By Brett McKay
November 24th 2009 @ 4:02am
Related coverage
The fly on the wall report from Murrayfield
Australia's Quade Cooper, top right, leaps for a ball during the International Rugby Union test match against Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. AP Photo/Chris Clark
So while I went back to bed at 6:15am on Sunday morning wondering how the bloody hell the Wallabies could lose to Scotland like they did, the fly on the wall in the Murrayfield dressing rooms did some scouting for me.
On his return, after a long flight from cold and wet Edinburgh, he landed in front of me, pulled out his recorder, and said only one thing.
“I’m not naming names, but the voice you’ll hear has a slight Kiwi accent, and was wearing a Wallabies jacket.”
With that, he hit Play.
“Rocky, just gather them in, we’ve gotta head down to the press conference in a minute.”
(Muffled response)
“Yeah, I know mate, but at least you’ve only just been appointed. No knives out for you just yet.
“Right guys, I’ll try and keep this brief. How can I say this…..? Not happy, boys. Not happy at all. They’ll ask me if this is the lowest point of my international coaching career, and right now all I can think of as an answer is ‘Undoubtedly.’
“That’s probably the best I can offer.
“I can just imagine what the news back in Australia’s going to be like. Imagine what that mob on The Roar will be saying. Davey Pokes, I thought you writing for them was supposed to get them off our backs?
“I’ll just go around the room quickly. Where’s the Bens? Ben-with-two-Ns, I know your shoulder’s not flash, but what was happening in the scrums before you came off? I thought you reckoned you’d have these blokes covered?
“The other Ben, you came into the camp saying you were a flyhalf trapped in a prop’s body at the Brumbies, but you’ve barely touched the ball since we left home. Get involved more mate, if we wanted a no-impact tighthead we would have stuck with Baxter.
“Scrum was great once Keps came on, though; the Scots couldn’t go backwards quick enough.
“Moorey, great throwing tonight, the quick throw really caught them off guard. In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have dragged you. But how did you not score that try?
“Murrayfield has the biggest in-goals on the planet and you still couldn’t find a blade of grass somewhere?!? Actually, Rocky you’re in that boat too.
“Kev, Chis, just give your jumpers to the managers, we’ll use them again next week in Cardiff. Actually Chis, just hold yours up mate… yeah, they won’t even need washing.
“The lineout, boys. First half was great, quick throws, jumping at two, all worked a treat. So why when Taffy came on did you start calling the throws to the back again? Didn’t you learn that lesson in Dublin, and London? And Tokyo? And Wellington? And … well, you get the point.
“Now you blokes reckoned you’d be right at training this year with Jimmy on his own, that was why we let Foles take the Head, sorry, Forwards Coach job with the ‘Tahs. You’re not convincing me, boys.
“Cliffy’s headed off to hospital for scans, but he was great again tonight. Now you know much work you’ve gotta do to get back, don’t you Browny?
“Rocky, well played again tonight mate, I heard Growden in the tunnel saying something about another glowing write-up. Smithy, you’ve done well again, and that should keep bloody Waugh out of the papers with his opinions. Pokes will probably be back in Cardiff, but keep working hard at training.
“Genii, more quality tonight mate, I thought there was two of you. If you’re not going to shave the head and really be The Next George Gregan, can you at least start telling the refs how to do their job? Burge, you can play against Cardiff, and you can probably sit on the bench next Saturday, but I don’t know much beyond that.
“I told you it’d be a roller-coaster, and you’re driving the up-and-down train currently. Actually, you should go with Moorey and Taffy when they find a barn door to practice throwing at this week.
“Gits, kick through the ball, for Carter’s sake! Why are you stabbing at everything suddenly? And hurry up too mate, you nearly kicked that last one into them! Enough of this one-out crash ball too, this is rugby mate, not mini-league in Queanbeyan.
“And I know you don’t like Burge, but when he comes on, I expect you to take the pass – wherever it comes – and play from there. Stop this business of shooting back glares and general moping. You tell the world you prefer playing 10, so start playing 10.
“Quadey, another good game tonight mate, great passing, and defence too. Thought your long ball for Mitch was thrown backwards actually, but when you ignore three blokes and throw the pass 35m on the run, it’s gonna drift forward, isn’t it?
“Crossy, have you met Mitch and Hynesy? They’re the two blokes that stand on the sideline without flags. They’re actually there to support you in attack, so you know, feel free to use them. That said, you blokes on the wings can always wrap back inside and cut Crossy out too.
“Yes Crossy, I know you got the try mate, but what about the other 79 minutes?
“Coopy-two-names, some great counter tonight, and not so many dud kicks for a change. Thought you worked well with Hynesy too, but when Mitch is going to run through after a kick, you’re gonna need to go with him, ‘cos someone will need to make the tackle.
“You bench guys, keep working hard at training, and play well against Cardiff with the bag-carriers and Kurtley. Jamesy, little fella, you’re obviously a talent, we’ll keep bringing you on slowly.
“Anyway, I better get down there, though I’m sure it won’t be pretty. I just saw Eddie Jones reminding the League hack the Telegraph sent over of his win percentage. More bloody Lote questions, too, I’m sure.
“Undoubtedly …”
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pothale said | November 24th 2009 @ 4:39am | Report comment
Nicely done, Brett.
Rickety Knees said | November 24th 2009 @ 5:37am | Report comment
Good one mate
Arky said | November 24th 2009 @ 5:38am | Report comment
Agreed – nice read.
fred said | November 24th 2009 @ 6:44am | Report comment
BRETT,nice one ;and i wonder if the theorists view of coaching being physical,technicai, tactical and mental has rob deans struggling in the all important mental side.they say your thoughts fuel your emotions dont they?pragmatically deans needed to handle this culture differently;imo he has misread it and suffers the consequences.
LeftArmSpinner said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:04am | Report comment
Brett, and excellent article. The premise and structure are just fantastic. Once again, it shows THE ROLE that the Roar has to play in journalism’s future.
I also had a recording device in the Wallabies change room. It must be an older version then yours, because mine didn’t have the foul language editing function that yours was clearly did.
Here are some excerpts of my recording
” Matthew! Matthew!!!!!!!!! MATTHEW!!!! Lose the comb! and get the fock over here. Now. Now! NOW!!!!!!
“You have been playing test match rugby for seven years. 51 test matches. You are paid $1,000,000 to play footy. So, Fill me in on what the fock was going on out there?? Are you completely stupid? Are you completely deaf or have you been wearing your “mummie’s boy” Headgear too tight again? We have a deal. You get the jersey with 10 on the back and then stay out of the first receiver position. No ifs and no fockin buts!!!!!”
There is a long pause!
“Giteau, Giteau. GITEAU!!!! Concentrate on what I am saying to you. Giteau, Giteau. GITEAU!!!! Fock!!! You have the attention Span of a nat! So the deal was to stay out of first receiver? What’s happened if there? WHAT HAPPENED THERE??? Just for your benefit, in every fucking game of rugby we have eight players and times more, trying to get hold of the ball, you know, the white oval thing!!!! Fill me in on what is going through your head when you then decide to kick it straight back to the poeple we have just got it from. What the fock!!!!! How many times have I told you the fastest thing on the field is the ball?? How many times?”
There is another long pause with some huffing and puffing in the background.
“Our forwards, despite Pre tour injuries in the locks and losing Bennie in the game, got you a stack of ball and you’re wasted it completely against some courageous tackling but a lowly rugby team. So here is the deal. Next TIME I see you at first receiver, be prepared to join the bench warmers. You will be picking splinters out of your arse for a very long time.
“And for what it is worth, with your goalkicking, when you start missing things to the left, adjust your technique or at least aim more to the right!!!! Dont just keep kickin’ it like the last time!!!!!!”
Harry said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:36am | Report comment
Very good.
I wonder what they do actually say ? Managing Gen Y’s aint easy I know. Clearly Gits is in a permanent sulk these days, I think Deans has to bench him for this weekend. May as well experiment and we can’t 1) goalkick worse 2) be any worse in the backline attack. Defensive weakness if we play Quade or Kurtley at 10? For sure, but heh if it means some tries (for both sides!) I’ll wear it
I have banged on before how this tour reminds me of the 81 tour. Those with long memories might remeber that one of the main reasons we lost those games was the sudden loss of form in the goalkicking department of the previously reliable toepoker-style Paul McLean. Similarly, it can be reasonably argued that had Gits had his kicking boots on against Ireland and Scotland we would have won those games.
But of course he didn’t and the Wallabies didn’t. In 84, 3 years after that disappointing tour, Roger Gould (the last of the toepokers) and an emerging Michael Lynagh banged em over from everywhere. Fine line some times in history.
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:03am | Report comment
Hi guys, glad you all enjoyed the read. As well as shaking my head as I went back to bed on Sunday morning, I was thinking “what would Robbie be saying to them right now?’, and from that it all flowed. Flowed so well in fact that I knocked the whole article out in under an hour!! Anyway, we can only guess what was said, and so here’s mine.
Leftie, we spoke of this yesterday (and I had to be very careful not to say anything I’d already written here!), but Giteau HAS to kick THROUGH the ball. It’s probably just a minor tweak needed, but it is needed nonetheless. Maybe sit in a room with a copy of Caddyshack (“Just be the ball….”)
As for the team this weekend, injuries may play a big role in selection, but if everyone was fit and available, I would probably only swap Cooper and Giteau, and tell Gits to start getting used to 12 again. I still wonder if that’s where he’ll play for the Brumbies next season too, with young Toomua (or Lealiifano) at 10. Once Barnes is fit, he’ll be in the 10, so Giteau’s transition may as well start now…
pothale said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:15am | Report comment
Brett – lovely piece of writing. when it flows, it flows – doesn’t matter the time of day or night. Love that feeling.
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
absolutely Pots – I looked up at my wife on Sunday afternoon, and said “I’m done”, and her reply was “what, already?!?” It was only when I looked at the file create time that we realised I’d knocked it out in just under an hour. Love that feeling indeed, makes writing about sport worthwhile.
As do all these comments, thanks again guys!!
Pete said | November 24th 2009 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
I heard/read this morning that Gits kicking coach, who is sitting back in NZ, said that he has started putting the ball too upright on the tee, in the style of Wilkinson and Carter. The difference is that Carter and Wilkinson are power kickers. Gits isn’t he said. The coach (whose names escapes me) said that these small technical flaws creep in on long tours that are barely noticeable unless the coach is there to correct it… he reckons Gits kicking will be on song next weekend now they have picked it up. Shame they didn’t pick it up after the Irish match!
Perhaps on future tours the kicking coach should come or at least send practise videos to him for analysis!
Rusty said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:09am | Report comment
top read
sheek said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:27am | Report comment
Brett,
Lovely stuff. When confronted with tragedy, it’s better to find something to laugh about, rather than cry.
Your humorously imaginative narrative did just the trick.
Well done again!
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
Sheek, it truly is a sad old world if you can’t laugh at yourself – and it beats crying, everyday of the week, and especially in the early hours of Sundays in November!!
LeftArmSpinner said | November 24th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
Shame we can’t cheer it!!! But you go for the almighty big dollars at Roar Corp and you leave us of the grassroots behind. (Sob, Sob!!!)
But, While Chis is not a test player (anymore???) and Horwill has yet to recapture his earlier form, the rest are doing acceptably given age, lack experience and new combinations. But, the team has no brain!!!! A brain that calls the plays, gives direction and “encouragement”. Rocky is doing his best but the VC from the backs could do so much more.
Ben A has gone off the boil a bit but this must be tempered with his being the rock of the scrum at such a young age and with ssssssso little experience. Dropping Moore has had the desired effect and he is in better form than early in the season.
Forget the locks. as a player category, they are the last to be renewed with youth (excluding Horwill) but it is a timing issue.
the back row is looking good with Palu back to form, Pocock improving and Elsom consistent.
Genia is still improving. Burgess has things to offer but is 2nd fiddle to Genia. Cooper is improving with every game. I liked his broken field play and running, he has a lovely pass and he is tackling well. Ioane was direct and strong in attack and defence on very little game time since April. AAC is my favourite and first picked. Mitchell is playing better than early in the season, but is providing about 30% of Hynes. a waste
Giteau is out of position and out of step with the coach and other players is “focked” in the head. Yes, the emperor has no clothes. Bench him and see whether he gets the message and then what he has really got.
Greg Russell said | November 24th 2009 @ 9:27am | Report comment
“Shame we can’t cheer it!!!”
Agree completely – Brett’s best piece yet, a great read.
The only implausible thing is that we know Robbie doesn’t speak that much. Canterbury farmers, which he is by nature, do most of their speaking through silence and fly swatting – obviously Robbie missed Brett’s spy. But I’m prepared to give Brett this literary license!
“But you go for the almighty big dollars at Roar Corp”
Brett, do you want to tell him the truth?
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 10:31am | Report comment
HA Leftie, HA indeed!! Greg, I’ll tell him: Leftie, when we do eventually meet up for a beer and discussion of all things sport, I will buy the first round with my almighty big dollars from Roar Corp, and then after that ..well, there is no ‘after that’!! Sadly, I’m still reliant on my day job, but if the opportunity arose…. (Zac, if you’re reading!!)
By the way guys, you can still cheer this article – if you go to my profile page (http://www.theroar.com.au/author/brett-mckay), the cheer option is there. Extra cheers won’t lift me above Loges or Tuckerman, but it will add this piece to your respective favourite artcile lists. So by all means, Cheer yourselves crazy..
Leftie, re your comments on the players, I’m in agreement with you on the whole. The foundations are there, I can see it, but it’s just the execution that’s off. Moore is indeed playing (and definitely throwing) better, TPN is very much the No.2 ‘2′ again. Palu has been just about as good as I’ve ever seen him, and Pocock is pushing Smith. The Bens are doing very well in the scrum, and it should be remembered that “the other Ben” has only been wearing the No.3 this international season. He’s taken to tighthead very well.
Genia and Burgess are clearly the two best scrumhalves in the country. We still need to sort out 10-12, and we might as well switch Cooper and Giteau for Wales now. Ioane and Ashley-Cooper have shown there’s life after Mortlock at 13, though Coopy-two-dads is fast becoming one of the better fullbacks running around. If Rocky’s the first pick, the guy in 15 wouldn’t be too far behind.
So the blocks are there, we just need to work on the “glue” now….
Greg Russell said | November 24th 2009 @ 11:55am | Report comment
To put it in rugby terms for LAS (re payments for writing at The Roar): think the title of Simon Poidevin’s autobiography.
coops said | November 24th 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment
it’s funny because it’s true!
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
good onya mate
Worlds Biggest said | November 24th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Great stuff Brett, you poor bugger though getting up to watch that garbage live !.
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 10:36am | Report comment
World’s, I’ll happily get up to watch cricket and rugby, but I reserve the right to go back to bed grumpier than when I awoke. Unfortunately, with the Ashes series and this Spring tour – no point calling it a Grand Slam tour any more
– there’s been a lot of going back to bed grumpy this year!!
Terry Kidd said | November 24th 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Brett I was with you, up watching it live …. and likewise I also tried to go back to bed but sleep wouldn’t come, I was just too disappointed.
Hey Worlds I have been up to watch every game live on 1HD …. no replays for me, get up and watch. Its the least I expect of every Wallaby fan.
Bob McGregor said | November 24th 2009 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
Nice article Brett. It’s great to be able to laugh while observing such ‘events’ unfolding before our eyes.
Laughter in adversity is a must otherwise we will take everything too seriously. One should experience all the emotions surrounding such disappontment – something we all did in spades during the early hours last Sunday.
I look forward to reading similar posts in the future.
Republican said | November 24th 2009 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
Brett
The problem with the Wallas and the Brumby’s is that there is simply no forthcoming ACT GR’s to give us and Oz Union all that wow factor it is so sadly lacking, as well as having to endure a Kiwi coach of course.
Cheers
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
so you keep saying Republican…
Pippinu said | November 24th 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
I’ll add my plaudits to that of the others.
I loved this: “..but when you ignore three blokes and throw the pass 35m on the run, it’s gonna drift forward, isn’t it? “
Chop said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
I didn’t think drifting forward mattered in Union?
Brett McKay said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
well no, it doesn’t Choppo, well spotted, but it did drift a LOOOOOOONG way forward. The French ref would have been linched William Wallace-style if he didn’t pull it up….
Arky said | November 24th 2009 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
LAS – some insightful comments. I think we are lucky to have found a young prop so talented. BR has what it takes to rebuild the stocks of quality front rowers, but we are lucky to have one so young and it will take time – but be worth it. Moore has found better form since being benched. In the locks – we may have to be patient – there is little depth. Horwill’s from of a year ago was exciting and will return in time. His task will be made easier when he has a true partner. The back row is actually looking good and has some options at openside and potentially even at #8 (if Brown can regather momentum).
In the backs – Genia, Barnes, Cooper, Ione, AAC and few youngsters (the likes of O’Connor) and even the lessor known names on tour – all offer promise.
LAS your comments on Giteau are spot on – I suspect he just doesn’t get it. It maybe arrogance or maybe just a lack of grey matter – have no insight there except that he demonstrably lacks what it takes to lead a team around the paddock. He stepped into a team that offered more structure than what is there today and the further he moves from that, the more that is needed from him and the less he has to offer. The gap between what he offers and what is needed continues to widen – this is more the issue than form. He will not find form while he cannot deliver what is needed. Deans is smart enough to know that. In the end Giteau is the one that needs to accept it – failure to do so will mean that he disappears into rugby obscurity while continuing to whinge and whine…and do his hair of course!
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
Terry, Bob, Pip, thanks guys for the kind words..
Interesting add-on in Wayne Smith’s article today in The Oz re Giteau’s kicking:
Meanwhile, Giteau’s long-time kicking coach Ben Perkins believes he has identified the problem that caused those costly goalkicking misses.
“Matt is standing the ball too upright on the tee,” said Perkins, speaking from his home in New Zealand. “I don’t know whether he subconsciously is being influenced by Dan Carter and Jonny Wilkinson, both of whom stand the ball up taller.
“That’s the trouble when he is practising on his own. Little by little tiny things can change in his set-up without him being aware of them until it becomes a major problem.
“Standing the ball more upright requires more power and Matt isn’t a power kicker, he’s a timing kicker and he’ll get that back by lying the ball down a little more.”
Blue Sue said | November 24th 2009 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
Brett
So back to October 27th …. do you have the answers to the questions yet?
1. Maybe too soon to tell. Saturday will probably decide.
2. No.
3.Yes. He may be taking over Phil Waugh’s spot on the bench
4. We obviously need him, the body may be against it
5. If Wellington was the line in the sand then where are we now? The diehards are becoming wobbly and we have no hope with anyone else.
On Matt Giteau …….. a quote from
Million Dollar Baby
Article by Wayne Smith in the Weekend Australian Magazine May 26-27 2007 about Matt Giteau
Credit here to Giteau’s former Wallabies kicking coach, Ben Perkins, an eccentric by any standards but one who won the respect and close friendship of former team captain John Eales, and has done the same with the young man he forecasts is about to become the Wallabies’ next long-term leader. “I told him a couple of years ago that I wanted him to start thinking about whether he wanted to be captain,” Perkins recollects. “I said, ‘You’re the sort of player who leads by example and they make the best leaders. If you’re going to fulfil your potential, the captaincy is the ultimate step.’”
From all reports he is not happy about a number of things, most of all losing the captaincy,and if this is right is it any wonder. He has obviously had someone in his ear promising things that could not be delivered.
Is Perkins still his coach?
Surely his better kicking performances of late have been when playing for the Force where he has Darryl Halligan as his kicking coach.
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
Very good Blue Sue, it’s almost as if you’ve been sitting on those five key questions I asked. To re-jog some memories, before the tour started I asked my Five Key Questions for the spring tour:
1. Is Rocky Elsom the next great Wallaby captain?
2. Can Matt Giteau regain his mojo?
3. Is this a career-defining tour for George Smith?
4. Where does Stirling Mortlock fit into future Wallaby plans?
5. Can the Wallabies win back the Australian public?
Hard to disagree with too many of Sue’s answers above, but for what it’s worth:
1. Potentially. I like what I’m seeing currently
2. Not on current form. He definitely needs to though..
3. Yes, definitely. He now knows how hard he has to work to win back the No.7, and in Pocock he’s getting more competition than in the last few seasons from Waugh.
4. Mortlock would still have to be in the plans, for the simple fact that Ioane is a work in progress, Cross is best forgotten about, and Ashley-Cooper is becoming a top-notch 15.
5. Hmmmmmmm………
Blue Sue said | November 24th 2009 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
Not so much sitting on it, but going back to read some of the sensible/ not so sensible comments, predictions, questions written before the tour began. It seems that there have been extremes at both ends of the spectrum.
In between the testosterone filled “my dick, team, country, hemisphere, code, is better than yours” back and forth , around and around abuse and rubbish that has been going on for weeks here at the Roar, there were a few who tried to look objectively and sensibly at where we were headed.
Just thought it may be time to look at those questions again.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
agree Sue, it was certainly a worthwhile exercise. Maybe in the leadup to Christmas we should have a cleansing forum where we can all revisit our bold predictions and how they turned out. A sort of clearing of the conscience so to speak.
Pete, you’ve just learned the lesson in reading to the bottom!!
Working Class Rugger said | November 24th 2009 @ 10:07pm | Report comment
Brett
Just like a junkie the Wallabies need to hit rock bottom before they can truly look to get back on their feet. Oh please let this be that. Only then could they begin to redeem themselves not inly to the die hards but the Australian public.
Brett McKay said | November 25th 2009 @ 7:47am | Report comment
WCR, you’ll be pleased to hear that after getting to Cardiff, team management organised a bonding session for the boys, and gave orders for them to dress up as another tour member. Dean Mumm says spirits were suitably lifted.
Well thank goodness for that Dean, we were getting worried….
Chop said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
1. Is Rocky Elsom the next great Wallaby captain? Great? No, better than anyone else right now? Definitely
2. Can Matt Giteau regain his mojo? No, I think Dr Evil still has it.
3. Is this a career-defining tour for George Smith? No, it’s career ending (as a starter anyway)
4. Where does Stirling Mortlock fit into future Wallaby plans? Who? next question?
5. Can the Wallabies win back the Australian public? Nope….Not yet.
Brett McKay said | November 25th 2009 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
Chopper, from what I’ve seen so far, Elsom seems a similar type of “follow me, boys” captain as was Mortlock. That said, he’s taken to the media side of the gig much better than I thought he would.
Can’t disagree with your 2, 3, and 5 answers too much, but I’m not sure we’ve seen the last of Mortlock just yet, unless of course Ioane has real purple patch in the next 6 months…
Pete said | November 24th 2009 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
that’s where I read it…the Australian.. should have kept reading down this page…
gekko said | November 24th 2009 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
This is fantastic …
I still keep pinching myself every morning since: someone must have had the score sheet wrong???
Cattledog said | November 24th 2009 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Mate, great read! Many a true word spoken in jest!!
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 3:03pm | Report comment
Cattledog, jest??
Cattledog said | November 24th 2009 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
In the sense that it was fiction, mate. Or was there really a fly!!!
Republican said | November 24th 2009 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Yes Brett, I am a bit of a broken record but the fact is the question as to Unions woes in Oz continues to be asked in all its forms ad nauseam and has been for years.
The solutions are as predicatble and without revelation so it should be said that I am in good company here.
I do however appreciate the creative levity you have been able to bring an otherwise ground hog day of a topic.
Cheers
Sammy22 said | November 24th 2009 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
Well Cattledog…….I’m happy believing there really was a fly
Great piece Brett, Thanks
Brett McKay said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:37pm | Report comment
Cattledog, Sammy, let’s just believe there was a fly, and ignore the fact that it might have been the only one in Scotland, given the weather on Sat night in Edinburgh.
Republican, I think it’s quite brave and even laudable that you do keep presenting this opinion of yours, about the decline of the ACTRU, and while I do have a somewhat contrary opinion, I am open to the fact that things in my neighbourhood perhaps aren’t representative of the whole picture. Without the supporting evidence or reports (and I don’t mean from you personally), it’s hard to be so sure either way. But glad you enjoyed today’s read…
Ai Rui Sheng said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:49pm | Report comment
Is Giteau the “White Ant”?