We’ve lost our touch and now Japan are playing the kind of rugby we should be, says David Campese

DAVID Campese has called on Michael Cheika‘s successor to turn back the clock and make Australia world rugby‘s great entertainers again.

Campese has had enough of the “structured style” which he believes is threatening the popularity of the game in Australia while also undermining the national side’s chances of success.

Campese insists the next man in charge must be an Aussie because “we’ve got enough Kiwi coaches in the world as it is”.

He now wants a change to a more exciting, attacking mindset which he claims was the hallmark of the 80s and 90s teams he was involved in after being  frustrated by Australia’s performances during the World Cup.

The fact that Japan have lit up the tournament with their flair and carefree style leaves Campese even more determined to see a change of attitude and thinking by the Aussies.

Australia’s director of rugby Scott Johnson has begun his post tournament review and search for a new head coach with Glasgow Warriors boss Rennie one of the favourites to take over.

Campese told TRP: “Back in the day we used to play a great style of rugby. Now Japan are playing that style of rugby!

“The way they performed,  especially against Ireland and Scotland, was so exciting for everyone to watch and enjoy. So now we have a lot of people on social media saying why don’t we get (Japan coaches) Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown to take over the Wallabies.

“Well, we’ve got enough Kiwi coaches in the world as it is. We’re Australians and we are a particular sort of people. Every country has its own mannerism and culture. We used to win with Australians. We used to win cricket with Australians but now we have a lot of people from overseas involved in our game and we are not doing so well.

“If you look at sport as  entertainment, people are going to look elsewhere if they don’t enjoy what they are watching. They won’t tune back in.

“At the moment our rugby style is not entertaining. Japan have been the most entertaining to watch – it’s not unpredictable but they just move the ball quickly. They are quick to the break down, move it away from there quickly and Ireland and Scotland had no idea how to stop them.

“That’s how we used to play in the 80s and 90s. It is a very simple game but these coaches have come in with a lot of structure and in Australia we need to rethink the way forward for the sake of the clubs and also the national side.”

A lack of financial clout is also making it ever tougher for Union to win the fight against their sports rivals.

“Aussie Rules is a majority sport – it has 20 million Australian dollars for marketing in the New South Wales area and Union has nowhere near that amount Campese adds.

“It’s also on free to air TV. Rugby League is the same but Rugby Union is not. That’s one of our biggest problems because it means a lot of Aussie kids don’t get to watch the game unless they have satellite. That’s especially been the case during this World Cup for the more rural areas who don’t have Fox Sports and can’t watch it.

“We have four football codes in Australia, Union,  League, Aussie Rules and Football. That’s a lot for the size of our population. So we have to be very competitive and, as Aussies, we want to be good at everything.

“Not too many players have gone to Aussie Rules but it has infiltrated the public schools and is luring some of those youngsters away from Union.”

GARY FITZGERALD