Would Lankans learn from rugby World Cup success
It is the thoughts that now remain of the 2015 Rugby World Cup: a tremendous success in terms of rugby as well as crowd attendance whilst New Zealand made history.
Prince Harry (L) handed the Webb Ellis Trophy to All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw (R) in the capacity of the head of the World Cup 2015 Organising Committee
They become a great team that won a fine tournament in what is described as the best in the history of the World Cup. New Zealand becomes the first team in Rugby World Cup history to retain the trophy.
That is what makes the All Blacks a great team with the ability to win repeatedly. Is the world of New Zealand rugby contributing to sport as another legend like Brazil did in soccer?
If rugby was at its greatest moment being physical and yet flowing there are many moments that may fill the world parade of events.
BBC Sports records, “commercially, rugby’s eighth World Cup has taken the sport to new heights; never before have as many as 2.4 million tickets been sold for the event, (97% of all those available), with a world-record attendance of 89,000 at Wembley for Ireland’s match against Romania.
With half a million overseas fans, 1.5 million visitors to fan zones, and unprecedented global TV audiences, the event has generated a profit of £160m.”
“That is great news for the game, globally” World Rugby Chief Executive Gosper told the BBC. The social media records a truly increased interest to be more than that was for the London Olympics.
The moment of the tournament was the try scored by Japan to beat two-time winners South Africa. The win by Japan will be recorded in World Cup history as the biggest ever upset.
World Rugby has in its awards recognized the try that sealed as the best match moment in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Japan though winning three matches failed to make it to the quarters as they lacked bonus points because of the low try scores.
Yet the big boost to Japan meant a lift to the rest of the minions of rugby. The match also goes down in history as an inspirational moment of the decision that went for a victory without sealing a draw by an easy penalty conversion.
The World Cup also sees a rise on rankings for Argentina and Japan. Semi-finalist Argentina who has drawn many admirers is now paced fifth while Japan joins the first ten.
Japan is thus way ahead of the rest of Asia which includes Sri Lanka who should now ask themselves the question, where are we? This is whilst Sri Lanka is on the eve of the League Tournament 2015 and under an interim committee.
Take the presentation of awards at the World Cup and look at who was there; not politicians like in Sri Lanka for whom a press conference too is an event to adorn.
That is the culture we are in as it is the following that is important as the all power is in the law that is in the hand of the politician .
We will lag behind and never will we see a cup that is distant to us as business will be as usual and there will be clowns dancing to the music.
The denial of the tournament may be the last minute penalty that forced Scotland out of the semi-final. Scotland made it to the quarters wining three games, same as South Africa and Japan in a tough pool draw.
The cost was denying Scotland the win that may have been the best on their lives. It goes down and is acknowledged as an error the referee made and accepted by World Rugby.
This is a lesson for the local rugby community which always points a finger whether it is local or international rugby.
Host England’s early exit was again the result of a tough pool draw which included Australia, Wales and Fiji. England loss to Wales after a comfortable lead with half an hour left was a loss that can never be reconciled.
The exit of England and home nations not making to the semi-finals – the domestic audiences as well as revenue may have been lost; but the rest of the world has seen a high boost.
Overall Rugby World Cup 2015 has been a huge success with many lessons taught to the world of rugby provided they are willing to learn.
These include the brand and style of rugby that was played as well as the moments of sportsmanship. The transfer of the medal by Sonny Bill Williams to the young admirer who rushed to the ground is a case to remember.
This will be talked of in many a forum when we talk of the Rugby World Cup 2015. The run to the pavilion by Craig Jubert that was talked of is virtually forgotten but that again remains as a moment of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The quips of Nigel Owens, the referee of the final will also go down in history just as much as the drop goal of New Zealand star Dan Carter that changed a game that was getting too close for the comfort of All Blacks.
* Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB Accredited Referees’ Educator