Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph rebukes Australian Super Rugby derbies - Rugby News
Highlanders coach, Jamie Joseph, has rebuked the Australian Super Rugby derbies for their approach in the ongoing season during an interview on Wednesday. Jamie Joseph had some stern criticism for the Australian teams and said they were playing schoolboy
rugby. The former All Blacks flanker said that Australian teams were lacking the spirit shown by New Zealanders in the current season of Super Rugby.
Jamie Joseph, who has a long career of coaching, said that the top two Australian teams, Queensland Reds and Waratahs, lacked the intensity of any New Zealand match. The coach argued and said that, "We played four New Zealand teams in a row, that's a big
ask because they are very physical. You watch the Waratahs play the Reds and it's different rugby ... it's like school stuff while we are at war."
The Australian teams collectively remained unimpressive throughout the tournament. Only Queensland Reds, who are at the top of the points table, have shown some character. The remaining four teams have done hardly anything remarkable in the matches played
so far. The Waratahs have been placed sixth overall on the tables whereas the Brumbies, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels are at the lower end of the rankings. They are respectively placed on 12th, 13th and 14th positions
among 15 contesting teams.
Joseph’s comments have come as a shock for Australian rugby. Furthermore, Eddie Jones, a former Wallabies coach has admitted the bitter fact. Jones said that with the inclusion of a fifth Australian team, Melbourne Rebels, in this year’s Super Rugby line-up,
has reduced the depth of the Aussies. The Rebels were given rights by SANZAR to participate as the 15th team in the championship early this year.
Jones asserted that, “It was justified in terms of getting Australia an even share of the television money and that's the only reason. There's no way anyone in their right sense can say Australia can have five top-class sides. I think it's great, It's quite
tribal, the Kiwi boys against the Kiwis... certainly the guys are enjoying the derby matches.”
Jones hoped that Australia would work on its weaknesses to compete against the better sides from South Africa and New Zealand in the next season of Super Rugby.
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