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Joined May 2014
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If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools - Kipling
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The Reds vs Sunwolves game shaped as a perfect way to test my wavering faith in rugby. I'd spent winter to-ing and fro-ing over…
I love weekends, they give us time to ponder things. This Sunday was no different, as I was struck by a strange thought as…
Player safety is all the rage at the moment, and rightfully so. Injuries are good for no one, not the advertisers, not the players,…
With a bit of conjecture and debate going on about the make up and balance of the Australian cricket team in it’s various formats,…
The NRL has blocked a planned exhibition match between the Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos in Hawaii. This may not be a bad idea.…
Which athlete do I look up to? Easy, Roger Federer. Not because he has won the most individual grand slam titles of any player.…
Spiro Zavos' recent article, 'The Australian Rugby Union should be stronger' was extremely frustrating, because I agreed wholeheartedly with one sentence and then completely…
This article is partly in response to Mary Kaye's article 'Ratings, or bums on seats'. Today we face the same problems our ancestors did,…
And green may the fields grow and golden may the harvest be. The Waratahs are riding a wave of public enthusiasm following their stellar…
With the upcoming Super Rugby final looming this weekend, I thought I would take a look back at some historical moments in the game…
I don't think many Australians understand just how difficult completing the Tour of France actually is. As the tour undertakes its first serious mountain…
On a cold night way back in 2008, the men gathered in the underbelly of Ballymore. Under the swinging lamp the powerbrokers had converged…
As the World Cup draws to a close the genuine contenders have emerged. Both semi-finals are going to be very close affairs but rather…
After five games in the round of 16 went to extra time, I suspect we'll have definitive results at the end of 90 minutes…
The AFL in its wisdom decided to risk playing a high-profile game on a cold Sunday night and see what the response was like.…
It was inevitable Australia would be eliminated at some stage of the World Cup - only the most one-eyed fan would have predicted Australia…
First off, well done to New South Wales. In a tough, hard fought and niggly battle the Blues won Game 2 of State of…
The simple, short answer is no. The longer, more complicated answer is yes. Having traded kicks, the English made an early line break down…
This article is partly in response to yesterday's piece by fellow Roarer Allanthus. I agree that Super Rugby commentators add precious little to the…
Marvelous, thanks Kippa and Tim.
Haven’t seen the same concerted advertising there is in the lead up to the French tour!
Michael Matthews feels the need for speed in La Vuelta
Thanks for the update, good article. What time and what channel is it being shown on?
Michael Matthews feels the need for speed in La Vuelta
As a union fan, who turned on channel nine to see the broncos/manly game, I was confused at first, but then soon worked out the teams/jerseys. Admittedly I rarely listen to the commentary (and it was muted as normal), but I suppose it is indicative of League, that I just assumed they were playing in weird jerseys for some silly event round or whatever. Turns out I was right, but the really stupid thing is, had I known it was a super heroes round, I would have probably specifically watched.
So, in short, even having watched a decent 50 minutes of the game, and having worked out the teams were in ‘odd’ strips, it still didn’t dawn on me that it was a super hero round, as your post is the first I have heard of it. In short, the marketing missed me and I didn’t catch on to what was happening. Good news is that as a casual fan, I still caught the last half and a bit of the game.
NRL's cross-promotion round was super
Thanks shop. Yes, but you should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. I remember my Grandfather telling me the story and the passion and love in his voice was so inspiring that it will always be the ‘truth’ to me. I think I’ll probably tell it to my son the same way he did – a wonderful story, with a small qualifier at the end.
I think we could stretch the myth a bit further and have him win a war at the same time (just blend in that quote about waterloo being won on the playing fields of eton).
Ode to those brave rugby souls
First time I’ve heard about the poisoning in 07′ as well. While I agree that Super Rugby form is not necessarily indicative of Rugby Championship performance, there is surely something about winning a title, and the confidence that comes from winning a close game, that is good experience, if nothing else, for the Rugby Championship.
I don’t think having your super rugby teams performing well can be a bad thing.
Waratahs pave the way for Bledisloe Cup glory
I think that is a big call to make Alex.
I think Bennett’s strength has never been as a coach, but as a motivator. Moving to the knights at the age of 60+ may have been a bridge too far, but I think there is logic enough behind his appointment at the Broncos. He still holds immense sway in Brisbane and if he can get the players to play for him, as they have in the past, then they will see the results. I assume this must be the boards thinking at least.
TURNER: Bennett’s Broncos homecoming is a play for power
Yep, mindset. There is no difference to doing something in theory or in practice… in theory. In practice however…
Super Rugby semi-finals - How's it going to play out?
Maybe, the best part of a good conspiracy theory is that any evidence that refutes your claim can be passed off as having been put there to test you. You seem to have the plot down right there, I like the idea about the number of teams equating to victory. I imagine the 2050 Super rugby, with SA looking to add it’s 15th, 16th and 17th teams…
The great ARU conspiracy revealed
I actually wasn’t trying to have a go at the ARU here. I can’t begin to imagine all the different factors in running super rugby/rugby in Australia. I came upon the idea watching some conspiracy rubbish on foxtel, so decided to just write a bit of fluff and see where it goes. I’m really looking forward to the NRC, I think it is a great way for a third tier comp to exist in Australia.
The great ARU conspiracy revealed
Fantastic article, completely captured my thoughts on the world cup, although I didn’t realise it until it I read this.
I, possibly with a naive optimism, thought Brazil would get up over Germany through the strength of national unity and common cause. I can’t remember why I thought Brazil would pull it together and that Germany would fall apart… I’m sure I had a reason…
Germany show the failure of football's focus on the individual
Why not? What would be the problem of just using a red ball during the day and a white ball at night? As long as it is the same for both teams… The first test match they covered the pitch was different, but if it is the same for both teams so what.
I understand that it would lose some continuity having the red ball maybe reverse swinging at the 60th over to be replaced by essentially a new ball for the last session. But I remember reading during the invincibles tour they replaced the ball every 55 overs or 200 runs, whichever came first.
Given the struggles they are having with the pink ball, what would be wrong with the white ball being used at night? Maybe they could restore it to the eight layers of lacquer they had on the ball for the first one dayers (it was subsequently toned down as it swung too much if I recall correctly).
Day/night Test cricket? I don't like it
Yep, Brazil were woeful. I thought they would be able to pull it together like they did against the Colombian team, but instead turned in one of the worst defensive performances ever. The fourth and fifth goals were particularly bad for defenders dropping their man, well finished by the Germans, but it looked like they were playing the youth reserve team at times.
This truly was a Brazilian disaster
Do we know any more details on how it will be played? i.e. Will the teams then have the option to continue playing with the red ball if it is light enough…? I’m imaging a beautiful evening in Dunedin or Hobart and as play starts for the third session after fivesies (what’s the name of the break going to be called?) around 6pm, the players come out and the umpires switch the ball over. I hope the batting team will have the option to continue with the red ball when conditions permit.
Sorry, maybe I’m not understanding, will the pink ball be used for the entirety of the test or just the night session?
Day/night Test cricket? I don't like it
Yep, Brazil got smashed. Feeling a little sheepish now. Who would you prefer to see the Germans play in the final?
World Cup final preview
My apologies to the people of Belgium, please replace Flemish with the Belgium national team.
2014 FIFA World Cup: Quarter final preview and tips
Thanks Jacques, when I said they were pretty smart chaps, it was meant in that it is the most successful sport in Australia, so they must be doing something right. Out of interest how does the pricing work at the MCG? Your comment on blockbuster games leads me to think they are more expensive than a bottom of the table clash – just seeking some clarification.
Have we seen the last of Sunday night footy?
Follow up question, when there is a public holiday on a Monday, do they play a night game on the sunday?
Have we seen the last of Sunday night footy?
I don’t have enough inside knowledge to say for sure, but as a reds fan, nay a super rugby fan, I will stop watching if teams start ‘tanking’.
Mathematically possible, but we won’t see four NZ qualifiers
I completely agree with the Argentine franchise, especially as they are apart of the Rugby Championship, it makes sense their players be afforded an opportunity in super rugby. I am a little concerned the Asian (potentially) team may struggle. I guess I’m just struggling to see how a team based in say Tokyo or Singapore won’t compound the issues the conference system tried to fix… travel distance and time zones.
SANZAR's tipping point: The overexpansion of Super Rugby
Redsback, I think it is important to note the different domestic structures between teams doing poorly from SANZAR and from the expansion countries. While the Reds and Bulls spent some years at the bottom of the table it is far easier for them to drag themselves back up with the number of players coming through the junior ranks. I remember about 5 years ago similar things being said about the highlanders, that they should be relegated, don’t have the base and look etc at the turn around they experienced.
Yes, I understand the top down development strategy a new super rugby team encourages (look at the Perth raised players representing the force). But I think the article is trying to say that the competition already has failings (a non complete schedule) and that adding teams only highlights those while diluting the strengths of games being played between quality sides.
SANZAR's tipping point: The overexpansion of Super Rugby
Sure is 13 from Europe, I sure feel foolish… NCB619 good call.
All hail the Americas in sensational World Cup
Interesting first point there Fin.
I remember a segment run at the start of this year about the waratahs and what it took to win a title/ why they hadn’t won one previously. Ewen stated something about it not being enough just to win… Like you say, maybe he is committed to getting some more newspaper space lined up for the wallabies/rugby…? Maybe the thinking goes, get in early, when the sports section is largely passing time until the weekend, get some pages of articles in an leave the end of the week for inevitable build up.
In relation to the article, I am equally unsure. On one hand, it is unnecessary to divulge information early, but rugby is a simple game, you have to tackle your opposite number no matter who it is. Maybe link should list the team alphabetically and go from there, let the media speculate on where people will be playing.
Wallabies lack the element of surprise