AUSTRALIAN RUGBY NEEDS TO RE-FOCUS

For months the ARU marketing machine has been pushing Sonny Bill Williams turning out for a reasonable Barbarians team against the Wallabies. I for one don't like the approach of what appears to be an attack on Rugby League by promoting him at any given opportunity. I understand the need to promote the game; however shouldn't the focus be more around watching Giteau and Barnes re-united in midfield or celebrating a player such as George Smith.

That is why I will be attending the game. Not to watch a club player from France - albeit a fantastic one at that - who may or may not even make the tour as they are still playing in France.

The point is; Rugby League is imploding on the back of scandal after scandal in Australia, this should a time where Australian Rugby should be promoting the qualities that our sport possesses. One of these qualities used to be not smashing the competition. Rugby doesn't need to do this; league is doing that by itself.

Then we move into the very public chest beating contest that is currently occurring between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa over The Super Rugby rights. Here are some recent headlines:

SARU: Super Rugby "cannot do" without us

SA rugby hit back at O'Neill

O'Neill: 'SARU is just bluffing'

O'Neill: SARU playing games

None of these headlines reflect well on Australian Rugby.

Like it or not South Africa holds the whip hand in negotiations on Super Rugby - not so much based on population but their time zone means a rich viewing audience in Europe.

Australia and New Zealand need to acknowledge this and whilst they have a duty to get the best deal possible for their countries antagonising the major player in the deal is hardly a sound strategy in my opinion.

It is all well and good Australia proposing a new competition with Fiji, Japan etc.. Coming on board. Using these teams as collateral is hardly fair given not once has Australia to the best of my knowledge in the last 10 years travelled to Fiji/Tonga to play a full international match. It would be good to understand what has been discussed with and offered to the Pacific Nations and Japan for this back up tournament.

Ultimately, the game against The Barbarians will be a success, I hope that SBW plays, has a great game - Wouldn't it be great to see Mark Gasnier opposite him at outside centre for The Wallabies - I also hope that the Super 14 becomes the Super 18 (split into two groups of nine playing home and away) which includes an extra franchise from Australia, South Africa and two teams from the Pacific Islands. Now that would be a solution that would suit all.

Australia needs to focus on the positives in our game. It is harder to create positive headlines but in the end they are the ones that carry most weight.