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Geoff is a Melbourne based sports fanatic and writer, who started contributing to The Roar in 2012, originally under the pen name Allanthus. His first book, A World in Conflict; the Global Battle For Rugby Supremacy was released in Dec 2017 to critical acclaim. For details on the book visit www.geoffparkes.com Meanwhile, his twin goals of achieving a single figure golf handicap and owning a fast racehorse remain tantalisingly out of reach.
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News last week that a Wallabies win by 16 points or more at Eden Park could have the All Blacks slip to sixth on World Rugby’s rankings had the buzzards circling.
Decorated US Army General Douglas Macarthur, never a man short of a quote, once said, in an address at West Point in 1962, “In war there is no substitute for victory.”
You don’t need to be a rugby genius to know why the Crusaders dominated Super Rugby again in 2019 – their third successive championship, and tenth overall.
It’s fair to say that both Rugby Championship matches over the weekend won’t be remembered when Roar readers in ten years’ time argue the toss about great moments in Rugby Championships history.
Losing 35-17 to the Springboks in Johannesburg, the Wallabies kicked off their 2019 Test season by extending a 56-year Ellis Park losing streak.
A popular dance, the Rumba is sometimes referred to as the Latin Waltz because of its slow rhythm and sensual movements.
By any measure it’s been an awful decade for Christchurch. A major earthquake in 2011 killed 185 people, injured many more and left an indelible mark on a city that is still years away from being properly remedied.
In 1978 English rock group Genesis released their ninth album, ‘And Then There Were Three’, signifying the departure in 1975 of singer Peter Gabriel, and in 1977, guitarist Steve Hackett.
Inspired by Israel Folau’s bold move to launch a ‘Go Fund Me’ campaign on Friday to assist him in the ‘battle of his life’ against Rugby Australia, a number of new pages have emerged over the weekend.
Over the last few months, rugby – careering through its first 25 years as a professional sport – found it had arrived at a crossroads.
In 1976 the film ‘The Song Remains The Same’ documented a series of 1973 concerts by legendary rock band, Led Zeppelin, held at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Two weeks ago Vic Masters rugby celebrated one of the highlights of their season, what has now become an annual fixture, a curtain-raiser to the Rebels vs Waratahs match at AAMI Stadium, between the ‘Wannabees’ and ‘Old Blacks’.
Forget about which teams are going to battle their way into the playoffs next week. None of them are good enough to cause any difficulty for the top four sides.
In the lead-up to the 2011 World Cup, Racing Metro (now Racing 92) owner Jacky Lorenzetti met with his contingent of Fijian players, Sireli Bobo, Jone Qovo, Josh Matavesi and Virimi Vakatawa, to pressure them into making themselves unavailable for their national side.
Yes that’s right, for this week at least, you are safe to enter. Today’s column is a Folau-Free Segment.
Week 13 proved lucky for the Brumbies and Rebels, who have opened up a gap at the top of the Australian conference with finals action only six weeks away.
Talking to a group of Melbourne Rebels players upon returning to our Wellington hotel on Saturday night, the sense of an opportunity missed was palpable.
There are drums beating louder that the National Rugby Championship is to be no longer, and while Rugby Australia remains steadfastly silent on the matter, the uncertainty gives rise to again consider the optimal domestic structure for the game.
Folau fatigue allowed Australian rugby’s second-most divisive talking point to resume centre-stage on Saturday night, with Waratah’s fly-half Bernard Foley showing that he’s not about to hand over the Wallabies No 10 jersey to Quade Cooper any time soon, helping his side to a 23-20 win against their conference rivals.
In what was a quiet news week, Stormers No.8 Jaco Coetzee injured his leg against the Rebels, Bryce Hegarty kicked three from three for the Reds, and Waihi Athletic scored a good away win, 39-19 against Coromandel, in Thames Valley club rugby.
Good on you OJ, liking your own post…
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
For “some people” read adastra32…
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
Yes that’s true, for Super Rugby we have to submit our tips and copy by Wednesday.
But it’s a little bit different, the competition is continuous and the teams are a lot more ‘in our face’ for want of a better description.
For this, I have no idea who Ireland are going to play – some people are saying it will be an ‘experimental side’, whatever that actually means. As for France, it’s a hiding to nothing trying to preview them at the best of times! 🙂
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
I’m definitely keen to see how Ireland goes NV.
Well all of them really, but Ireland in particular.
But a prediction (without team sheets too) would be like Dane Coles agreeing to pull his head in. Or Phil Kearns agreeing not to whine about the ref. Not worth the paper it would be written on…
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
Hi Damo
IMO this notion that the Wallabies “didn’t turn up” is something you hear a lot, but in reality is rarely true. They did turn up to play on Sat and for the first 25 minutes were well in the match – they saw off the AB’s early press and then established some dominance and came very close to scoring, while also missing two kickable goals.
What happened after that was a combination of some tactical, skill and mental errors, which were exploited by a side whose particular expertise is fast transition to exploit such errors.
And once they were 17 points down, on a slippery night, in Auckland, with the AB’s growing in confidence, they were never coming back from that.
The scrum was also a big factor, I’m less concerned about this and believe it will be fixed.
What I liked about the Perth win, (against 14 or 15 doesn’t matter), was that the Wallabies did stick to their pattern of play all match, which included things like competing at the breakdown, retaining possession and so on. So they showed that they do have a sustained 80 min effort in them.
I agree they are vulnerable at the WC to having a ‘fade out’ period that will hurt them. Particularly as there are still concerns about their defence. But I also think they’re not really different to any of the other sides in this respect.
Sorry if it sounds a bit simplistic but it will all come down to which teams take their opportunities and put the most points on when things are running their way, and minimise the damage, i.e. concede the fewest points, in the patches of the game when things are running against.
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
Thanks for that NV, just read through the thread, missed it the other day.
Nobes’ list of possible reasons why all sounds logical, although there is obviously still dissent and surprise about the decision.
I did like the post about Ledesma having spent too much time with Cheika….
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
I think it’s a wee bit different now Wal, since the days when Cullen and McDonald were tossed in to big semi-final matches, out of position.
One of the things Henry and then Hansen focused on was to develop genuine utility within the squad, and the Barretts and Smith (if he makes it) offer this in the backline.
But of course you never know how and where injuries will make an impact – nobody would ever have thought NZ would be going into a World Cup final with Piri Weepu as the designated goal-kicker!
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
I’ve got no doubt they won’t underestimate them Tony – as much as it suits them Fiji really aren’t under the radar any more. But knowing and doing are of course two entirely different things… 🙂
Funnily enough, I actually think the Wallabies are well placed to beat Wales. They have a great record against them in the professional era and as well as Wales have gone in the last 18 months I don’t think they have the type of game that troubles Australia as much as some of the other top sides.
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
Sheek, Kafer hasn’t been employed by RA for a few months now.
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
“I’m still amazed Isa didn’t make the squad”
Huge surprise wasn’t it? With so much of our focus on the Jaguares it was just assumed that the big name NH guys like Isa would automatically come in and strengthen the team.
Perhaps Nobes can enlighten us?
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
Just to be clear… I said it’s a fear Ryan, not a ‘likely outcome’ (that’s your gst added)
At their best the Wallabies will beat Fiji. But if they don’t bring their best then certainly, they are at risk.
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
Certainly Hansen will have faith in all of his squad, Sherry – as he should. And the performance of Tuipulotu last Sat obviously eased a few fan concerns.
But I think it’s one thing to get through a one-off Test against the Wallabies at Eden Park and another to win three Tests in successive weeks against tier one teams at a World Cup. At some point the line-out is going to come under huge pressure, ditto the defensive line – he’s such a colossus, I really think they’ll need him (fully fit) to hold all that together, and to win all three.
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
C’mon Doctor, Argentina made the semis last time because they towelled up Ireland in the quarter-final, in a performance that any team in the world, (including New Zealand), would have been proud of.
Rugby Championship wrap: Eighty minutes until the panic sets in?
Yes Paul, Ryan needs to tack on some kind of Duckworth-Lewis multiplier to take the coaches into account.
Maybe one classic Stuart/Hasler whinge should count for 500 fan whinges? And how far back do you go? Toovey whinges should still count for something – he didn’t carry on like that just for the fun of it.
Great stuff, ROC, very entertaining!
Which NRL club’s fans are the biggest whingers?
Thanks to Nick’s embrace of modern technology you can actually slow it down, frame by frame, yourself JMO.
It’s close, but… definitely onside.
All Black to the future at Eden Park
I’m hanging out to see it.
Will he match Harry’s 17 Saffers with 17 Taffys?
All Black to the future at Eden Park
“Nobody looks invincible, and it may just be a matter of where defeat occurs, in the group or the knockout stages.”
Hi Nick
Agree 100% with this. One of South Africa or NZ is going to come under huge media and fan pressure after the first weekend, but the reality is, they’re both going to make the quarter final, and everything is reset at that point. They’ll both want to win, certainly, but a pool loss will be nowhere near the setback it will (inevitably) be made out to be.
There’s a fair argument that avoiding Ireland is an easier path, but really, both camps know that they have to win three sudden death games and beat the best of who is left, regardless. If you can’t do that, you don’t deserve to win, whichever way the draw falls.
All Black to the future at Eden Park
Would love to have seen DP given a crack there too Azza.
Thing is, both of those guys haven’t been given a real chance to develop in the role. By that I mean a full season or more. There’s too much expectation around giving guys a couple of games and hoping they’ll be instant world beaters, imo
If I was Stewart I’d seriously consider doing what Debreczini has done. He would blossom in their system.
The Wrap: Normal order restored in Bledisloe Cup whitewash
What’s interesting about Marc’s team and commentary is that he talks about the back three and excludes Beauden Barrett. If BB is picked at 10 then sure, he has it right, but BB is now clearly the first choice at 15.
This opens up the prospect of selecting Ioane to play 10 in a couple of the pool matches and cutting one of Smith, Ioane or J. Barrett.
Alternatively they would have to play BB at 10 in the weaker pool matches and 15 in the big games – which is asking a lot of him.
The Wrap: Normal order restored in Bledisloe Cup whitewash
Yes I think that’s right, the best we saw of Rupeni (and it was outstanding) was on the wing for Auckland.
Colin Farrell was another whose best rugby was just for Auckland.
The Wrap: Normal order restored in Bledisloe Cup whitewash
The small in-goals are annoying aren’t they? Another function of playing inside an athletics track, although I think the Yokohama match last year was ok?
There will be a shame and embarrassment if global coverage of the cup is all about the turf being dug up by scrums. Fingers crossed on that one.
The Wrap: Normal order restored in Bledisloe Cup whitewash
Understand that point Harry, and it’s a fair one, although I still don’t think Rassie or Shag will rate it as hugely important. Whichever side faces Ireland will construct their own narrative and get on with business.
I’m not writing off Japan’s chances against Scotland either, btw. In which case your point becomes more pertinent, that would definitely create an imbalance in the respective quarter final match-ups.
The Wrap: Normal order restored in Bledisloe Cup whitewash
Lovely, meaty summary Harry.
The overriding takeaway is to highlight just what an even/unpredictable cup this is.
Depth, as you say, is key. The sides without it will need to be very lucky with injuries.
Six paths to hoist the World Cup