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David Lord spends his waking hours keeping abreast of what’s happening in the world of sport around the world and is one of the pre-eminent voices on sport in Australia. David has been deeply involved in two of the biggest sporting stories - with World Series Cricket in 1977 and professional rugby in 1983. In those early days of WSC, David was managing Jeff Thomson and Vivian Richards. Withdrawing “Thommo” from the original WSC ended up in the High Court of England, described by David as “not a top tourist resort”. In 1983 he signed 208 of the best rugby players from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France to play an international pro circuit. The concept didn’t get off the ground, but it did force the IRB to get cracking and bring in the World Rugby Cup, now one of the world’s great sporting spectacles every four years.
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Many pundits have selected Marcus Stoinis in the Auusie line-up to meet Afghanistan at Bristol in a day-nighter to kick off the defending champions'…
From the moment David Warner and Steve Smith appeared on the Southampton ground last night, the English fans kept booing the two Australians over…
For starters, the Australians have three world-class opening batsmen in David Warner, Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja - a good problem to have. But…
Australia's best batsmen, David Warner and Steve Smith, have completed their 12-month suspensions for ball tampering in South Africa, but the pundits have predicted…
Cameron Smith will be the only one left of the five modern day superstars of rugby league when Cooper Cronk hangs up his boots.…
It's no coincidence the three longest-serving Prime Ministers - Sir Robert Menzies, Bob Hawke, and John Howard - were all passionate sports lovers. Sir…
If David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins play to their ability, Australia will retain the World Cup. For Warner and Smith,…
With the vast majority of Australians bored to sobs with the Federal election, five sporting events around the world have delivered in the most…
Wallaby Israel Folau is an acknowledged devout Christian, no argument, but his Instagram posting of drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators…
Captain Warren Whiteley best summed up how his Lions beat the Waratahs 29-28 at Ellis Park overnight. 'We got some crucial penalties today". Indeed…
Samu Kerevi will be the first chosen when the selection panel of Michael Cheika, Scott Johnson and Michael O'Connor name their first Wallaby squad…
Two days ago veteran flyhalf Bernard Foley said that without Israel Folau the Waratahs had to nail the detail and the execution every time…
Israel Folau's rugby future rests in the hands of a highly-qualified panel consisting of John West QC, Kate Eastman SC, and John Boultbee. West…
The South Sydney versus Brisbane clash at ANZ Stadium was billed as the game of the season, but Wayne Bennett turned it into one-way…
As David Warner left an almost capacity Hyderabad home stadium last night, the faithful were on their feet farewelling their champion left-handed batsman who…
Shark prop Thomas du Toit's blatant professional foul on Jed Holloway at Bankwest Stadium last night saw the Waratah lock on his way to…
In Sydney, rugby is predominately a North Shore and Eastern Suburbs sport, with fans loath to travel further than ANZ Stadium in Homebush, and…
When Wallaby coach Michael Cheika met with Rugby Australia in August last year, his job was on the line. The men in gold had…
There was never any doubt Luke Keary would be a pivotal player in the Roosters' campaign for back-to-back NRL premierships. It was proved again…
Champion flanker and enforced No, 8 David Pocock hasn't played for the Brumbies for six weeks and won't be on duty against the Jaguares…
Tazewep, NCN is as lucky as Stoinis to be in the Cup squad, but you have him playing, replacing who?
Marcus Stoinis lucky to be in World Cup squad
But not as stupid as your original post redbackfan.
Marcus Stoinis lucky to be in World Cup squad
redbackfan, Don Bradman got a duck in his last Test dig, so do you reckon he couldn’t bat?
Marcus Stoinis lucky to be in World Cup squad
Paul, you would have understood the piece if the relative strike rates, and averages, hadn’t been edited out. For starters, Warner’s SR as an opener is 96.88, Finch 88.21, and Khawaja 85.99. As both Finch and Khawaja are lazy between wickets, Warner opening would give both a big shake up as he’s always looking for the extra runs the other two miss.
Maxwell’s SR is 121.95, Handscomb 98.58, Carey 83.46 and Marsh 81.48.
In 2019, Maxwell’s scored 458 ODI runs at 41.64, and Marsh 435 at 48.33, while the Handscomb-Carey comparison has Handscomb well in front with 479 at 43.54 to Carey’s 230 at 28.75, making Handscomb a far better overall bet to keep than Carey.
It’s hard to comprehend how the selectors can’t see that.
I have Maxwell as the fifth bowler, he’s not off the top shelf as an international trundler, but neither is Coulter-Nile. Cummins, Starc, Richardson and Zampa are good enough to dismiss the opposition between them.
I tip Cummins, and Zampa, to be among the tournament’s most successful bowlers.
Marcus Stoinis lucky to be in World Cup squad
Bobby, it’s not a case of how Izzy’s kids are raised, it’s how they will be treated in the school environment where their school “mates”, fired up by their parents, can make life very difficult.
Kids to kids can be brutal, but that’s the risk the little Folaus will have to face if Izzy is sacked.
That sacking will never go away.
What about your future kids, Izzy?
I salute you Carl, you are on a higher plane knowing Winx wouldn’t give a stuff about the result.
I’m a mere mortal knowing how devastating it would be to Winx’s battalion of admirers if she didn’t win in her farewell appearance after four years of greeting the judge first every time.
To end her spectacular career with a loss just wouldn’t cut the mustard in the history books.
Winx must win on Saturday, being beaten is unthinkable
“Mabo” was not just the second indigenous Wallaby in 1962 after Cec Romalli in 1932, but the first indigenous barrister in Australia in 1972, and it was that combination that caught the eye of the New York Times.
The late great Lloyd McDermott was a very special human being
Well done Brian, you have just given Roarers a run-down of my column, and passed off the comments as your own. Go figure.
Izzy has his try-scoring record, but Waratahs lose again
Paul, Carey keeping means Handscomb misses out – can’t see it.
How is David Warner's imminent return viewed by the punters?
No bus Paul, Khawaja is the only one of the three who doesn’t have a lock on 1-2. Among his many credits during the eight-win streak, Khawaja carries a major debit of not running hard for the first, just like his skipper.
My top X1 batting order – Warner, Finch, Khawaja, Smith, Maxwell, Marsh, Handscomb, Cummings, Starc, Jhye Richardson, and Zampa.
But if Finch’s remarkable recent run dries up, it will be very handy to have Khawaja all set to fill the spot, and bat Finch down the list.
I have just one rigid selection, David Warner must open all the time.
How is David Warner's imminent return viewed by the punters?
PeterK, don’t blame Cheika for Higginbotham’s non-selection, blame Higginbotham who will never get back in gold until he stops being a loose cannon.
Isi Naisarani is three days away from Wallaby qualification
RT, left both AAC, and Nick Phipps, off the contenders list.
Isi Naisarani is three days away from Wallaby qualification
Meet Patto, a relation, or close friend, of Michael Hooper. By the way Patto, you left Cottrell off your clean sweep, more attention to detail.
Isi Naisarani is three days away from Wallaby qualification
PeterK, I have had the privilege to see every one of the Wallaby No 8s for 70 years, and in chronological order the best of them are “Slaggy” Miller (41 caps – 1952-1967) who started at 8 and worked his way through to the scrum front over 16 seasons, pulling stumps at a still record 38 years and 113 days.
John O’Gorman (18 – 1961-1967) was a key member of the 1963 Wallabies that became the first to beat the Boks at home in successive Tests since the British Lions in 1896.
Mark Loane (28 – 1973-1982) was a powerhouse figure every time he stepped onto the paddock.
Steve Tuynman (34 – 1983-1990) another key figure in Wallaby history with the Grand Slam in 1984, and Bledisloe success.
Tim Gavin (47 – 1988-1996) was the world’s best No 8 in 1991, but missed the entire RWC when he badly damaged his knee in a Sydney club game that required major surgery.
Wycliff Palu (58 – 2008-2018) was sadly one of the most injury prone Wallabies of all time, taking eight years to win 50 caps.
Of those mentioned, Kefu is my benchmark from Gavin, Loane, and Palu.
As for the great Australian knockers who want to put down Isi Maisarani before he pulls on his gold jersey, I will remind you of your negativity when the big bloke slays them in the World Cup.
Isi Naisarani is three days away from Wallaby qualification
Simple answer Paul, there have been 11 ODI World Cups, England’s been in three finals and lost the lot, Australia in seven deciders, and won five.
Fact – England, and South Africa, choke at World Cup time.
Ignore ICC rankings, Australia's still the team to beat at the World Cup
ouch, winning anything is NEVER EVER meaningless, you have obviously forgotten when the Australian cricketers couldn’t beat time, let alone opponents.
Ignore ICC rankings, Australia's still the team to beat at the World Cup
Prez, don’t leave it there, name an all-rounder who will be more beneficial to the campaign than Steve Smith, or Shaun Marsh?
Ignore ICC rankings, Australia's still the team to beat at the World Cup
VG, the closest Australian to an international all-rounder is Pat Cummins – game, set and match. Please don’t give us Mitchell Marsh.
Warner and Finch will be a far more destructive pairing, Khawaja to stabilise if one is dismissed early, Smith and Maxwell to get on with it, leaving Marsh and Handscomb to do the stabilising of a Carey dungerBob is so keen to salute with Cummins, Starc and Richardson who can all bat.
Three very different spinners for tracks that will turn, but only two can play at a time. Most World Cup sides will sport two spinners every game.
Ignore ICC rankings, Australia's still the team to beat at the World Cup
dungerBob, the only reason Alex Carey gives the current lower order some stability is because David Warner and Steve Smith aren’t there.
Ignore ICC rankings, Australia's still the team to beat at the World Cup
I will remind you Doctordbx of that comment after the World Cup when Beale has had a highly successful campaign.
Scott Johnson cops a reality check in Newcastle
Doctordbx, there’s plenty of already contracted talent to select from, Wallaby rugby sure doesn’t need Latu, Phipps or AAC. Prediction – Beale will be a dominant Wallaby come World Cup time, especially with Cooper inside him, and Kerevi outside.
Scott Johnson cops a reality check in Newcastle
Fionn, playing Mason say 10 minutes every week isn’t rotation, that’s simple game plan strategy off the bench. Rotation is totally excluding top players from all 80 minutes – wrong.
Scott Johnson cops a reality check in Newcastle
Doctordbx, you have taken my comment out of context. I mentioned Scotland’s outstanding comeback against England, and the Waratahs upset win over the Crusaders as the last game Scott Johnson was involved in with the Scots as director of rugby, and effectively the first as Australian director of rugby – the timing Doctordbx, not any previous games.
Scott Johnson cops a reality check in Newcastle
JamesH, if Hazlewood’s under an injury cloud, why was he selected in the Australia A one-day, and four-day, squads on duty at the same time in England as the World Cup?
Marcus Stoinis lucky to be in World Cup squad