The Wallabies have named their squad for the Spring Tour, so there’s plenty to sink our teeth into on Coach’s Corner as we gear up for some late-night rugby action.
Every Friday, Nick Bishop, The Roar’s resident rugby expert, takes your questions about all the goings-on in the game right now in his column that’s always a must-read.
Miss the latest issue of Coach’s Corner? Catch up right here!
It’s back to the future for Australia as yet more blasts from the past we thought we’d never see again in gold are welcomed back into the fold ahead of the UK Tests. Rory Arnold, Will Skelton and Tolu Latu join the likes of Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon to have answered Dave Rennie’s call, as the ‘Giteau Law’ continues to fade into the sunset.
But questions have been asked about Rennie’s long-term planning still two years out from a World Cup, with a number of future prospects, headlined by Noah Lolesio, left out of the touring squad. Could the Wallabies come to rue only worrying about the now in the next few years?
>> Check out the full Spring Tour fixture
Meanwhile, over in the UK, it seems England have unearthed another prodigy – 22-year old Marcus Smith, who was given a taste of international rugby against the USA and Canada with the big guns away on British and Irish Lions duty, before getting a shock late call-up for the Lions themselves against the Springboks. Fresh off an outstanding performance for the Harlequins in the Premiership, pressure is mounting for Eddie Jones to give the supremely talented fly-half a spot in his starting XV.
If you’ve got rugby questions; we – and Nick Bishop – can’t wait to hear them. So get asking in the comments below and, of course, check back in on The Roar on Friday to see the answers.
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
Hi Nick, as mentioned on another page, I'm seeing some rather disturbing haircuts being sported by some of our sportsman. Ritchie has his own take Joe Dirt that is only mildly upsetting but what about McDermott and Rodda? Is it time perhaps for world rugby to intervene? How far should professional rugby players be allowed to push the boundaries of really bad taste before it has an adverse effect on the game that employs them? Finally what do you think would be an appropriate measure to deter such bad haircuts? Is bamboo under the fingernails too extreme or worse, maybe five minute of listening to Celine Dion would suffice? At some stage the elephant in the room needs to be addressed and something needs to curtail such recklessness with scissors and clippes.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Harlequins are a joy to watch. Dombrandt smiles more than any big 8 I've ever seen play rugby. His game on the weekend was so nuanced too - plenty of tough stuff to go with the usual 90m of running and pop passes and offloads
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Belated thanks Oz, pretty sure it was yourself who drew attention to that game, appreciated. Cheers KP
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Fair point WL… the voice of reason. :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
WL… And Lomu had a great sense of humour also, off field he was a gentle giant.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
2 personalities? Why place such limitations on yourself Ken? I feel you have more to give. Lets just say that I didnt see any respect for BT in your original comment but if you say you arnt piling into him then I will accept it.
Zulu
Guest
He dumped Liam Wright too. The silence is deafening from Thorne. Also Feao Fotuaika was the best LHL prop in Australia, why was he not selected?Thorne maybe just doesn`t care about his players not getting selected.Poor form from brad.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I would refer you to Dave Rennie’s comments on his quality. You can choose to formulate an opinion based on a false view of French rugby and a 5yo view of Will Skelton or you could open your eyes. I suspect the former
Humey
Guest
" World Class " :stoked: :stoked: :laughing: Since when is a domestic team like La Rochelle a test quality team ? The French couldn`t even beat the Wallabies. Their standard of play is poor. French rugby is Way way below super rugby.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Jacko, I have more than two personalities. You? Mate, I don’t want a beef with you. Remember, I like you. I said so. I am not piling onto Thorn. “He has done a lot of things right…” And strikes me as a respectable human being. I won’t repeat the rest. I am a distant Reds fan who wishes the best for OZ rugby, including the Reds, and Thorn.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Thorn, for reasons perhaps still unknown to himself, dropped an elite 10, and hasn’t found a better one since. He robbed the Reds and OZ rugby of a playmaking option for that season, without explanation. Ken he dropped QC. He didnt rob anyone of anything. QC decided to go and play club rugby. Not Thorns decision but QCs decision. Then when he goes to the Rebels he has a very average season and no one wants to hire him again. Again not BTs decision. Perhaps you should blame the player for the decisions the player makes. Yes Ken i used your line of "Is their 2 Jacko's" in the form of “the other KCOL rears his head”
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
The talent is undoubted. Some of the young guys coming through are phenomenal. Whether Eddie provides an opportunity for them to play, and whether the style easily translates to the shorter time to operate available at the top level will be interesting.
PeterK
Roar Guru
yes Wales and Scotland changed right away. Ireland didn't either but we don't play them.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Pivac bit the bullet earlier than anybody re playing style Pete. They had a tough time in 2020 as he tried out a few younger guys and looked to expand their ambition. When he brought back the more senior guys this year and asked them play the new style it seemed to work nicely. For an innovator, EJ has missed the boat on the new rules and England (or Ireland) is last to make the changes. I'm hoping he goes half-cocked on his selection and game plan this season and they struggle to make the change. And we win.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Again, can he not have improved since you last saw him? Let's see how he goes for the Tahs next year before we discard him at 26, shall we?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Have you watched a minute of the rugby he played for Saracens or now for La Rochelle? He's world class. Wins games on his own
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I recall the light disappearing as Waugh came near under the grandstand at Concorde back when NSW were world-beaters under McQueen. Man, he was a big unit
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
You'd be wasting him if you only got 20 minutes out of him. Let Arnold & Rodda go full tilt for 45-50 minutes then pull whoever is gassed (or whoever is required to maintain the lineout). Skelton could be incredibly destructive for 30-35 minutes
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Biltong..I read somewhere goosen injured his knee..a suspected ACL injury and snyman injured as well
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
MK..I think DR knows it is to late to develop any of the young flyhalfs for the world cup..if he performs very well at the world cup with the old Boyz then I suspect RA will renew his contract and let him guide the current young flyhalfs for the next world cup..though he will most probably freshen up his back room staff and assistants before things become to stale..