Roar Rookie
Joined August 2018
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Rugby, cricket and racing tragic. Why do they even have other sports? “You’re missing a great game ref !”
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While Dave Rennie oozes confidence, credibility and now results, the announcement of the Wallabies' squad to tour the northern hemisphere in the coming weeks…
Rugby is a beautiful, complex game of sweeping attacks and aggressive tackling but it is also a game of combative scrummaging, skilful, rolling mauls,…
He may not be perfect, but Bernard Foley produced his best game in Bledisloe III for a long while. Clear decision making, an inside…
The Wallabies have gone down the wrong track and do indeed need to turn back. Spring is for Spring cleaning! Was Michael Cheika's rant…
Yes, there has been much to talk about Taniela Tupou this week, and all year in fact. What is not to like about having…
Test your Rugby World Cup knowledge. Do you remember who came fourth or fifth in world cups past? How about, who didn’t make it…
Driving back to Tamworth after taking my three sons and their mates from our local junior rugby club to the Bledisloe Cup had me…
This article is first class. The positive comments from Roarers and your writing colleagues struck me as rare and is a credit to you. The article captures the character and reflects well on Ned and his lovely family. Getting to know the players as people goes a long way to avoiding the modern day haters. Cheika letting Fardy go way to early and then trying to convert Hanigan from lock to blindside on the international stage needs to be understood. He was in blistering form prior to the stint in Japan. Bravo.
Exclusive: Ned Hanigan on how Japan changed him, Wallabies ambition, dealing with doubters and his 'surreal' Tahs return
Dead right. Cheika let Fardy go way to early and Hanigan then got thrown in before he was ready, have been a lock up until then, but the knockers don’t bother with such detail. Played very well before heading overseas. Massive work rate.
Exclusive: Ned Hanigan on how Japan changed him, Wallabies ambition, dealing with doubters and his 'surreal' Tahs return
True, but the next RWC is up there also…
Meltdowns and mayhem: Was that the greatest six hours of rugby ever seen?
After the 2015 RWC where the Southern Hemisphere dominated, with NZ, SA, Aus, Arg filling the top 4 spots,m. Who would have thought this possible? That 6 yrs on, on one weekend in 2021, England def SA, Wales def Aus, France def NZ, (a week after Ireland)…This has to be the most even point in rugby history ?
Meltdowns and mayhem: Was that the greatest six hours of rugby ever seen?
Good points from the boundary. Lonergan as the developing half. Gordon is pretty set now. Folau, DHP and Banks most of the recent caps. Dave Rennie must see Jordan P, Wright or Kellaway. as next in line?
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Appreciate the post Mad Man, but curiosity and questioning the strategy doesn’t mean I am negative about Rennie or the Wallabies. Questions are not statements of opinion are they ? (did you see what I did there?). I am pro both DR amd The WBs and actually pro older players, just wondering what the guys that missed out do now we can’t send them back to play NRC due to 37 million reasons. The written word can be understood.
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
I would certainly watch the 5 provinces go at with their non Wallabies contracted players and some up and coming club players (ie the same players that were in the NRC just don’t confuse matters by having all the NRC club names). At worse, call them NSW not Waratahs, Qld not Reds etc use all the same coaches, or blood their assistants by letting them coach the off season comp for development. Makes it easy for the punters to get it, include it on Stan. I think it would rate for non cricket enthusiasts
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
I’m saying Hunter P to 12, if not Foketi but why have both.
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Good points. I think if Paisami isn’t the second player at 12 he shouldn’t be there. If he is, then probably have to question why Foketi is picked when Hodge and O’Connor both cover 12 and I think we need to build depth at 15 more than anywhere. Kellaway played 13 and 15 all through his amateur days but his size, height and length of kick makes him best suited as a winger at the top level. He has been so impressive playing no mistakes rugby. Wright or Jordan P look to be the next best fullback options behind Hodge. Banks is likeable but isn’t the answer for mine.
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Skelton, Kellaway….
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
When you lose that amount if cash over two years…..
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
I think selecting your 6 th hooker is heading that way. Not sure how many wingers have played under 10caps in the last decade but it is a big number….predicted for the tour, if Foketi and Perese play Japan and Scotland, then they might be considered cheap caps, as we never see them at this level again.
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Clear distinction between being a say a Reds AU comp player v a contracted Reds Super rugby player. Harrison and Noah L for example would become senior players in this environment and have the opportunity to lead and dominate. Better development wise than lifting heavy things ina room full of sweaty blokes…..
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Post club gf was the NRC was it not ? Clear cut ie everyone excluding the spring tourists. More economies from coaches, admin etc, at the super rugby franchises so no double ups cost wise. Good way to decide who to add to last fe spots in the supe rugby rosters. Gives the best of the club players exposure to coaching etc. no competing codes on the box in this slot.
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
I don’t think the Wallabies had the cattle in the Bledisloe. A fourth test now, like the October Hong Kong Test, on neutral turf would be a good contest. Eg inside backs, if you take McDermott, NL, Hunter P, Len I who are all young and handy but replace that with White, Cooper, Kerevi, we saw Len I and Kellaway flourish. Can we play the rugby au in this slot ie all non Wallabies against each other with no competing tv codes, tribalism already there, admin in place, 4-6 weeks?
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Thanks Peter. The half back role has evolved in a short time and all the play and much of the kicking is from that jersey making fly half almost a lesser role these days. All of the SA play is off nine for example. I counted the number of times their half passed to their flyhalf. It was about once per half! The 3 halves plus Powell are very different styles to one another aren’t they?
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Thanks PK. I have been thinking fir some time that the rugby AU should be played now in place of the NRC, non Wallaby tourists that are playing super rugby plus the best of the rest from clubland. Play each other once, then have a final, say 5 or 6 weeks. That gets a good look at the uncontracted guys and give the emerging Wallabies more air time. I think people would watch it as the tribalism is already there. Thoughts anyone?
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
My concerns are not with the Giteau Law exemptions as Peter K points out above it is about bringing them into the system which takes time as it has for say McMahon. They are good enough but just can’t turn if fir the RWC. What do you suggest to fill the NRC void for emerging players? I think the rugby AU fills this gap, while the Wallabies season is on eg post club GF ie each provinces emerging players play each other in a short Comp now, topped up with non contracted players (per the NRC) of the best of the Shute Shield and other club comps….might work?
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Cooper looks good and sounds even better. Time will tell. The cheap jerseys will those handed to the guys in the squad who must be played to see them play (from o/s or super rugby background) that can’t play a mid week, non test game against the club or provincial teams on tour. This all comes down to budget. We will see a couple of those. In old days the reserves didn’t even get on, no rotations, etc. All changes but require a lot more players getting caps that aren’t in the best 23 players in the country.
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Don’t mind the older look to the team. What do you suggest for the fringe Wallabies and best of the rest with no NRC, no Aussie A, no extend Wallabies tour ?
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Thanks SW. I agree on the smart set-piece plays. Two great first phase, team tries ( both from line outs) last week come to mind. The Wallabies are indeed a long way short of the ABs but won’t be come next Bledisloe. I don’t think the coaches set out to play NL at ten at all. JO’C got injured and Matt T was out of form, then injured, now concussed? They brough in Duncan P at some stage but has anyone heard on update on his progress or where he is playing next year? Rennie is great how he shares his thinking per the great interview that has been posted by Tony Harper on The Roar between me writing this over lunch Yesterday and it being posted. Rennie and Taylor and Dan McKellar are bringing a credibility that you have to admire, win lose or draw and that is great for the game.
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Yeah, I like the squad in terms if getting the job done. The times they are a changing. Rugby as we knew it, for better or worse, will change because the financial situation (ie 2 losses in two years of $30+ m total) demands it. Cheers
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
I actually prefer the old blokes policy for the RWC. A wise old head comes in handy at crunch time, especially when they only have to place 40-60 minutes and a drink and a breather every few minutes! 2 blokes under 23, know NRC, no Australia A (that I am aware of) due to no cash is the real issue. Cheers
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
Agree PL, just wish those emerging guys like the Lonerghan brothers, the Jock Campbells, the young IC at the reds, Duncan P, could be playing rugby of some sort in the absence of the NRC.
Dave’s Dads' Army: Will old age and treachery overcome youth and skill?
As Jake Howard once said, the most important player on the pitch is the tight head prop and the second most important is the reserve tight head. Slipper, a loose head being selected as reserve tight head shows how fragile the stocks are. Sekope was one of the few that could do it at this level.
Wallabies CONFIRMED: Kellaway and Ikitau OUT, Petaia at 15, Frost set for debut, Taniela returns, Suli kept waiting