Marcus Stoinis must be dropped for the World Cup opener
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'…
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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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Ask editorial Duncan, it’s their headline.
Cooper Cronk's retirement signals the end of a magnificent era
dazell, what about – handle the oversize to pack?
Watching the Waratahs is the ultimate frustration
CP, is your spleen feeling better?
And while you’re at it, please explain this sentence of yours – The times found it hard to handle the oversize to pack especially in the set piece.
That’s English nobody can understand, so your explanation should be priceless.
As for Nick Phipps, one of the rare times he got rid of the ball at the earliest opportunity set up the spectacular try of the game, and the Waratahs try of the season, that Phipps finished off.
If Phipps would stop showboating being a traffic cop, and/or chirping the referee, and just do the job he’s been chosen to do, he can be a better half than Jake Gordon. But that’s not the case.
Watching the Waratahs is the ultimate frustration
Paul, your last six words are the key – Immortals should be the absolute best servants of this game over Hall of Famers.
Having the privilege of knowing both Frank Hyde, and Col Pearce well for many years, they wouldn’t have laughed at the ultimate recognition, but been chuffed.
And you can add Ray Warren to the outstanding list.
Benny's Bunnies belt Broncos
Totally disagree Paul, rugby league isn’t all about the players, there are coaches, referees, and administrators who have played just as big a role in promoting and making the 13-man code as popular as it is today.
The standouts are coaches Wayne Bennett and Jack Gibson, referees Darcy Lawler, Col Pearce, and Bill Harrigan, with administrators Ken Arthurson, Peter Moore, and John Quayle – all deserving of rugby league Immortality.
Benny's Bunnies belt Broncos
No John, you nailed it in the first place, du Toit impeded Holloway’s involvement nowhere near the ball at any stage.
Rugby is not American football, no player should be impeded without the ball, but it happens in every game, and rarely is anything done to correct the problem.
There are eight eyes between the ref, the two touchies, and the TMO, yet it still goes on.
What should have happened last night was du Toit immediately penalised, and the elbow wouldn’t have happened. Once refs nip foul play in the bud early, it will be minimised.
And while I’m at it, I’ve watched many rugby and rugby league games, and have yet to see an honest kick off in either code. Again there are plenty of eyes available, but they are all on the flight of the ball, while two, three, four and sometimes more, are metres offside every time.
Have yet to read one word from you lot on this subject, or is it too minor in your eyes to comment?
Red carding Waratah Jed Holloway was rubbish rugby
Pedantic TB, but 10 unanswered points in the context of the game against the defending premiers, was significant.
Roosters vulnerable without Luke Keary
You win the thanks for coming award of the day liquorbox, non-active players wouldn’t even be mentioned at the selection table.
David Pocock's continual absence is causing concern
jcmasher, get that Michael Cheika thought that he’ll get what he wants right out of your mind, those days are gone forever.
David Pocock's continual absence is causing concern
Crash Ball2, there are no unknowns, no bells and whistles, just three Wallaby selectors with an equal say picking a 30-plus strong series squad, and eventually a starting XV, and eight on the bench.
There will be no Waratah parochialism, and no strange out-of-position selections, with the net result picked on form, not CV.
All potential Wallabies will know from day one that the net result will be the majority vote among three – just the way it should be.
Once the match squad has been selected, it will be Michael Cheika’s job as head coach to set the game plan, as it should be.
David Pocock's continual absence is causing concern
numpty, in the real world Luke Jones (6), David Pocock (7) and captain, with Isi Naisarani (8).
David Pocock's continual absence is causing concern
PeterK, and Kurtley Beale’s game was saluted by team mate AAC, and you can’t bring yourself to accept that as fact. No bias, just accurate reporting, try it sometime.
"KB did a fantastic job out the back tonight"
Mitcher, have you noticed that the vast majority of the negative pricks as you describe them are from the Guru-Rookie classification, the angry young ants of society?
"KB did a fantastic job out the back tonight"
Pity you didn’t watch the entire game PeterK
"KB did a fantastic job out the back tonight"
PeterK, Beale 14 runs for 68 metres is total rubbish when one was 60, so the other 13 runs were for eight metres? Check your source, or your maths.
"KB did a fantastic job out the back tonight"
Waxhead, you started the “silly hype”, and I’m going to finish it. Went missing DOES mean ZERO, or infers next to nothing. Beale had no option but to stay back with the Rebels in possession because of Cooper and Hodge’s kicking.
And to claim I write Beale up as a star when he plays poorly is total crap, and you know it.
Besides, I would have more respect for what you write if you had the balls to comment in the name on your birth certificate, rather than the ridiculous Waxhead.
"KB did a fantastic job out the back tonight"
Waxhead, you, and others, keep missing the point. Reread yesterdays headline – It’s time for the real Beale to return. What does that suggest to you, perhaps the Beale of the last few months before last night was well below his best? That’s being objective.
Last night he turned it around, and apart from moving in the right direction, it won’t man anything unless he keeps raising the bar. That’s being objective.
You are the one not being objective, you are just deadset against anything Beale does, good, bad, or indifferent.
You are the one saying Beale went missing in the second half, which wasn’t true when I pointed out he spent the time fetching Coopers and Hodges kicks, you said big deal.
You can’t even admit when you are wrong. That’s objective?
"KB did a fantastic job out the back tonight"
Welcome Rugby wizard, what a pleasant change to read positive vibes compared to all the negative crap. I wonder how many of the knockers have ever played sport, or they would know that winning ugly feels just as good as winning well.
"KB did a fantastic job out the back tonight"
Waxhead, you’re far from funny as a consistent Beale assassin like so many of your mates. He didn’t go missing in the second half, he went fetching as Cooper and Hodge kept reefing the ball down field with the Rebels under the pump with just 39 per cent territory.
Pity you didn’t watch the game, AAC was outside centre, but Beale was fullback – so how could you compare them as centres?
"KB did a fantastic job out the back tonight"
Rebel, comparing the Crusaders and the Waratahs is like comparing drinking the most expensive wine to drinking water.
It's time for the real Beale to return
Bleeds G&G, “x factor” is a modern day buzz saying invented to describe a footballer who does something differently to the norm – like chip, chase, regather and score, a long accurate cut-out pass to send a support through a gap, or doubling round support to slip through defence and score.
Like Kurtley Beale used to be, and I want that Beale back.
It's time for the real Beale to return
Waxhead, I smile a lot reading comments like yours, especially when you say I’m wrong with my assessment of Beale.
But I hasten to remind you the Roar is a forum of opinions, and I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m just disagreeing with you.
In my book Beale has more natural ability in his little finger than most of the current Wallaby backline contenders in general, with the exception of Folau, and Genia.
His ill-chosen bad days have been consigned to the dustbin of history, but he’s still got that x-factor that must return.
As for his defence, Ella and Campese’s defensives were questionable, but they were always two of the best attackers world rugby has ever seen, so were first picked.
But do Beale a favour selectors, don’t pick him as a pinch-hitter for one of four positions. pick him where he will do the team the most good, and for himself to be the most comfortable.
And that isn’t fly-half, or wing.
It's time for the real Beale to return
Point is JamesH, why pick, or play, Hazlewood at all until he is fully fit. Far better to have him in rehab with a hope to be 100 per cent for the Ashes.
Marcus Stoinis lucky to be in World Cup squad
JamesH, which proves yet again Trevor Hohns is impossible to understand. If Josh Hazlewood is “fit” enough to play for Australia A, he’s “fit” enough to be in the World Cup squad as a far superior bowler to both Nathan Coulter-Nile, and Jason Berhendorff.
Marcus Stoinis lucky to be in World Cup squad
Wrong Paul, the most important game of any season is the next one, there are no “practice” games, nor “dead rubbers’ – treat every game as if it was a limited-over world cup final, or a series deciding Test. Once you move away from the importance of every time the Australians wear the national cap, you are setting a dangerous precedent that can bite you when it counts. Let’s see what Aaron Finch, and Justin Langer, come up with against Sri Lanka leading into the first World Cup game against Afghanistan on June 1.
Thanks England fans, keep booing David Warner and Steve Smith