I am infuriated to the nth degree after watching the debacle of a rugby test in South Africa.
Firstly, the referee.
How can rugby hope to enlarge its audience by allowing Northern hemisphere referees to virtually “kill” the game as a spectacle?
There are too many controversial laws at the ruck and maul which makes the game a disaster at present but the refs from the UK seem to take a perverse delight in penalising the visiting teams for the slightest transgressions.
It is almost as if they are panicking about appeasing the local crowds. The assistant refs are totally incompetent in picking up any forward passes or off-side. Very worrying
As for the Wallabies, where does one start.
They do not appear to have ‘ticker’ in this team.
They certainly have the talent and the scrum is holding its own even against the powerful Springbok pack. But it is time to make some tough decisions and I feel that Robbie Deans is reluctant to do this.
1. Baxter must go and be replaced by Ben Alexander. What a difference when he came on
2. Matt Giteau is no flyhalf. He must go back to 12 with Berrick Barnes moving to 10. This will free up Giteau to play his normal roving game.
3. Mortlock must go and be replaced as captain by Sharpe. Give O’Connor a go at 13 – that is the way we have always played our game in Aussie (give the youngsters a go).
4. Move Brown back to No 8 and play Mumm at 6 thus giving us another option at line-out time.
And for heavens sake, why are we kicking away good ball when the only way to beat the Boks is with ball in hand. I don’t understand the Wallaby tactics. Our game is a running game -play it that way!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Unfortunately, the only criteria for this Dream XV are that you had to have passed away. During my research, I thought of potential players…
Rassie Erasmus will coach champions South Africa to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with former Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery added to the technical team…
What goes up must come down, right? As the kicking game in rugby has continued to progress and progress over the last few years,…
South Africa's director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has been admitted to hospital after a freak accident left him with chemical burns. Erasmus, who has…
Rugby has had some ridiculous kickers. The ability and skill with the boot can turn the course of a play, a scoreline, or a…
Thieves have touched the William Webb Ellis trophy during a break-in at South African Rugby Union's HQ but thankfully decided against swiping the World…
