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Joined April 2019
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I grew up in Brisbane, playing Rugby League for my school, where it was taken very seriously. I was too tall and skinny at 18 to be able to play elite league (the visible pinnacle was Brisbane A grade) so I gave it up rather than get around in bush teams as my brother did til he was 35. I had never seen a Rugby Union game til I got a job as an art teacher at a Melbourne school that had 3 Rugby Union teams, U15, U16 and Firsts. When it was known I was from Qld, and had played League I was conscripted to coach the U15s. I was on a steep learning curve; I had to teach the game from scratch, as I learnt about it from books and videos (before the internet). I enjoyed the experience and, and could beat the other school teams we played, except Scots College, where rugby started in year 7, not year 9. I found refereeing matches, which I had to do, very challenging and eventually enjoyable. I have been interested in Rugby Union ever since (that's since 1986). I might have played Union for longer than I played league, but when I was at Uni, my sport time was taken up by the Army Reserve (CMF). I got into the Arts, and took no interest in sport until 1986 (except for some rowing at Bundaberg and in a skiff I built on arriving in Victoria in 1980). My teaching job required me to coach sport, so I coached rowing and rugby, enjoying both immensely. I moved to the country and built a solar efficient mud brick house and practised Art without financial success, but my interest in Rugby remained. I enjoy the forums on Roar. I was very anti Quade Cooper back in 2011, as he was reluctant to take a tackle with the ball, and would throw it or kick it away giving up whatever advantage he might have gained, but I think he might have grown up, and his game has a very big upside. I am curious as to what will happen with Wallabies selection, now that there's a 3 man panel.
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😂 I watched the Reds on Saturday night and the Tahs on Saturday morning. It was agony to ecstasy. The Reds game was so depressing. Both the Tahs and the Rebels made things look not so bad in the bleak scene of Australian Rugby that has been so difficult to escape in the last couple of weeks particularly.
'Last few years have been hell': Iceman 2.0 Harrison gets 'dream come true' in Tahs' stunning golden point win
Aside from the horrible shank on his first kick, Carter’s kicking was very good at the weekend. I hope he is training like Johnny Wilkinson with a good coach, and a good friend to help him with the yips. Carter doesn’t have a big frame but he is very dynamic and has a great rugby brain, and leadership. I haven’t really seen such a thing with Noah, though he seems a likeable young man. I’m very pleased to see several very young men emerging as WB 10 contenders. It is not too soon to see Harrison in contention. We need a really good mentor to bring on, then select from this young group of 10s.
'Last few years have been hell': Iceman 2.0 Harrison gets 'dream come true' in Tahs' stunning golden point win
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'Last few years have been hell': Iceman 2.0 Harrison gets 'dream come true' in Tahs' stunning golden point win
To comment on the video at the top of the article: it appeared to me that Izzy just lazily cantered to cross in the corner. I think with a bit more effort he could have scored closer to the posts. It also seemed like the defender in green was not putting up much of an effort, either. I suppose that’s to be expected in a lower level game such as this one.+
Izzy back to his old ways: Folau scores on debut from a falcon in Japan after nine-month absence
The Murdoch conspiracy theory is the one I come closest to believing. I stay away from News Ltd media for that reason.
Five things we learned: The general who caught Schmidt's eye, why next week is vital for Coleman's Tahs
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'Our talent is spread too thin': Ex-Wallabies captain urges Rugby Australia to cut Super teams
Seeing the space and putting the 12 through it seems to be where Wales beat WBs in the World Cup. SK is certainly a monster and would be hard to tackle, but people at test level can do that (it’s a form of martial art) SK would have been much better running through gaps instead of trying to run through players. We don’t really need a monster 12 we need a 10 – 12 (at least) combination that works on seeing gaps and putting each other into them.
'We've moved to a more mental realm': JOC reveals the change from Thorn to Kiss - and his 2024 ambitions
I’ve always thought that Rugby in Australia needs the rebels to expand into the Melbourne market. I do get the need for competitive SR squads, and how it might be easier to finance three or four more competitive SR teams. Would a stronger, domestic competition with more teams (like the NRC which I thought was working) do more to build the game in places like Melbourne than the Rebels, who have not been very successful in the competition? I think the need for tribalism is over-rated.
Exclusive: Wallabies star to return to Waratahs in fresh blow to Rebels
You may be a rugby fan through and through but you repeatedly come across as cynical, negative and destructive. I find your style very off-putting. I think you should seriously consider the way you communicate, but of course that’s just me saying what I think.
Exclusive: Wallabies star to return to Waratahs in fresh blow to Rebels
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'We'll sack him and be in the same position': Ex-Wallaby condemns Larkham snub as Schmidt deal CONFIRMED
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'Sad to see him go': Young gun Gordon says Wallabies won't be scarred from World Cup flop
I’m always suspicious of anyone who says: “the only hope for x is this or that”. It always sounds as if that person is invested in a pet theory. I would like to see a process where many options are allowed, and then carefully evaluated before “the only hope” course is forced through too hurriedly.
'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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'Thank f--k': Why RA's new chairman has brought 'hope at last' - and won't be scared of tough calls
I’m sorry you brought religion into this. I suspect (but am not sure) you were being ironic. I can’t see that his religion, if he is indeed religious, has anything to do with this job.
'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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ANALYSIS: McLennan's fatal blind spot, and why his exit leaves Australian rugby in a better place and a worse one
You are a good philosopher, Journeyman, perhaps a master.
Want refereeing consistency? Take a look in the mirror
Why do you call yourself Lucky, having been stabbed 3 times? I suppose lucky to have survived.
'Young man with a knife': Foz confirms scary attack at World Cup
There’s a limerick attribute to George 6th, which ends: “Despite her high station, and great education, she always spelt c**t with a k.” That came to mind on reading Perthstayer’s comment. I wish I could remember the beginning of the limerick.
'Just a game, k---heads': Why world's top rugby ref has decided to give the game away
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RWC News: 'Take some gas out of that bomb' - ABs' response to Bok weapon who's 'some human', twist in Bongi slur saga
Who’s Nathan Cleary? I don’t follow and am not interested in League. There was a Cleary who played wing for the Kangaroos against England in the 1960s when I was interested in League. Is Nathen Cleary a grandson of that Cleary?
Eddie Jones joked about signing Nathan Cleary - but he might be the only man who can save the Wallabies
I think a viable Australian style might be to let the ball do the work – pass it to players to put them through gaps, as Wales spectacularly did to the WBs, while the WBs 12 was always trying to run through opponents, who are tougher at test level than elsewhere he has played. Running Rugby is OK, but running and passing rugby is better – just well timed and accurate passes not wild, desperate passes as some (JP) are wont to make. Sometimes it is better to take the tackle and win the following ruck. Kicking? Yeah, good if there are effective chasers and the kicks are skillful, rather than desperate. Good set pieces almost go without saying.
'Be Australian': How the RWC QF classics showed we must urgently define and deliver our own style
I can’t watch games where I live. I hate going to Melbourne; but if there’s a game on at Ballarat where the Rebels sometimes play, I will go to that. I think I can get my Rugby fix on Stan. It I knew of a club close by, or if I had a friend or relative playing I probably would go to grassroots club games, like I used to go to local Aussi Rules games when my son was playing.
'Be Australian': How the RWC QF classics showed we must urgently define and deliver our own style
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Richie McCaw's cautionary tale for Rugby Australia - and his message to the Wallabies following RWC flop
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Let's celebrate rugby for its differences: Why imitating league is not the answer