Moffett blasts report - 'it lacks punch'

Fairfax Media

NOT IMPRESSED: Former NZRU boss David Moffett says the World Cup report doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know. 'The average Kiwi could have written it," he says,

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Former New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett said the World Cup review report "lacks punch" and should be "consigned to the dustbin".
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"Why has it taken so long to produce a report where most items covered in it were being talked about before the World Cup," Moffett said.

"And given the lack of real punch in this report why couldn't they have produced it by December and then appointed the All Black coaches after it?"

Moffett, who was also CEO of the Welsh Rugby Union and Australia's National Rugby League, believed the NZRU was now in "damage control and will hope it will go away in two days".

"This is another case of `well, we've ticked that box, we've produced a report, now it's time to move on'."

Moffett noted that while report authors Mike Heron and Don Tricker had identified flaws in the conditioning programme, "there's nothing in (the report) that criticises the union for not changing direction in the lead- up to the World Cup."

It was "obvious to everyone" that the All Blacks needed warm-up matches before the World Cup, he said.

Moffett said he had used his column in The Press to urge the All Blacks to play Australia in Britain.

"The only two teams capable of winning (the World Cup) that didn't have warm-up games were New Zealand and Australia".

A "whole bunch of people" had warned the NZRU that the All Blacks were heading down the wrong direction before the tournament. "Yet they never changed – not one single thing. Why hasn't someone called them to account for their bull-headedness?"

Moffett said the NZRU's refusal to change policies before the World Cup was "just another example of the arrogance of this administration".

"They set themselves on a course and nothing was going to deviate them from it."

Moffett was also disappointed the report had not criticised the All Blacks' management's player-rotation policy. The reviewers claimed it was accepted practice in professional sport and was backed by most of the players.

"The big weakness in this report is it doesn't report on anything we don't already know," Moffett said. The NZRU would have been "far better off, holding up their hands at the time and saying, 'We got a few things wrong, we know what they are, they're as plain as the nose on your face, but we'll fix them'."

"Instead, we've had to wait six or seven months for this ... which is not a comprehensive report as far as I'm concerned.

"Let's face it, the average Kiwi could have written this report. The whole of New Zealand knows why the World Cup didn't work."

Moffett believed the NZRU would now "just get on with it and do what they normally do – ignore other people's advice to them".

He questioned whether the union had the right personnel to make changes and said: "They just keep giving commentators ammunition."

He was also at a loss to understand why Heron and Tricker, the report's authors, were not at Thursday's media briefing in Wellington to answer questions directly about the report.

Do you agree with David Moffett's assessment? Is the report a waste of time and effort? Should the NZRU be held to account for their mistakes? Post your comments below.

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ski   #5   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

yes i agree - these are not pretty days. People talk about leadership on the field - how about some in the NZRU.

shaun   #4   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I definitely agree with you on them not taking Maa Nonu, i said to all my Aussie bros, that will be back to haunt them big mistake leaving Maa out, he is the most damaging attacking player NZ have had in the last few years you think a great coach would be able to mentor him in some way, look at Lomu devestating in attack but weak in defence yet they stuck with him, I think the hardest job in New Zealand rugby is to choose your top side, there are so many good players to choose from, but it seems to take an $130,000 report to tell you the obvious mistakes, stop wasting money and to much time focusing on the world cup just get back to the winning circle, you cannot win every game but you can certainly try and that is what we do best.

NIck   #3   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Got to say that reading the report and it's white wash of the NZRFU and their ongoing arrogance brings to mind a similar bunch of arrogant no hopers desperate to line their own pockets and fluff their egos to the detriment of their players, the RFU. Both seem determined to have their teams win competitions, despite their unions.

nick   #2   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Im so sick of hearing this bleating from Moffett. He's got a personal bone to pick with the current regime at the NZRFU, his judgement is clouded by this. The view from that high horse must be nice david.

Shamon   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

How many people and grassroots clubs have opposed Henry and the NZRFU stance of no accountability?????????? Why rotation??????? Why have Toeava who cant catch a ball and has failed at every chance handed to him then discarded for the QF, because a lack of faith in him(granted)and not have the most destructive line breaker in Ma'a Nonu???????? Jack,Mauger,Howlett why oh why???????? For years they had proved match winners......I thought wrong when the French had finally delivered Henrys redcard on his Allblack coaching career! Goodluck to the men in Black for the future, But i cannot stop feeling ashamed that Robbie Deans has been done in.

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