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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’m old. I played Rugby League as a youth – before the introduction of a fixed number of possessions, and at a time when scrums, and even play the balls were fiercely contested. I watched overseas teams from the UK and France school Australia at Rugby league. Rugby League has changed a lot during my life, and the current game seems to be pretty much isolated and limited to Australia. League has been dumbed down, but it seems to appeal to Australians who don’t want to put in enough effort to understand Rugby Union, and dismiss it as being too pedantic without enough bash and crash. I agree that Union should look overseas rather than at League in order to improve. We also need to market our superior game (Union) and make sure more young people learn about it in childhood. I was middle aged by the time I saw my first game of Union, but I had turned away from League early, because I was not of the right body type (or fast enough) to play it at a high level, and also because I had become bored with it (at 18 we were doing the same things at training and on the field as we had done as under 10s). I think Union offers a lot more than League, but Union did a good job for 100 years of keeping this a secret. League was the peoples game; Union was the toffs game, and liked to keep the plebs away. This doesn’t have to be the case now. We can thank immigrants from the pacific for keeping Union alive. I think if Union is to have a future here, we have to look overseas to be schooled in how to play, and we have to recruit fans and players from childhood right across society. We could probably look to League, AFL, cricket etc., to get some help on administering the game. If I was 40 years younger, I might be doing something about it, but I didn’t understand the problem until I had found more important things to do than play or administer any code of football. I love to watch Rugby Union on Stan, and occasionally live, and I would hate Union to die out.
'Be Australian': How the RWC QF classics showed we must urgently define and deliver our own style
Jaydos I think you are correct. I live in country Vic, and follow Rugby via Stan and the Roar. When I tell people at work (other than former South Africans and Pasifikas) that I haven’t followed AFL but follow Rugby, they think I mean Melbourne Storm. Somehow the NRL was able to establish the Storm in the heart of AFL country and make it work. I think Australian Rugby Union should have a presence in Victoria. RA have not done what it takes to get people following the Rebels, while the NRL has got people at least politely interested in Melbourne Storm even near GRAND FINAL time. I am amazed that people prefer Rugby League to Union. There needs to be some education and outreach from Union, but maybe it is just too hard, because the game they play in heaven is too hard for outsiders to understand.
'I watched the whole game, mate. Incredibly depressing': How the Wallabies moved on from their horror night in Lyon
😂
'Semi pro sport at best': Ex-Ireland HP manager's scathing critique of Aussie rugby, and dire warning for its future
I thought Swinton made the mistake of striking from the inside of his opponents arm. That’s striking against the opponent’s strength. He should have struck from the outside, or better yet broken the grip without striking by one of several techniques available. He must keep a cool head.
RWC News: Fiji win sends Wallabies to all time low, grisly Lomax verdict, Boks star's positive drug test
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'It's still a gold jersey': Swinton out to impress as key to Aus A success against Wallabies RWC pool rivals revealed
No one in this string of posts said that Gerber was not a good centre. You could say some things about Bradman’s politics, but you could never say he wasn’t a good batsman.
Danie Gerber suffered in sporting isolation, but was rugby's greatest centre
My sister’s father in law was selected as an “honorary Springbok” in about 1948. He was a Xhosa man. He gave up rugby and took up politics partly in reaction to his racist treatment by SA Rugby authorities. They gave him a blazer and let him carry the drinks; he did not play because he was black. He and his immediate family were exiled later because of the politics. My brother in law was smuggled to safety in exile wrapped like a cauliflower on the handlebars of a bicycle. The player I’m talking about was Mtutu Mphele who became a minister/director of SA foreign affairs department in the government formed by Mandela after the free election. Mphele had a black teammate, also a lock, who got similar treatment, and left to play Rugby League in England. I wonder how such people would now be remembered as Rugby players if they had not had to endure the racist regime in South Africa.
Danie Gerber suffered in sporting isolation, but was rugby's greatest centre
Brett Allen, are you sure that Davidson played on uncovered pitches? I have been listening to and watching test cricket at least since 1960/61, and I think I recall that wickets were covered during all of that time.
Better than Davidson? Up there with Akram? Where does Starc rank among left-arm legends?
The last couple of times I’ve seen Mark Nawaqanitawasi on Stan I have thought that he must have been studying videos of David Campese – with the goose step, over the shoulder passing and unpredictable running lines. It is good to study the best of years gone by. It was said three or so years ago by one of the Waratah coaching group (I can’t remember the name) that MN had the strength and athleticism of Izzy Folau or soon would have. I am very pleased to see MN (of whom I have been a fan for a few years) striding towards the fulfilment of his potential. I think with the list of outside backs coming good now, Australia is well placed to achieve results from try scoring
in the next few years, if not in 2023 at the WC.
ANALYSIS: Positives emerge on Wallabies' Spring Tour, including a successor to Israel Folau
I think that kick would have been the most difficult kick for goal of the game; yet the chances of a try were not that great either. I think I’d have gone for the kick at goal.
The Wrap: Wallabies’ inability to win the big moments a real pain in the neck
My brother who in his youth played both League and Union, but now will not watch Union, says that one of his main reasons for not watching Union is the pedantry of the referees. One of the things I like about Union is its complexity. It’s not just team A vs team B but each team vs the other plus the laws. I think this is a better metaphor for life where not all is black and white, but a lot is operating in the shades of grey. That said, I would like it if the TMO could not intervene when not asked to by the on field referee.
The Wrap: Wallabies’ inability to win the big moments a real pain in the neck
le pont du gard?
WALLABIES TEAM: Jock starts, Skelton on bench, Rennie explains 'noticeable' difference in Nic vs. Tate
Who are you talking about OJ, Koroibete or Vunivalu?
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
Hopefully not so many penalties this weekend! I have been discussing the pedantry of refs with my brother who is a League fan (though he used to play Union and L
eague). My brother reckons it keeps fans away from Union, and last weekend I could appreciate what he was saying.
The Thursday Two-up: Recalibrate, reset, or full steam ahead?
Thanks for this Moss. It’s very succinct.
I have copied it and will take it to my counsellor to discuss next time I see her. I’ve been looking for something to explain the current malaise I am experiencing in my own life.
The Thursday Two-up: Recalibrate, reset, or full steam ahead?
I like this. It was the way Rugby League worked when I followed it in my youth (no women’s teams but each club had 3 teams, A, B and C). More recently my son played Aussie Rules in regional leagues, where there was always a curtain raiser between the reserve teams before the seniors came on. It made a great day out, and it was interesting to see the players moving up through the clubs.
How an Australian domestic rugby competition could look
It was a well written and interesting article. Congratulations, and I hope to see more from you. I think the idea that sportspeople are tradespeople is a good one. We can do worse than think of the tradition of apprenticeships and travelling to master the trade after finishing the apprenticeship. Players have to learn the micro skills; in this they are like martial artists who train for precision. It is the precise and well timed use of force that is really interesting in contact sports.
Red-carded 'apprentices' are harming their fellow players and the long-term viability of rugby union
Nah, Chris, Nawaqanitawasi was very good last weekend – not far off on par with Kelloway. He might just be getting his act together with maturity and experience now.
'I'd like to stay': Vunivalu wants to repay rugby's faith despite Dolphins circling for NRL return
TWIU: we need NRC AND Super Rugby!
'If you're humble it's what you have to do': Argentina coach's classy call after record defeat
I believe Rory Arnold is indigenous, and there may be others. I’m surprised you think that Kurtley will be chosen BECAUSE he’s indigenous.
Rennie reveals biggest challenge facing Kurtley Beale if he's to make a fourth World Cup
The thing about Bradbury was that he made the final, and kept standing while everyone else fell over. You have to do a lot right to win, which includes legally entering the country where the tournament is held.
ALL-TIME CLASSIC! Rafa secures 21st slam in Aus Open comeback for the ages
Glad to see that Adam Ashley Cooper is taking up coaching! A couple of years ago I expressed in a Roar forum the hope that he might do that. In his last season for the Waratahs AAC was putting himself in the right place as always, but not quite as fast as he once did, so maybe a bit behind the right time. I think (at least I hope) he has a lot to offer as a coach, once he has learnt that trade.
The Giteau lore: Wallabies great, 39, adds another chapter to glittering career
Bobby, Any politician (especially an independent) has to engage on all fronts. So DP may have his favourite issues, but no agenda is isolated from the bigger picture. Eg, if you want to stop coal mining you have to engage on the economic difficulties of that, and on the issue of what will be the future of coal miners and of energy sources. These are really big and all pervasive issues. There have been independents from Tas and NIck Xenophon from SA who lasted pretty well as basically single issue driven politicians. If he lasted 6 years, anyway, that would be OK.
David Pocock officially enters the world of politics
Jacko: A huge problem with Australian politics is that politicians are loathe to step outside the big party lines to actually make decisions that are needed to solve our problems rather than keep the party in office by avoiding decisions. So if DP is saying he will make decisions, he is distinguishing himself from most politicians, and telling us what he stands for in that regard.
David Pocock officially enters the world of politics
Application of skills with poise and control! We saw just that from great players like Matthew Bourke, John Eales, George Smith, Michael Lynagh and (dare I say it) David Campese. Where has that poise and skill deserted to? I think the potential is still there. The coaching has to build skills on the way up and ensure that the those who emerge as the best players can maintain their confidence. Playing more in elite competitions seems to be needed, and this may mean that some gain experience in the top competitions around the world, so that they can represent Australia with that depth of mastery behind them.
Richie McCaw's cautionary tale for Rugby Australia - and his message to the Wallabies following RWC flop