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Joined October 2019
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Crap footy player as a kid - no hands, no vision, too fat. Gave it away when I nearly drowned at the bottom of a ruck while playing for the school's 14Es. (Was in the 13Gs the previous year, but the 14Es was still the bottom team in a school renowned for being lousy at sport.) Passionately follow rugby but still have next to no clue what's going on. Probably more interested in the psychological side of elite sport. My son has proven to be a handy half-back - must get it from his mum, backed up by fanatical support from me.
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I think a lot of the problem ppl have with Hooper is that he doesn’t show much of his personality when playing or in interviews. You rarely see him smile, even when other players can see the funny side of an incident in a game. So he comes across as dour and two-dimensional, when I think he’s actually just a shy person.
My only problem with Hooper is the naff haircut he sported until recently. And given some of my shockers over the years I can hardly fault him for that!
WILL GENIA: 'I don't get the Hoops hate - he goes balls out for 80 minutes every time'
I’m not accepting or rejecting Harry’s argument here. I’m too much of a rugby naff to notice in real time at least half the things Erasmus complained about, and I agree that Cheika’s behaviour as Wallabies coach was frequently reprehensible. But this isn’t whataboutism or bad behaviour in the heat of the moment (which, to be fair, Cheika’s usually was). From a legalistic perspective I think the question is about the degree to which Erasmus willingly, knowingly, sought to bring the game into disrepute.
The only thing that puzzles me is why it’s taken WR so long to bring this matter to a head. My suspicion is they’re stymied by all the types of arguments Harry and others have put forward and will give Erasmus a slap on the wrist with a wet lettuce leaf. Which may or may not be fair in terms of what he said. My chief concern is the way he went about it.
Rassie in the dock: How punitive will World Rugby be?
At Wimbledon they fiercely police the rule prohibiting any coaching from the stands.
Shouldn’t be so hard to keep non-players off a rugby pitch, provided WR has the will.
The Wrap: Fast-finishing Wallabies earn respect but Bledisloe Cup remains elusive
I always look forward to your articles, Harry, but I think this is the best yet. Informative, incisive, enthralling and full of character and colour.
I envy both your rugby smarts and your written elegance!
Thank you.
Box the Boks or tame the Lions: A preview of a surreal tour
I watched a doco about Richie McCaw on Stan last week.
He spoke about how, after being knocked out of the 2007 RWC and looking back on past AB failures at the RWC, he concluded it was an attitudinal problem and he worked with a psychologist to identify and explore the “dark spaces”, and become comfortable operating in that place.
So much so, when the knockout game against France in 2011 was again tight in the last 20 minutes, he could say to himself: “This is what I’ve trained for over the past 4 years.” In other words, he chose not to sugar-coat the historic losses and turned identified weaknesses into strengths through a process involving courage, clear-eyed intelligence and persistence.
Australian rugby needs to do the same.
Is there a way, way back for Australian rugby?
Helpful analysis, thanks Brett. Always good to see some positivity in these gloomy times.
That said, Geoff Parkes nailed it in his discussion on Monday of how Australian teams have not kept up with the game’s increased tempo. Once we get up to speed, literally and figuratively, those green shoots you spied will doubtless flourish into a veritable forest.
But with the relentless competition for talent from other codes in this country, my suspicion is that, long-term, Australia will be lucky to get back into the global top 3 – let alone stay there for long.
What to look for when the hope disappears so quickly
I think you just solved my TT dilemma.
The two lingering questions from an incredible weekend of Super Rugby finals
Hi Brett, great to see you contributing regularly to The Roar again – although I note your tipping skills haven’t improved! 😂
Both questions you ask today are good ones, although I suspect you’re a bit optimistic about the Force and the Rebels. I don’t think either of those teams has the attack to get past any NZ team that’s not having a shocker.
WRT to the comp format, I confess I’m bewildered about the TT structure. How can each team only play the other nation’s teams once, then move to finals? What will that prove, except provide benchmarking opportunities?
As the Drua have history here via the NRC, why not put them in the Aussie comp so that each Super series has 6 teams? Then some sort of play-offs leading to finals could be scheduled – maybe top 3 teams in each “conference” play knock-out, so it’s a 6-team finals series with semis, a final and a grand final. I don’t follow NRL any more but haven’t they made that format work in the past?
The two lingering questions from an incredible weekend of Super Rugby finals
I know it won’t fly with the authorities, but my ultimate preference would be for them to always play in an Indigenous design based on the 1991 gold.
New Wallabies jersey to be inspired by 1991 design after vote
Visited NZ for the first time in 2019. Rented a car in Wellington and as we headed north the national news came on the radio. First item? No fruit flies in Auckland!
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck code-switch rumours heat up once again
I think Clark’s pronunciation of names is terrible and borderline racist if the guy as an Islander background. Always makes it sound like a circus act … eg “Toupoooooo!”.
How about a new commentary team to go with a new TV deal?
Agree. Swain and Mehrtens were excellent on Saturday. I was delighted Swain had replaced Clark.
How about a new commentary team to go with a new TV deal?
Agree. I can’t abide Greg Clark. Not only does he have no feel for the game, he spends much of his time reading from a team/player stats sheet, droning on and on about irrelevant data to the detriment of our capacity to enjoy the play in front of us. It’s got to the point where I spend much of the game moaning about him or shouting for him to shut up.
Don’t mind Kafer, quite like Horan, but I can easily live without Martin, Kearns and Maloney, while Mitchell and Hoiles – who seem likeable enough young chaps – are lightweights.
The NZ Sky team, on the other hand, is superb. They don’t over-call but are informed, dispassionate commentators. I’d happily have them call every game I watch.
How about a new commentary team to go with a new TV deal?
Thanks Geoff. I always look forward to your deeply informed Wrap but you’ve excelled yourself today.
As for Asinine Jones’ ridiculous comment, our household has been paying $70-$80 a month – up to $960 p.a. – for years to watch rugby on Foxtel. It’s been a long while since we watched anything else on that platform, and never Mr Jones and his fellow conspiracies on Sky After Dark. $250 a year for Stan? Pffft … bring it on! And let me finally get Murdoch out of the house.
The Wrap: A great new broadcast deal for rugby? Depends on who’s telling the story
Go well, Brett. I already miss your Roar columns and crazy tipping round ups, but good to know you’re safely ensconced at the ABC. See you in the comments!
Welcome competition in the rugby broadcast rights race - and a farewell, for now…
I’m keen to see Loleisio get a start. I thought he was masterful in the SR final, and remember it was his first game back after a lengthy break. In my book he’s the future at 10, so JOC to 12 with Simone on the bench.
What changes are on the cards for Rennie's Wallabies in Bledisloe 3?
Or a Pacific Islands team? Fiji will be in the NH but what about Tonga or Samoa? Or NZ Maori or NZ B team? The B team would be mighty competitive, judging from the recent North-South game.
OFFICIAL: South Africa are out as Rugby Championship reverts to Tri-Nations for 2020
After many years in corporate comms I’ve had a gutful of all the trite, vacuous words and phrases listed here … and so many more! Lesson learnings is an excellent riposte!
But “journey” is ubiquitous, leaving an odorous trail of lazy thinking through all walks of life including self-help gurus and new-agers. In my new life as a counsellor I have to fight it most days, and find “pathway an acceptable alternative while I buy time to work out what I really want to say instead of that exhausted cliche.
I don’t know much about rugby but imho I run rings around most people who want to enter the language ring with me! ????
The Wrap: Rugby learnings of Australia for make benefit glorious nation of Brumbies
All true. And the Reds played their worst game in a month.
I’m a Tahs fan, so from my perspective the bride’s cousins kissed. Heart said Reds, head said Brumbies. And so it was brain over presswurst.
Good game! And well done RugbyAU under extremely trying circumstances.
Brumbies halt the Red tide to win thrilling Super Rugby AU final
Finn de siecle – pun of the season!
Thanks Harry, your comment is excellent value as always.
Why Warren Gatland is winning the battle of the basics
Koch’s action looked outrageous.
'We want to get the country behind us': Everything Rennie said about beating Boks, JOC return