Former Kookaburras coach and Royals player John Kelsey. Credit:Submitted.
Former ACT Kookaburras coach John Kelsey believes the National Rugby Championship can play a vital role in the resurgence of Australian rugby.
Kelsey oversaw the development of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham before the dynamic duo led the Wallabies through the golden years.
The Kookaburras faded following the launch of the ACT Brumbies but Canberra's representative team returned reincarnated as the Canberra Vikings when the NRC launched in 2014.
The Vikings are flying and gunning for a fifth straight win and top spot on the ladder when they face competition leaders Fijian Drua in Fiji on Saturday.
Their form is in stark contrast to the Wallabies who could slump to a sixth loss in seven games when they meet Argentina away on Sunday.
Kelsey believes the Wallabies woes start at the grassroots and said the more emphasis given to schoolboy, club and NRC rugby will only help the Super Rugby clubs and national team.
"Australian rugby is probably at the lowest it's ever been, certainly its lowest for quite some time, they’re talking about if we lose this weekend we drop to eighth, I can’t remember when that's ever happened," Kelsey said.
"The NRC is very important and they need to go back to the grassroots and schoolboy rugby and give them support. There was an under-19 carnival in Canberra this week and I didn't know anything about it."
Kelsey said Gregan in particular competed for everything and believes the current batch of Wallabies aren't playing with the same fierce determination.
"I think those blokes in the 90s played with a lot more pride in the jersey and they were good players but worked pretty hard at it," Kelsey said.
ACT Kookaburras reunion in 2017: Laurie Atkins, Doug Stuart and John Kelsey.Credit:Submitted.
"I don't know now whether they're not fit enough or just mentally not attuned to what's going on, they blow in and out of games, on the job for 15 minutes then they’re not.
"Watching the games they just don't seem to be playing with any confidence, some of the basic errors, catch and pass and missed tackles, just seems to be infectious.
"Scrums and lineouts that's your bread and butter, you build everything off that and if it's not right you can't possibly hope to compete against the likes of New Zealand."
The junior Brumbies finished third at the at the inaugural under-19s national championship after defeating the Barbarians 29-21 at Viking Park on Friday.
Junior Brumbies lock Jack Kearns crossed after just two minutes before centre Noah Lolesio doubled the lead on the quarter-hour mark, with No. 10 Will Goddard slotting both conversion.
The Baa-Baas worked their way back into the contest to draw level but junior Brumbies tighthead Tauati Chan-Tung scored in the 36th minute to ensure they led 19-14 at the break.
They traded tries in a back-and-forth second stanza before Goddard slotted a penalty in the 69th minute to ensure an eight-point buffer and the scores remained unchanged.
Brisbane City thumped Queensland Country in the final 40-7 as Isaac Lucas, the younger brother of Brumbies scrumhalf Matt Lucas, scored 15 points in a man-of-the-match performance.
UNDER-19s NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
Bronze: Junior Brumbies 29 bt Barbarians 21 at Viking Park.
Gold: Brisbane City 40 bt Queensland Country 7 at Viking Park.
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