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Roar Guru
Joined February 2014
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A Rotundity and happy ex hooker who just loves Rugby really, oh and my kids and Kendra of course who lets me watch as much Rugby as I want, mostly. Follow Digby Ross on Twitter @Diggercane.
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Three New Zealanders, one Australian and an Irishman sounds like the start of a bad pub joke. In reality, it nominates the nationalities of the next five voted into The Roar’s top 50 Rugby World Cup players.
Let me be clear, the Hurricanes are my side and always will be, that will never change. I love them and the last five seasons have certainly been some of the best years as a Hurricanes fan and member.
The Crusaders have won the 2017 Super Rugby title after defeating the Lions by 25-17 in Johannesburg, scoring three tries to two in the process.
The Crusaders have been crowned Super Rugby champions for 2017 after defeating the Lions at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg by 25 points to 17 in a hard fought and composed performance in front of over 60,000 fans.
Match result: The Crusaders have been crowned Super Rugby champions for 2017 after defeating the Lions at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg by 25 points to 17 in a hard fought and composed performance in front of over 60,000 fans.
Our grand finalists have been found for Super Rugby 2017 with the Lions hosting the Crusaders next weekend at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg.
A second half blitz has seen the Lions defeat the Hurricanes by 15 points in a highly entertaining Super Rugby semi-final.
Match results: The Lions have put up a comprehensive second half display, running on five tries to one, turning a 12-point halftime deficit into a 15-point victory to book their place in the Super Rugby grand final against the Crusaders next week.
The Crusaders have become the first team to book their place in the Super Rugby grand final with a 14-point victory over the Chiefs in Christchurch.
Match results: The Crusaders have produced a defensive master class to qualify for the Super Rugby final, defeating the Chiefs by 14 points in Christchurch.
The Super Rugby quarter finals have now been completed and while the results went the way of the betting odds and the favoured teams won through, it certainly was not all one-way traffic as many were expecting.
Good morning and welcome to the fourth Super Rugby quarter-final as the Stormers welcome the Chiefs to Newlands. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1am (AEST).
Good evening and welcome to Super Rugby’s third quarter-final as the table-topping Lions play host to their South African rivals the Sharks. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:30pm (AEST).
The British and Lions have drawn the curtain on their 2017 New Zealand tour, drawing the third Test match against New Zealand in a tense and enthralling affair in front of over 48,000 fans at Eden Park in Auckland, the match ending in a 15-all draw.
The All Blacks and British and Irish Lions have drawn the third Test at Eden Park in a tense and thrilling encounter 15 points apiece, and have subsequently drawn the 2017 Lions series.
Match result: The All Blacks and British and Irish Lions have drawn the third Test at Eden Park in a tense and thrilling encounter 15 points apiece, and have subsequently drawn the 2017 Lions series.
The British and Irish Lions have completed their mid-week schedule on the 2017 New Zealand tour, playing out a thrilling 31-all draw with the Hurricanes in Wellington at a sold out Westpac Stadium.
The British and Irish Lions play their last non-Test opposition for the 2017 tour this evening, visiting Wellington to play the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 5.35pm (AEST).
The Wallabies have stumbled to an entertaining, error-ridden victory over Italy at Suncorp Stadium in the Brisbane sun by 40 points to 27.
The All Blacks have drawn first blood against the British and Irish Lions overcoming their rivals by 30 points to 15 in an intense, fast and bruising encounter at Eden Park in Auckland in front of over 41,000 fans.
Apologies if that came across condescending mate, wasn’t my intention just that a lot of commentary and views have been doing my head in the last few days!!
Dispelling the myth that the All Blacks struggle against the rush defence
Interesting to listen to a Moffat interview last night, talking about how there is no fear of the ABs any longer. Certainly, the next generation have no fear, they now expect to win as their experience at age group would show.
The Wrap: Three epic Test matches all swing to the north
Thank you, certainly your observations match what we have seen out on the paddock.
Excellent to hear your lad had a great experience though. 👍
The All Blacks are fading to grey, but I fear nothing will change
Must have been quite drunk. Am sure I meant Connor….. 😛
The Wrap: Three epic Test matches all swing to the north
Too kind mate, at the end of the day I hope I am proven completely wrong.
The Wrap: Three epic Test matches all swing to the north
Finally, someone gets it, and writes it, excellent piece mate 👍
Dispelling the myth that the All Blacks struggle against the rush defence
Hey Viking,
No, I am not quite on the Razor bus so to speak but over Foster? Yes, I would prefer him, if only for his greater enthusiasm but I would hazard a guess alot of those calls are based around both he and Foster being the only applicants of note (as I understand it) from the last ‘interviews’ which in itself, I think concerning.
Personally, I would look to jettison in a team of Joseph, Brown and Cotter based on the broad strokes of all three of them having a proven ability of not just improving their sides, but working with comparatively modest talent and excelling.
The Wrap: Three epic Test matches all swing to the north
Thanks Geoff, and many thanks for your efforts this season.
Banged on about this for some time, results at U20 level have reflected what we are seeing transpire at the top level, also reflected in the young talent we are seeing come through from other sides in comparison, its quite staggering, particularly in the forwards. Interesting the senior men’s WC finals have been repeated the junior version from five years previous on the last two occasions, according to that we are heading to a French/English final in 2023 and I wouldn’t bet against it right now.
The cracks have been appearing for some time and exposed again the last two weeks. Was interesting to see a number of comments around when was the last time the ABs lost two in a row? Well, it was just a year a go. The often ‘hyped’ response after a loss has gone walkabout twice now, and on both occasions the side has looked bereft of ideas and focus. We continue to go around in circles, selection, tactics, bench use. There is a belligerence around our play and seeming stubbornness to address the fact that we have fallen behind the 8 ball. I have no faith in the current coaching staff to turn this around or in the Kremlin itself.
I think we are also faced with a wider issue, in this seeming quest to produce running rugby, as many put it, we are stalling the development in the next generation of forwards coming through, and that gap will widen if it is not addressed. Listening here to a number of pundits offer opinions it is gob smacking to me how many want to shuffle backs around, as though this will fix us getting done up front. Also raised was the ‘missing playing SA regularly’ and while of course, it is advantageous to expose the players to many different styles, I can recall a time when we didn’t have any issues producing forwards, SA or no SA. I believe we have system issues we need to address, particularly around mindset and what constitutes ‘entertaining’ rugby and how the game ‘should’ be played.
All that aside, geez France were impressive.
The Wrap: Three epic Test matches all swing to the north
It is interesting how certain players grab your attention and help your love for the sport.
I used to have silly arguments with my Father who would matter of ‘factly’ tell me that Bob Scott and Ron Jarden were the finest AB fullback and wing to play’, something which I could not ever possibly believe when Cullen, Lomu etc were running about!
'A magnificent sight': Christian Cullen was a divine fullback
Not just there Nick, the whole starting pack, with the exception of Coles and Cane is a frustration to me and yes, its all alot of back to the future stuff, we are going around in circles.
Coach's Corner: Here's why the Wallabies have fallen off a cliff
Cullen was very much the reason I became an avid follower of the game, I was already playing and watching AB tests etc but he made me want to follow the game outside of my little world. I wanted to attend Hurricanes games purely to watch him play, prospects of actually winning didnt matter at that time. Certainly one of my all time favorites.
'A magnificent sight': Christian Cullen was a divine fullback
Ardie is fine if they point his nose to the grindstone, showed that against SA in the second test but he really should be having a sit down this week.
Disappointing forward selection this week in my view, oh well, hope they prove me wrong.
Coach's Corner: Here's why the Wallabies have fallen off a cliff
Well, it is a nudie run so there is only one suitable spot, hopefully he puts it on the right way round.
The Thursday rugby two-up: Last chance saloon
Sorry mate, just haven’t been able to get into this as much as I had hoped, run off my feet.
A few points –
Offensive ruck, we continue to lack numbers, already setting up for further phase play without making sure of possession. Even at times when tackled, supporting players are standing off waiting for offloads or a pass that never comes
Clean outs, can be quite ineffectual, both Whitelock and Retallick were disappointing to me, when we get bullied its your locks who you really want to see stand up and lead the way back
Defensively, Ireland ran multiple phases at our front rowers, a few breaks through Nepo and Joes areas
Writing has been on the wall for a while, U20 results have shown this, our forwards are being built for a speed game, need to address this balance locally I think as, up front we are no longer producing elite level talent to keep up with the Test scene we are seeing develop.
Something else to consider, three players who were never really in the AB frame have left the NZ game and have become much better players for it. That’s an alarm bell.
A bit jumbled there, but I have no doubt you will be picking up what I’m putting down. I see Nick is doing a piece on Friday, will be interesting to see what he presents.
The All Blacks' issues are neither tactics nor selection, it's a whole lot worse
Yip.
Not just your nominated ‘sacred cows’ either, need to add our tight five to that mix, including the second row.
Will try and add something of more substance later when I have some free time.
The All Blacks' issues are neither tactics nor selection, it's a whole lot worse
Such is sport aye? When you are outplayed, you are outplayed.
Tip the hat and move on to the next match! 👍
MATCH REPORT: Magnificent Marsh outdoes Williamson epic as Australia claim World Cup glory
Thought we had a decent shot but Oz far too good.
Congrats guys!
MATCH REPORT: Magnificent Marsh outdoes Williamson epic as Australia claim World Cup glory
I think this would lead to a combined Rassie and Gregor two hour special.
Would be a you tube sensation.
The Thursday rugby two-up: Break out the scorecards
No, I cannot recall an instance either, worth considering I think.
The Thursday rugby two-up: Break out the scorecards
sigh
The Thursday rugby two-up: Last chance to revise Spring Tour predictions for the southern raiders
Really good Harry!
'Rocky, heaving, but brutally beautiful': What we learnt about every RWC contender in 2021