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Brett McKay is one of The Roar's good news stories and has been a rugby and cricket expert for the site since July 2009. Brett is an international and Super Rugby commentator for ABC Grandstand radio, is the voice of ACT club rugby, has commentated on Under-20s Championships, Women's Uni Sevens and National Rugby Championship coverage, and has written for magazines and websites in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. He tweets from @BMcSport.
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This week’s column is not going to start the way I wanted it to. A wonderful Rugby World Cup Final on Sunday morning Australian…
We have the Rugby World Cup final that was always there as a juicy morsel of possibility, and even one that many of us…
While Australian rugby was busy trying to work out how to convince states to centralise themselves, the Rugby World Cup got on with the…
Here’s a hot take to kick off a column: Australian rugby fans tuning out of the Rugby World Cup now are only going to…
Unsurprisingly, after gaining the bonus point win over Portugal they needed to keep the slimmest of Rugby World Cup hopes alive, the Australian players…
The fallout had started long before Wayne Barnes blew time on Wales’s record defeat of Australia in Lyon, and has continued largely unabated since.…
Well, now they’ve got a job on their hands, haven’t they? The Wallabies’ 22-15 loss to Fiji in Saint Etienne – the most historic…
What a difference a win makes.
It’s probably not right to say Rugby World Cup week has snuck up on us, given it’s been coming for four years, but it…
I’m just going to start with this: the 2023 will feature the greatest collection of rugby jerseys ever assembled before the William Webb Ellis…
And with the 41-17 loss to France, the Wallabies are now officially in Rugby World Cup mode. But there are no more games in…
The Rugby World Cup is about to consume all the Australian rugby attention, but it has been nice to see a little bit of…
Once Cortnee Vine’s remarkable 20th penalty shootout attempt hit the back of the net on Saturday night, more than three hours after the Matildas’…
International rugby in the southern hemisphere is now finished for 2023, with all our teams completing the first stage of their Rugby World Cup…
I don’t really mean to speak for everyone, but I’m not seeing any great angst about the Wallabies current winless record from four starts…
The Rugby Championship is done for 2023, and Rugby World Cup preparations get ratcheted up that much further this week with the extra weekend…
Righto Wallabies, now you’ve got me interested. And that’s not to say that I wasn’t interested in the Wallabies before or that I was…
The Rugby Championship looks New Zealand’s to lose from here, as the abbreviated tournament wraps up this weekend at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and…
We've all been a bit too defensive of late, and not much of it has been in a good way. But I’ve come to…
We’re two weeks into the International season in the south, and already it’s clear players are putting their hands up across the board as…
I’d ask yourself this question Rocky – who tries to set and control the narrative, and who reacts to it and reports on it?
Jones put himself forward early and often, and made himself the centre of rugby attention. Yes, the media bought into that (and not just ‘rugby media’), and there’s no denying his box office appeal. That was also a reason the Chair went all-in to install him for five years.
But when the one in the centre of attention then starts chopping and changing, and switching tack midstream, and never explaining anything as I mentioned, how does he expect the media to stay onside?
At his first organised presser after the RWC squad was named, the Sydney Airport debacle, he turned that into an absolute s**tshow because he didn’t want to explain why he had suddenly left blokes out who were in his squad a week earlier.
He did that. That was the first chance rugby media had to ask about the squad and he chose the nuclear option.
They may have played a part. But that part was only ever created by Jones’ own performance..
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
Mike, it’s actually an interesting point about the review – who will be left from a Wallabies staff point of view to participate?
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
It’s a great point Mizzy. Wales is another one..
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
I will mate. But I suspect our rate of comms will remain for a while yet… 😉
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
Cheers Ricco. I won’t hold my breath on this being read, and frankly I don’t really care. But it all needs to be said, certainly.
It has been a harsh few months for us and the eds, and for more than a few reasons, but that will make the break all the more enjoyable.
A chance to reset, reflect, and think about what calibrations for 2024 might be needed…
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
Thanks Simon, appreciate the note..
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
I’m within you on this Kev, especially with the demise of BeIN Sports in Australia.
Stan have added the Sevens circuit though, so there could be more to come. Otherwise, I’m going to keep an eye on RugbyPass TV..
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
Too much cricket to watch, Rusty!
This will be the longest writing break I’ve taken from The Roar in 15 years..
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
I was only talking about selection madness at that point, though KPM.
Harry wrote the now completely prescient column on how Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach could easily go south, and that was very early in the piece. Within the first few weeks, even..
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
Kind of runs counter to him saying on day 1 everyone was in the rebuild together, Ken – coaches, players, supporters, and even specifically mentioning the assembled media..
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
Wanna run a book that they do?
It’s exactly why I made the point Ken. There’s no need to rush this now, they should let the report process run it’s course, and not feel any obligation to make any appointment for a few months at least.
Honestly, what need is there to hurry?
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act
A great layout of, what as the line again?
Oh yes, “BS and lies”, that was it…
Thanks for this Tony, a really illustrative timeline..
Read it and weep: Eddie made Wallabies fans 'eat s--t' for 10 months - here's every bit of BS he uttered
Fair enough, thanks for the response, mate.
Wasn’t 100% sure how to read “Yourself included no doubt”..
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
Of course Jacko. But out of curiosity, what are you thinking of particularly, to point that comment fairly directly at me?
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
This doesn’t suggest they should, Gasher..
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
Good summary Jonty. Something in it for both sides, no doubt..
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
There’s numerous things I didn’t mention Muzz, and none of them had any particular relevance to this specific kicking focus that I have narrowed down on..
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
Just goes to prove people will see what they want to see, I suppose..
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
Cheers Mizzy, I was really surprised Daly’s stats read like that.
I obviously rewatched the game, and the first 25+ minutes very closely focussing on England’s kicking, and it was only in doing that that it occurred to me that I didn’t think I’d seen Daly do anything other than chase kicks.
And sure enough, that was his involvement for the match. That was his job on the night.
But, it’s a good counter observation you make about England failing to adapt, especially as the momentum swung in the 2nd half..
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
Snoozefest? Did you watch the whole game?
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
I just prefer watching the rugby Mungo, I don’t care how the ref operates..
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
This doesn’t suggest they ignore that..
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
Hard to imagine weather won’t be a factor in some shape, Chookman
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
No, they won’t abandon their own plan and just adopt England’s, Coker, certianly..
Did England's tactics against the Boks give New Zealand the blueprint for World Cup final victory?
Rocky, I’d challenge you to scour through the SMH coverage over the last month especially, and highlight the “exaggeration, dishonesty and creation of drama where none exists”.
because so far, it’s all played out very much in their favour..
The joy of Rugby World Cup celebrations only ruined by Eddie Jones’ final act