Roar Guru
Joined February 2008
2.1k
Views
3
Published
2k
Comments
What we play is life --Louis Armstrong
Published
Comments
I haven’t been active on The Roar for a while, but old friends here would know - I am passionate about rugby. Getting into…
When you're a rugby nut, and of Pacific heritage, it just makes sense that you'd turn up at 10am to watch the Pasifika round…
I've been a rugby mum a couple of years now but I am now also a newbie coach. It's been less than two months…
While I shy away from holding up players as saviours – the Levis look to be the foundation of the women’s sevens side. Sturdy in defence, sensational in attack.
Meet the 'ridiculous' sevens sister act who can change Aussie rugby by winning gold and a World Cup
What a game. The Aussies just hunted them down, and broke them. The Aussies’ ownership of big event moments ultimately showed in this game, and the poor performances they had earlier in the tournament are just small memories that have essentially faded under the shine of this World Cup final win.
CHAMPIONS! Head's heroic ton, bowling brilliance sees Aussies crush India for SIXTH - and best - World Cup win
This is destiny, fate… whatever you call it, it was meant to happen and had to happen. This was sadly the most brutal form of corporate accountability but given that the problems in Australian rugby currently outweigh its positives, removing the person who was not only symbolic of the Aussie rugby’s administrative mess but was also one of its leaders was inevitable and necessary.
What next?
Firstly, maybe some sage-cleansing of RA HQ… no, just a committed plan driven by those who love the game being played in remote and rural regions, played by children, women, vets, working-class, middle-class and by diverse communities, showcased by a top-tier that represents and loves these groups as well. We can only reach the top by building from the ground up.
ANALYSIS: McLennan's fatal blind spot, and why his exit leaves Australian rugby in a better place and a worse one
Fantastic, well written and challenged me to reflect on my own feelings about the appointment, the process and parties involved. Ultimately, as you say, it’s the decision-makers that must be made accountable and really who must reflect on their own behaviours through an ethical lens. I say that optics is everything in this modern media-driven world, and a pragmatic but moral approach is the only effective means moving forward.
'It's personal': The outcry over Eddie Jones' contract situation exposes a double standard in sports business
Always. And in fact at this second working on a coaching cooperative plan. So much joy.
When will Australian coaching stop trying to keep up with the Joneses?
I’m with you. I don’t want a headline man. We don’t need the drama!
This is the brutal reality: There are Aussies desperate to see Wallabies fail, and many want to see the sport's complete demise
Geoff, thank you for being so insightful as always. And not being too bitter. Unlike myself! I was holding a sense of bitterness and burn yesterday after the game as it was once again so apparent how decades, months and days of mismanagement by RA have come to roost in such a public, humiliating fashion.
I was and continue to be frustrated by the continued statement that bringing a young team to RWC 2023 would build the players for 2027. Realistically, what is the likelihood that a hefty portion of this squad would be around for then? Imagining European or Japanese contracts, injuries or simply no longer being in form should reduce that expectation. Ultimately, Eddie should have looked to build from the outset a setting which produced meritocracy through good selections (including leadership whose choice couldn’t be challenged) and game plans that built on strengths but attacked opponents’ weaknesses – things that made sense for the players and us rugby people. Then after the RWC, an environment which invited players to want to stay and play and sponsors and fans to pay. But I just don’t know that we can, if we don’t change to just being sensible with our choices at the highest management and coaching levels.
The Wrap: With Wallabies done and dusted in 15 miserable days, who do we trust to take Australian rugby forward?
Champion or poisoned chalice?!
My metric for good PR is a sense of ease and engagement with stakeholders, loyalty and love from those who matter the most to you (here, the rugby community) and a healthy relationship with those who report on what you do. Not advocating for weapons of mass destruction but some clearout of those who created this mess is prescribed.
This is the brutal reality: There are Aussies desperate to see Wallabies fail, and many want to see the sport's complete demise
This is absolutely it. It’s a competitive media environment. For years however, I’ve said that Rugby Australia needs to do a shitload better to manage its optics as they constantly face unfavourable events of varying degrees of magnitude – e.g Folau, through to the recent WAGs/Wallaroos etc. The best way to ensure good PR is to do things right. Ethically, pragmatically, socially, commercially right. But they don’t. So they always look like right royal idiots. And it’s a cycle of self-sabotage which brings the whole Australian rugby community down with it.
This is the brutal reality: There are Aussies desperate to see Wallabies fail, and many want to see the sport's complete demise
Well 😡 https://x.com/LordLaurie58/status/1706056709511221475?s=20
'Bloody disappointed: Wallabies OUT of World Cup as nation to miss finals for first time, Eddie fights for survival
Imagine if, I dunno, say Laurie Fisher was able to help guide the national team. Oh, he was turfed after a few months wasn’t he? Absolute bollocks.
'Bloody disappointed: Wallabies OUT of World Cup as nation to miss finals for first time, Eddie fights for survival
Ugh. I think a coup is in order to sort things out at RA.
'Bloody disappointed: Wallabies OUT of World Cup as nation to miss finals for first time, Eddie fights for survival
I hate this quote. Basically justifies consistent bad juju.
'Bloody disappointed: Wallabies OUT of World Cup as nation to miss finals for first time, Eddie fights for survival
This is very true
'Bloody disappointed: Wallabies OUT of World Cup as nation to miss finals for first time, Eddie fights for survival
Feeling so burned and bitter this morning. Hooper is currently talking about how hard Eddie works for the team – but I’d rather we have less work and more correct decisions and sensible engagements.
'Bloody disappointed: Wallabies OUT of World Cup as nation to miss finals for first time, Eddie fights for survival
Thanks dear RT. Loads of rugby to consume. Just need time for all the good things in life!
Falling in love all over again - how I rediscovered my passion for hockey
I had slightly higher expectations of the Wallabies than usual – slightly, so very slightly – so I didn’t have the crash of disappointment that many others had. We’ve been here before with other W coaches and other sides. Difficult to find success when winning isn’t a habit in the Aussie SR teams or in coaches’ recent records. Granted, Eddie has only been overseeing the Australian program for a short while but I was concerned that his tendency to commit to awkward game plans would become ingrained in the Wallabies at an early stage. Seeing what happened on Saturday sort of affirmed it. Having said that! I live in hope. Why not? Better than despair (and its only a game)!
The Wrap: Like Hillary at Everest Base Camp, Eddie Jones has a mountain ahead of him
Fantastic, evocative article on a player I’ve always wanted to know more about. Passionate player, huge personality!
Jean-Pierre Rives: a blood-stained jersey tells the story of French rugby's Renaissance man
Love this article Rob, a fantastic look at what I feel is the foundation of sport. Your comment on guilds is spot on. As a grassroots coach in another game, I struggle with seeing how our community of coaches is shrinking – people don’t have the time to invest and the energy to deal with strain of systemic and cultural issues of teams, clubs and competitions. I am trying to facilitate a coaching cooperative in our club as a means of sharing resources, working through issues and building development but the primary fact is we don’t have the volunteers and thus the time and I don’t have the energy or time either! I try to visualise how financial investment could help, and the only thing I see is to have paid club coordinators who can spend the hours to facilitate, debrief, cajole, inspire and deal with the uglies of admin. A small idealistic dream not founded on reality. Nice to imagine at 3 in the morning anyway!
When will Australian coaching stop trying to keep up with the Joneses?
On that point Geoff, I was at GIO stadium on Saturday and noted once again how isolated I was in the GA seats. In terms of optics, those segments need to be filled to make the crowd look alive. Yet no doubt the corporate boxes were packed with people hiding and rightfully enjoying their drinks and nibbles. Be great though if they could sit behind the posts and add to the noise.
The Wrap: Super Rugby's two-speed expansion so far provides multiple headaches
It was mind-blowing to see how many Fijians, Kenyans, and Samoans attended the 7s. An incredible vibe. The local contingent seems to be very much a younger crowd there for the socialising rather than the games. Going there with kids, it wasn’t anywhere near as family-friendly as the Singapore 7s. In any case, a successful event for the organisers, but I don’t think it’ll have much impact in the bigger picture.
Sacré bleu: French spoil the Sydney Sevens party as Aussie sides crash out in epic quarter-finals
This is a super article Tia. I have longed for Fijiana to shine on the world stage and the opportunity to play in SuperW is to be grabbed with both hands so that they can do so. Their performance against the Reds is a fantastic confidence boost, especially given that confidence is something which eludes many Pacific XV sides in comps and tournaments, stifling their natural game.
Super W 2022: The quiet entry of the Fijiana Drua
Thanks Brett for the comparison on the ruck clearance stats. The attack from a standing start continues to be a albatross around our necks, indicative of a chronic hesitation in the team. Irritating to see it still present after so many years.
'No answers': Only questions and confusion left lingering from Wallabies' loss to England
Shudder
BREAKING: Waratahs sack interim head coaches for "failing to meet on-field expectations"
Great article Peter, fantastic to have the spotlight shone on Geoff Mould. Would also like to have his daughter Karen Mould noted as an influence in high school rugby in Sydney, successfully coaching Randwick Boys’ High school teams and school rep teams in the 1990s and 2000s. She was an inspiration to me. I love that the family legacy is coaching expertise at the development and club level – where the impacts on the broad numbers of players are the greatest.
Rediscovering Geoff Mould, Australia's guru of running rugby