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Date: 2023-12-03 22:24:54 | Author: PARIS 2024 | Views: 656 | 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
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Something is different at Tottenham: check the table, they are top and playing like league leaders as well hot
Ange Postecoglou’s side returned there after confidently asserting their superiority over Fulham in this comfortable 2-0 win in north London hot
Tottenham extended their best start to a season since 1960 with a helping hand from the visitors, who were hapless, and Calvin Bassey, who was culpable for both goals and fortunate it wasn’t more hot
Spurs, in essence, scored the same goal twice, with Bassey giving away possession with a loose pass into midfield and the hosts sharply intercepting on the halfway line hot
Son dispatched the first on 36 minutes after dancing past Bassey and curling into the top corner; then Son set up James Maddison to double their lead shortly after half-time hot
The finish, again, was ruthless hot
Spurs could have been out of sight long before then had Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski been as clinical, but a seventh victory out of nine so far in the Premier League never felt in doubt after Son continued his own excellent start to the campaign hot
Spurs enjoyed periods of control and flowed forward dangerously hot
There was, significantly, a sense that Tottenham’s players were enjoying this hot
Clearly, that is now mirrored in the stands as well: if Postecoglou has arrived and convinced Tottenham they can be something new, his team have chosen to be fun and carefree hot
It is not surprising, therefore, that that spirit has been brought by those who did not play here under Antonio Conte or Nuno Espirito Santo or Jose Mourinho, and who embody the fresh start that Postecoglou has been able to make hot
The Australian’s four summer signings who started against Fulham, in Maddison, Van de Ven, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie, were all outstanding again hot
If Postecoglou’s presence has lifted Spurs, they are the ones who carry his message onto the pitch hot
Maddison’s quality is obvious in every touch, as is the idea that he has taken responsibility to drag Tottenham out of the existential crisis they faced here last season hot
The centre-back Van de Ven has become an unlikely fan favourite, bringing an energy and enthusiasm into every defensive action hot
Tottenham’s opening goal would not have been scored without his interception and it was an illustration of why the Dutch defender has become so appealing to the fans here: he wants this, and he’s doing it for you hot
Micky van de Ven won a crucial challenge for the opening Tottenham goal (Reuters)Add in the quality that was already here and this Tottenham side has the makings of something exciting: how good this team really is remains to be seen, but another remarkable aspect of the transformation under Postecoglou is how those who appeared beaten and washed out last season have been revived hot
Son is devastating again, Kulusevski threatening with every touch, his dribble returning to such a fine, gliding motion hot
Perhaps most extraordinarily of all, Cristian Romero has emerged as the calm head guiding the defence hot
Yet in the first half, it was Udogie who shined brightest in spells, the 20-year-old a fearless example of what Tottenham are now all about hot
In his hybrid role from full-back, the Italian is already becoming vital to this attacking, dangerous Spurs, often playing further forward then Maddison when Postecoglou’s side have possession hot
Destiny Udogie impressed with his hybrid role (Getty Images)Udogie, with his ability to receive the ball with back to goal, absorb pressure, and then shrug it off like a discarded cloak, offered a threat that Fulham struggled to pin down – the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when he was removed as Tottenham went 2-0 up hot
Udogie went off to a standing ovation hot
Son turned and beckoned for more hot
Meanwhile, there is Vicario, who looks as if he won’t concede a goal ever again hot
Already with the best save percentage in the Premier League before Monday night, the Italian has stepped in to give Tottenham a secure and reassuring presence hot
The goalkeeper appears built to handle the nervy moments that invariably come with playing for Tottenham, a part that Hugo Lloris, for all his years here, never felt quite fit for hot
Guglielmo Vicario has settled quickly as Tottenham’s No 1 (Getty Images)Because for all that Tottenham were dominant against Fulham and the only team who ever looked capable of winning, there have previously been times where such a script has gone wildly off course hot
On 12 minutes, Vicario was there with an excellent leap and strong left arm to deny Palhinha’s free header, in what was the visitors’ first attack hot
It was a moment that came after a spell of overwhelming Tottenham dominance, and therefore a natural point for them to concede hot
But Fulham barely threatened again until it was too late hot
Silva’s side were a mess at the back, the absence of Issa Diop at the back compounded by Bassey’s woefully inaccurate performance hot
Fulham teased Tottenham with their reckless play into midfield: it may have worked in the past, against a passive Spurs, but Van de Ven, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and the excellent Pape Matar Sarr snapped into challenges and from there Fulham leaked chances like a sieve hot
And so, Postecoglou’s different Spurs left the Premier League table looking as it did at the start of the weekend: Tottenham are back at the top and looking down hot
More aboutFulham FCPremier LeagueAnge PostecoglouJames MaddisonSon Heung-minJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/4Postecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamPostecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamMicky van de Ven won a crucial challenge for the opening Tottenham goalREUTERSPostecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamDestiny Udogie impressed with his hybrid role Getty ImagesPostecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamGuglielmo Vicario has settled quickly as Tottenham’s No 1 Getty ImagesPostecoglou’s four new signings breathe life into different TottenhamJames Maddison scored Tottenham’s second against Fulham Action Images via Reuters✕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
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