Roar Guru
Joined August 2016
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Totally obsessed with rugby. Go the All Blacks
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Calm down LBJ. The WBs will probably win the RWC in 2027 now.
Enjoy the ride.
Exclusive: Wallabies to turn to Kiwi Schmidt as Eddie Jones' replacement
You’ve got to say wow! What’s great about all this is that Kiwis now have a few more teams to support.
Kiwi Daniel Vettori taking over as Australian Cricket’s white-ball coach. Kiwi Joe Schmidt likely to take over as Wallabies coach. Kiwi Brendon McCullum current coach of England cricket and Kiwi Warren Gatland current coach of Wales. For a small country our boys get out and about.
We’ve also got a recently retired but still very young and highly regarded ex-PM with time on her hands. If any country is looking for a highly experienced PM Jacinda might be available.
Exclusive: Wallabies to turn to Kiwi Schmidt as Eddie Jones' replacement
JN, Gatland ruled himself out last year.
Rugby News: Force sign Maori All Blacks star, Fijian lock jailed for assault, Lions set to announce coach
Haha, I was just pulling your leg JN. I know how easy it is to get mixed up with dates etc and I’m always doing it. Actually, from about mid 1972 to Oct 1974 I was in and out of SA on business trips many times. Mainly Joburg but also Cape Town. Had many a Castle Lager discussing rugby.
Wales, British and Irish Lions fullback JPR Williams passes away, aged 74
The All Blacks toured South Africa in 1970 JN, the first test was at Loftus. The Lions toured in 1974, the first test was at Cape Town. The Boks won both tests.
Wales, British and Irish Lions fullback JPR Williams passes away, aged 74
Well, one evening in June 1969, we were sitting in the Otago students watering hole, the Captain Cook Hotel in Dunedin, discussing the meaning of life, and in walked a young Murray Deaker who we regularly played against, and a younger JPR, then aged about 20.
Contrary to some comments he seemed tallish and solid for his age.
JPR was on the 1969 Wales tour of NZ and while in Dunedin wanted to meet some local students. He was introduced to us by Murray and my memory of that night was that he was friendly, interesting, charming and proud to talk about Wales and explain to us the importance of the way Wales fans embraced singing at Wales international rugby matches. Of course, in those days TV had just started in NZ and we didn’t have much understanding of the passion the Welsh displayed when testing out their vocal cords, so it was all interesting news to us. We wished him luck (not too much) but later that week Wales beat Otago.
Then in 1971 when back in NZ for the Lions tour, he kicked a late field goal which enabled the Lions to beat the All Blacks in a test series for the first time. So JPR was a performer.
Definitely, one of the greats, and sadly at 74 gone way too soon.
Wales, British and Irish Lions fullback JPR Williams passes away, aged 74
With the greatest respect it’s pretty hard for an old-timer like me to make much sense out of an article like this which appears nothing more than being a namedropping exercise. And yet I’d like to, as I see the influence of Japan rugby being very important over both Australian and New Zealand rugby and potentially SA rugby over the next few years.
There’s 12 teams in Japan Rugby League One. There’s a large number of international players from Aust, NZ, SA, Fiji etc and many top coaches. Matches there are important. It’s definitely of interest to us rugby nutters.
It would be a great help if an article identifying and previewing each match, setting out the importance of the match, listing the match day teams, coaches, officials, location and team news was provided together with a ladder; then after the matches a review of what happened and other relevant news and an updated ladder.
Just a little more structure to the Japan news would be of great interest. Currently we don’t even know who to support.
Quade Cooper rides the road to redemption in Japanese rugby return
Luckily, I’m not sure that many would agree with your comment “coaches are overrated” Footy.
Coaching shake-up on England horizon after World Cup disappointment as uncertainty grows over Farrell's captaincy
“Coaching shake-up on England horizon after World Cup disappointment”
We’re a being a bit tough. England finished third in the RWC which was pretty good and much better than expected.
Coaching shake-up on England horizon after World Cup disappointment as uncertainty grows over Farrell's captaincy
Haha, have a Happy New Year Biscuit.
Wallabies to get new skipper, Bledisloe joy and shock Rugby Championship win: XV fearless predictions for 2024
Haha, welcome back Christy. Was that a crystal ball or a Santa wish list, or just too much Christmas cheer? Soon we’ll have Eddie Jones and Hamish McLennan claiming all that success was only possible because of their strong leadership and the solid foundations they introduced.
But seriously, RA looks in a promising position. New leadership is doing and saying the right things; the potential exists to get a strong coaching and management team for the WBs and some big years could be coming up. Funding is necessary and improved pathways, and the need to lock down five super teams, including funding for Rebels is critical.
Wallabies to get new skipper, Bledisloe joy and shock Rugby Championship win: XV fearless predictions for 2024
Today in Google there’s a pic of a towering 50-foot wave in Half Moon Bay Harry, and right on top of the wave is a cool dude on a surfboard with what looks like, a beard, big smile and closely trimmed hair style.
I looked closely at it and thought that’s likely you on another of your world trips searching for the latest in personal challenges. Big waves in Half Moon Bay.
Broken promises, sacrificial lambs and a monumental low blow - goodbye, good riddance to 2023 for Wallabies fans
Thank you for the advice Lucky Phil
Rugby News: RA starts Wallabies coach 'sprint', 'SBW-like move' mooted for NRL star, Gatland wants 'mark' erased
Oh Bliksem, a quick search on England rugby produces the following dated October 23, 2023 which is very clear and which contradicts your statement …
“The past 12 months have been a sobering time for domestic professional rugby union in England.
Just under a year ago, the English Premiership had 13 teams. Now, there are 10.
London Irish, Wasps and Worcester have all gone into administration, and last month Championship title-holders Jersey Reds ceased trading.
Why are so many clubs failing? Is this rock bottom? Or is there more to come?”
We all know that there is a financial problem in club rugby which needs to be addressed … quickly.
Rugby News: RA starts Wallabies coach 'sprint', 'SBW-like move' mooted for NRL star, Gatland wants 'mark' erased
Several key names have already been linked to the role, including international coaches Joe Schmidt and Ian Foster, as well as homegrown talent Stephen Larkham and Dan McKellar.
We could ask Hamish … he’s experienced in this area. No doubt he’ll have some good ideas.
Rugby News: RA starts Wallabies coach 'sprint', 'SBW-like move' mooted for NRL star, Gatland wants 'mark' erased
Haha, keep going JN.
Maybe SA rugby is booming, but crowds around the world are well down at games other than internationals, and too many clubs are going bust, hence the need to make the game more interesting.
Even someone like me, born and bred on rugby doesn’t watch it much now, because to me the game delivered just isn’t rugby anymore. So, I just read about it later.
Rugby News: RA starts Wallabies coach 'sprint', 'SBW-like move' mooted for NRL star, Gatland wants 'mark' erased
Back early, Nick? Did you draw the short straw?
Rugby News: RA starts Wallabies coach 'sprint', 'SBW-like move' mooted for NRL star, Gatland wants 'mark' erased
RA looks to be on the right track now. The CEO is doing his job as he should, and the chairman is doing his job as he should. And Peter Horne looks like he will be a real asset to RA over the next few years.
Now all that’s needed is a coaching and management team befitting the responsibility ahead, and that looks to be a given now that the way forward is clear.
Thankfully oversized egos are now out the door.
RA's new HP director 'totally open' to foreign coach as RA sets timeline, CEO reacts to player dismay over Eddie
Yes, that’s as I understand it, Nick.
Who knows what went on between the two of them. Brad and Quade played each other many times and it’s probably not too hard to speculate that they may not have been best mates during that time.
I can imagine the ABs coaches having plans in place on how to target Quade who at that time was an integral part of the WBs game plan. Disrupt Quade’s game and there’s was a good chance the WBs game plan could fall apart. So, Brad would have had some more inside knowledge on how to play Quade than other coaches may have had.
Of course, it was only after his few years away from the Reds that Quade came back a totally changed person and a much more complete player.
Pressure Points: The Kiss of life? Les has habits to shake at the Reds
Tom Lynagh is about the same size as Richie Mo’ unga so size shouldn’t really be the issue. He’ll build some muscle yet. it’s more he’s so young at 20, and he’ll need a couple of years’ experience. The last thing he will need is to be rushed.
There’s a number of good 10’s coming through in both Australia and New Zealand and it will be interesting watching them develop.
If both JOC and Quade can mentor some of these young 10s in Aus that will be a big plus.
Four into 10 won't go: Kiss working hard to solve flyhalf puzzle
“Stories of major players not being on board with the (Brad Thorn’s) coaching style started to emerge, with Reds playmaker Quade Cooper being removed from the squad entirely”
I think you will find Quade Cooper was dropped by the Reds in late 2017 before the start of the 2018 season which was Brad Thorn’s first year. It was revealed at the time new head coach Brad Thorn told Cooper that “he was the fifth-choice fly-half and was no longer part of his plans. So, it may not have been Quade not being on board with Brad’s coaching style.
Quade went away and re-appeared a few years later a changed man.
It would be interesting to see what happened with Taniela Tupou though, because his game went completely off in 2023.
Pressure Points: The Kiss of life? Les has habits to shake at the Reds
It was interesting that Quade raised the issue that players can only play for their country of birth (with some variations) and are constantly told by coaches as part of their game build up “show loyalty to your country etc” and that players can’t (generally) change allegiances. That seems reasonable.
But on the other hand, coaches (who may be saying to players show loyalty to their country) can swap countries on a whim. Allegiances … what’s that? That doesn’t seem reasonable.
It would appear that some form of similarity should exist in the laws where coaches and players are treated equally. I wonder why this has not been addressed?
Eddie Jones has coached Australia, South Africa (as a consultant) Japan, England, Australia again and now Japan again. I’m not sure this is good for the sport.
'It was remarkable RA couldn't see it': Quade slams Eddie chaos, praises 'phenomenal' McKellar
Haha, auto typing came up with a spelling mistake on my post TLN and I tried to fix it.
But that made it worse, so in the end I canned my original post and re-posted. But the legacy of the first attempt remains.
Eddie deserved the boos - but he's left foundations to build on as Australian rugby picks itself up from rock bottom
“remember that this is the game they play in heaven. Which is where we will be once we have won the Tom Richards Cup, Webb Ellis Cup and the women’s Rugby World Cup, right?”
Don’t forget the Bledisloe, Peter 😁
Eddie deserved the boos - but he's left foundations to build on as Australian rugby picks itself up from rock bottom
“COMMENT: In trading Greatest Showman for ‘boring’ and ‘pragmatic’ Sleepy Joe, RA gambling with game’s future”
I am afraid I was extremely disappointed to see this headline and the tone of Tony’s article along the lines …” But make no mistake, this is a massive gamble by Waugh and Rugby Australia”
Frankly, the headline writer and unfortunately Tony Harper in this instance each need to give themselves an uppercut.
People who know rugby know the appointment of Joe Schmidt along with the appointments of David Nucifora and Peter Horne are amongst the best things that could ever have happened to Australian rugby in the circumstances. Well done RA. The confidence this will give to potential sponsors, administrators, coaches, players and supporters will be seen by all over the next few years.
What is required now is for everyone to get in behind and support this new administration. This is no gamble Tony.
COMMENT: In trading Greatest Showman for 'boring' and 'pragmatic' Sleepy Joe, RA gambling with game's future