It was scheduled to raise ARU revenue in a restrictive World Cup season but Australia’s Super Rugby teams appear to be paying the price for the Wallabies’ northern tour late last year.
After six rounds of Super Rugby, the sixth-placed Brumbies are the only Australian (3-2) team to have a positive record as the South African and New Zealand franchises have started far better.
Injuries and less depth have also contributed to below-par performances which are in stark contrast to the intensity and consistency of foreign rivals.
But the concerning form of some of Australia’s best players – leading Wallabies who played both in the World Cup and then backed up a month later to travel to the United Kingdom – hasn’t helped their provincial sides.
Whereas the All Blacks and Springboks went on holiday and freshened up immediately after their World Cup campaigns ended in October, the Wallabies had to stay up for the two-match tour and couldn’t sign off until after an impressive 24-18 win over Wales in Cardiff.
Very few who backed up to play the Barbarians in London and Wales – matches designed to boost ARU coffers which were left low by a reduction in 2011 Tests – are playing near their best and some look jaded.
Two-time World Cup winner and former Wallabies selector Tim Horan assessed only Waratahs utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper and Western Force skipper David Pocock were displaying good form.
“You shouldn’t have an end-of-season tour after a World Cup but due to the ARU’s financial constraints the Wallabies had to tour and play for an extra one-and-a-half months,” Horan told AAP.
“If it was more about the welfare of players that wouldn’t have happened.
“They should have been given 10-12 weeks off. Every four years you need to have a big gap.
“It’s not the games that’s the problem – it’s the training.
“There’s a fatigue factor both mentally and physically.”
The Queensland Reds and the NSW Waratahs, who supplied the bulk of Wallabies, have particularly struggled to get the best out of their stars as they sit ninth and 10th on the Super table.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie mentioned the long campaign for his Test players as one factor as he was questioned about his team’s inability to continue their 2011 success.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans should also be concerned with four Tests against Scotland and Wales wedged into the June international window when Super Rugby takes three weekends off.
While the Springboks and All Blacks enjoyed a longer break, the Wallabies 2011 experience will be a prototype for all three rivals this year as they all tour Europe in November after The Rugby Championship finishes.
Argentina’s admission to the old Tri Nations will see the rebadged tournament extend into October and make it even tougher to back up on tour, not to mention 2013.
