Roar Guru
Joined December 2012
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The time has come for Australia, South Africa and New Zealand rugby to start working together to make this great competition better for every…
Let me begin by mentioning Spiro's article from Monday morning titled, “Are the Wallabies on the rise as the All Blacks decline?”. It was…
Three distinct problems for the Wallabies also nicely alliterate for purposes of this article, with some poetic licence thrown in. I'm certainly not doom…
A quick glance around The Roar and you would think our hopes against the British Lions systematically come down to the trials of the…
There has been a lot of speculation about the fullback role of recent, mainly because of the key attributes of the two standout fullbacks…
Another ‘best of' list, but this time taking it to a provincial level. I am a Waratahs fan so this will be my only…
We’ve been blessed over the years with cricketing greats who’ve played out not just careers, but almost lifetimes for this country. We watched them…
Throughout this international rugby season there has been one on-field issue that has stood out more than any other: injuries. This is the nature…
Something isn't working. That we can all agree on. For a long time the backs have been the Wallabies strength while the forwards have…
I truly feel sorry for those who seem so clouded by negativity that it seems they would prefer the Wallabies to lose so they…
You only have to watch some of the passing off the deck from halfbacks in the amateur era to realise that we’ve become spoiled in the last 20 years. Harbour Bridge is being kind.
There were exceptions of course but the nature and style of passing and kicking has changed through the change in make up of both the ball itself and the game overall. Hard to compare.
No 'hope' for Rugby Championship squad
This might be wildly speculative and lambasted by others but I can’t shake the feeling that (when looked at from the side angle) De Jongh assisted the movement into a cartwheel.
I could be completely wrong but as soon as I saw it, the severity and speed of the flip didn’t fit.
Anyway. Still dangerous, just looked odd to me. Maybe I’m the only one.
Henry Speight banned for five weeks, will miss final against Hurricanes
Dear oh me. Don’t you understand that this feed is for people to moan about the game/ conference/ ref/ coach/ wallpaper pattern? How dare you add a positive reflection?
🙂 in all seriousness I was disappointed to miss the game but glad to hear it was a good vibe. Can’t wait to blow the roof off come semi time!
Michael Cheika checks in at last
The Reds stuffed my tipping comp tilt last week (perhaps hoist by my own petard there), so I’m pretty sure they’ll do the same this week to my beloved Tahs.
Time to go all out! Upsets a plenty I feel!
Super Rugby Expert tipping: Round 18
Aaaahhhh. Bugger. Shoulda backed the Rebs. I fear that with my Reds pick will knock me off the top. Carn Reddies! Cheers Digger
[VIDEO] Rebels vs Bulls highlights: Super Rugby scores, blog
Would that make us the People’s Front of the Roar? or the Roarer’s People’s Front?
Towards a more civil rugby discussion on The Roar
I have suggested before that perhaps allow for a thumbs up and down button to group moderate comments and see where we all stand. This thought was sent quickly packing by a few so in the spirit of moderation I thought I’d tinker with the concept somewhat.
Perhaps just a chance to thumbs up a good comment. That way if someone says something we agree with we can acknowledge it without adding to a thread with “agreed”, “spot on”, “+1” “+20” etc.
I know I’d find an uncivil comment that much easier to ignore (and less provoked to respond in angst) if I could see it had been ignored by most and a great comment met with the appreciation it deserves in terms of a simple ‘thumbs up’. For those thinking that I’m looking for gratification on my own posts, I don’t think I comment enough these days to pay too much attention.
Perhaps then you can sort the thread by number of ‘ups’ and just read the good comments of the day if you don’t have time to work through a 300+ thread!
Anyway just a thought. Great idea, Harry. I for one am over internet trolling and it makes great sites like these harder to take. I think people get confused as to what ‘banter’ really is…
Towards a more civil rugby discussion on The Roar
Refs and politicians. In order to be either you have to have an incredibly thick skin. A thick skin that means you have such conviction in your own opinions that you go with it regardless of those yelling around you. There are always going to be xceptions but for the most part those that choose to be a professional ref or politician are by nature not going to be the even handed messiahs we expect of them. Every call they make can be pulled up later as an example of the butterfly effect on the final result. Every call is being questioned. Anyone that chooses to put themselves under that much consistent pressure is crazy but they have my respect. There is no coach making excuses for them after the game, no captain taking the heat on behalf of them. No press conference to give their point of view. They make the calls and disappear while the rest of us berate them for weeks (and sometimes years) afterwards.
Im not excusing myself from the crowd here. I’ve been the bloke yelling at the ref like he’s shot my dog but I think we need to let sleeping dogs lie sometimes.
Referees are rubbish and it’s all your fault
It’s a shame to me that he’s a winger and not a back rower. Someone like TN would be a great replacement for Palu at 8. A pack with both Skelton and Taqele in it would be a handful of the ruck. Alas its a fanciful prospect.
Not sure if he’s of test standard yet but if he stuck around post WC and picked up a few more nuances he could be very good.
Cheika says Naiyaravoro is "right up there" for Wallabies
Or… Bernie just stated that we could have more depth in the WC than we’ve had previously, which might well be true. No comparisons were made to any other team but Australia.
Larkham: Wallabies to escape 'group of death'
It’s interesting you mention kicking. By far and away the longest boot in the Tahs belongs to Izzy. He may not have dynamite accuracy but neither does Foley. The Tahs go-to clearance option is pure distance down the middle and I think they should be employing Izzy’s range here. He actually has a really effortless style and did a lovely kick to the sidelines on the weekend.
Anyway would be interested if anyone noticed anything similar or if I’m off the mark but I just think Izzy’s kicking ability is underused and underrated.
Win over Brumbies the next step in the Waratahs' evolution
Because I admire the man so much for what he does for others, part of me would love him to head over to Europe or better yet Japan, reel back the intensity, and earn some good coin for his future. He’s such a giver of his time and energy that I almost wish he’d do something for himself to extend his career. All of that being said I’m sure none of that interests him and he’ll continue to do what Taf does. Good luck to him no matter what.
Tatafu Polota-Nau could quit rugby if concussed again
He has a profoundly deaf friend and it was for her. Auslan uses that movement as sign language for clapping/ celebration.
But sure, use whatever bizarre logic you want to turn it into a negative thing.
[Highlights] Pocock scores hat-trick as Brumbies beat Highlanders
Ha. Got me there. Universe class is a thing, yeah?
Wallabies hail ARU masterstroke as calls grow for Smith and Giteau to return
Because NZ have a plethora of options in those two positions, all world class and some may argue better. We don’t have that luxury although I personally think 7 and 12 aren’t emergency recall spots just yet.
Wallabies hail ARU masterstroke as calls grow for Smith and Giteau to return
Ah yes, the old ‘intercepts are lucky’ misnomer. The only way an intercept could be lucky is if it was influenced by something unforeseeable by any player involved. The pass was forced by Barrett as a result of defensive pressure and well read by Betham. You could say that Barrett had a lucky bounce, however he wouldn’t have made that choice to chip without that distinct possibility. Both risky options, both paid off.
SPIRO: Waratahs start their run, but is it too late?
Weird feeling leaving that game. As a rusted on Tahs fan I was deflated by the result and the many mistakes but the truth is the Stormers completely outplayed us. Their defence was rock solid and very good at shutting everything down. Very deserving of the win and I hope the Tahs find a Plan B for these situations in future.
On to next week!
Stormers whack Waratahs in Sydney
Great pick with the Lions last week, DK.
May our battle at the top be long and fruitful (and not see me slide away gradually by the fingernails… which I fear will happen).
Conference systems aren’t perfect by any means and I wasn’t a fan initially, however it does remove a lot of travelling from the itinerary and allow for interstate rivalries to develop. I can understand the frustration of the ‘stronger conferences’ but I just love watching good rugby teams play and the fact there are fewer blowouts suggest that the divide is closing.
Cue the ‘strongest conference’ arguments
“I ask myself, is any homophobic comment so outrageous that it must be publicly exposed and re-education imposed on the person making it?”
“Is any homophobic comment so outrageous?” I didn’t realise there was a sliding scale of acceptable homophobic comments. Which ones are okay then?
In this one sentence Spiro you’ve shown your hand and proven to me that at the core of all this you simply don’t take homophobia seriously enough. Whether or not you believe that it should be dealt with on the field is one argument, but not thinking “faggot” is ‘outrageous enough’ for public discourse is very concerning.
SPIRO: The case of David Pocock and homophobia in rugby
13 in attack, 15 in counter-attack*
*Only if TK is injured or underperforming. Only if done right and works with the overall setup of the team. I believe he has the ability to do it as an individual but if it’s not clicking smoothly with the rest of the backline then it needs to be one or t’other.**
** have I just described a roving 15?
Folau a Wallabies centre option
Please don’t paint us all with the same Spiro brush. Most of us Tahs fans are quietly enjoying a solid win that could have gone either way on any other given day. Coming out of the stadium there was a general sense of relief, not chest-thumping. Personally I’m just happy to see a return to form. Taking anything further from it is a dangerous game to play in such a long season.
SPIRO: The Waratahs are back, big time
+3 Agreed. Disappointing article overall, even from a Tahs fans perspective.
SPIRO: The Waratahs are back, big time
Absolutely the right call, however does Hooper as VC suggest he’ll be picked ahead of Pocock? I’m assuming that by picking AAC and Hooper, he expects one of those two to start, or risk having to name another Vice Captain later on.
Or perhaps I’m just over-analysing.
On another note, I wonder if Moore and Giteau are back on decent terms?
Stephen Moore appointed Wallabies captain for 2015