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Expert
Joined January 2014
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Professional Rugby player currently with Bristol RFC in UK. Previously with Ulster from 2010-2013 and hailing from Sydney, Australia. When I'm not training, I'm writing.
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I always wanted to be a rugby league player. My early childhood years were spent glued each weekend to my heroes on show in the Winfield Cup, my father taking me to Parramatta Stadium to sit on the hill and watch my beloved Eels play.
The Wallabies will win the 2015 Rugby World Cup. I know there are few who share my optimism, given the Wallabies’ recent uninspiring results, the problems in-house at ARU headquarters, and the extreme toughness of our World Cup pool.
Let’s wind the clock back three months. The Waratahs had just won the Super Rugby title, beating the Crusaders in an epic match in front of over 61,000 fans, ending an era of under achievement and years of disappointment for supporters of the Sydney franchise.
The recent move by the Australian Rugby Union to allow players who sign long-term contracts to be able to explore short-term overseas opportunities has been a long time coming.
“You will never be involved in a rugby environment like this ever again, so embrace and enjoy it.”
I didn’t even see the first Test, I only saw the replay. There I was, walking off the Eurostar at Gare du Nord, with the morning Parisian sun streaming through it’s majestically stained antique windows.
I’ve had many coaches in my time, all with their own personal style, mannerisms, and characteristics.
We got there in the end. After months of disagreements within the boardrooms of European rugby, a new provincial competition has been agreed.
There are times during a rugby season where certain aspects and laws of the game are examined, tested, and perhaps altered by the International Rugby Board.
Ever since Benji Marshall sat in front of the camera and announced his impending move to rugby union with the Auckland Blues, it’s been anything but a smooth transition.
Are we seeing the last of the 100-cap Test international, the loyal player who ends their career in exactly the same place as it began? In the current state of the game, it looks like it.
On the surface rugby is a game for everyone. It’s the beauty (if you can call it that) of the sport.
We can’t quite put our finger on it. One day we are at the top of our game, performing at our best and said to be in form.
It’s a landmark in the life of any young male: when the time comes to pack your bags, loosen the apron strings, and move out of home.
How often do we hear the groans and cries of “Don’t kick it!” from disgruntled fans every time the ball is kicked away.
Last weekend drew to a close the 2014 Six Nations and what a finale it was, coming right down to the final game of the tournament between France and Ireland to decide the winner.
Yep, it’s another article about Israel Folau. I realise that 99.9% of the world’s rugby supporters, journalists and commentators have waxed lyrical about his freakish natural athletic ability, salivating at every outrageous display of skill.
Thank God it’s over. For the European rugby player, the end of February is an unofficial public holiday, as it means that the harsh, relentless darkness of winter has shut it’s curtains for another year.
France. The wine. The cheese. La bonne vie. Those of us who have been lucky enough to grace the grounds of this European gastronomical giant know why it’s the first place we want to go back to.
Thanks for your insight. In regards to the body type of players changing, I wouldn’t think it would as quick line outs are always taken and forwards will always need their size and strength for set piece and the general physicality of the game which is getting tougher and tougher.
It would however place a heavier importance of the use of replacements, and coaches would have to juggle this, like league had to do when the new interchange rule was introduced a few years ago.
You can put the boot in, but rugby teams need to kick
agree 100% with the chances of scoring diminishing after more than 3 phases, that’s why such an emphasis is placed on set piece as its a chance to attack against a set defence that has to be back 5 metres at scrum and 10 at lineout. There is nothing better than working on a set move at training and it coming off in a game.
You can put the boot in, but rugby teams need to kick
All relevant points as well as great coaching tips!
I agree that you have to be able to lay the foundation of a solid rugby game before you can choose to be clever/tricky with small kicks etc, however was explaining that these kicks (even outside NZ) are being employed early on in games to counter act the strong defensive structures of teams so that the structure can be more effective.
The main thing you are coached is to always kick on the front foot, not when your going backwards, even if you are getting pressurised heavily, take time and work to get into a position where your kick can be more effective.
You can put the boot in, but rugby teams need to kick