Roar Pro
Joined November 2012
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Week after week the pages of this wonderful sports website are filled with the concussion discussion and its most dreaded embodiment, the red card.…
With all the doom and gloom hovering over around Australian rugby at the moment, I thought I’d lighten things up with everyone’s favourite amateur…
Rugby has strengths and weaknesses. We hear about the weaknesses all the time. So I would like to lay out a strengths-based analysis of…
We lost the first Bledisloe Cup Test badly and so as usual we see the opportunist axe grinders doing their thing online. I do…
As passionate fans, we know that at times we're all that 'bloke in the pub'. It's you and me, your mates, my mates, and…
In one of The Roar's comment threads the other day, I referred to the 'main' rugby states as being Queensland and New South Wales…
I have played plenty of cricket and understand the appeal, and dare I say the value, of sledging, but this will be a critical…
According to many pundits and Roarers, Michael Hooper is manifestly unfit for the Wallaby captaincy. One half the argument goes to his leadership abilities,…
Brett McKay's article this week reminded me of a First World War general rallying the troops to make one final charge up the hill.…
I have lived in the United States for three years and have not tired of explaining cricket to Americans. Cricket is an exotic and…
Based upon talent alone, the 2016 class of All Blacks may one day be rated among of the best rugby teams of all time.…
Personality. The best Australian rugby teams throughout history have had a personality. The Brumbies of yesteryear, the Reds of 2011 and the Waratahs of…
It is a do or die match and coach Michael Cheika decides to throw all caution to the wind. This is that backline. It…
I will make a prediction straight off the bat. The USA Eagles will emerge from the pool stage of the 2023 World Cup and…
With the Brumbies, Waratahs and Force all in the Super Rugby finals mix, many a rugby pundit has lauded the growing depth in Australian…
Maybe it reveals more about me in a Freudian sense than I'd care to investigate, but I'm just going to come right out and…
Rudderless. A brilliant way to sum up the Waratahs in 2013. What is a rugby rudder? A bloke that gives direction in key moments…
The Wallabies need a more prescriptive and structured game plan because we simply don't have the team for the Deans 'play what's in front…
Thorne is exceptional for a reason. His rugby set piece and breakdown work were exceptional. It’s a tough ask expecting someone not proficient at those tasks to pick them up enough to excell at an elite level.
I don’t quite be agree with the author there’s no easy fit for him. As with SBW, and though not as successful, Sam Burgess, the model is to play someone
like Crichton at 12.
Providing his passing and kicking are not complete liabilities, this is where you want someone who can bring a rugby league hardened shoulder and ability to pump the legs and make hard carries in traffic. The Wallabies have lacked one for years and have gone with more of a second playmaker. I personally think the superior model in modern rugby is to have your number 12 be a big hard body, and your number 13 be the superior ball player.
Rooster must remodel: Angus Crichton says he'd want to 'dominate' in rugby union - this is what he'd have to change
Ha! We’ll see.
Brumbies make it 12 straight against Tahs as Bell hobbles off in worrying sign for Wallabies
Well that’s my point. Surely there needs so be a bit of Sun Tzu about coaching, in not taking on the opposition on the ground of their choosing.
Brumbies make it 12 straight against Tahs as Bell hobbles off in worrying sign for Wallabies
Fair enough re: work rate. That’ll be for the analysts to work out.
Re: soft hands, I don’t agree. He likes lots of short passing, recycling and possession. Soft hands are good for that.
Brumbies make it 12 straight against Tahs as Bell hobbles off in worrying sign for Wallabies
I think the biggest issue with the Tahs last night was the a field position game plan built around winning kicking duels.
This in a sense a natural thing to attempt, given the conditions. But at what point as a coach do you look at the other side and acknowledge you can’t win in a certain area of the game, and, despite the conditions favouring the team better in that area, at least have a crack at something different.
I would like to have seen more contestable kicks. More kick returns early in the match from the back three based around a strategy of resetting a few rucks before testing the Brumbies at the fringes.
It all just seemed rather simplistic. “We need to play the game in the right areas, so kick early, and uh….kick better than them. Good luck”.
Brumbies make it 12 straight against Tahs as Bell hobbles off in worrying sign for Wallabies
And Bell. He’s going to make the test squad if he’s fit. 100 percent.
Brumbies make it 12 straight against Tahs as Bell hobbles off in worrying sign for Wallabies
I’ll be very surprised if Holloway is not selected. I think he’s a Schmidt forward. Core set piece skills. Soft hands. Smart around the park with choke tackles, maul defence etc.
But yeah, arguing the case for a single player is not a fantastic look for the Tahs.
Hannigan makes the squad for his hands and set up piece. I think Vahelanu is a smokie too. Good hands, good core skills.
The Tahs have missed him every game he’s been absent.
I think the point is that the mark of a good player in most positions is executing their skills in the manner the game plan/coach demands. There’s a few potential options in the Tahs, but yeah, not a tonne.
Brumbies make it 12 straight against Tahs as Bell hobbles off in worrying sign for Wallabies
Well that’s it isn’t it. Balance. Things might be about to change if the whole tackle below the sternum thing goes ahead, but for now, test rugby requires a pack that can move big bodies. With a McReight more than likely going to be selected at 7, I think yes, you’re right. Cale could just fit at 8 with Valetini at 6, and a one man wrecking ball like Skelton at lock.
Personally I think there’s a big chance Holloway gets picked. I think he suits Schmidt’s game plan.
So 4, Holloway, 5, Skelton, 6, Valetini, 7, McReight, 8, Cale.
I think that’d be a very well balanced back row with lots of forwards with soft hands.
Throw in more forwards with soft hands in the front row like Slipper/Bell Faessler (or maybe even Vahelanu — the Tahs play so much worse when he’s injured) and then Tupou/AAA.
That’d be my pack at this stage.
Brumbies make it 12 straight against Tahs as Bell hobbles off in worrying sign for Wallabies
Well don’t jump the gun there mate. You’re talking Jones era decisions.
It’s really hard to see Wright not getting a crack in a well balanced back three with Kellaway and one other. Personally I think Wright looks the most solid he ever has this year.
Brumbies make it 12 straight against Tahs as Bell hobbles off in worrying sign for Wallabies
I remember a colts grand final once, I was injured and sitting on the stands in earshot of the director of colts. My team got a penalty right in front at a moment in the game where 3 points would have been a good idea. Director man and most people on the sidelines are screaming out “kick the goal!!!” And our hothead of a number 10 does a hero quick tap. Moments before he spills the ball in contact, someone else yells out “he better score”. Just a true statement. Add that to forwards kicking “better be a good one” and basically any grubber in rugby union.
So yeah, when I saw Pietsch going for the corner and ignoring his unmarked support, I thought “he better score”.
He didn’t. It’s a massive fail. That had to be a try.
'What the hell's going on': Ex-Wallabies question 'losing' culture, pathways at Waratahs
“Cut man” is the best job title in sport. I feel like you’ve gotta have done some time in the slammer to be a ridgy didge cut man.
'It can be something great': Schmidt turns to 'scrum doctor' as next step in Wallabies rebuild
Ardie Savea would be my pick of of the next rung.
Razor's pursuit of 'hard bastard' Sam Whitelock reveals the ugly truth about the modern All Blacks
Personally I think there’s no shortage of heart and ability in this Tahs team. But there’s definitely a lack of belief and confidence.
This is me is why when Edmed missed the kick against the Highlanders it was extra gutting. Right there — two wins in a row against NZ opposition — was the chance to break free of the self belief shackles.
Now, they’re just going to have to slog it out. There are many winnable games left, they’ll just have resign themselves to the battle of the 5-8 finish. And such is the ridiculousness of this format, they’ll be a punchers chance.
Deja vu for Tane as Drua deliver another heart-breaker to under fire Coleman
Personally I think it’s an insult to the rugby community in Melbourne for these two Lions tests to be spruiked for the financial gain of rugby in Australia and the state of Victoria without a deal in place to save the Rebels first. Hopefully that’s coming very shortly.
Honestly, if we had a semi pro (or even better yet pro) domestic league featuring Melbourne I’d be all for Australia going back to three teams at SR level. But we don’t. The Rebels are it. They must be saved.
Exclusive: Wallaby refused to play for Rebels against Reds over outstanding debt
Are the punishments weak though? I can’t imagine a four week ban would be much fun. You’d feel massively like you’ve let your team down.
We need to hear from players and coaches. One hopes they do anonymous surveys.
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?
Thanks for this Geoff. This is the drum I’ve been banging on these forums. We need to understand what is a credible deterrence that will lead to a change in coaching culture, and what is something that may require a change in the rules. Doing it for the optics is just not on when the stakes are so high for both the future of the game and player safety.
The Wrap: Reds light up Melbourne, while it's lights out for TV over Lienert-Brown concussion
That’s as flat a Brumbies physically I think I’ve seen. And it shows you how even the most cohesive side on paper can disintegrate into one out crap if they’re getting dusted at the collision. Lolesio is a clever footballer but is neither fast nor a physical presence at the line, so this is exactly the kind of game where the likes of he and his scrum half Lonegan need to demonstrate they can steer the team into the right areas and get the guys going forward.
'Reality check': Brumbies cop hiding from Chiefs in worst display ever under Larkham
Good game, especially in the conditions. Most concerning from a Tahs perspective is that they just seemed off the pace in defence. Is it fitness? Hopefully not. I’m hoping it’s a new system that has not quite gelled.
Hard to blame the Tahs halves for that performance. Kicking was definitely second best on the night. But those players didn’t give away scrum and ruck penalties or leave gaps on D. I think in those conditions their is always going to be a lot of kicking, the team that wins will defend the best. And so the Reds did, and won.
'Tough call': Reds too good for Tahs in cracking Aussie derby, as controversial penalty try, yellow to Jorgo proves telling
Well hopefully you guys have a great season and attract some nice crowds….
There’s lots of expats or exstats (is that a thing, where you’re from another state? Ha ha) in Melbourne ready to make the Rebels a second team.
CONFIRMED: Rebels fall into voluntary administration as Rugby Australia seeks 'sustainable and successful future'
I reckon most Kiwis have now finally decided the Bledisloe is boring and want Australia to get one back just so they can enjoy taking it right back again.
But boy oh boy are they torn. Once they won the WC in 2011, it’s more about the pain of losing more than than the not winning, if that makes sense.
For an example of machine like skill execution even when humiliating an opponent, go no further then Germany in soccer. There’s not a team in the world that would have been Brazil 7-1. At 4-0 they would have switched off out of pity. Would not want to fight those guys in a war….
It's not un-Australian to cheer against Australia - in fact, in our favourite sports, it is the best option
I must admit, I’m confused about the criticism.
Isn’t looking for the single on ball 4 the safe play? You’re basically wagering the tail ender having to face two balls against the risk of their having to face 6.
Stoke’s tactic only worked because Australia did a very very poor job of cutting off the single….
Trust the lower order or farm the strike? Smith follows Waugh path but tail ends poorly after his crucial late error
Yes. Some of my most frustrating cricket watching of recent years has been Australia bowling to the tail. I stayed up to watch the Lords test in the most recent Ashes and at 2am Starc refusing to bowl at Jimmy Anderson’s stumps to wrap it up dead set nearly killed me.
Shamar's a superstar: Windies rookie destroys Australia with all-time great spell to break 27-year drought in cliffhanger
Yeah, their fielding was sharp. Pakistan pay attention.
Shamar's a superstar: Windies rookie destroys Australia with all-time great spell to break 27-year drought in cliffhanger
“He nicked off to a ball that a specialist would have left alone.”
This kind of statement annoys me. It’s just so glib and misleading.
Many, many MANY “specialist openers” have nicked balls they should have left alone.
It is true that more than any other player, openers need to know where their off stump is. Smith in any kind of form is extremely good at that. As good as I’ve seen, in ANY position in the order.
But…clear he’s not in form. So more relevant conversation than just “fish out of water” (which forgets the scores of time Smith has come in within the first couple of overs) is whether opener is a more challenging position to find form when you’re out of form.
To me, the answer is perhaps. But he asked for it. And as far as I’m concerned, the great teams have always given their great players this privilege, at least for a while. It is a double standard. It is a privilege. But to me it’s a right of greatness, and is overall good for any team, as long as it doesn’t go on too long. Smith’s form slump has not been catastrophic compared with other form slumps experienced by players of a similar ilk.
Aussies face huge call over batting experiment with Smith and Green failing again as Windies turn Test on its head
Gifted in the discipline of NRL, which crosses over rugby in many ways, but critically not in breakdown work or set piece. As you say, they’d need the time to start earlier, and ideally play a season or two of club rugby.
Rooster must remodel: Angus Crichton says he'd want to 'dominate' in rugby union - this is what he'd have to change