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Joined August 2010
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Well, there you go. Most said that the Rebels wouldn’t win a game for the year and have done so in only their second…
Sorry David, but I have to disagree with you on Rogers (again). Of the ‘big 3’ you mention, Del was limited, Tiquiri made a good winger but Rogers was electric. I remember being exited every time he touched the ball, you always felt something was going to happen. One bad game should not be the man’s legacy. Most Rugger’s didn’t like the way Matt left the game and have looked for excuses to dislike him ever since, the WC ’03 is a nice crutch.
Back on topic, it seems Izzy Iz very talented, let’s hope that when he makes his howler (and he will, we all do) that he is cut a little more slack.
I was dead-set wrong about Folau
I agree with much of what you say WCR. My 5 yo boy has just started at a Catholic school that does not have a dedicated sports program for the junior years. Kudos must go to the QRU with their Rookies to Reds program, We enrolled him and he loved that he got a letter from Quade Cooper (well it had his name on it anyway) and is looking in the post every day for his Rookies pack, I’m assuming the QRU must have run a bit short as it hasnt arrived even though the program started last week.
The program itself seems to be focusing on basic ball skills and games/activities that help with motor skill development, rather than purely Rugby. Girls and boys alike had a great time last week and I know my lad can’t wait until this afternoon.
What I’m trying to hilight with this is that even though some of the kids from this school go onto a senior school with a rich Rugby history, many don’t,ti can only be beneficial that these kids are exposed to Rugby and thus are more likely to want to check out their local club, this is the potential for growth.
Why private schools are the key to rugby growth
J2 Throw in Digby, that’s nearly half the Aus backline being Victorian, if they are all on at the same time :). If only the other states could grow their own 😉
O'Connor no Wallabies 10 yet: Mortlock
I tend to agree Mania, I saw JOC pull off a beautiful defensive tackle on Friday against one of those big Kings Units (can’t remember who it was). The Kings player looked about twice the size of JoC and I thought he was about to get steamrolled/ragdolled. But OConnor took him out at about knee level and as the saying goes ‘the Ba$t’ds can’t run without legs.’
As I say below though, I think it should be Tap’s and Lealio’ as the 12’s.
O'Connor no Wallabies 10 yet: Mortlock
Gotta say I think JOC should be given his ‘roaming’wing position. We have two very good specialist 12’s in Tapuai (starting) and Lealiafano (bench debut), Cooper 10 if his form continues to improve, and Toomua gets a shot if Cooper’s form flags and his holds/improves. With this sort of setup JOC can choose to inject himself when needed. Similarly injuries in the backline can be covered with bench and on field positional changes, dependent on need.
O'Connor no Wallabies 10 yet: Mortlock
I used to think that the one thing that QLD and Vic had in common was their dislike of NSW, these days I’m ambivalent to both. Perhaps, one day, when our own competitions are strong enough, Vic, ACT and WA can leave the big kids to the squabbling and get on with growing Rugby for all!
The Insider Selections: Locks, props, hooker
Must admit I’m a little baffled by some of the ‘Insider’s’ picks: Ma’afu….really. If Insider is truly a player then with his forward picks, he’d have to be a back 🙂
The Insider Selections: Locks, props, hooker
Thanks Gary,
We’ll wait and see about how the KB issue is handled, but I hope it goes something like my comment above. As for Vuna, well he was already home, so it wouldn’t be feasible to get him back to SA for the next match. Effectively he has been hit with a rest for tweeting about the incident, had he not done this, he too may have got more praise and be in line for a pay rise 🙂
Rebels' Delve feels Beale has rugby future
I was just reading on the SMH site that it was Gareth’s idea to take the boys out for a couple of hours of bonding post match, with the idea that they could get it out of their system and come back in the morning with a positive mindset for the post match analysis. In the article he takes responsibility for the outcome, stating that it obviously wasn’t a great idea in hindsight, but the intention was good.
To me that is a good Captain, not afraid to disagree with the coach, but takes responsibility when it goes wrong. To my mind: suspend Kurtley indefinitely, help him with his alcohol problem, trade him at the first opportunity and give Gareth a pay rise.
Rebels' Delve feels Beale has rugby future
Thanks Insider, loving this column.
It seems that those who let him down last year (in Brisbane) have a ‘toxic’ affect all of their own. Hope you all continue to stick together, it can only help the team.
A happy Kurtley is a happy Australia
Lucky Bugger J2. I too hope it’s a good one, off to the pub with the father in law, most one eyed queenslander you’re ever likely to meet, so the Rebels better step up! Enjoy!
Rebel O'Connor ready to for Reds' Cooper
Thanks for clarifying David, I can understand your frustration at the Warratahs, I guess as a Melbourne supporter I too get a little jaded, but at the lack of positive media they get. For instance I am yet to find an article anywhere that acknowledges that NSW only got back into the game with the sin binning (fairly) of a Rebels player. Yes it coincided with Vola’ coming on and he looks good, but once the Rebels got their full compliment back, the teams were evenly matched.
Justin, I have noticed the entitlement syndrome that affects all avenues of NSW life, but then I’m an insular Victorian living in an even more insular QLD 😉
Cheika breaks his Super Rugby duck
Agree TWAS, although I would settle for a decent 12 at the moment to (like most Aus franchises at the moment!)
Cheika breaks his Super Rugby duck
So if Melbourne are no more than a club side with 3 Wallabies helping them up, then what is th Warratahs excuse David? Chock full of Wallabies and can barely get over a club side. Methinks you are selling the Rebels a bit short.
Cheika breaks his Super Rugby duck
Hope you enjoy that game with your lad Gatesy! And yep, no matter what colour jersey George wears, he’s worth the entry price.
Welcome back George!!
George Smith to play against the Lions?
Haven’t had time to read all the comments, so if I’m stating an idea that’s already been discussed apologies, but here is my take on it.
Jake knows that he will be down a world class no7 and maybe another Loosie for the Lions series. Chances are that they will be missing for one of the most important games for the Brum’s if they (WB’s) go into camp three weeks early. So Jake has been looking for a fill in…. Question: do you gamble on an unproven newbie at the business end of the super season, or do you, as coach, recruit a proven world class performer on a short term contract/loan from overseas…… It just happens that the player is also one of the most loved Brumbies of all time. No George won’t be there for the WB’s, but Jake White has proven to be a very wily coach yet again.
George Smith to play against the Lions?
What does this mean, seriously??? There is only so much Kate can reveal. As to your comments about working Mum’s, The Circle etc, I hope you are taking the pi$$
Thanks for this insight Kate, I reckon all Roarer’s hope that cheats and dopers are running scared right now.
And as others have said – Congratulations to The Roar for getting more high level experts (coaches, administrators and now politicians!) to contribute to The Roar.
PS part of my post was a reply to Beardon, but his comment seems to have disappeared, well done mods, good call on that one.
KATE LUNDY: The frustrations of facts with drugs in sport
Got my tickets. Ready to go. No more cyclones/rain forecast. Giddyup, here comes the Rugby season 🙂
Anthony Faingaa named Reds captain
Yeah I know TWAS, I just thought it a little ironic that just when a few are getting overly vocal about needing to remove Leaguies and their ‘overt’ and ‘detrimental influence on the game 😉 that an outsider thinks there is plenty that RL can offer.
NRL coach Smith joins Brumbies
Oh dear, I think I can hear Campo from here, I’m guessing inspiration for another anti league article 🙂 Funny though, by all accounts Saffa’s hardly know what Rugby League is, yet here is Jake White after only two years in country acknowleding what Campo and others can’t: the two games are still relatd closely enough to be able to share skills and tactics, particularly defence. Rugby League appears to have a lot to offer RU, I assume that the reverse is also true. More power to Jake, we should be working towards assisting each other, not trying to distance ourselves further.
NRL coach Smith joins Brumbies
Haven’t had time to read all the comments, so if I’m repeating stuff already said…. well so be it.
To my mind Hughes and Warner should never, never, never occupy two of the top 3 -4 positions. Too many brain snaps between them. Of the two I like Warner’s technique better. I know Hughes has worked on his, but it is still ugly and waiting to be found out at Test level (and it will be, although I hope I’m wrong).
People looking/waiting for the next Langer and Hayden seem to forget that both were test re-treads at and didn’t set the world on fire in their first stints. I think Cowan and Warner have the potential. Ryan, you may remember that even after 3 double hundred stands Langer was still always the first member of the team who would come under pressure (media anyway) to hold his spot. Ian Chappel spent the best part of 6-7 years telling the world that Langer was rubbish and should never play for Aus, and that was during the dominating years. From the few recent players I’ve seen, to me Kwaja has the technique and flair to bat #3, but like the others needs time.
Like it or not Australia is in a rebuilding phase and will continue to be so until after Hussey retires. We should be grateful that we haven’t fallen to the same depths as post 1983/84.
Does the Australian Test team have the right openers?
I see this as a good buy. everyone is worried that a one year deal only benefits League in that Izzy will be getting offers from everywhere, but what about from the Tahs. Think of it like this: The Tahs only have one spot on the roster and about $250K to spend, so they say to Izzy, ‘sign up now and make a fist of it and we’ll look at more next year.’
If he makes a decent showing, then the Tahs begin to offload the second stringers and ageing. I’d imagine Tom Carter, Peter Betham, Drew Michell and even AAC could come under scrutiny for release with a view to an increased contract for Izzy if he adapts well. Suddenly with an increase in salary League becomes less attractive and Izzy has a chance to really develop his skills.
Signing Israel Folau is a bad call
David, going for a cheap shot on Rogers is poor form. I remember whenever he was on the field, particularly broken play, getting excited when he had the ball. Something I can’t say I’ve felt about the current team. He should not be defined as a player based on 1 kick in a World Cup, it wasn’t an intercept pass that he threw ;). What were the 14 others doing for nearly 90 minutes? Certainly not putting the game out of reach.
No wonder he never truly felt welcome in Union (his admission), a decade later and media types still laying into him.
Oh, and +1 for the other comments above.
Signing Israel Folau is a bad call
Re marketing opportunity: Never say never to an individual or organisation with the right talent 😉
I was dead-set wrong about Folau