The Roar’s 50 greatest players in Rugby World Cup history: 45-41
Three New Zealanders, one Australian and an Irishman sounds like the start of a bad pub joke. In reality, it nominates the nationalities of…
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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…
Let me be clear, the Hurricanes are my side and always will be, that will never change. I love them and the last five…
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…
The Crusaders have been crowned Super Rugby champions for 2017 after defeating the Lions at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg by 25 points to…
Match result: The Crusaders have been crowned Super Rugby champions for 2017 after defeating the Lions at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg by 25…
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. » Re-live all…
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…
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…
Match results: The Crusaders have produced a defensive master class to qualify for the Super Rugby final, defeating the Chiefs by 14 points in…
The Super Rugby quarter finals have now been completed and while the results went the way of the betting odds and the favoured teams…
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…
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…
The British and Lions have drawn the curtain on their 2017 New Zealand tour, drawing the third Test match against New Zealand in a…
The All Blacks and British and Irish Lions have drawn the third Test at Eden Park in a tense and thrilling encounter 15 points…
Match result: The All Blacks and British and Irish Lions have drawn the third Test at Eden Park in a tense and thrilling encounter…
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…
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…
The Wallabies have stumbled to an entertaining, error-ridden victory over Italy at Suncorp Stadium in the Brisbane sun by 40 points to 27. A…
The All Blacks have drawn first blood against the British and Irish Lions overcoming their rivals by 30 points to 15 in an intense,…
Thank you for all your efforts Geoff this year Geoff, have a great break and look forward to doing it all again in a few months time 👍
The 2023 Wrap: Man who was 'dropped from heaven' and the abject s--t show that followed in his wake
Great stuff Geoff, thank you for all your efforts in this World Cup. 👍
The World Cup Wrap: France 2023 got a final befitting the host nation - imperfect, baffling and historic
Good luck lads and best wishes to all, hope we have a fitting finale to cap off what I think has been a wonderful tournament. 😊
And GO BLACK!!!! 👍
COMPLETE RWC finals teams: All Blacks' answer to Boks' bold 7-1 bench call, Smith returns for England
Think Harry was meaning the Twickenham match with the Bok 7-1 bench
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Great read Harry.
Bookies are wrong too.
#SouthAfricaNumber1Favourites 😁
Enjoy the week mate! 👍
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Thanks JD.
Thing is, we have seen this coming for some time in terms of our forwards from age grade level leading up to now, it has been highlighted for some time. Tricky balance to demand both high skill levels and physical dominance but we have generally headed too far in one direction, Vaaí and Lord are two perfect examples, exceptional skill levels but not quite there in a confrontational match. We do not see enough coming through particularly at lock in my opinion but it can be fixed, if we demand it from our players moving forward. Just seesm to be taking an age for the penny to drop.
A far from golden generation of forwards has left the All Blacks badly exposed
Great stuff mate, although I am a bit late to this one.
While improvements have been obvious, was always a concern that they would revert to the previous ingrained style under pressure and so it proved, it takes time to bed it in and get rid of those old habits.
What was dissapointing was that the warning shots were there for all to see in the last clash and we were not quite up for it, nor able to adapt to what was in front of us, same spreading of the forwards on attack, trying to play our way out of our own territory, frustrates me. When it is time to play narrow, stay narrow and utilise the obvious kicking strengths we have available. It is a territory game.
Anyhow, a good kick in the pants as I imagine France will take a similar approach, I am optimistic we can adapt and right now, I have Wellington to fall back on which is going well. 😁
ANALYSIS: 'Time to make the tough call' - South Africa raised the stakes, and the All Blacks folded
This is great 👍
What three hours in a bar taught me about RWC contenders - including the 'most confident 0-4 team on the planet'
Well, I would suggest the lengths non Kiwis will go to in order to shove NZ in as favourites is also quite amusing 😛
Im happy in my logic 😁
The Panel: Lessons have been learned, but are some World Cup options burned?
Didn’t even think about Roigard personally, good call though. As a Canes man I feel comfortable enough with his selection, I would argue it is deserved but would have been good to see a bit more of him recently.
The Panel: Lessons have been learned, but are some World Cup options burned?
That spoon and pot you are stirring gets bigger by the hour……
The Panel: Lessons have been learned, but are some World Cup options burned?
Thats a big pot you are stirring. 😂
The Panel: Lessons have been learned, but are some World Cup options burned?
Hey Nobody,
Both the French and Irish present stronger credentials but in my eyes, the Boks are favourites, they have a very experienced squad (players and around management) who has been there and done it before and for want of a noted goalkicker, would likely have a different record building up to this tournament. They have the right formula and mix to me and make me very wary, especially if Pollard squeezes back into the mix.
The Panel: Lessons have been learned, but are some World Cup options burned?
Hi Gary,
I have always had this suspicion that he has no respect for Australian rugby
For what its worth, it is certainly not the case.
It's not Eddie's first rodeo, but old school methods could leave behind a trail of broken bodies
Nothing to really aim at there mate though I would prefer to see Ross and Franks for Ofa and Nepo personally, Franks would be a valuable squad member I would have thought and if not injured, it would have been good to have Blackadder and Grace available to play with the loosie mix as well.
Kiwi View: Rookie's 'weird' treatment increases World Cup intrigue as fringe All Blacks look to grind down Wallabies
that would be a good trio to see 👍
All Blacks team: Foster eases Cane concern, reveals lock pecking order ahead of Bledisloe I
Blues will certainly cement something me ole mate 😂
Super Rugby Pacific tipping week 14: Five into two don't go
What I couldn’t make sense of was that Mills at fullback in the same team, a player who had played centre for the title winning Blues in 2003 beating a Crusaders side with Leon at fullback. Crazy.
Good stuff JD, plenty to chew over in this 👍
Golden generations: McCaw's magnificent men, and the Dave Rennie gift that helped All Blacks make history
Alldritt played 30 in the same period! Thanks JD, this site has sent me down the rabbit hole 😂
Super Rugby Pacific tipping week 13: All aboard for the run to the finals
Interesting numbers to make direct comparisons against completed seasons in 21/22 (as the site defines it), would be good to know specific injury/other absences as well to truly digest –
Cane played 22, VDV 27
Savea 22, Doris 26
A Smith 22, JGP 25
Whitelock/Retallick 41, Beirne/Ryan 35
B Barrett 22, Sexton 20
J Barrett 25, Keenan 24
Seems the majority of ‘regular selections’ for both top sides the Irish played more games on average, loose forwards are interesting. VDV was also player of the year and played five more games than Cane. Can also be a sign they were more settled in their selections also to be fair.
Thanks for the site tip, interesting resource
Super Rugby Pacific tipping week 13: All aboard for the run to the finals
No, was picking players off the top of my head before RR became a regularity in the game. A few who juggled went on to have longish careers, Kaino and Vito spring to mind, certainly after their international careers were done. Does it play a part? Maybe but I suspect its more about the individual than that specific policy given examples in the past.
Competitiveness is an issue, you are right but I still think this is a simple win to at least try and turn the tide of perception of negativity towards the comp.
Super Rugby Pacific tipping week 13: All aboard for the run to the finals
Thanks JD, eye opening numbers if they include tests as well, though i am aware a few of those also had injuries to contend with but that All Rugby site seems a good resource, will have a play when able. 👍
Super Rugby Pacific tipping week 13: All aboard for the run to the finals
Nope, no arguments here, it is good to have discussion around the issues, regardless of agreement, or lack of 😁 👍
At the end, it is neither the chicken or the egg that matter, they both need each other to exist.
RUPA has an important part to play, they are professional and this is their job but I question at times if they go too far in the name of conservatism and are blind to the struggles of the competition. Its deterioration is bad news for all involved and it is frustrating to see little in the way of arresting that and seeking improvement with such policies in place. Granted, it is not the only issue but it is one which can be addressed quickly.
Time will tell whether it truly assists with player longevity but given the length of careers older players like Nick Evans and Jimmy Gopperth have had, I am unsure it is really the case.
Super Rugby Pacific tipping week 13: All aboard for the run to the finals
A sad day, RIP
RIP, David Lord: Australian sports journalism icon was 'always thoughtful and thought-provoking'