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2014 is a pivotal year for Stuart Lancaster and England. Lancaster has now had two years in the job, and a surprisingly large amount…
English involvement in the Autumn internationals has concluded and, as follows in sport, now is the time for appraisal and evaluation. So how did…
The New Zealand rout aside, England were worryingly ordinary during the 2012 November internationals. It was a very young and inexperienced side, and the…
The back row is always perceived as the most competitive area of selection for the Lions, but aside from Sam Warburton and Dan Lydiate…
The 2009 Lions pack saw a number of Gatland’s favourites selected, and the repercussions were immediate and devastating. The composition of the pack for…
Loosehead prop is possibly an area of concern for the English rugby side in the absence of Alex Corbsiero. Joe Marler is yet to…
I fancy the Boks. They essentially have three opensides in the pack (Bismarck, Louw and Brussow), and an energetic lock pairing. I thought De Jager was impressive last week (especially defensively). Granted Meyer has been moaning about the 5 jersey, and the back row isn’t the greatest lineout unit in world rugby, but they should manage to claim their own ball, and from there it’s game on.
Still am very unsure on Pollard. If he has another weak game, I’m not sure what Meyer can do? Morne Steyn?
SPIRO: Wallabies and All Blacks to continue their winning way
Fair point re: Cheika having another look at Skelton. Personally I think he’s a a throwback and should only be used as an impact sub, but the Argentina pack is a bit of a slow unit, so this should be his sort of game.
Against that, I think playing Skelton AND McCalman means the back five is too slow and will play in to Argentina’s hands.
Argentina don’t have natural fetchers, though, so Pocock should have a field day.
SPIRO: Wallabies and All Blacks to continue their winning way
Australia need the least agile and least fit tighthead lock in Test rugby in order to pay running rugby?
Wallabies come from behind to beat the Boks
* Wallabies only made breakdown headway when Du Pessis and Louw went off;
* Skelton is a non-entity. All other top sides have an athletic tight head lock who contributes all over the field, and Cheika plays the poor man’s Simon Shaw. He has to play off the bench if he plays at all;
* Wallaby scrum was eaten until the subs came on, and I thought that Slipper was pushing early in the latter stages;
* Kriel looks the goods, but I don’t think Pollard is a WC winning 10;
* Meyer’s game management is appalling;
* Wallabies did some good back moves, but Genia seems a spent force. Phipps had so much more energy;
* Still don’t think Cooper is a WC winning 10 either;
* Wallabies have showed England and Wales that they can be contained.
Wallabies come from behind to beat the Boks
Part of a game? Again, did you not watch those three games?
World Cup-winner Tindall does the Wallabies a favour
“The thing that will give England confidence is that they’ve shown decisive improvement over the last 12 months and have reverted to type. They know what they’re good at and have stopped experimenting or trying to play in a way they can’t manage.”
Actually, quite the opposite. Did you not see the most recent Six Nations?
World Cup-winner Tindall does the Wallabies a favour
What is this golden era based on? The last time out the Wallabies got walloped in Europe, and the Super XV Australian performances didn’t exactly set the pules racing. Typical Lord.
Wallaby cuts are still in World Cup contention
Perhaps if you’d actually watched any Exeter games you might have a different view. Also, Dean Mumm was named captain of the 2015 Aviva Dream Team. English rugby doesn’t give out awards to historically unimpressive Australian tight forwards for no good reason.
And what has Kane Douglas done at Leinster? Nothing.
No real surprises in Cheika's 40-man Wallaby squad
Three ordinary seasons with lowly Exeter? I see you know your English rugby…
No real surprises in Cheika's 40-man Wallaby squad
Hmmm… not sure this team is going to frighten anybody.
No real surprises in Cheika's 40-man Wallaby squad
I thought Skelton had a poor game. He tried to pay the enforcer, which is fine – but he did it badly and very obviously. He either got caught up in the moment, or just made some silly decisions.
Also, in general play, his understanding of the game is so poor. This will improve with time, but his positioning in defensive mauls, for example, is shocking.
He has potential, but he’s got so much to work on.
The rapid rugby education of Will Skelton
Fair point re: Mako.
I really don’t think their squad is that large compared to the other top sides.
Clermont to face Saracens in an epic ERCC semi-final
Well I look forward to seeing how that knowledge helps when James Slipper is having his head shoved up his b*m yet again.
Clermont to face Saracens in an epic ERCC semi-final
Hmmm… unless Australia are bringing Phil Kearns, Michael Lynagh, John Ealers, Daniel Herbert et al out of retirement I don’t see how that “knowledge” will have any impact this year. It certainly didn’t help much last November when they got completely rodded.
Clermont to face Saracens in an epic ERCC semi-final
Brock James attempted a pointless drop goal after how many minutes gone? I think that set the tone. As did James hoofing up countless Garryowen after Garryowen.
Separately, I think Saracens have done an outstanding job in recent seasons They have risen to the top of Europe despite possessing a pretty star-free roster. Compare the age and perceived quality of their starting pack yesterday with the Toulon pack that will start against Leinster today. Mako Vunipola, George, Kruis, and Itoje are all academy players, Du Plessis was a Championship player, and Burger plucked from obscurity. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that only Chris Ashton and Billy Vunipola have been marquee buys.
The media talk about Sarries breaking the salary cap, but with honest toilers like Wyles, Barritt and Bosch I don’t see how that can be the case. IMO it’s their lack of star buys holding them back.
Clermont to face Saracens in an epic ERCC semi-final
I’d love England to face a Wallaby pack like that. This article nicely (and broadly) summarises the Australian misinterpretation of forward play. The England pack isn’t big… Scrummaging is about technique and team interplay. Forget jokers like Luke Jones (arguably the worst run on game I’ve seen by a sub – against Ireland), and concentrate on coaching at all levels.
Select for size must be the Wallabies' World Cup scrum mantra
“After 20 or so minutes of the Rebels-Reds match in Melbourne, I wrote down in my note-book: ‘Are the Reds terrific, or are the Rebels just terrible?’ ”
A balanced perspective: the hallmark of quality journalism.
SPIRO: Will the Queensland Reds be Berry'd in South Africa?
Congratulations Dave and Pot Hale. Ireland are deserved winners, and apart from some question marks surrounding the midfield, I think it’s entirely reasonable to say that they’re easily the most complete side in Europe. It’s close at the top (behind NZ), but Ireland are fantastically well coached and have some bona fide world class players. A fitting title.
From an English perspective, we go into a WC with serious selection question marks. Again. Lancaster has had four years now, but how much have England really developed in that period? It seems the media have only just cottoned on to the fact that he’s the other sphinx without a riddle. On the plus side, at least he’s not contracted until the next WC… Oh, wait… What I would give to have somebody like Schmidt in charge of this pool of players. And I’m sure Welsh fans would say the same.
One final comment: Paul O’Connell – my goodness, what a ferociously fit and tough man he is. An absolute phenomenon. The media talk about Alun Wyn Jones and Courtney Lawes, but O’Connell is in a league of his own.
Six Nations set for grandstand final day, with four potential champions
If the Wallabies ever learn to scrummage AND defend, they might eat England alive. Conceding 26 points, 26, 29, 28 and 29 points in their last five Test matches doesn’t make for pretty reading.
Six Nations set for grandstand final day, with four potential champions
Another insightful, well measured, reasonable and intelligent piece. Thank you, Spiro. It really is so refreshing to see a “journalist” so clued up about events half the way around the globe. I can’t wait until that all Australian backline fires you through the group stages this year…
SPIRO: European sides hell-bent on buying Six Nations, World Cup glory
Wow – Warren Gatland’s Wales side is found out yet again. That’s surprising… He should be the most mortified man in Wales today, but I know he won;t be. The lad has scrambled eggs for brains.
[VIDEO] Wales vs England: 2015 Six Nations highlights, live scores, blog
I’m gone, mate. As much as I like commenting on the good articles, and chatting with the good posters, it’s a Zavos family website, and frankly I don’t want it to have any further hits on my part. They should be ashamed of themselves – all of them. I hasten to add that I feel the same about Stephen Jones and Mark Reason etc. Unpleasant and ignorant men who hinder the sport IMO.
SPIRO's Rolling Maul: Fearless predictions on RWC 2015 from Stephen Jones
I actually stopped coming on the Roar because of poorly written, sad little articles like this, which is a shame because there are some excellent columnists and fantastic contributors. If rugby is to grow in Australia like I hope it will, then it will only do so because of writers like Brett and Scott. Zavos and his archaic spite and self-indulgent nastiness reflect the very worst in sport – any sport. It’s sad that he’s linked to rugby because he clearly has no connection with the core values of the sport. Shameless stuff, and clearly a very unpleasant, ill-informed bigot.
SPIRO's Rolling Maul: Fearless predictions on RWC 2015 from Stephen Jones
I thought Kriel looked outstanding last week: aggressive defensively, and great pace. He’s an actual threat. Serfontein is good defensively, but that’s it, and Fourie looked terrible in a Bok jersey last season IMO.
Not sure re: Allande. He’s a very big man, so should settle into Test rugby, but he needs to try and take control of games.
Really looking forward to Brussow v McCaw.
SPIRO: Wallabies and All Blacks to continue their winning way