Roar Pro
Joined November 2012
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With the start of the rugby season just days away, here is an alternate format of Super rugby which will hopefully end most of…
There are certain qualities that separate rugby from most other sports, and of these qualities respect stands above all. We often hear of players…
There is little to gain in continuing the cynicism currently surrounding Australian rugby. Confidence at all levels seems to be at an all-time low;…
I read something somewhere that went something like this: "It isn't violence that scares people, but the degree of violence. How far are you…
For the Wallabies to know how to win tonight, they have to look at how they lost last week in Sydney and, similar to…
The All Blacks opened their Rugby Championship campaign with a dominant 47-29 win over the Wallabies at ANZ Stadium. Here are my player ratings:…
The Springboks kick off their Rugby Championship campaign in Soweto on Sunday morning against Argentina, hours after the Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney. Preparing…
Has to be the funniest comment I’ve read on the roar 😀
Should the Wallabies pick overseas talent?
Not to mention that scrum gurus are certainly more plentiful than rocket surgeons 😛
The Wallabies scrum must get back on Topo
Super article Harry. I don’t agree with some of your assessments but enjoyed reading them.
Previewing the siege of Eden Park
Tactical kicks to the right touchline I would assume 😛
Let's end the cynicism in Australian rugby
All true but where does that cynicism and negativity get you? Does it get you any closer to achieving what you want?
Let's end the cynicism in Australian rugby
Totally agree with the comment regarding the lack of Wallaby preparation. How Andrew Blades, being the scrum coach, could predict the Wallabies prospering under the new rules with all other expert thinking to the contrary is beyond me.
Locks, not props, the Wallaby problem
Whilst the ABs got dusted at the scrum by Argentina, the chances of the Bok scrum doing the same is unlikely. I would go so far as to say it is unlikely the Argentinians will do so again in the return home game. You seriously underestimate and miscategorize Whitelock, Retallick and Romano as being ‘rangy’. The implication being that just because they get around the field and have ball playing skills they must be ineffective in the scrum. The AB scrum has been all over opposition scrums for almost a decade now (minus the odd off scrum here and there) and it’s going to take more than a rule revision and generation change to change that. The reason behind my confidence is plain and simple – technique beats size and the AB technique is, at the very least, on par with the best.
The scrum non-performance in this past game will have hurt them. They will work be working on it like mad this week and will want to correct this aberration. To paraphrase Ramsay Snow, if you’ve banked a scrum advantage then you haven’t been paying attention.
Locks, not props, the Wallaby problem
What is your assessment of Heyneke Meyer BB? Has he ticked all the boxes for you or is he still to prove himself? If you had the choice, who would you have as the Boks coach?
Wallabies must starve Steyn of possession
If I had to read about Nynaeve pulling her braid one more time I would have travelled to Two RIvers and cut it off for her! Seriously though, truly epic story that needed some serious editing.
Mowen's rapid Wallabies rise continues
Actually the 1st five selections for the All Blacks this year have been Carter, Cruden, Barrett, Taylor and Slade – 2 Crusaders, 1 Chief, 1 Hurricane and 1 Highlander. Thats a pretty good distribution I reckon.
Actions speak louder than words: O'Connor
Douglas has the mongrel to match it with anyone, the rest will come. More aggression is what the Wallabies need, no Rob ‘Would you like a hug’ Simmons.
SPIRO: The Wallabies can - and must - beat the Springboks
I’d have Bismark or Strauss over the Lions hooker every day of the week. I’d also definitely have Etzebeth and the entire Bok back row which is far superior to the Lions one.
SPIRO: The Wallabies can - and must - beat the Springboks
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23888263
An example of a point that biltongbek has made. The NH will never stop trying to disparage the rugby we play down here and it brings into sharp focus that we, the Southern Hemisphere, need to stick firmly together. Diluting our Super Rugby by chasing after the dollars that may or may not be available in Japan, USA, Canada etc is a sure fire way to losing our competitive edge.
SANZAR must protect their core values to remain at the top
My bet is on a Bok victory too but then again I have picked them over the Wallabies a number of times in the past and have been proven wrong. For some unfathomable reason, the Wallabies always seem to be able to match Bok physicality whereas they are unable to do so against the All Blacks. Whether this particular Wallaby team can do the same remains to be seen.
A kick is only as good as it’s chase and the SA chase, even with Habana, is inconsistent at best. That said the Wallaby chase is almost non-existent so if this game develops to be a kicking duel, heaven help us all. The springbok scrum should be superior and have the advantage but I reckon the Wallabies will have a better breakdown and Hooper will cause the Boks all sorts of problems. If the Boks do not plan for this, they will lose.
Wallabies vs Springboks - or boxer vs fighter
This gets my vote. The way Pulver just assumes NZ rugby would just go along with their plan just grates on my nerves. If SA goes then ditch it all and concentrate on making the ITM cup bigger and better.
Let the Boks run their own race
Not far behind at all, and I do think confidence has a wee bit to do with it as well. Not having won consistently for while has led to most of the Wallabies being a little low on confidence and that could translate to lapses in concentration and skill errors.
What next for the Wallabies?
Who cares? England got the job done and all that matters is the win. I would love for us to keep winning every game but the reality is we will lose and when we do it is important that we lose with dignity. I personally don’t care about Suzy, forward passes or two days of vomiting, we lost, congratulate the opponent on a good game and move on to become better.
What next for the Wallabies?
Would love to see Shields make that step up too. We really are blessed with some exciting blindsid flankers.
All Blacks add four for home Wallaby Test
There’s speculation and then there are educated guesses. Yours would fall into the latter I reckon.
Should the Wallabies pick overseas talent?