Roar Rookie
Joined May 2014
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A former high-school Rugby coach of under-age "A" teams. Rugby referee. Former Rugby Club Honorary Secretary.
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I am sick of trying to explain to my NRL, AFL, and lapsed rugby union mates that the laws of NRL and AFL are…
Here is my open letter to Michael Cheika, the embattled head coach of the Wallabies. G'day Michael Cheika, Firstly, thank you for your enthusiasm…
A red card has a massive effect on the result of a rugby match – especially if it occurs early in the game. In…
I am unsure who should take the blame for us not making the Semis. (It reminds me of a comment/joke after England was eliminated from the Semis of the 2015 RUGBY World Cup that was held IN England that:— “England’s XV had SUNK so badly that they could not even get out of their OWN POOL !!”. Could the same joke now be applied to out own CRICKET W C Squad?!
Regarding our Cricket ADMINISTRATORS, could someone please tell me how they could possibly justify changing our International Colours to Black and Yellow, instead of the traditional Green and Gold that, to the best of my knowledge, ALL of Australia’s International sporting teams wear with pride??!!
(I fully realise that black and yellow are the colours of their sponsors, but surely that sponsor’s logo could be attached to their Green and Gold Uniforms? — Otherwise get a new sponsor!
Maybe CA’s administrators might now re-consider the folly of changing our National Colours !!
Who’s to blame for Australia’s T20 World Cup failure: Selectors, coach, captain, players let themselves down
So much of what you say is so true, and obvious, Luke!
Unfortunately these Laws are framed in the UK and then forced upon other nations. (Just consider, in the recent Red Card incident, that, IF the “offence” happened under SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC LAWS, Swain still would have been banned for the remainder of the match, and faced the judiciary later, but he could be replaced by a teammate after 20 minutes.
As for all this talk of protecting the head of a player, which I largely agree with, IMHO it is only a matter of time before we hear of a serious head, or spinal, injury resulting from the so-called driving maul, where an attacking player dangerously attempts to score by diving head-first into several defenders’ legs! Apart from such danger, how many boring, repetitive, “tries” are scored by up to 13 or so attackers using the players IN FRONT OF THEM AS AN OBSTRUCTION to score such “tries”? Little wonder that we see such a large percentage of such boring, obstructionist, so-called “tries” being “scored” –, and so relatively few wonderful team tries involving the backs?
The purists may well disagree, but I reckon that it is time the DANGEROUS, OBSTRUCTIONIST driving maul be banned from the game that they (used to) play in heaven !
When rugby stopped being the game they played in heaven
ALL Aust. Teams had a good First Half — but then what happened ??? Surely it could not be fitness at this stage of the season?!! IF SO, then Dave Rennie must be worried, but it is to be hoped that he therefore does NOT run the hell out of them in the week prior to the first Pom Test!!
(Of course, physical tiredness can affect mental awareness, that could cause poor decisions to be made?)
'Playing too well to leave out': The Wallabies selection headache forced by McReight's great leap forward
I agree with your word “YET”, Brett. He is only young, has leadership qualities — Oz Under 20s Captain, — is a really good team man, (as evidenced by his progress through Brissy Club Rugby), and has a good understanding of the game. I can see no real advantage (for him) in rushing him into Tests against the Poms nor the ABs in the current Wallaby situation. But IF he continues to develop his game and his skills, and remains patient(!), his FUTURE is very bright — in my opinion.
'Playing too well to leave out': The Wallabies selection headache forced by McReight's great leap forward
In my humble opinion, Hamish Stewart is certainly one of the Red’s best players (along with McReight and Wilson) — in both attack and defence– tackling around the ankles. IF only he was a bit bigger, he could be a Wallaby. But I see no real point in rushing these 3 to play the Poms nor the ABs —- just yet ! They should be patient as their time will come, and Fraser could be a future Wallaby skipper after Hoops retires.? (Being roughly the same build as Hooper, Fraser could do well to learn more from Hooper’s experience, both as a number 7 and as a skipper?)
'Playing too well to leave out': The Wallabies selection headache forced by McReight's great leap forward
Your selected XV has much merit, thanks Jim. (As a former club secretary, I well remember you when you covered Club Rugby so well in years gone by!) Who are your bench players, mate.? One player whom I would like to see picked in the 23, — IF only he was bigger! —is the Reds centre, Hamish Stewart. But, really, maybe some of your, and my, and others’, selections could change a fair bit after we play the Kiwi Super Rugby sides.? The type of players whom the Poms will pick, and their style of play, is no secret, so we had better get the selections correct for when we meet them, —- and how they perform against the Kiwis in the next few weeks could be a good pointer! Let us forget all this talk of which State they play for, and pick the 23 who will do Australia proud!
Wallabies XV to face England: We're getting close but some still have plenty to play for
Please correct me if I am wrong, Praetorian, but I THINK that 2 Yellows already means a Red??
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
El Flash, I would still like to see the rolling maul abolished altogether. Your final sentence is so true!
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
As you say, Gatesy, “Who Knows”?! But unless the game is improved as a spectacle, more fans will abandon Rugby, thus depriving RA of the funds necessary to make our national teams more competitive, and to support the grassroots.
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Aiden, Anything that might improve the game as a spectacle is worth considering. Since crowds are falling, here in Aust., this means fewer $$$$s (through gate takings, sponsorship, TV rights, the media etc) available for Rugby Australia to promote the game here.
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Worth considering Rocky. (Not sure about the “arms length”)
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Osina. Re the GP tries — I agree. Here in Oz the local (suburban) games ALSO produce plenty of tries, esp. by the backs. (Unfortunately the bash & barge forwards’ tries from 5 metres out are creeping into the game there — and I was an old forward!). It is a pity that such try-scoring is absent from many Tests and several other major games.
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Good reply El Flash. I definitely agree about rolling mauls being a blight on the game! (Which can also be dangerous). What has happened to wonderful backline team tries?
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Thanks Lucky.
You have made some good suggestions. I would like to see most suggestions (yours, mine & others) possibly trialled in, say, suburban games to see which World Rugby should consider,
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Thanks Graham, You have made several good suggestions. I particularly like your numbers 1, 2 & 3
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Because fans are deserting the game here, it means lower attendances, less media, lower TV ratings, etc. which all deprive RA of the $$$$s we need to make Oz Rugby strong again.
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
????
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
DA, The suggested 4 for an intercept try is because they usually involve a 14-point TURNAROUND on the scoreboard. And several seem to originate from offside play
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Rob, From my view, some of the best tries are scored in the corner (5 points?), while bash and barge forwards tries are often worth 7 under the current Laws. Thanks for your input!
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Thanks for your detailed reply , osina. You make several good points, but, IF I am correct, not so many BACKLINE tries, mate. I hate those bash and barge forwards tries from 5 metres out (could also be dangerous?) as well as from driving maul lineouts (which, in most cases IMHO, involve obstruction). I expect the Poms to be too good for the Wallabies in July (unfortunately!)
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Sorry if I have offended you If you have British heritage, osinsa ?
But do you agree that one of the best Rugby sights for the spectator is seeing great tries scored by the BACKS? Then I would like to know, in the recent 6 Nations, how many BACK-LINE Tries were scored (on average?), apart from one-sided games V Italy. (I hope that Italy are on the improve— I think I read where Italy Under 20 defeated England Under 20, but maybe I was dreaming!)
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Thank God !!
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Well Poco, Refs today can see forward passes (NOT always correctly) without the need for multiple lines on the field. So it would be up to them to “wave back” players who they thought MIGHT be off-side. (Also the 2 Assistant Refs could let the main Ref know if they detected any players who were off-side.)
I suggest that, maybe, we could experiment with such a POSSIBLE change to the off-side Law in, say, suburban games — to see if they could be adopted moreover?
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
Thanks JC. I just think, because crowds are falling, that the game in Aust, is failing to earn the $$$$s that we need to run the game professionally (attendances, TV contracts, media) so that, inter alia, the Wallabies will be near the top Rugby nations once more. What do you think?
How rugby union can change its laws to improve the spectacle... including six-point tries
It seems that McKellar and Fisher might be influencing Rennie’s selections — to choose Brumbies players who are below par! For that reason (as well as others) that pair must not be handed the Wallabies coaching job(s)! (Forget about Rennie being a Kiwi —– We did have one very good Kiwi coach in Robbie Deans — who was treated very badly by Rugby Australia, — responding to the woeful, unjust calls of Greg Martin and others!)
Studs and duds: 'Shocking' coach call, 'appalling' moment that could end RWC dream, time to axe 'invisible' man