Rugby can look to rejuvenated cricket scene for a boost in spirits

IF Rugby Australia needs a reminder of how quickly things can turn around after the year from hell, it need look no further than Cricket Australia.

No matter how much he was paid or who said sorry to whom, Raelene Castle was right on the money when she said the rugby community wanted the Israel Folau saga resolved as soon as possible.

The message from everyone who cares about the game could not have been any clearer, regardless of which side they were on, everyone was sick to death of the sorry episode and the damage it was doing to the game.

It was Folau’s social media postings that started the mess, but prolonging the dispute would only have damaged the game, so credit to RA for reaching a truce.

Now, it’s time to move ahead and despite all the problems the sport has faced in 2019, none are terminal and a fresh start is needed.

It’s the same ugly scenario Cricket Australia was facing a little over a year ago in the wake of the ball tampering scandal, with the team’s two best players in the doghouse and the board gutted.

Now take a look at how cricket’s going. Steve Smith and David Warner’s stocks have never been higher and the crowds are flooding back, and the same can happen RA because no single player has been bigger than the game.

That’s why more than 20,000 Australians flew to Japan this year to watch the Wallabies.

Only England attracted more travelling fans so the support base is still there.

Australia is firming as favourite to host the 2027 World Cup, which will provide a massive financial and promotional boost to the sport, with Castle working behind the scenes to shore up votes to secure the tournament.

If there’s one thing that needs to be fixed straight away, it’s this: ending the flawed obsession with winning the World Cup. As great as winning the World Cup is, it’s no substitute for winning on a regular basis.