Great article Conor,

I think that the Melbourne Rebels 9 and 10 with the unpronounceable names should get a look in. They both should have been in the RWC squad.

Im of the opinion that Hodge is a better option at 12 – however I love your assessment of how Kerevi and Folau compliment each other. One runs an amazing game at the line committing defenders and has a great off load – the other runs brilliant lies, great pace and outside step as well as one of the best broken field runners we have. If they click they can unlock any defence.

With wingers I think its a matter having a good look at the talent coming through. Although in the interim IO am a big fan of Speight and Mitchell

Hi Allen,

Thanks for the encouragement … I am now over six weeks in and have been going every day bar Sunday. It is a bit of an experiment on my part and also a bit of an adventure.

Your advice is sound and I am learning to “flow” properly. The endless techniques, transitions, sweeps, reversals, defences and submissions makes it a long term journey to any vague level of confidence. Having a blast.

I am going to post a reflection of each weeks training on the Roar to see how it goes

how long until fight now??

Sheek

I agree with prievious support to Campo. First Australian to make 100 tests, player of the 91 RWC, current world record in try scoring amongst first tier rugby nations. He single handily raised the popularity of rugby to unprecedented levels and was a genuine statesmen of the game. Doesn’t drink and always there to sign autographs … Else was great but will be surpassed one day. There will only ever be one Campo

Part of the territory so I have I have little sympathy. I think that these days due to the money involved compared to what the average punter who may contribute a more vital role to society they can suck it up…

But if you were going to be a sportsmen surely the Australian Cricket team of the early eighties (who were were treated like rockstars and partied like them with impunity) would HAVE to be Golden Era ..

BRENT,

HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP COOPER TONIGHT??

What an interesting article. Its very hard not to argue with your logic. I also think that it highlights poor politics from the ARU. The age old question on whether we pick on form, experience or talent. If its talent then your squad should be going to RWC.

I almost wish you didn’t post this article. Its depressing to confirm that a lot of our best players aren’t going to claim the Cup.

Admittedly its not as bad as when Smith and Gits missed out last time

I must admit I am extremely disappointed James O Conner was not in the squad. He may be a prat but he is a hell of a footballer and a matured Gits would have kept him in line. Ces La Vie

Thanks mate …I must admit it took me a few days of meditating to come to this conclusion … but its clearly what is going down and fills me with confidence that Quade and Genia will find form again. If they do … we are a real threat at the cup

Michael …

that is an insane comment – he didn’t get enough. He was the main reason people tuned in during the rugby world cup in 91 and he heralded a golden age for Australian rugby union. Without Campo’s genius we would not have beten the Irish in the quarters or the All Blacks in the Semi’s … his first half against the All Blacks still has two of the greatest tries in rugby history. One where he turned Kirwin inside out and the other for the blind pass to Horan … only an athlete of supreme confidence and ability could have even attempted that it a semi final against the world champion All B

And his boot that was one of the best in rugby. The funny thing about luck is the more he played the luckier they got

C’mon John,

Surely you know that Campo’s strike rate in internationals at the same age was similar! He played winger until he was 34

Folau certainly has the goods but lets bring things back into perspective.

Campese played test rugby for 15 years (19 – 34 years old). Although he has less tests under his belt than Gregan and AAC he played the longest and most consistently also had much less opportunity to play internationals and therefore score more tries than his contemporaries have had. He also only scored 1 try in his last two years playing internationals..

Even with these impediments none has come close to 64 test tries. Noone in the world rugby has either except Shane Williams of Wales.

N.B: ‘Dingo’ O Hata has the official record – but that is against minnows

Gits at 12 … You just tripled the experience of the back line

John, thanks for an educated look at this interesting story.

I can’t wait to see him dress for a game … although what do you make of the impact of Reggie Bushes signing with the 9’ers??

Gaelic Football is different rules, different shaped ball to kick (completely different style of kicking and catching, different shaped oval (much smaller) and it is essentially an amateur game in Ireland with half the contact and much smaller players.

NFL was born from rugby … particularly a fullback going to punt receiver … I would argue that a fullback in State of Origin has a harder job of making yards on running back deep kicks that a punt/kick returner in the NFL. Without the luxury of blockers a fullback always gets smashed. Once in a while there is a fro break out – Hayne was one of the few who could go all the way without blockers. I find it extraordinary that it is presumed that is harder to do this with blockers or pads on … sort of saying cricket players wouldn’t adjust to catching in baseball with the use of a glove.

I disagree Josh,

I think a lot of people are forgetting something about Hayne. This is not a matter of someone going from cricket to baseball. I would argue that the transition from Gaelic Football to the AFL would have been a harder one and it has been done successfully.

I am not surprised that Haynes athletic times posted in the pro day rate him as a top class athlete but it is not just his speed and and agility that make a runner of the ball as exceptional as he is. It is the x- factor of vision. Hayne has the ability to read what defenders do in front of him whilst at full speed and through a change of pace or direction stand them up – and he does that better than every rugby player on the planet. The only people I have seen with his level of ability are once in a generation players like Campese or Rupeni Caucaubuca … he is a freak in this ability and this will not have been tested in a Pro Day (unless they fully simulate game conditions- which they didn’t). To discard his ability in this area as atypical to any college running back is insane.

The biggest thing standing in his way is his ability to pick up on plays … that is hardly an insurmountable an obstacle. We are talking about football – not astrophysics … otherwise they would be wearing lab coats and not pads! From what I understand is that Hayne has been a fan of the NFL since he was a kid – if that is the case I imagine he has been learning this stuff- much like you and I – for a long time period.

You heard it here first – this is going to be a watershed for signings in the future of Pacific Islander/NZ/Australian rugby players to college football

Loved the article BTW – as a Redskins fan I will be also keeping close attention on 49ers this year

Fistic combat – the best kind!

I think its a bit reactionary to sign Cro Cop – he was clearly on the way out when he left the UFC. Obviously this is a reaction to

The sport loves holding on to the good ol’ Pride days. The truth was that that those days were plagued with match fixing and knee deep in athletes on everything but roller skates . They should embrace the fact that those days are over (with the exception of the venerable Mark Hunt) and look forward to the new are of supreme all round clean athletes like Chris Weidman and Jon Jones (. I look forward to Weidman dismantling a clean Vtior Belfort to put s stamp on the end of the TRT gunslinging days … there are enough of the old guard still around (UFC 183 is a great example) to go back to the future who are still competitive and clean …

My predictions are as follows

Cormier decision
Jury TKO Rnd 2
Lombard TKO Rnd 1
Marquardt decision
Horiguchi TKO Rnd 2

Great fights … DC superior strength is going to be a handful for Jones

The scrum woes certainly are a conundrum Spiro,

What amazes me that this is a technique, mentality and sports science issue that seems easily corrected. To have this as a major weakness in a rugby team for two generations of players is beyond ridiculous.

The scrum is a foundation of the game and we must start considering it more than a means to get the ball to the backline. It needs to be a contest within itself were dominance must be asserted.

We have to pick athletes who revel in this contest like their back line counterparts revel in back line moves. We need to target athletes with the physical attributes and core competencies of a powerlifter at tight head. Piciking guys because they are good around the field in a front row are nice to have (read Kieth Wood model) but that is ancillary skill not a key one. We must focus on picking the best at the core skill and training them up on the rest.

Couldn’t agree with you more.

When fighters say they have “been in a war” it grates on me. They are so out of touch with what that really is they can’t hear the band play

I agree Pat – the decision was not remotely contentious. Mundine lost the round that he was knocked down in … so it does not matter if that was scored or not. I feel sorry for the Man … I have an inkling that the Russian will be more ruthless in a second outing and go for the kill early. It was clear that Mundines ring craft had the better of him but he cannot trade with the guy.

I can imagine if he can land a fight with a fighter with a bigger name or another recognised title he would take it. With only six or seven fights left in his career it would be silly for him to waste a fight on a bullshit mandatory challenge on a bloke he has already beaten.

Anyway- I hope he fights again before March … the narrative from a sports story point of view is compelling and I am huge fan of the Mans new humility

Ben Askren has to be rope able. The Ex Bellator champ and current One FC champ and former Olympian was told he needed to get more fight experience. The guy could legitimately challenge Lawler and Hendricks and was not signed and now this??? Dana White has to rethink the messages he sends to his fan base because it is entirely inconsistent to his prior rhetoric

Dave,

I think it is simply a matter of time for the UFC to bend on matters like this.

Whilst they have a massive market share they will continue to do things to monopolise fighters. As the NHL found out – in contact sposts when the athletes begin to vote with their feet the promotions position becomes untenable.

Anyone who believes that an organisations dominance is assured just has to look at the Microsoft- Apple phenomenon or the rise of Toyota … if you copy an opponents approach and attract better people – you will eventually win. Just ask Don King.