Expert
Joined October 2012
2.71m
Views
613
Published
27.9k
Comments
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.
Published
Comments
Scott Robertson will rightfully take the helm of the All-Blacks in 2024.
With due respect to the unbeaten Chiefs and Brumbies, the heavyweight contest in Auckland between the Blues and Crusaders, won 34-28 by the visitors,…
One of the factors pinpointed as a contributor to Australian rugby’s post-2003 decline is a deficit in coaching IP and depth of numbers. Many…
It’s hard to know where Stan commentators Tim Horan and Nick McArdle were headed when they questioned the job security of Rebels’ coach Kevin…
It’s been a big few days in Melbourne, with Ed Sheeran drawing 218,000 people to the MCG across two nights, matched only by the…
Referee Damon Murphy hasn’t always endeared himself to rugby fans, but his decision to ping Rebels halfback Ryan Louwrens for taking too long to…
And so once again, here we are. Super Rugby Pacific. Where eleven franchises fight it out for the honour of claiming second prize behind…
It’s been a tough off-season for musicians, with Jeff Beck, David Crosby, Tom Verlaine, Christine McVie, Anita Pointer, and Terry Hall of The Specials…
It’s been one heck of an off-season, dominated by the only two people more desperate for money than Rugby Australia, Harry and Meghan. And…
If it wasn’t so serious and so goddam predictable it would be funny; rugby finding itself in the middle of an internal conflict that…
Even by Australian rugby standards, the last week was quite an eye-opener. Prodigal son Eddie Jones is coming home and overnight, rugby reclaimed relevance…
In years to come, historians will trace rugby’s evolution through the language used by referees and the judiciary. By year's end we’d learned the…
The handling of head injuries is the No.1 issue in rugby.
It’s fair to say it was a crowded sports weekend in Melbourne. With the AFL claiming centre stage by releasing its 2023 fixture, only…
It is now compulsory for every World Cup, in every sport that has one, to have a “group of death”; the pool where progress…
Who would have believed it? The Wallabies, for the third time in three weeks, failing to nail a big play in the final minutes…
It’s not all bad news for Australian rugby fans. Of nine different ways to lose a rugby game that were on show over the…
After a wretched run, New Zealand’s year took a decided turn for the better, across what was a highly enjoyable, full-blown weekend of Test…
Rugby Australia’s press release yesterday called the Wallabies' victory a “gritty win”. 16-15, away from home at Murrayfield? No argument there; that’s peak gritty.…
Ex-South Sydney, Manly, Wigan, North Queensland, New South Wales and Kangaroos forward Ian Roberts knows a thing or two about bravery and toughness. For…
Not sure if it makes a difference if he’s in the crowd or with the team woodart, but this isn’t a free speech issue. Of course he’s allowed to make the gesture if he wants. And – based on SANZAAR’s non-response to date – it seems like there’s no consequence for it.
But the obvious point to be made is that by doing so – and choosing to do so – he is making a mockery of the judicial system, where he was granted a discounted sentence for pleading guilty and showing remorse. What remorse?
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
No doubt teams would be coached to do this, acjj.
And the game would be far poorer for it.
This is actually one of the areas in which World Rugby has listened and acted to complaints from coaches, players and fans, all looking to promote/reward positive play over negative.
But because referees did overreach, many people quickly forgot about the benefits and highlighted the failings. As mentioned above, I think the refs now have this much more in hand, and I really don’t rate this as an area of any concern for rugby at all.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
They do Doctor, but as we all know, they’re nothing like rugby scrums – they’re generally set much faster and there are very few resets.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Sotutut going great Fox, and yes, those guys are all benefitting from the direct approach they’ve adopted.
Doesn’t hurt the loose forwards too when you’ve got guys like Heem and Clarke, and also Plummer, not scared to carry hard into contact.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
I get it wb, somebody should have cut him off low. But gee… he came from a mile back at high speed and there was a sense that nobody was stopping him.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Most players in that situation smile and wave, Colvin.
Very disappointing.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Cheers cs, yes important distinction. Thanks for correcting.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
😂
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Try around 57.30 on the TV clock, Joey.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
What’s different about those sports Piru is that they don’t stop as a result, to have a scrum.
The very reason this law (disincentive) was brought in, was because fans everywhere were bleating and pleading for fewer scrums.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Sometimes but not always.
Rebs v Highlanders, Jacob R-K received a YC and gave up a penalty try for deliberately knocking a pass down. It wasn’t a controversial decision, he was the last defender, there was no cover, and Anderson would have had an easy run-in for a try.
If there was no YC/penalty try option in this situation, then we’d see a lot more tries blocked, and a lot more scrums because of the ball going forward from the defenders knock.
I accept the argument that this introduces a degree of subjective decision making on the part of the referee. But if the alternative is simply to allow passes to be blocked like this, I can’t imagine that being a better outcome for fans and for the game. Fewer tries and more scrums? Who is asking for that?
My take is that referees have eased back a bit this year, they aren’t binning so many players automatically, and I think they’ve struck a good balance between what is inadvertent and what is deliberate spoiling.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Yeah…. nah.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Just on the conditions OB, even more reason to keep the scoreboard ticking over with penalty kicks on offer. And what about the tap play variation they took, instead of going for line out or goal? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Brumbies side take that option.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Or rhyming slang for 5h1thouse?
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
It’s around 57.30 in the match feed, Paddy.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Spot on, Paul.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
I’ll back you up, ATW. When I first came to Aus a tradie told me his job was ‘Mickey Mouse’, meaning ‘schmick’, and I did the same as you, wondered why he’d be so proud of shoddy work.
So it’s there, but I think has long been superseded by the understanding that it really does mean bad, not good.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Billy Harmon puts in a big effort every time, Muzzo. As did Withy.
But as a team, they’re all over the place at the moment. No carry and no support. Parkinson looked like he was operating at 40%.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Very glad you spelled ears correctly, ATW…
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
I don’t think it matters James, what his intent was.
Just the fact that he did it is enough to show his contempt for the situation.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Hi Goady
I think the Brumbies had plenty of opportunity early in the match. Also, we should be careful with the ‘time in possession’ stat. What can be interesting is number of possessions.
Obviously, if a side is make errors early in those possessions, or is perhaps kicking the ball away, it can skew that total ‘time’ stat.
Conversely, if a side isn’t competing well at the breakdown, and the opposition is racking up multiple phase possessions, that’s going to skew things as well.
What I’m sure we can agree on, is that they were well beaten!
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Good post, Decoy.
This is a massive, sudden transition.
The organisation is strong enough to ride it out and recover quickly.
Imo, the knee-jerk ‘sack the coach’ reaction does not validly apply here.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
As mentioned in last weeks’ thread numpty, I’m working on a project, due for release later in the year, that will hopefully give readers a sense of how the different roles at a professional franchise interrelate, and how the role of the head coach – whilst crucially important – is just one of many inputs and has less influence on week to week results than what most people think.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
I wouldn’t be jumping to conclusions either way, Guess.
It’s important to restate that the incident with the fan had nothing to do with Lomani’s actions and his need to take responsibility for that.
But I’m not confident that the investigation was as rigorous and thorough as it should have been. Now under RA, the Rebels have nobody within their organisation left to conduct such an investigation. RA would have been very happy to leave this to SANZAAR. Which leaves us again asking the question, what kind of organisation is SANZAAR and do they have the personnel and expertise and commitment to transparency to conduct a thorough investigation?
I know that the Drua are unhappy with the way this was followed up and the level and manner of communication received from SANZAAR. It’s very important that the Drua and their fans, feel like the matter has been dealt with transparently and thoroughly – whatever the outcome.
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'
Just by chance? You’re a kind man, Bodger. I hope if I’m ever up on a charge I get you on the jury…
The Wrap: Why SANZAAR must hold Frank Lomani accountable for 'going back for his hat'