THE cash cow, otherwise known as the International Rugby Board, is getting criticised from all angles, and deservedly so, for its greedy approach in demanding squillions from anyone who wants to stage a World Cup. One of many horrible memories of that organisation is when R@M was invited to a lunch at its Dublin headquarters the day after the IRB made the short-sighted decision to award New Zealand, not Japan, the hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup. One high-ranking IRB official said at the lunch that some of the old-school blazer brigade voted against Japan because they hadn't yet forgotten the Second World War. And he wasn't joking. Around the same time, at the end of the corridor, a Japanese delegate was in tears explaining to one of the IRB hierarchy that he didn't know how he would fare when he returned home. He feared he would be sacked. The IRB heavies laughed that off. ARU president Paul McLean, after attending one of their conferences, gave his thoughts on the IRB in a Courier Mail interview last week, and they were revealing. "It's a political minefield at best," McLean said. "England lead the way and Wales, Ireland and Scotland follow suit. The Italians follow the French. Being at the conference was pretty amazing. Walking the corridors at night, you'd be wondering who you'd bump into, and who they'd be with. I don't know what being at the United Nations would be like but I'm assuming it would be like that." Doesn't say much about the United Nations.
Meanwhile, back in NSW ...
The political shenanigans in Waratahland continues. We've heard of extraordinary scenes at the schools championship in Canberra last weekend with a well-known NSW official, who suddenly believes he can be the team's high-performance boss, wanting to hand out flyers to prospective players. But wiser heads told him to leave the flyers in the car. As extraordinary is that one of Sydney's richest men, who has strong rugby links, wanted to talk to the Waratahs about private equity, but was brushed off because of his involvement with a former NSW official. And concerns in clubland remain about "jobs for the boys" with vacant positions, including the NSW vice-president role, expected to go to identities from one north-of-the-harbour club. The often "out-to-lunch" golfing pursuits of a high-ranking NSW official are also raising eyebrows.
The Ta takes down a Glad lad
Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has a new nickname - "The Ta". Last weekend, The Ta achieved a wish he first revealed in the Waratahs-Sharks Super 14 program. He explained in an interview that the man he wanted to put a big hit on was "Outlaw from Gladiators" , otherwise known as Jackson Mullane from Southern Districts. Polota-Nau played for Parramatta against Southern last Saturday, and so the obvious question: Did you get Outlaw? "Aw yeah," Polota-Nau replied. "He just didn't see it. The Ta got him. But he got me as well."
Aches and pains for George
Age is catching up with George Smith, who tomorrow will become Australia's most-capped forward. The 28-year-old revealed to R@M he "hadn't had physio until this year, where I've become a regular fixture in the physio room". In an interview on the ARU website, he says he finally cut off his dreadlocks because they started to smell, and his teammates are impressed he speaks Tonglish - a mix of Tongan and English. Manly were delighted that Robbie Deans allowed him to play for his club last Saturday. As Smith continually cut through in midfield, the ground announcer said on numerous occasions: "Thanks a lot to Robbie Deans for releasing the Wallabies today."
That's our Rupert
One of our best snouts, Rupert Guinness, is causing a stir at the Tour de France with his Zelig-like television appearances, in which he shows off the best Hula Hula floral shirts since Hawaii Five-O , produces such international scoops as interviewing live on air Cadel Evans's helmet, and drops one-liners such as: "Ding dang dong" and "There'll be plenty of Springbok spark in the peloton tomorrow." Rupe the Scoop and his array of blinding Hawaiian shirts made as big a hit at last year's World Cup, even stopping an England press conference in quarter-final week, when Phil Vickery peered at him and said: "Nice shirt, that." Countless Wallabies have asked R@M to pass the message on: "Hey Rupe, can you just tell us how Oppy and the Malvern Star team are faring on the tour?"
Rumour of the week
Major controversy over a Tahs official causing drama at a recent function when he refused to share his pepperoni pizza. Counselling will be required.
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