Moneyball: Sydney Uni keep home advantage for Shute Shield semi-final
Who doesn’t love a club rugby stink? When Sydney University, this year’s minor premiers, knocked off Easts 21-13 in the qualifying finals, they were ecstatic to set up a home semi-final against Manly this Saturday. However, the Cauliflower understands the Sydney Rugby Union asked University whether they would consider moving the game to Manly Oval. As you could imagine, that went down a treat with the Students. The club could not believe that as a reward for finishing first, they were being asked to travel north and give up a home ground advantage to the Marlins, their fierce rivals.
Spoiler: the semi-final will be played at Sydney University, as it should, but not after some tense talks occurred between both parties. As it turns out, the SRU’s inquiry was financially motivated. The SRU’s only chance to make money is during the three-week finals series in order to make the $300,000 a year fee required to broadcast the game on free-to-air television.
During these three weeks the SRU takes all gate takings, so bigger crowds equals more money in their pocket. Clubs make money off food, drinks and whatever they sell on game day.
Home grounds are locked in for the qualifying finals, as well as the grand final – which will be at North Sydney Oval next week – but for the semi-finals the SRU actually has the final say on who hosts matches.
The reason the SRU approached University about a ground switch was purely because Manly have consistently pulled bigger crowds all year. Granted, Manly Oval has a greater capacity compared to the facilities at Sydney University.
Common sense prevailed and the integrity of the competition has been restored ahead of what is set to be a spicy match-up between the two sides. Keep in mind there is a also back story to this fixture. Earlier in the year SUFC investigated an incident involving a Manly player who was allegedly subjected to a “disgusting” racist taunt during a match. The club was unable to find the culprit. We’re tipping the crowd will be on its best behaviour this Saturday.
In the other semi-final, Norths will host Warringah at North Sydney Oval on Sunday at 3.10pm.
'Clutching at straws'
Wallaroos coach Dwayne Nestor has laughed off a column penned by a Kiwi reporter last week over the warm-up facilities offered to Australia and New Zealand’s women’s sides before their match at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.
The column, published in the New Zealand Herald, slammed Rugby Australia for putting teams on a “netball court” to warm up and suggested Australia was not fit to host a Women’s Rugby World Cup.
As it turns out, the netball court reference was not quite on the money. Both teams were happy to warm up on a field rugby league teams have done for years before matches at ANZ Stadium.
Asked about what all the fuss was about, Nestor couldn’t help but laugh.
“They’re clutching at straws aren’t they?” Nestor said. “We’re not playing at ANZ [Stadium] during the World Cup and the preparation for the teams in the World Cup will be first-class. It wasn’t a distraction at all. The girls were fine. I find it quite funny that it’s become such an issue."
No ghosts for Wallaroos
The last time the Wallaroos played at Eden Park they were thumped 67-3. It was tough to watch for Australian supporters but Nestor insists there are no scars as the team looks to rebound from a 31-11 defeat to the Black Ferns.
“It’s a patch of grass, it has lines on it and two sets of posts,” Nestor said. “I don’t think our girls suffer from the stigma of Eden Park. The history is wonderful but I don’t think it sits in the mind of our girls to say it’s a fortress. Belief is a powerful thing.”
Shake it up
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen told a funny tale on Thursday about prop Owen Franks, who celebrates his 100th Test this weekend.
Hansen explained that: "not many people would go to their wedding and get their wife to have a protein shake in her pocket."
Franks later confirmed the yarn. "I take food pretty seriously," he said. "I wasn't 100 per cent sure that the catering would have enough food so I pre-packaged the protein shake just to make sure I wouldn't get 'hangry' during all the speeches."
Sheepish fan
Apart from the sight of Michael Cheika attacking a 400-metre, 60-degree hill, the craziest sight at Waiheke Sports Park on Tuesday was Multi the house sheep, who turned up to check out the Wallabies with his owner Sue Pawli.
Multi is something of a sheep about town on Waiheke Island, Sue told us. He wears a barrell on his back to raise money for various community projects and is a regular visitor to the local bank and pharmacy.
Pawli said she brought him in for a visit because she wanted to show her appreciation for the Wallabies. "It's not often you get the big teams staying here. It costs a lot to get a family of five off the island these days so to have them here means a lot," she said.