Roar Pro
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An article yesterday by Armand van Zyl got me thinking: why do we support the team(s) that we do. Some of the answers are…
Not sure if there is even a photo. I do remember seeing it on TV at the time (I was not at the match), but whether the footage survives…
Brave, highly skilled and well-respected: John Hipwell was the quintessential rugby halfback
Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Peter. In 1968 I was a pimply-faced 13 YO half-back with a serious case of hero worship for Ken Catchpole. Perhaps because of this, I (to this day) can’t stand Colin Meads and have never properly appreciated John Hipwell. As a result of your article, at least I can revise my opinion on the latter.
Brave, highly skilled and well-respected: John Hipwell was the quintessential rugby halfback
I can commiserate Jez. Living in Los Angeles, EVERY game I watch requires a communications blackout while I scramble to find a replay of the match – from SR to Tests to WC. I love living in LA, with just that one (rugby) caveat…
Wallabies CONFIRMED: Key Wallabies duo out, Frost back and hooker swap for 'most important match of World Cup'
Pity Eddie doesn’t channel Harpo. A bit of quiet would be nice…
'It's everything': The craziness and stupidity that must be addressed if Eddie is to be proven right
For my money, it was 3 moments in the 1991 Australia/ Ireland quarter final. First, Campese’s try in the first half was one of his best (speaking of raw pace) and had me jumping out of my chair. Second, Ireland’s try near the death had me crying into my beer, and then Lynagh’s try in the last seconds had me pissing my pants (figuratively, I think).
The Wrap: Magical World Cup moments and memories that left an indelible mark, and the promise of so much more
Or in your case Chook, KFC?
The Wrap: Why the Owen Farrell fiasco is a good thing for rugby
As a Waratahs supporter, it certainly seemed like 18 months…
'Disappointing': Barrett's Blues smash Waratahs after white flag waved - but was it the right move?
I was a 9 too, so I have no idea what you were talking about.
Northern View: Eddie's reaction to Boks disaster insults England fans, cynical Wallabies-Wales cash grab a sign of distress
Don’t get me wrong Tony, I have no problem with a 20 minute (insert your colour) card. I’m just not sure that an automatic 6 week ban on top is appropriate. Having said that, I don’t think the current judicial system works either. I wish I had the answer, and I commend Spew for at least trying to find one.
The case for a new type of rugby penalty
I was with you for a while Spew, but I got confused (happens all the time). If an Orange card is for an accidental infringement, why the automatic 6 weeks? To be punished thus for an “accident” seems grossly unfair. If at all, the automatic 6 week ban should be reserved for Red cards, although I would argue that even for “deliberate” foul play, there can be mitigating circumstances (sometimes). Otherwise, I like the idea of being sent to the sheds for an orange… hmm, perhaps a different colour though.
The case for a new type of rugby penalty
I hope I don’t talk as much…
The Wrap on Friday: Call it all the time or not at all - crazy, ridiculous moment we should have seen coming
As an Aussie, I was ready to throw something when “it” occurred. But here’s the thing – if Australia hadn’t done 20 stupid things in the previous 78 minutes, they would have been far enough ahead that a brain-fade by the referee would not have mattered. So yes, at best an inconsistent decision, at worst a bad one, but Australia can only blame themselves.
The Wrap on Friday: Call it all the time or not at all - crazy, ridiculous moment we should have seen coming
Nick, what is the idea behind all the movement in the line-out? It seems in the examples above that all it achieves is to tell SA who they are not going to throw to. So they wait, and they wait with SA knowing where the ball is going, and the thrower getting more and more confused. It has never made sense to me.
Coach's corner: Unravelling the Wallabies' lineout mess, and radical solution Springboks need before RWC
After the final round, all teams will be equal on points. For and against will be the same and all teams will have scored the same number of tries. A penalty shootout will end in a draw. In desperation, SANZAAR will get all the half-backs in a room for a face-slapping contest. And we all know how that will end…
The Thursday Two-up: Time for a rethink?
It’s an intriguing dichotomy Wooliej. I don’t deeply analyze the game, yet I enjoy the Roar and the sometimes over-analysis it provides. I love my rugby even though I was at best an ordinary player. But something about the surrender last weekend deeply disturbed me, and no amount of analysis will make it more palatable
Paralysis by analysis: Supporting the Wallabies these days is exhausting - didn't it used to be fun?
Hi Ben. As an aged curmudgeon, I can only agree with you. I still remember the feeling of utter despair the day Campese passed the ball to no-one behind the goal-line. Fast forward to last weekend and the same feeling came over me as Petaia passed to Argentina in the first minute. Deja-vu all over again. There is one major difference between then and now, however – for every brain fart that Campo had, he did a dozen or more sublime things.
Paralysis by analysis: Supporting the Wallabies these days is exhausting - didn't it used to be fun?
There was a podcaster named Harry / who knew he had no time to tarry / for to harry McKay /
he had no time to play / oh, what a burden to carry.
The Wrap: Super Rugby's final eight confirmed after crazy, topsy-turvy weekend
Carlos, I can answer your first question. I suspect your remaining questions have no answers… the different socks were because it was “club round” and the players wore the socks of their formative club(s). The odd socks were for those players who could not make up their minds which club to honour.
The Wrap: Super Rugby's final eight confirmed after crazy, topsy-turvy weekend
Great read and well researched Harry. Apropos of not very much, when I first started following rugby, the ABC was broadcasting local matches in Sydney (the Shute Shield) and Cyril Towers was giving expert commentary. This was a wee while ago.
How the battles, and the beasts, have changed since Australia first played Scotland
Aside from swapping Paisami for Perese (two P’s in a pod?) I reckon that’s about the best team we have. The last 20 minutes will be epic.
WALLABIES TEAM: Izaia Perese debuts, Rory Arnold starts, as Beale and Skelton also named to face Scotland
For sure Laurie Monaghan has.
False dawn or a bright future? Euro tour to show Wallabies how good they really are
Hi Nick. You say: “When the referee is satisfied a tackle has been completed, he should call “tackle”.” What exactly constitutes the completion of a tackle? The start of a tackle is already defined: when the ball carrier’s knee touches the ground. Is that also the completion of the tackle? Or does some other event define its completion?
I think the main reason why the ruck continues to be so problematic is that it is so difficult to define a set of consistent actions and outcomes. I applaud your suggestions from a player safety perspective. But the main problem remains: finding a simple solution to a complex problem without changing the basic nature of Rugby. Maybe Gunga Din has the answer, I certainly don’t.
Why the ruck must go hands-free in 2021
I remember the name Monorchid, but as a youngster in Sydney, most of my exposure was to Sydney players. Speaking of which, another name that comes to mind as one of nature’s gentlemen is Don Logan. He played half-back for Australia before I was born, but by the time I started going to games, he was playing hooker in Gordon’s 4th-grade team well into his 40s. Talk about an ambassador for the game.
My five favourite Wallabies of all time
Well done. None of the names in the article or comments are undeserving. As a really old bugger, I could add three players from the very beginning of my rugby watching: Ken Catchpole, Phill Hawthorne and John Brass. You could argue that anyone who played outside Catchpole would look good, but Hawthorne and Brass were all class as well.
My five favourite Wallabies of all time
I think you’re confusing locks and stools, terminal
If Australia is looking for big men, let's not neglect the old and the fat