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Member Since:: June 2010
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The one that got away: when Japan nearly toppled England in 1979

13 Dec 2012

With news reports freely available on the web, and the IRB rankings updated on a weekly basis, there are few Test results around the world which escape our attention. It’s easy to forget that this wasn’t always so. Since England are currently basking in the glow of a good win over the World Champions, I [...]

English Rugby gets a look at the new IRB rules

3 Sep 2012

The Aviva Premiership season kicked off on Saturday with a double-header at Twickenham: Wasps vs Harlequins and Saracens vs London Irish. These matches were played with the new law tweaks introduced by the IRB and I watched both. Wasps were nearly relegated last season, while Quins finished champions, so most pundits saw Wasps losing. Wasps [...]

Which sports had a good Olympics?

14 Aug 2012

There were 26 sports on show at the London Olympics, fewer than Beijing after baseball and softball were dropped from the schedule. Some sports have to fight hard to justify their place in the Games. Some will always be included but rely on the Olympics for much of their credibility. For many sports, a good [...]

Advantage of being Johnny on the spot

14 Jun 2012

Gareth Delve took the field for Wales against the Brumbies on Tuesday after being called up as a replacement for Toby Faletau. He might have been next in mind for the coaches anyway, but it certainly did him no harm that he was already available in Australia. When it was confirmed Max Evans couldn’t immediately [...]

Will poor refereeing ruin the upcoming rugby tours?

2 Jun 2012

Before the last World Cup, we all hoped that no big game would be decided by a controversial referee’s call. The very fact this was said so many times was an indication that we suspected it would happen. Sure enough, we got quite a few controversies. I won’t dig them up here again: they were [...]

Scotland's 2012 rugby tour down under

1 Jun 2012

Most of the discussion on The Roar has been about the upcoming Test series against Wales. For neutral supporters, it’s probably the pick of the match-ups between the northern and southern hemispheres over the next few weeks. But of course, the first order of business for Australia is against Scotland. It’s an odd fixture. Firstly, [...]

Rugby's Recent Comments

Rugby Fan has written a total of 389 comments

Wilkinson named Europe’s best rugby player

Gatland asked him to go, Ben. He couldn't commit because he still has games with Toulon. He's willing to go when he's free. That refusal might count against him - it certainly did with Andy Irvine, judging from his comments - but it's still possible that he's in the frame for a call-up.

2 days ago

Banned Beale still in Lions Test frame

"Rebels interim chief executive Rob Clarke was adamant on Thursday that Beale’s on-going treatment program was working" Seems strangely similar to this: http://www.theonion.com/articles/lindsay-lohans-rehab-stint-off-to-great-startand-s,32335/

9 May 2013

What’s unique about the Lions?

When I say 2009 was more successful than the previous two Lions tours, I wasn't referring to results. 2001 was a bitchy tour, made worse by the this being made public. Henry's management was a key problem but a lot of players let him down. Few players have good memories of that series, probably exacerbated by the knowledge that they could have won. This disappointment was keener since everyone had watched, and been inspired, by the DVD of the 1997 Lions tour. 2005 was even worse. Woodward's idea of splitting the squad, and giving the players their own rooms, seemed designed to destroy any chance of building team spirit. It was a weak squad in playing terms but 1997 and 2009 showed that this was not necessarily a barrier to bonding as a team, and playing well. Dallaglio was injured early, as, of course, was BOD, so leadership was quickly lost. The comprehensive nature of the defeats made everyone want to be someone else. 2001 and 2005 weren't the first fractious tours. For instance, 1983 and 1993 both had problems but we were still in the amateur era then. Professionalism always threatened to change the nature of the players relationship with the Lions and it began to look as if 1997 must just have been a fluke. The importance of 2009 is that it re-established the Lions as an enjoyable, and desirable rugby experience. If it had gone as badly as the previous two tours, we might have seen players turning down the chance to go, preferring instead to take a break over the summer for surgery, or recharging the batteries. That might have led to a decline in status and the beginning of the end.

6 May 2013

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