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Joined June 2017
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From Brisbane, Australia, living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Spent 4 and half years living in London. Love Football, Rugby, Cricket and Rock'n'Roll.
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when Guinness suppliers cancel all employees’ annual leave, when dreary Saturdays are spent inside warm pubs, when Welshmen of all ages warm up the tonsils and when Landsdowne Road respects the kicker.
The forthcoming Copa Libertadores final between River Plate and Boca Juniors is an unprecedented sporting, cultural and social event in Argentina, with one newspaper already declaring that “the country will never be the same after this”.
It is apt that the final, enduring image of Sam Warburton’s brilliant career was that of himself and Kieran Read, smilingly as the lifted the trophy together in the pouring Auckland rain, after last year’s epic Lions-All Blacks series.
An Australian supporting England in most sporting endeavours is akin to high treason – an act so reprehensible, deplorable and unconscionable that the revoking of citizenships and forced registration on a public list would be fully justified.
Utter the name Ned Hanigan in the company of Australian rugby fans and instantly the mood shifts, with music screeching to a halt, birds fleeing their nests and otherwise well-adjusted people whipping themselves in to an irascible rage.
Stop me if you think you’ve heard this one before, but French rugby is still ill with under-performing players, disciplinary issues off the field and an administrative structure as sturdy as a soggy pain au chocolat.
Scotland is a land of stunning natural beauty, indecipherable accents, some of the best sporting and live music crowds in the world, out of control binge-drinkers, funny bastards, serial rugby under-achievement, and of course, deep fried mars bars.
The historical enmity between Wales and England has been shaped by centuries of cultural, political, economic, and most importantly, rugby union-based mistrust and conflict, rendering the Australia versus New Zealand rivalry a primary school sandpit fight in comparison.
The commencement of the 2018 edition of the Six Nations heralds the return of international rugby, Eddie Jones, centuries-old gripes against the English, fantastic Italian hair, warm pubs and industrial amounts of Guinness to our lives.
The annual Twickenham Test between England and Australia promises to be as tight as Kurtley Beale’s budgie smugglers, and Eddie Jones-like blue language is sure to be uttered by fans, players, coaches and possibly even Eddie’s mother this week.
This forthcoming Saturday, at 9:47am, six mates and I will board the Greater Western Railway service at London Paddington station with beers, coffees and bacon sandwiches in tow, ready to pilgrimage west for the Wallabies’ annual victory over Wales.
Karmichael Hunt’s professional rugby league debut for the Brisbane Broncos, in Round 1 of the 2004 NRL season, was a seminal moment for touch footy enthusiasts in Queensland.
The news of Mario Ledesma’s impending departure from the Wallabies coaching set-up has sent the Australian scrum enthusiast community (all ten of you) in to mourning.
With it being two years since England’s early World Cup exit on home soil, and just under two years until Japan 2019 kicks off, Eddie Jones has officially entered (you guessed it) phase two of his reign as England coach.
After the Wallabies vomit-inducing display during the first Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney, it looked like only one Tom Petty song would sum up their 2017 – Free Fallin’.
Grand final week still manages to stir up the passions of the most casual of casual sporting fans – your mum, the bloke at work who still thinks Alfie Langer or Wayne Carey play, the kid at school who doesn’t know a footy from a physics calculator.
Ireland, France and South Africa are currently duking it out to see who will be crowned host of Rugby World Cup 2023, and the hyperbolic statements have ratcheted up a notch ahead of the November 15 decision.
Argentina has long been one of the most mystifying, captivating and bewildering outliers in the rugby universe.
Compared to Bledisloe Cup games, the annual home Test against South Africa used to be the bogey prize for those in search of Wallabies tickets every year – the equivalent of getting a pair of socks for Christmas while your sibling received a games console, a surfboard or a new bicycle.
The opening half onslaught, barrage and blitz from New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup final could best be described as heavy metal rugby, a term paraphrased from football to describe Jurgen Klopp’s insanely all-action Borussia Dortmund team.
How on earth can they leave out the 94-96 one?
Cricket Australia letting fans vote on next retro ODI jersey
The All Blacks have become rugby’s equivalent to Brazil at the FIFA World Cup
Haven’t won it in nearly 20 years, live off the glories of their past legendary teams and prematurely implode in tears under their own absurd hype? For the Wallabies sake lets hope the AB’s really are Brazil’s rugby doppelganger!
My dream Rugby World Cup holiday: Yokohama, stunning scenery, and international rugby's greatest rivalry
Ah Dominici – every rugby fan with an ounce of romanticism in them eternally loves him for the ’99 SF.
Does size really matter?
Yeah I guess he does for some reason. Well that’s my argument shot to pieces!
Does size really matter?
True – not denying they were very skillful, it wasn’t a dig at all.
Does size really matter?
Yeah unclear example there from me – was thinking more Beauden and meant more at that key 18-21 age where NH clubs tell all and sundry to bulk up. Obviously he’d get in a team now because everyone knows he’s a very good test player now.
Does size really matter?
JOC seems to be in a pretty good headspace at Sale, on social media etc he seems content and in a good place, not sure it’d be wise of him to dive straight in to the poisonous Wallabies atmoshphere atm.
Does size really matter?
It’s a pretty emotive topic that gets brought up quite often, as I don’t think anybody wants to see lighter, quicker players ala Williams disappear from the game.
I still feel the All Blacks, as usual,have the answer, and yet it’s almost hiding in plain sight to other countries – Mackenzie and the Barretts etc are good enough, so they play, simple as that, whereas they wouldn’t get a sniff in the Northern Hemisphere.
That monster Wales team from 2010-2015 or so took bulk and brawn to a new level which they’ve weaned themselves off a bit, but England seem to have caught the bug again, especially after the way they monstered Ireland. Christian Wade also a notable victim of the size-obsession.
Does size really matter?
Thanks for the reply – yes I suppose I didn’t consider how much economic hardship there is in Wales outside of Cardiff.
The Wrap: What’s the real lowdown with grassroots rugby? Part Two
Sorry should’ve mentioned – thoroughly enjoyed the articles Geoff. Really good at explaining all the intangible frustrations with Australian rugby.
The Wrap: What’s the real lowdown with grassroots rugby? Part Two
Your fleeting mention of Wales is a good comparison for Australia. They appear to be in the same situation except the phenomenal success of their national team papers over the cracks far better than us.
Unlike us, Wales completely ballsed up professionalism from the start, and the creation of the regions under David Moffett (the controversial ex-NRL chief) started an all-out civil war, with the emotions of it still running high and festering to this day.
There’s been recent talk of cutting a region, or merging them, and the once-proud and famous club game there is struggling massively, with Neath only just surviving a winding up order recently. As I said their national team has been consistently good for a decade, and they fill Millennium Stadium for every game, but you worry about what happens when Gatland leaves and the talent might tail off.
I’m sure Nick Bishop can de-bunk everything I’ve just said.
The Wrap: What’s the real lowdown with grassroots rugby? Part Two
Ah my bad – should’ve seen that!
Predictable Ireland bore themselves into a shock defeat by England
Murray and Sexton looked extremely under-cooked. No surprise for Murray considering he’s barely played for Munster this season but I was very surprised Schmidt didn’t throw Carbery and Marmion on way earlier considering they’ve proven they can handle big games and situations before.
Predictable Ireland bore themselves into a shock defeat by England
Too many uses of “very” in that comment.
Seven talking points from Round 1 of the Six Nations
England were very good. Mako V. was outstanding and the Tuilagi/Slade centre combo looked very dangerous. Very good point about Johnny May – used to just be a speed merchant but now looking very well-rounded. Bring on next weekend.
Seven talking points from Round 1 of the Six Nations
’97 was the first year I was properly invested so it’d have to be going to Crushers games with my dad (including one against St. George where the bloke on the gate let us in for free because they were desperate to boost crowd numbers ha) and watching the ARL GF that year in Newcastle with my mums relatives and friends – party time!
What made you fall in love with rugby league?
They also won’t kick Italy out because everyone loves the Rome away day as well!
Who will be the King in the North in 2019?
I felt the same as Ted during my first 6 Nations experience as a fan after I moved to the UK- basically amazement and awe that it’s such a cracking atmosphere when it’s on,
For me Wales vs Ireland is the quintessential 6 Nations fixture – both sets of supporters always in good voice with a wide repertoire of songs, and the mix of green and red in the crowd of two amazing stadiums. Last years Dublin fixture was a belter only sealed with Stockdales inctercept at the end.
There is a bunch of us having to ring a few pubs here in Buenos Aires this week to ask if they can open and show the games – day drinking not much of a thing here tragically!
Who will be the King in the North in 2019?
Yeah the Italy conundrum is a serious issue I feel. There were calls for relegation last couple of years and give maybe Georgia a go, but Italy beat Georgia in November which put those calls to bed, but as I said, Conor O’Shea is no mug and they’ve had good coaches before, but it’s just not happening.
Six Nations preview: Claims to the throne
Not doubting his title credentials but the line does make specific reference to the fact he completely unravels in the third season wherever he goes, which is fact.
Wales has more experience than Scotland of rising to the 6N occasion, I remember similar talk about Scotland being smokies last year and then they got blown away in the first match in Cardiff.
Six Nations preview: Claims to the throne
I highly recommend everyone read the brilliant article on The Guardian Rugby section about Irish rugby, and how everyone works for the national team without diluting the fierce rivalries of the provinces. Made me think it could be their year. It’s a top read.
Is 2019 the Wallabies' year?
Will have a keen interest in this conference this year now that I’m living in BA – plan on going along to plenty of Jaguares games so hopefully they provide plenty of entertainment, despite the huge loss of Sanchez!
Unpacking Super Rugby: South African conference
Probably because there has been a ‘How to fix the Wallabies/Australian Rugby’ article basically every week for the past 3-4 years on here, and there’s only so many times people can repeat themselves.
Take me back: How to fix the Wallabies
Love seeing him and Genia back together, and he looks extremely fit and motivated.
On a Welsh sidenote Nic – is Halfpenny ever going to return? The whole sudden removal from Ospreys last week wasn’t a good sign, and it’d be a shame if this ruins his whole year. Can’t take too much care with his symptoms though, especially with his history.
Also Wales by 5 on Saturday.
Welcome back to the big time, Quade Cooper