Roar Pro
Joined February 2013
24k
Views
16
Published
55
Comments
love nfl, rugby, nrl, cricket, epl.
Published
Comments
After mulling over the situation Australian rugby finds itself in for a number of weeks, I went to the pub with a good mate…
The Wallabies face a number of obstacles in their quest to become the best Test side in the world. We need to make some…
New Zealand are the shark which has just smelt blood, or the lion mid-hunt. They're an apex predator who can be ferocious and brutal…
The Wallabies have scored two late tries to beat a gallant Argentinian side 34-9 in Mendoza. Michael Cheika made several changes to the side…
It was a great game of rugby against the Barbarians, and here are my six positives I took from the game. 1. Tevita Kuridrani…
I am a diehard Waratahs fan. It therefore goes without saying that I am a huge believer in Michael Cheika and his abilities as…
The makeup of the backline for the Wallabies in 2014 is entirely up in the air. There are so many options to choose from,…
The Wallabies are facing a difficult situation at present with the squad selection date for the France series looming. There are a variety of…
This Super Rugby season has been highly enjoyable, especially as an Australian supporter, due to its competitiveness and quality. As a result of this…
After the Waratahs loss to the Force last weekend, it looked like we were back to the Waratahs of old. Many said that, after…
I must admit I was as surprised as anyone when Quade Cooper was announced as vice captain of the Wallabies on Thursday. I was…
As good as the 52-17 win over the Pumas in Rosario was, and as well as we played during the 80 minutes; the most…
I am all for Ewen McKenzie being the coach of the Wallabies. While we are definitely struggling now, I believe there is a light…
The selections made by Deans for the second Test are sensible and logical. In a previous article, I implored for a change at five…
Robbie Deans is an above average international rugby coach yet is now facing a challenge not faced by many others. During Deans' tenure he…
I mostly approve of this Wallabies side that has been selected. However there are a few flaws in it, and some changes that I…
Great to hear a bit of positive opinion for once. It’s easy to fall into the doom and gloom, but jeez it gets depressing after a while. Head up there’s always another game. I’ll be watching against Italy even if we lost to Scotland by 50. Cheers Mike.
Have patience, Wallabies supporters, things will click
Agreed – and i thought QC was very dangerous when he came on against Scotland.
Wallabies' Scotland loss needs to be an aberration
Great article Jimmy – but I’d love to see Damien Cook in there at Hooker, and Pearce // Maloney in the halves. Bring Moylan off the bench as a utility. Rest of the team looks good to me!
My Blues team for State of Origin 2017
Great article – shame we can’t find room for Bears legends David Hall or Don McKinnon in there. After Luke O’Donnell’s famous brawl off the bench you gotta squeeze him in there too.
Who makes up NSW's greatest 'one Origin wonder' side?
Naturally if this concept was a success you’d introduce Canberra and regional sides, maybe even Perth or Melbourne teams – into the knockout tournament – but only local clubs that won or came in the top 2 of their local competition.
The easy fix for Australian rugby: Scrap the NRC
Is anyone else frustrated with how we play in the opposition team’s 22? I feel we play great rugby in the middle of park – and in our own 22 – but get very cramped and predictable when close to the try line. Is this a deliberate game plan or just a team panicking under pressure?
Five talking points from Springboks vs Wallabies
I’d like to see Fardy replace Mumm at 6 – and Timani slot in at 8. That way we lose nothing in the lineout. Bring on Leroy Houston in the final quarter for Timani.
Who should replace Sean McMahon?
What gets me is how our tactics change when we get inside the 22. We played beautiful, expansive rugby against the Boks – but always outside the opposition team’s 22. Then when we got near the line we suddenly cramp up, slow down and go back to one off hit ups and pick and drives with no support. I mean that’s fine if you can do it well and retain the ball, but we don’t. It’s all good to do it for a couple of phases, but why weren’t we then going wide? It just seemed like we panicked every time.
SPIRO: Oh dear, Wallabies lose to back-to-the-future Springboks
How is the rest of the backline a joke? Haylett-Petty is in the form of his career and was one of the few shining lights in the England series, Giteau and AAC last played in the RWC and were in great form. Only question I have is Foley.
Wallabies team to play All Blacks: Ben McCalman to start at blindside flanker
You’ll forgive him for Horne?
Arguably the Tahs most consistent player this year?
Give me a break.
Wallabies team for first Test against England: Arnold, Kerevi and Haylett-Petty to debut
Great article mate – however I believe the Welsh halfback Gareth Davies was the official man of the match. Which is laughable.
Wallabies win a triumph of guts, determination, and plenty of luck
Great article mate. I’m sick of the cynicism and want more positivism in rugby media. The Wallabies perform well beyond their abilities considering where the sport is financially in this country.
Can’t wait for England.
Go the Wallabies.
Breaking down the psyche of the Australian rugby fan
I do think this is jumping the gun a little.
After a 5-0 whitewash in Australia…a victorious tour of South Africa…a World Cup win…and a drubbing of the Windies it would suggest the measures of the Argus Report were taken into account.
However the actions of selectors and poor communication between coaches and players in this Ashes series shows to me either arrogance, negligence and laziness.
Teams have to keep evolving and looking for new ways to improve…and this Ashes series looks to me like Australia went into the first test resting on their laurels.
Julian’s incite into the poor communication with selections is particularly damaging…
“Shane Watson learnt of his dropping from the media. Brad Haddin had to draw it out of him, and Mitch Marsh was made aware of his non-selection at the 11th hour. By any measure, this is amateurish.”
Very true.
I think Lehmann is definitely the man to lead us forward…
However Pat Howard and Rod Marsh should be the victims of a lengthy review…or the chopping block.
The empty rhetoric of the Argus Report
Skelton has been a major problem for our scrums, because of his massive weight he can’t get a push on. Our scrum will be much better.
Wallabies announce team for Bledisloe: Pocock and Hooper to start
but Foley got it off a good inside pop from KB
SPIRO: Wallabies strong but why isn't Cheika blooding new players?
I think it’s a smart team to play the Pumas.
Strengthening the scrum with Holmes, and keeping the lineout strong with Simmons, Fardy and McCalman.
Cheika’s faith in the advantages of combinations is good to see (Phipps & Foley, Genia & Cooper).
Keeping these combos strong and consistent improves depth.
I was calling for Skelton to be dropped after last week but it’ll be great to see if he can bounce back with a big performance.
Our bench will have a huge impact once again…to be able to bring on players of Sio, Hooper, Quade and Beale’s quality is great to see. All those players will take advantage of a tired Argentinian side in the second half.
Go the mighty Wallabies.
Wallabies team to play Argentina: Cheika rings the changes
Can’t argue that Toomua and Giteau are ahead of him in the 12 race.
Cheika cuts squad to 31 for Springboks Test in Brisbane
Agreed. Moore is world class but I would’ve picked Hanson over TPN. Just can’t be relied on to last multiple games.
Cheika cuts squad to 31 for Springboks Test in Brisbane
Thanks mate, finally someone makes an easy list to understand and judge.
Cheika cuts squad to 31 for Springboks Test in Brisbane
There’s a few massive flaws in your article David that expose your lack of knowledge of the game.
As fun as it would be to pick Hooper, Pocock and Skelton to start…the lineout would suffer immeasurably. Going from the Tahs lineout woes in the semi and how much pressure it put on our 9 and 10…it would be foolish to condemn the Wallabies to the same fate.
I would start Hooper and Pocock but bring Skelton off the bench. He makes more of an impact in the gold jersey in the 2nd half anyway. My backrow would ideally be a 6. Hooper, 7. Pocock, 8 Palu. However a McMahon at 6 and Pocock at 8 would be fine also.
Your decision to not start Slipper at 1 is remarkable. Slipper is the best prop in the country hands down and has been for some years. Sio has struggled with injuries…and while I love him as a player he should be eased into the side off the bench.
(You also need another prop on the bench…as per the new laws)
Giteau at 10 and Kerevi at 12?
Giteau has been brought back into this side for his stellar play at 12 for Toulon and you want to throw him into the RWC at 10?
Kerevi has had a great season and deserves to tour…but is he deserving to knock off Matt Toomua from the 12 spot?
Toomua has been a shining light for the green and gold since he moved to inside centre and to drop him for Kerevi and destroy his improving combination in the centres with Kuridrani is premature. The same goes for your selection of Joe Tomane.
Tomane has been plagued throughout his career with poor hands, positional inadequacy and unreliable defence. He’s had one good game for Australia in a big win against the Argentinians. I put it to you that if he didn’t score 3 tries for the Brumbies recently you’d be arguing he shouldn’t be in the extended squad.
Your ignorance of the form of Rob Horne is astounding…those who watched his dogged display in the Tahs semi final would agree he deserves a chance to run on in the number 11 jersey. He’s the best defending winger in the country and his abilities in attack are far too quickly dismissed.
Luke Jones has not played well enough in limited tests for Australia as well as this season for Melbourne to justify your relentless praise of him. Dave Dennis…who I am a harsh critic of when he has played blindside flanker in previous years…has proved many wrong this season with great game after great game in the 2nd row. He is well above Jones in the pecking order and obviously Michael Cheika agrees.
I hope for Wallabies fan’s sake your team listed in your article has no bearing in reality.
Lord's Wallaby team from the current squad
Some really amateur lines in this piece.
The “Highlanders never let the Hurricanes play the outstanding rugby that has seen them conquer all before them in 2015.”
The Hurricanes played incredible rugby throughout the match…in the end all that separated them was 7 points which could’ve been closed if Savea caught that pass. Very harsh to argue that the Highlanders were brilliant and the Canes weren’t.
[Highlights] Highlanders claim Super Rugby crown in massive upset
Too right Julian! A critical eye of Australian sport is the only way for progress to be made.
I might also add that the ALL ROUNDERS is the best radio show in the business.
Why criticism is good for cricket
G’Day Scott – as an objective rugby tragic but definitley not an expert, I am not sure what exactly Rob Simmons brings to our game? I keep hearing that he is a lineout king but watching the France and Welsh tests i thought our linout was shambolic – whether he was jumping or not. He is in charge of the calls and I thought often he got it wrong. I would love to hear your thoughts on Simmons as a player.
Cheers, Zac
Bad to worse for Cheika's Wallabies
if you think AAC should be dropped for Tomane then your rugby opinion is invalid. Phipps is playing out of his skin and the last Genia cameo against the BaaBaa’s was below average.
Phipps gets the ball out fast from the ruck and knows when to run and is great in D. Genia takes 2 steps and lets the D-line smother the ball carrier.
Tomane had one of his better games last week but I haven’t seen him play well since his long range try performace against Argentina in Rosario. He is picking Foley because he knows Foley and he is a coach who has led a Foley team to Super rugby glory. If cooper comes on and plays well he will eventually start.
Henry Speight to make debut: Wallabies team to play Ireland
I know you guys will find a positive opinion very strange. But I like this side a lot and I can’t wait to see them play. I know Billy Meakes can’t get a spot at the moment but I’m excited for his inevitable debut as well. Up the Wallabies.
Beale is back as Michael Cheika reveals his Wallabies team for Bledisloe 1