Are these green shoots or weeds in Eddie's garden?
My wife and I are recently married. We just bought our first house. We arbitrarily divided up the household jobs. I’ve ended up with…
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My wife and I are recently married. We just bought our first house. We arbitrarily divided up the household jobs. I’ve ended up with…
Sometimes I have this dream where after you die, you go to heaven. When you arrive they have edited together your life’s highlights. They’ve…
Richard Harris was the Australian anaesthetist who helped save the Thai children who were stuck in a flooded cave. During a recent podcast he…
Legend has it that the expression 'to mind one's p’s and q’s' possibly dates back to a time when local taverns served their drinks…
This is my new plan to revive rugby union in Australia. Cost Rugby needs to reduce ticket costs. When I was growing up, junior…
I was reared on a diet of Jonah Lomu Rugby. It was the hit PlayStation game of the '90s. As you progress through the…
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Like resuscitating a patient in a hospital, it's important to remember that survival isn’t the only KPI. We must consider quality of life. Rugby…
I am an unapologetic fan of the Big Bash, which has been my pre-vaccine vaccine to this winter of discontentment. I love that it…
In the 1993 film Groundhog Day Bill Murray became trapped in a time loop and was forced to relive the same day over and…
Earlier this year, Australian rugby looked terminal. The knives were out. The media were piling on. The public laughed as the previous administration scored…
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As a developmental paediatric doctor, I am frequently faced with children on stimulant medication struggling with their sleep. There are limited safe sedative medication…
The autopsy of Australian rugby union has been done to death. If RA was a patient, this is the time I’d be having a…
Agree doc, it seems that come every RA board review, they’ve managed to achieve improved player participation by choosing whichever demographic suits their case.
Players, laws and officials are killing rugby: people now care less than ever before
Thx slats, I agree. It’s out of my system now, I’ll try and write something positive esp now the Brums are 2/2! We need positivity, fans supporting the game and some commercial
Interest!
Players, laws and officials are killing rugby: people now care less than ever before
Thx cs, I take your point and even agree as well. However compounding the high number of laws is the pedantic way they were enforced. It just appeared referees were auditioning themselves. Highly technical rules enforced inconsistently are not in rugbys best interest.
Players, laws and officials are killing rugby: people now care less than ever before
I found picking Vunivalu over Toole both quite instructive and concerning. That said, this was a private mock up list that can’t be taken too seriously
Make a note: Lynagh and Jorgo catch Eddie's eye as he drafts first Wallabies team, but there's a rebuke for Rory Arnold
Not sure what you mean BP
Players, laws and officials are killing rugby: people now care less than ever before
Thx tc, the article was primarily about the domestic scene. I intend to write a follow up piece on the green shoots coming through incl Eddie, the future tours program, the faster set piece speed etc. Defeats against NZ teams is the important metric. Aus only have 1 and it was a nailbiter. It could be grumpy old man syndrome but it was cathartic writing it
Players, laws and officials are killing rugby: people now care less than ever before
Does that league one season clash with rugby championship? Hopefully with the commercial upside things can be shuffled around?
Exclusive: Secret documents reveal SRP clubs pushing for glamour cup competition with 'aggressive' Japan and Euro giants
If want to include Japan, wouldn’t it be logistically easier to just add them to the rugby championship?
Exclusive: Secret documents reveal SRP clubs pushing for glamour cup competition with 'aggressive' Japan and Euro giants
Wasn’t ben O’keefe the one who robbed the Brumbies in the semi against the Blues last year? Was hoping for a better ref
COMPLETE SRP Rd 2 teams: Wallabies wildcard's Tahs rebirth, Larkham sticks with halves combo, Reds' huge boost
Interesting article Paul. Although I agree with many of your points, I like Dos in the box. If we homogenise all the commentators into vanilla it makes it boring and “samey”. Billy Birmingham said he couldn’t do a modern version of the 12th man as all the commentators are the same now. You need colour and difference to complement each other
Hey, Hey it’s Hayden: Former opener’s boorish commentary style from a bygone era should stay there
thx NB. Yes you’re right although it just felt like DR thought he had Team Lomu from Jonah Lomu rugby where 1-15 is a fast, hulking Jonah Lomu. I dont understand strategy nearly as well as you but I think we’re more likely to go well at this RWC with EJ rather than DR. I also think by next RWC 2028, the milk will have gone sour and we’ll be calling for Coleman to take over.
ANALYSIS: Why Eddie will bring back essence of Aussie sport to Wallabies - and the four tight-five forwards he needs
Great article NB. I like DR but my frustration with him was basing his strategy on brutality and winning the collisions. He didn’t read the room. World rugby are trying to make the game safer and cracking down on brutality. No surprise we got penalised incessantly. Furthermore the wallabies didn’t have the bodies to brutalise SA, NZ or anyone for that matter. To compensate the wallabies had the play on the edge of the rules and it backfired. This was the hill that DR fought and died on in the same way cheika’s obsession with transparent running rugby ended his tenure. I don’t understand why coaches formulate a game plan that doesn’t suit us and then try to shoehorn players into his bad plan. Rather, Shouldn’t a coach look at his cattle and find a way to get the best out of them and devise a strategy that plays to their strengths?
ANALYSIS: Why Eddie will bring back essence of Aussie sport to Wallabies - and the four tight-five forwards he needs
Great article NB. Given the failure of the back-up 10’s to perform and QC frequent injuries, could this change in strategy have been one that even the underperforming back up 10’s could execute? Watering down their role deliberately?
It seems RA are trying trying to clean the coaching house and DR will be let go. Any thoughts on who RA should fork out for to replace him? Surely they wouldn’t gamble with another NZ coach (SR)
ANALYSIS: Quade would've been worried watching Wallabies' attack on Spring Tour - this is why
NB, i find it really helpful when you point out the little things Hooper does which make him world class. I often miss these and i think I’m not alone.
ANALYSIS: How Wallabies' 'precise, intelligent plan' blunted world's best player and showed way forward
NB, how much should we gamble on the Wallabies winning the WC?
ANALYSIS: How Wallabies' 'precise, intelligent plan' blunted world's best player and showed way forward
Great article NB. Time is everything for the 9. If you take that split half second away from the scrum half through pressure, they won’t make that line-break or decisive play. Wallabies should do it to Aaron Smith as well. AB’s always look vulnerable when he is off and they sub AS off early.
I agree thet you can quickly turn a strength into a vulnerability. When chasing Dupont’s kick, France often anticipate a favourable outcome. You will have French chasers pushing up aggressively flat to cash in on this. If the opposition can rebound well, there will be space to exploit.
ANALYSIS: How Wallabies' 'precise, intelligent plan' blunted world's best player and showed way forward
Dtm, that’s a bit harsh. Cummins is an option but he arguably should lose his spot. Smith isn’t in the team. Paine is a proven performer under pressure. Get him in there stat! It could be the master stroke that saves our World Cup
Ponting says Aussies should consider punting Cummins so Green can add all-round talents to struggling side
Great article NB. Are first and Skelton compatible as starters? I’d like to see that.
We must invest in the womens game but do you think RA has capacity to invest in a SR format for them?
Coach's Corner: Just how good was Nick Frost? And the constant theme that's cruelling the Wallabies
They were lacking leadership when finch left the field. If he’s injured this match they should consider injury subbing in Tim Paine. I know it’s left field but he’s full the leadership void in a crisis under pressure and he’s also better gloves. Can’t afford drop catches in do or die matches. Plus it would engage the fans that don’t otherwise care atm
Ponting says Aussies should consider punting Cummins so Green can add all-round talents to struggling side
Wouldnt it make more sense and be less disruptive for Japan to join the rugby championship rather than adding to super rugby. It would be an easier adjustment whilst still enabling access to the rich Japanese market
Land of the rising guns: Japanese rugby is stronger than you think and presents RA and NZR with a big opportunity
Back in the day you could spin around with your back facing the opp in order to avoid the left to right pass.
WILL GENIA: Skelton's an absolute bully but it's hard being a part-time Wallaby - and what Tate must fix
Great article Will. What I love about Frost is those extras he does- pressuring kickers, chasing kicks subtle passes. These extra add-ons decide test matches. It’s like the fast bowlers batting well to win Australia matches. It’s not their primary job but it’s those extra contributions that decide the match.
WILL GENIA: Skelton's an absolute bully but it's hard being a part-time Wallaby - and what Tate must fix
thx Brett, great article. I had the impression the best bet to involve Japan would be adding them the rugby championship rather than a state/club/franchise style comp. It would bring in money from their viewership without getting bogged down in the Aus/NZ politics about who gets how many teams etc. Perhaps we can add Japan at both state and rugby championship level? What do you think?
Ready and willing: Japan’s patient Asia-Pacific ambition only needs trans-Tasman bickering to end
Hi, yes could be nonsense. I heard it through friends in the wallabies but hard to know how it compares to NZ
The Wrap: Let's get the Wallabies and All Blacks on the plane before they run out of players
thx AtW, I’m only speaking from my experiences. It was a very small sample size but one that i feel is instructive. I think the point that Union can’t even consolidate it’s own backyard is quite concerning.
I’ve tried to have a go at big Rupe in a previous article but was quite sensibly edited out
Players, laws and officials are killing rugby: people now care less than ever before