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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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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.
In the wake of the Hurricanes’ thrilling 31-28 win over the Highlanders on Friday night, Fox Sports rugby panelist Cam Shepherd declared “that was some of the best footy I’ve seen in a long time.”
In 2017 SANZAAR bowed to pressure from its stable of broadcast partners who, fed up with too many uncompetitive matches, forced a reduction from 18 teams to 15.
Struggling to comprehend the decision to cut the Sunwolves from Super Rugby from 2021? Ask any musician to explain how the politics works.
In the wake of the horrific Christchurch shootings, rugby watching was made a distinctly more sombre and subdued affair this weekend.
Well actually you can, Aiden. Feel free. 🙂
They’ve got their World Cup, let them be happy with that one.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Yes it was great to see White play so well, mz.
One of a few bright spots on the night, although outnumbered by the darker ones unfortunately.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Good post, allbark. Australian rugby needs to move on, well beyond talking about the ref.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Shades of John Clarke’s ‘The Games’ Phil, where Brian broke the world record for the 100m because the track was only 90m…. 🙂
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
No he hasn’t been officially designated zh, that’s just my poetic licence.
There’s a Rugby championship and a World Cup to get through first and the focus should rightly be on that, and the current regime.
But I don’t think it’s too far off the money…
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
“Not looking forward to Japan.”
Will have to disagree on that one AWF. Regardless of what happens with the Wallabies, it should be a brilliant tournament.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
“The Wallabies will be lucky to beat the Pumas.”
They’ll have to play very well if they are to do so, Simon.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Good call on the netball too, Muzzo.
Doesn’t quite make up for the cricket, but a great effort all the same. The Ferns have had some rough times against Australia in the last few years.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Hi Muzzo
Yes I don’t think anyone else who follows the game closely would consider the Boks a ‘dark horse’!
“Big Frans”… yeah, what do you reckon is going on there? Did he challenge Mathieu Bastareaud to a sheep eating contest?
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
All fair points Jez, and taking all of that into account, by no means was this a poor performance by recent standards.
On the other hand, what was really disappointing was that it was many of the same mistakes that cost the Wallabies dearly, that they’ve been making consistently over the last few years. Lapses of concentration and urgency in defence (two tries conceded), lack of clinical finishing ability (two tries forgone), and lack of discipline (two tries conceded while a man down).
I’m all for taking the positives out too, but at some point those negatives must be addressed on the field, instead of being talked about.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Interesting hypothesis around the conditioning, Rhys. Not the craziest theory I’ve head by a long shot, but who knows where the actual truth of it lies?
Certainly I was very impressed with how the Argies matched it for the whole 80 mins against the AB’s, despite it being a fairly high tempo game.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Agree, Lara. All Test matches are important, but this coming one is shaping as VERY important.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
I think we’ll get a fair idea of the correct ranking position this coming Sat night, RG.
If the Wallabies win, it will be a good result against a very good side. If they lose, then I think we can say that’s about their fair level.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Thanks for the contribution, Joe. Too much whining and not enough winning, indeed.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Pretty easily solved T-man.
Barrett to fullback…. 🙂
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
I doubt it’s just a ‘Melbourne thing’, Melburnian.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
“Hooper’s question was pointless. It could only serve to annoy the ref.”
Yes, the look on Paul Williams’ face when Hooper said that was priceless, Wal!
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Sorry Ken, only just picked up your comment about Rennie at the second sweep.
No, nothing’s a done deal until it’s done. But I certainly wouldn’t be betting against it at this stage.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
“A man who says no to researching the traffic road rules or indeed the journey and just drives his way!”
Not the worst analogy I’ve seen, Wallie!
Re the ‘licence renewal’ however, he doesn’t actually need to have his contract renewed, he’s merely riding out the term of his original contract. One that was made under Bill Pulver’s administration btw, not Raelene Castle’s.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Tupou’s cleanout was certainly nothing like the one Kepu got sent off for in Scotland, Hoy.
But I think he does need to reign things in a bit. Same with the one he did in Canberra, it’s no good him trailing an arm somewhere behind his shoulder and claiming that he wasn’t leading with the shoulder.
The refs are on to him, he doesn’t need to be less physical, but he does need to more genuinely wrap his arm and hit a bit more with the bicep rather than the point of his shoulder.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
It’s a good point you make about self belief, WB.
It’s not about saying that you have it, it’s something you know you have via your actions and outcomes.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
“Don’t blame the ref. We’re so over it. Take the points. We’re over that too.”
That covers a whole lot of it, Luke.
Re the 6-8, I too am not a fan of LSL at 6, although the position does seem to be his for now. Given his relative inexperience there, plus Naisarani on debut at 8, then sure, you’d expect to see the combination not quite gelling at this stage.
The trouble is now, there are only three more matches in which to bed this down before they play Fiji in a must-win match.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are
Hi CR
One thing SANZAAR has got right this time is managing the respective travel demands fairly.
All four sides have to travel to their match this week!
I know I mentioned it a couple of weeks ago, but re the WC, if I were French I’d be very worried right now. And I wouldn’t be all that comfortable being English either. That’s one heck of a pool right there.
The Wrap: Are the Wallabies cursed? Too right they are