The Roar
The Roar

The Roar

Christy Doran

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Joined November 2022

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Christy has been covering rugby since 2014 after falling in love with the game in 2010 during a year in England. He was employed at Fox Sports from 2015 and worked at News Corp across two stints. During his time at Fox Sports, he was a prolific newsbreaker and published regularly in The Australian. He also covered the Tokyo Olympics for News Corp. Not shy of setting the agenda, he wants to cover rugby from all angles: from Super Rugby and sevens to the international game.

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No, not at the moment. He returned briefly after a few injuries last season, but I think Trae has run his race in sevens. Fair play to him for giving it a crack.

Meet Australia's answer to Boks duo Kolbe and Kurt-Lee - and how they could change the way the little men are seen

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6d

One of the issues with Trae Williams, who also had pace to burn, was his lack of rugby iq. He rarely got his running lines right and didn’t have the rugby smarts many others did. Good news about Henry Palmer and Hadley Tonga is they’ve been playing rugby since they could run.

Meet Australia's answer to Boks duo Kolbe and Kurt-Lee - and how they could change the way the little men are seen

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6d

OK, Mr. Grumpy.

Meet Australia's answer to Boks duo Kolbe and Kurt-Lee - and how they could change the way the little men are seen

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6d

Thanks for reading and engaging. I thought it important to hear what some who are close – and others who aren’t – think of him and what kind of character he is. Lots of scepticism across the game. That’s OK. But I think it’s important to give people a go too.

'Thank f--k': Why RA's new chairman has brought 'hope at last' - and won't be scared of tough calls

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2w

Yes, but let us remember that Davis too struggled as chair, with the franchise falling off a cliff after 2015. It wasn’t built for long-term success.

'Thank f--k': Why RA's new chairman has brought 'hope at last' - and won't be scared of tough calls

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2w

A player with real leadership qualities. Handy player. Needs to stay fit. I think he has to start to dominate an area of the game. Love his work-rate though.

Comeback kids: 10 players who can explode back into the Wallabies reckoning in 2024

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3w

Swinton, Hanigan and Wilson were all rushed into the international arena, no wonder why they didn’t live up to the expectations. Everyone of them played Test rugby in their first season. Think they have all, including Salakaia-Loto, shown they have much more to give.

Comeback kids: 10 players who can explode back into the Wallabies reckoning in 2024

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3w

Debreczeni can’t be glossed over either. At 30, he’s at a great age bracket to be seriously considered. Most of the others should be a couple of years away from seriously being considered. But there is a talented crop of youngsters emerging at 10, which is refreshing considering where Oz rugby was at 5-10 years ago.

Comeback kids: 10 players who can explode back into the Wallabies reckoning in 2024

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3w

Reimer is definitely a player to keep a lookout for. Best in Oz over the ball. He’ll continue to get better. He wasn’t included because his stock hasn’t ever fallen. Agree on your comments ie Reesjan. Thanks for engaging.

Comeback kids: 10 players who can explode back into the Wallabies reckoning in 2024

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3w

Unlikely given he suffered a season-long injury at Comm Games and recently joined new Japanese club. I’d think his 7s days are done.

'That will happen every game': New skills Hoops must perfect to earn place in Paris, as coach rejects Eddie role model sledge

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3w

Larkham particularly expressed frustration with getting so close and having to wait the best part of eight months to get up and running again.

Talent, time and toughness: Why Australia's Super Rugby coaches won't run like Eddie

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3w

Waratahs’ matches fell through late in the piece.
Mood at Ballymore a positive one with Les running the ship.

Talent, time and toughness: Why Australia's Super Rugby coaches won't run like Eddie

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3w

I’ll learn not to at some point.

Talent, time and toughness: Why Australia's Super Rugby coaches won't run like Eddie

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3w

Agreed.

Talent, time and toughness: Why Australia's Super Rugby coaches won't run like Eddie

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3w

Thanks. Impossible to say with any certainty where anyone will finish. The only thing I am certain of is the gap will close slightly because Australia’s sides have managed to largely hang onto its talent, most coaching rosters are similar and the age profile has lifted by a year.

ANALYSIS: Every Super Rugby team rated - and why Australia will make up ground on New Zealand

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4w

Rebels coaching team has strengthened, with inclusion of Brad Harris. There’s some continuity there with Tim Sampson.

ANALYSIS: Every Super Rugby team rated - and why Australia will make up ground on New Zealand

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4w

They lack a bit of physicality in second-row and a genuine international tight-head, but there’s some reasonable players in there and a bit more depth with a couple of recruits.

ANALYSIS: Every Super Rugby team rated - and why Australia will make up ground on New Zealand

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4w

I’m hopeful all the Australian teams finish higher than predicted.

ANALYSIS: Every Super Rugby team rated - and why Australia will make up ground on New Zealand

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4w

Absolutely could, but I’d prefer him to stick on the wing at the moment and continue to build. Happy for him to spend 20 minutes every second week there with the Waratahs. Feel like we fall into the trap at times by shuffling players around. Prime example Petaia. Let’s just leave him on the wing for now and he can do a similar thing at the Reds to Nawaqanitawase, which is spend some time there when Campbell isn’t at 15.

Predicted Wallabies team in 2024: Eddie's outcasts back as halves, back-row battles heat up

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4w

Indeed it does Tez. What’s your 23? Langi/Harry Wilson/Izaia Perese/Jorgensen … they’ve all got claims to be in the side. Suspect all will make the squad next year. Super form pivotal. Foketi no chance as captain – perhaps the most chilled bloke in Aussie rugby.

Predicted Wallabies team in 2024: Eddie's outcasts back as halves, back-row battles heat up

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4w

The absence of seasoned, highly-regarded coaching was a serious issue in 2023. The inability – or decision to move away from proven rugby union coaches – to bring together a coaching unit played out in the absence of detail and poor decision-making on the field. With a better coaching team, the side performs better IMO. I think we’ll see that come to fruition with the Reds in 2024, too.

Predicted Wallabies team in 2024: Eddie's outcasts back as halves, back-row battles heat up

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4w

Not a bad thing to have a Will Harrison-type figure who can play 10 and 15. Australian rugby relies too heavily on one player to play that position all year. It’s great to be able to have Harrison slip in at 10/15 and vie for that position with incumbents like Edmed/Jorgensen. We need to be able to get to a position where someone comes off after 50-60 minutes and coaches have trust in the replacement to finish the job.

Predicted Wallabies team in 2024: Eddie's outcasts back as halves, back-row battles heat up

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4w

Fan of Lonergan because his core skills are excellent, his pass particularly. He’s got leadership skills and a goal kicker. His defence needs to improve.
As for Swinton, I think his poor start to Super Rugby was down to coming off his shoulder issue that threatened his career. He was back to his best late last year. If – and it remains a big if – he improves his discipline, he’s got the muscle, brute force, ruck hitting and height to be able to make a positive contribution in the Test arena.
You’re right about Gamble, too. Struggled in 2023, but that was probably a result of playing slightly out of position with Hooper back in the squad and his own shoulder issues.

Predicted Wallabies team in 2024: Eddie's outcasts back as halves, back-row battles heat up

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4w

It was always Hamish’s intention for Phil to speak more. He felt he needed to speak more on the game’s behalf under the previous regime. As for addressing Eddie’s future, Hamish hasn’t exactly gone MIA – but again, Phil spoke of that in the past 24 hours.

Wallabies coach Jones disloyal if Japan talks real, says Rugby Australia boss

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Oct

Westminster Law? Not saying Eddie completely innocent. But I fundamentally don’t agree that Eddie is a bad coach (nor does Clive Woodward), nor do I think he was wrong to usher through next Gen. This, including the Hoopers and Coopers, won at 40% since 2016. Contradictions aplenty with Eddie but that’s always been the case. Anyway, good read from Harps and he’s written it on face value, but RA’s issues go far beyond the Wallabies. After all, Super sides have been miserably poor since 2015 – but it’s all Eddie’s fault. No one remembers anyone other than World Cup winners.

COMMENT: RA wanted a Pitbull to bring back some snarl to the Wallabies - Eddie rolled over for a tummy tickle

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Oct
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