Think Australian rugby’s struggling? Try heading to the bush!
By Toby Tancred
In my house, all the important decisions are made at the family dinner table. So a few weeks ago, I asked my three sons and my wife who they would rather watch on the weekend; the Roosters, Swans, Sydney FC, Emus (our local rugby club in Orange) or the Wallabies.
Number one son was quick as a flash with his response in favour of the Swans. Number two son went the way of the Roosters. Number three son, being a cunning little bugger, initially went for the Wallabies thinking that was the answer I wanted to hear. Upon clarifying that I wanted him to tell me which team he really loved watching, he changed his answer to Emus. My wife went for the Wallabies but only if the match was played at Moore Park. Of the five choices, watching a Wallabies test, for me, came a very distant last.
I’ve been a rugby fan for as along as I can remember. My grandfather and his brothers toured the British Isles with the 1927-28 Waratahs. He then went on to manage (I.e coach) the 1947-48 W