Wallaby legend David Campese lamented Rugby Union’s sad decline, saying the Wallabies have such a serious identity problem that kids don’t even know who their biggest stars are anymore.
The former scoring machine blames the Rugby Australia front office, saying: ‘The fish is rotting from the head down.’
Campese, who was a devastating attacking force for Australia on the wing in his day, said ‘it breaks my heart’ to see the sad decline of his beloved sport.
“It’s an identity issue. Nobody knows who they are,” he told the Daily telegram.
“Children don’t know, no one knows. Name me five Wallabies players.
Outspoken former Wallabies superstar David Campese is heartbroken by the game’s fall in Australia
When Campese held up the Webb Ellis Cup after Australia’s 1991 World Cup triumph (pictured), the team’s biggest stars were household names
Campese feels no one knows today’s players like new skipper Tate McDermott (pictured kicking the ball against the All Blacks during Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash)
“When we played everyone knew us. They came to watch because we played fun rugby.’
Campese took aim at rugby’s governing body, governed by high-profile chairman Hamish McLennan.
“I blame the administration,” he said. The fish rots from the head down.
“It pains me to see the state the game is in. It is disgusting that it has been allowed to fall to this level.
“Children know NRL players but not Wallabies. I know because I coach them.’
It is not the first time that Campese has lashed out during the game this year.
In March, he put the controversial signing of Joseph-Aukuso-Suaalii on a massive $4.8 million deal to transfer codes from the NRL, as the current Roosters star first showed off his talents as he excelled at rugby.
Said Campese of the deal: ‘Think what rugby union could do in terms of the money they spend on one player.
Rooster’s young gun Joseph Suaalii was lured back to rugby union with a $4.8 million deal – leaving Campese scratching his head
“This is why we’ve been losing kids to rugby league for years… there’s been no investment in juniors.”
The cheerful Campese is as forthright on rugby matters as he is majestic on the pitch and believes Rugby Australia does not value his thoughts these days.
“I was canceled by them (Rugby Australia). They don’t listen to me,” he said.
The man who perfected the goose step as part of his attacking arsenal wants to see more investment in rugby union juniors, with promising young talents having secured deals such as Suaalii’s agent’s 2018 offer of $100,000 that rugby officials initially rejected.
“If we had the right systems, players like Joseph would have stayed with the union in the first place,” Campese said.
“Now we’re spending all the money to get him back.
“That’s why we’re exposed to NRL clubs. There is no money for rugby kids.
‘Why don’t we take care of ours?
Carter Gordon on Australia’s charge against the All Blacks in Dunedin was very solid, but Campese believes the current Wallabies lack entertaining flair on the paddock
Campese perfected the art of the goose step as he played the kind of attacking, engaging rugby he says Aussie fans no longer see from their national team
“If you don’t have the foundation, you can’t build a house.”
Campese’s complaints about the Wallabies’ struggle to generate interest were confirmed in the ratings for the team’s heartbreaking Bledisloe Cup defeat to New Zealand on Saturday.
The game against the All Blacks flopped, with only 524,000 viewers, including streaming services.
The numbers don’t detract from this year’s second State of Origin game with over three million viewers, or the match between Matildas and Canada at the World Cup, which averaged over two million viewers.