New Zealand on Sunday to receive his sentence.

According to the South African RFU, Botha admitted the charge and expressed remorse. Botha left the meeting without speaking to anyone in the media and later apologized to Cowan via a media statement. Look, I work in public relations and if you want to get out of Dodge and make a faux-apology that gives you the appearance of caring about your actions then the South Africa RFU hit it right on the head.  And if Botha is smart he’ll keep his mouth shut for the nine-weeks except for being seen at some photo-op “anger management” course, or teaching rugby to some schoolkids.

I’d understand letting Botha off with a nine-week ban for his actions if this were his first infraction.  Hell if this was his first sentence then I might even say it was too strong.  But let’s take a look at Botha’s list of previous bans for violent infractions, shall we?

  • From Wikipedia: “Botha is known as one of the “hardest” locks in world rugby. He is particularly fond of the dark side of sport and has received bans for biting, testicle grabbing, head butting, and eye gouging.”
    (OK, let me say now – I’ve thrown a retaliatory punch or two in the ruck, but if you ever grab my boys, on the field or off, I’m going to club you like a Canadian with a baby seal)
  • In 2002, Botha received a yellow card for stamping against France, in his first international match
  • Aug. 2003 – Accused of biting and eye-gouging against Australia (8-week suspension)
  • April 2009 – 3-match ban for hitting a player in a Super 14 match
  • June 2009 – 2-week ban for a dangerous charge in a match with the British/Irish Lions (the ban was later dismissed on appeal)

I understand that South Africans love their rugby a little rougher than anyone else, some of us might call it “Cheap Shot Rugby”, allegedly.  But there is a certain point where a player becomes too much of a disgrace to have him on the field. Given his previous run ins with the rugby authorities for his dirty play, Botha might be approaching that line.  If he hasn’t stomped all over it already.

All Blacks Reverse 2009, Clobber Springboks in Tri Nations Opener

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Someone needed to remind the South African Springboks that while the FIFA World Cup was finishing up in South Africa – on Saturday night at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, they were expected to play rugby. And as any rugger can explain, you usually can’t win a match by kicking goals against scoring tries. But the Springboks did exactly that as they were steamrolled by the New Zealand All Blacks, 32-12 in the opening game of the Investec Tri Nations Tournament.

After losing all three games to the Springboks in last year’s Tri Nations tournament, the All Blacks were keen to defend Eden Park, where the All Blacks last lost in 1994 to France, from the interlopers in green. And the All Blacks did not disappoint the 25,000 fans pack into the stadium. Whether it was Ma’a Nonu or Richie McCaw or Joe Rokocoko, whose appointment to the All Black side was questioned as recently as last week, the All Blacks repeatedly used the power and flair that New Zealand rugby has become known for to power over and around the Springboks as the men in black racked up four tries.

Early in the match, there were glimpses of the 2009 Tri Nations as South Africa lit up the scoreboard first. Off of a scrum deep in All Black territory, New Zealand flanker and captain Richie McCaw broke away from the scrum and was caught offsides by a nice piece of Springbok trickery. Located 22-meters away from the goal line, and in front of the uprights, South Africa opted for the sure points as fly-half Morne Steyn split the uprights to take a 3-0 lead.

Unfortunately for South Africa fans everywhere, this was the only time the Springboks would lead in the match.

The intensely physical gameplay that the South Africans are known for, some might call it schoolboy cheap shots, came back to bite the Springboks quickly after taking the lead. While rugby is an aggressive game, unfortunately for the Springboks it’s not a professional wrestling match.

Early on in the game, Springbok lock Bakkies Botha was caught on video headbutting All Black Jimmy Cowan at the end of a tackle. This video was shown on the stadium monitor multiple times shortly thereafter, which was pointed out to referee Alan Lewis by the All Blacks. Shortly after that, the All Blacks were driving to the Springbok goal line, Botha was called for putting his hands in an All Black ruck and keeping the All Blacks from getting the ball. As a result, Botha was the recipient of a 10-minute sit down in the “Time Out” corner known as the Sin Bin, but the headbutting might have been on Lewis’ mind as Botha was also shown a yellow card.

The All Blacks took advantage of this 10-minute penalty to quickly tie up the score 3-3 on a Dan Carter penalty kick off of the Botha infraction. Then five minutes later, with Botha still watching from the “Time Out Chair,” New Zealand fullback Mils Muliaina ripped through the Springbok defense and hit a rampaging McCaw with a pass as the All Blacks closed in on the South Africa goal line. McCaw then passed the ball to center Conrad Smith who just beat Springbok Victor Matfield to dive across the near goalline for the first try of the game. Carter’s conversion kick extended the All Black lead to 10-3.

As the half went on, the All Blacks play showed more confidence as they pounded at the South Africa defense time and again. The Springboks were able to withstand the assault, tightening and hardening with each meter gained by the All Blacks. Despite having promising numerical totals in territory and time of possession, the Springboks were unable to take advantage and were repelled repeatedly.

Near the end of the first half the All Blacks were once again driving. New Zealand center Ma’a Nonu closed on the goal line, striking a grubber kick that bounced off of a defending Springbok and back into his own hands. Taking down three defenders, Nonu dished the ball to Rokocoko,who was tackled just outside the goal line. The ball found its way out of the pileup of players at the line and back into Nonu’s hands. Nonu was rewarded with his first test match try against South Africa as the center powered his way over the goal line. With the conversion the extended the New Zealand lead 20-3 going into halftime.

South Africa looked to correct their play as the second half kicked off and claw their way back from this 17-point deficit. After an All Black penalty for offsides, Steyn quickly slotted up three more points for the Springboks. And with a second penalty quickly called on the All Blacks, Steyn hit another penalty kick to tighten the score to 20-11, All Blacks, after 6 minutes in the second half.

The Springboks momentarily started to find their form, driving into the All Blacks territory on multiple occasions, only to be turned away after crashing into the Great Wall of Blackness, or letting their frustrations show on the field as sloppy play that the All Blacks took advantage of.

Quickly putting the Springboks on their back foot, the All Blacks drove yet again into the heart of the Springbok turf as Kieran Read stormed through four South African defenders to score the All Blacks’ third, and probably decisive, try.

Not wanting to leave anything to chance, the All Blacks continued the assault and shut down repeated Springbok counterattacks in their infancy. At the 79th minute, after a series of collapsed scrums a few meters from the South African goal line, the All Blacks turned a penalty run into a driving maul and a Tony Woodcock try, once again carrying part of the South African defense into the end zone.

Penalties were a bane for both sides. The All Blacks saw several chance to increase their lead squandered, while the South African defense gave up their own penalties allowing the All Blacks chances to restart their attack.

Notes: Despite grumblings about his position on the All Blacks roster, Joe Rokocoko’s name came up quite often during the Springbok match as part of the All Blacks’ repeated counterattacks. It seemed as if knowing he had something to prove, Rokocoko flew to the ball in attack and defense, and while not scoring points himself, directly led to Nonu’s try in the first half. … Team frustration of the Springboks inability to counter the All Black’s power game started to show as the game wore on. With the Springboks missing an uncharacteristic 23 tackles and surrendering four tries, tempers started to flare. This writer caught repeated video of South African players engaging in some of their most enjoyable pastimes – throwing punches behind the ref’s back and shoving around players without the ball. Players did receive warnings from referee Lewis on more than one occasion.

Rugby in the USA, and the LeBron James-Cast

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Tonight ESPN hosted a one-hour infomercial for NBA star “King” LeBron James, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as he announced to the world his intentions to play for the Miami Heat next year.  And given the amount of time and effort spent on this infomercial… I mean, production, James will also undoubtedly figure out a cure for global warming while spending time on the beaches of south Florida.

Now with that out of the way, it got me thinking.  How much money did LeBron put into this broadcast, or how much money did ESPN spend to get one hour of Lebron on prime time last night?  I’m not going to say that it’s more than USA Rugby probably has in its marketing budget for the next year, but it’s not an insubstantial amount.  And that’s the problem for a minor sport, such as rugby is in the United States – we can’t even compete with a LeBron James love-fest infomercial.

Without serious sponsorship revenue coming in to the sport, in addition to a grassroots high school and college outreach program, rugby’s growth in the states will remain far below lacrosse, much less a sport like soccer.  What would you like to see rugby in the U.S. do to expand its reach?