Have Australia lost their edge?
Cricket is a topical subject these days, so I will keep this pretty short. Many of you might think I am way off anyway,…
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Cricket is a topical subject these days, so I will keep this pretty short. Many of you might think I am way off anyway,…
With the Rugby World Cup just under two months away the beginnings of a Wallabies team is coming together. But who will steer the…
Those that run the Reds, the team I have followed since I can remember, have made a fatal decision that has put them on…
Who the hell picks the Man of the Match? OK, I know it is the state selectors, but what do they see that we…
There was a very interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday. Solomon Haumono has come clean after 13 years of everyone believing he went…
A thought occurred to me today:Â Whilst Cooper is good, perhaps Beale is the real reason for the resurgance of the Wallabies late last year.…
[caption id="attachment_2564" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="Australia\'s Chris Latham - AP Photo/Mark Baker"][/caption] Coming to the end of this year, can only mean one thing to…
At the end of this article is a video of the Wallabies' change room after the Welsh win. I love how, during the Lions'…
This may be a conspiracy theory, but it could be a good one. Long have people outside of NSW felt that their clubs don't…
While it was a bit before my time, from watching The Rise and Rise of the Wallabies, I understand the Wallabies from 1982 were…
With an anglo name, I will never know what this is like, but people should always feel able to correct others on the pronounciation of their name.
Some names a bloody tricky to wrap your tongue around. Waratah’s player and newly signed Rooster Mark Nawaqanitawase has taken me about three years to work out in my head… Nawang-a-knee-ta-wa-see. I think.
I love this story. Thanks.
'They need to know why it’s important': How Izack Tago rediscovered his name - and his culture
Well… technically, Jacko’s right… his knees look bent at 90 degrees, but his body is still 90 to the ground…
The Wrap: Reds light up Melbourne, while it's lights out for TV over Lienert-Brown concussion
Yet you continue to argue that Barrett did all he could and the judiciary is out to get him?
The Wrap: Reds light up Melbourne, while it's lights out for TV over Lienert-Brown concussion
“The fact he is 6’5″ was his only problem as Barretts shoulder connected directly to the head”… Jacko, I think we have covered this before. I would like to put a picture up here, but I can’t. He might have bent his knees, but Barret’s body was not bent at all… It was bolt upright, and “shoulder connected directly to the head” is a problem.
The Wrap: Reds light up Melbourne, while it's lights out for TV over Lienert-Brown concussion
“A better starting point might be to question how and to what extent, cards and suspensions actually change player behaviour and make the game safer?”
Both League and Rugby… I would love stats on number of cards… because it seems cards, send offs and on reports etc are increasing… now it is also noted that as framework shifts, it covers more, and more players get captured by it… but it isn’t changing behaviour, because much of the time, it isn’t malicious intent getting penalised.
3 weeks for Barrett? I mean it was as straight a card as you see. Didn’t bend at all, flush contact with the head… got a yellow, upgraded to red, and ended up with 3 weeks. Some are obvious. No issue with them.
4 weeks for Sef? I mean, as stated in the article, I don’t know how much more he could have done to avoid the head-on-head contact, given the ball carrier ducked into contact as well.
It is accidental. Two bodies coming together at pace, and one shifts his hips… shifts his upper body to absorb the contact… and pow… there is contact with his head. You can’t change behaviour that is unintended.
Show the stats that it is changing any sort of tackle behaviour? And if it isn’t, then what are we doing? I’m all for safety, but some cards, are for card’s sake and do not make the game safter at all.
The Wrap: Reds light up Melbourne, while it's lights out for TV over Lienert-Brown concussion
It’s just pure old boyism… Mates hired by mates… doesn’t have to be RA involvement, because we all know the states have great history of nepotism and self interest as well.
RA reeling and facing a mass exodus of biggest stars - there are three key reasons why they're in peril
It’s true… but the incestuous nature of hiring in rugby within Aus isn’t just limited to the RA board.
Think Foley getting sacked from the Tahs, but getting a job with the Force… Graham’s absolutely terrible record at the Force, yet somehow deemed good enough to take over the high flying Reds.
Larkham getting a head coach role of the most successful Australian team with no great success to speak of.
Eddie, with no real thought to his team, because… Eddie.
I think this year… 2024… We see some really good hires, and I am hopeful of good results in time.
Less Kiss is VERY impressive so far, and the Reds, so far, have responded to him.
Schmidt and Lord… good hirings. We will see what happens in time, but really… good measured hires.
There needs to be more accountability for the dreadful, incestuous decisions, the trust of the Australian Rugby Community.
RA reeling and facing a mass exodus of biggest stars - there are three key reasons why they're in peril
Yep… I couldn’t figure out why Walsh kept backing off…
No.1 gun in NRL: Reece is the word at Broncos as star fullback rips Rabbitohs to shreds with lightning quick attack
I find that a really dumb rule… anyone in front could be seen as blocking… it’s such an odd rule. The first one he was actively moving forward, and was penalised…
No.1 gun in NRL: Reece is the word at Broncos as star fullback rips Rabbitohs to shreds with lightning quick attack
Riki wasn’t helped defending the first Rabbits try by Reynolds rushing up, leaving the gap behind… left him a horrible angle to defend. Granted, he could have gone a lot lower, but old mate was powerful as.
I found the last try slightly concerning from a defensive point. Walsh was backing off and backing off, almost hoping Mitchell would pass left, but he wasn’t facing Mitchell, he was back pedalling side-on, facing the eastern sideline… Made the decision for Mitchell to step back right and gun for the line a very easy one. The other Bronco’s players were questioning why Walsh didn’t attempt a tackle earlier.
No.1 gun in NRL: Reece is the word at Broncos as star fullback rips Rabbitohs to shreds with lightning quick attack
KPM, You are right, but again, under previous regimes, with LT, Rogers etc, we were hanging around what? 60% win? Maybe a bit more around 2003 through to say 2006… but from 2007, the decline really started with our scrum an international joke, whether it factually was or not (perception meant refs were penalising us off the park), and results started to decline as well.
You are saying that the past decade hasn’t seen any signings and no difference in (declining) product… You are dead right… but the money spent on signings earlier could have been spent on pathways that would have born fruit… could have been spent on coaching, that would have born fruit… could have been spent on canteens, and would have made people happy… The issue is that the money was not spent on RUGBY in australia when it needed to be. The issue is the management of spending.
RA reeling and facing a mass exodus of biggest stars - there are three key reasons why they're in peril
Did we win with Tuquiri? Sometimes… probably most of the time… but not because of him.
Did we win with Folau? Half the time. And he certainly helped this wins… but he certainly helped the losses too.
RA reeling and facing a mass exodus of biggest stars - there are three key reasons why they're in peril
I think this overlooks something fairly vital…
Bringing fantastic players over to a shit system isn’t going to win any more games.
RA need to spend on coaching systems first, and get them right… THEN, they need to spend on the pathways.
Better coaching means better results, means happier players, happier public, more money coming in… all starts with better coached players and teams, not parachuting in 1 or 2 players.
RA reeling and facing a mass exodus of biggest stars - there are three key reasons why they're in peril
I also actually refute the “power balance” argument that has lately come into the racism definition as well. It takes no power, only malice to think someone else lesser because of genes. That is the true definition of racism.
The recent argument, inserting “power balance” etc, excuses racism against certain groups for some reason.
NRL News: Robbo regrets his words but insists Leniu 'not racist', Cowboy targets Blues spot, Joey's surprise best coach
Sorry, what I meant was it actually did not benefit rugby in Aus…
RA reeling and facing a mass exodus of biggest stars - there are three key reasons why they're in peril
Yeah, very early to crow winning etc, but the obvious change in how they play is there for all to see, and appreciate, if they let themselves.
'Be useful': how unrivalled discipline and work rate is lifting the Reds to new heights
Yeah… poor, poor management has led us to this precipice really.
Professional rugby is in a bind in Australia that is incredibly sad really, when you think of the history of it.
If we are honest, we have been horribly led at a national professional level since the turn of the century, if not a touch before. Wasting all the money from the 2001 Lions, and 2003 WC with nothing to show for it… Wasting two start up national comps… money down the gurgler. Then COVID comes along… They did as good as could be expected there, fair play… BUT to then recruit a league winger on massive overs… blow out the World Cup budget, knowingly (or not) allow the Rebels shocking financials… Jeez…
How much can a koala bear?
RA reeling and facing a mass exodus of biggest stars - there are three key reasons why they're in peril
They mitigated JB, and not SF… If you look at the different tackles, that really is quite bizarre.
Super Rugby teams: Rookie at 10 for Reds, DC dips into club footy in hooker crisis, Jorgo ruled out, White benched
I, and without speaking for him, but reading his comment… I suspect Piru, think that carding accidents will never rub them out.
The Reds hooker looks pretty set, and to be honest, low enough to effect a safe tackle. The Chiefs runner looks to run with such a low body height into contact that it would be rather difficult to tackle him without head contact… like a pick and go.
So is the issue head on head? Because we know pick and go head contact tackles are not carded. So if it is head on head, how can you card that accident and expect to eradicate it from the game?
Tupou won't shy away from hurting ex-teammates in first clash against old team, Reds prop cops surprising four-match ban
I like being positive… but we need to be honest as well.
No point blowing fluff up bums… Now is the time for honest appraisal of all things Aus rugby, so we can implement changes we need to improve! Then we can all be positive.
To have your heart broken and come back: That's what it's all about - and why I'll be watching Edmed this weekend
I thought the Reds player did get pretty low… pic in the below article, if that is the right one.
https://wwos.nine.com.au/rugby/super-pacific-news-2024-sef-faagase-four-week-ban-queensland-reds-vs-chiefs-video/aab1faa5-7b1b-4ccc-9d25-3cfcb3187b63
Look at the angle of the ball carrier… I mean, jeez… that is a harsh red card.
Tupou won't shy away from hurting ex-teammates in first clash against old team, Reds prop cops surprising four-match ban
Think harder, and Halfpenny slipped in game two, and we won… It could have been 3/0 to the Lions.
To have your heart broken and come back: That's what it's all about - and why I'll be watching Edmed this weekend
“Because the job of an elite sportsperson is to confront the possibility of disaster, and if that disaster comes to pass, to dust yourself off, and confront it again, and again, and again.”
Not just elite… some rubbish ones like me used to do it as well… and do it again, and again and again, for years and years.
I’m sure Grade Cricketers once asked… “Why do we cricket…”
Why golf? Why Tennis ever? They are infuriating.
To have your heart broken and come back: That's what it's all about - and why I'll be watching Edmed this weekend
Nice walk down memory lane… I loved, loved rugby in the 90s… it was a time of backline moves arms races… who could do the most intricate attacking plays and pull them off. Forwards? It was a time of blunt retention… phase after phase. No scrum resets, just pack and get it out!
John Hart’s glorious Athletic Park heroes, how Australia had the last laugh, and could Ireland suffer the same fate?
I loved hearing the Mansour story. It isn’t necessarily raking coals, as he did it with no real malice, just told his side of the story. JD didn’t come out of the story smelling of roses, but then from Mansour’s POV, he shouldn’t have either, because the claim was that communication was dis-ingenious or misleading at best.
If JD thought he did the best he could, perhaps this is time to sit back and take stock of how he does handle communication with players?
NRL News: Mansour fires back at 'absolute hypocrisy', Annesley admits Dogs dudded with no-try call