Mike Marnewick

Husband. Father. All Blacks Clinics Manager - NZ Rugby. Macleans College '02.

[The Rugby Philosopher @rugbyphilosophy]

Rugby League is more marketable than Rugby Union. But it’s not because of scrums.

With all this talk about "depowering" scrums to "save" the game, we need to have an honest conversation about what actually makes rugby marketable.

Let’s be real. Rugby League is objectively more marketable to a global audience. It’s streamlined. It’s high-speed. There is zero nuance. You run, you get tackled, you stand up, you do it 5 more times. You turn the ball over.

A few years back took some American family members to Eden Park to watch the Blues vs the Stormers. If you thought they'd like the tries, the wide passes, the highlight reels, well then you (like me) were wrong.

They spent the entire first half staring at Eben Etzebeth.

They watched two 130kg men grab another 120kg man by the hem of his shorts and launch him into the air to catch a ball. They couldn't believe it. To an outsider, a lineout isn't "dead time" it’s a hook, an attraction, a moment that sets our game apart from the rest.

When it came to scrums, they didn't care about "binding" or "hinging." They didn't even care about the number of resets. They were simply mesmerised by 8 absolute units pushing with all their might against 8 more. Men with thighs the size of an ordinary human's entire body, contorting themselves into some sort of human tank and smashing themselves into the other forward pack.

And finally, my family was baffled by the "hooligan's game played by gentlemen" culture of rugby. They saw 23 guys spend 80 minutes trying to physically destroy each other, only to hug and sit down for a beer afterwards. No trash talk. No "look at me" celebrations. Just a handshake and a "thanks, sir" to the ref.

Rugby shouldn't try to compete with League on "simplicity." We will lose.

Instead, we should market what sets us apart.

Market the fact that we lift giants into the air. Market the 200kg squats. Market the fact that we have 1 tonne of human muscle machine pushing against another tonne. And market the fact when all is said and done, our heros shake hands, drink beer, and hang out with each other's families.

These are the moments that decides the fate of nations. These are the moments that make our game like no other.

[España Rugby @ferugby]

Menuda experiencia 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜 🇳🇿

#LoQueNosUne

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@FrontRowGrunt Ja nee. Maklik om te sien watter KANT hy van af kom.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@CharlieFelix I think it comes down to wanting to see what Jacomb can do as a 10 & giving Plummer the reigns to lead again. Also enables both teams' outsides to be given support from 2 great attacking 15's. Dry, warm conditions perfect for moving the ball & big bodies around early season.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@SamLStandsUp To hold for just a split second longer than the 1st and hopes to create a sense of "it's on out wide" for the attack. But really you're playing Russian roulette down here. I do however think eg's like this give players the chance to review it on a Monday & be better next time.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@SamLStandsUp You've pretty much said it all. But in essence attack works far more on passing/executing under pressure than we do defences working under the hammer like this. It's just natural because players want their hands on the ball. I would have a staggered 2nd line of defence that aims

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@FrontRowGrunt So effectively the Free State and WP Craven Week teams against each other! 😂

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@SquidgeRugby @theofficialorli I couldn't agree more. Rugby has a problem breaking away from its own "nice guy/stay humble" perception. We could learn a thing or 2 from football, the NBA/NFL etc. We should be aiming for the stars with Dupont, Savea, Kolisi etc.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@FrontRowGrunt For too long the world told the Boks that they play boring rugby. I'm not sure the world is ready (or in any way prepared) for what would happen if they started playing expansively with the players at their disposal. Getting that balance right could set new trends in the game.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@LeagueOne_EN @Doogz @fafdeklerk @JesseKriel15 @Panasonic_WK And Lood de Jager.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@bensmithrugby This is the awkward part where we remind Ben that Westlake Boys is coached by Rob Mildenhall, absolute legend and great guy. Who was born and raised in 🇿🇦 and moved to NZ about 5 years ago.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@GoldshteynYulia @ScottAdamsSays Dermititis Herpitiformis is the medical term. I suffered from it and was diagnosed at the same time I was diagnosed with Celiac's Disease. My daughter and I both suffer from CD unfortunately. But better to know that now and live a GF lifestyle.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@Oom_Rugby RL has a simpler attack & defence. No line-outs. No technical scrums. Kids in 🇦🇺 attend rugby schools & develop as far as 🇦🇺 Schools Team before League Clubs come in and offer 💰. If 🇿🇦 had a rival 🏉 code the same would happen. Difference in 🇳🇿 is AB's still drawcard for kids.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@JamieWall2 Will take that feedback to the next BOM Meeting. 🟠🟢🟠

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@Oom_Rugby US study looked at NFL Quarterbacks and showed that predictors of success came from 3 big contributors:

- Rural upbringing (work ethic & everyone doing their bit)
- They're from large families (had to fight for everything they got)
- Most played multiple ball sports growing up.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@RugbyInsideLine Do we think it's possible in a RWC year that people may be scraping their pennies together to attend the actual RWC rather than go and watch provincial Union rugby? Cost of living, travel and ticket prices dictate more than most Twitter rugby pages seem to appreciate.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@analysisguy0502 3. Tackle Technique
4. Buy-in of the Defensive System being used
5. Ability to Anticipate the Attack

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@stockx Cant go wrong with a classic

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@Oom_Rugby Use the 13/2 approach with First XV level players and they grasp it quickly. The offside line is easily led by the players closest to the ruck. Don't target the ruck until about 3rd phase where attack shape has fallen away. Worked pretty well and is current.

[Mike Marnewick @Mike_Marno]

@JackPosobiec https://t.co/PZi3OHwUkF

[Herman Mashaba @HermanMashaba]

On the left, standing in line to vote for a better future in 1994.

On the right, 26 years later standing in line to get a food parcel in 2020.

Those elected to serve us, have failed us.

It's time for a party that puts public service first, and throws the hyenas in jail!