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gatesy

Roar Guru

Joined February 2008

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Rugby Tragic, love all facets of the sport.

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gatesy
Roar Guru
gatesy
Roar Guru

An update on my rugby tribe

I wrote an article on this site a few years ago entitled ‘The anatomy of the tribe‘, and while I thought it was one of my best pieces – and I still do – it attracted only four comments, and one of them was mine.

Rugby
15
2020
An update on my rugby tribe
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I absolutely agree and have been postulating that for years. A bottom up approach. Note the way that the Heineken Cup dovetails with the Premiership (Gallagher Cup) – this could be a similar format, say one or two week blocks where Premier Rugby has a bye week, or weeks, and the games are played during that window. Logistically, it should be easy to set up training camps, using the clubs’ facilities. Travel might be the issue, but smarter minds than me could surely work that out.

The Roar Rugby Project Part 6: Tiers or Tears? Competition structures for professional rugby

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Rugby
 
1w

Does that include Finlay Bealham? Born and raised in Canberra, went to St Eddies, played all his junior rep footy for the Brumbies, and then went to Royals. Couldn’t get a gig at the Brumbies academy so he moved to Ireland, thanks to parentage, started with Connacht and went through the system,now playing off the bench for Ireland, and still at Connacht.
A classic example of what Nick was postulating.
Thank you, Stan!

Does Australian rugby need an academy in the northern hemisphere?

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Rugby
 
Dec

Let’s not forget that the “foreign” players in the NH are there, mainly to provide cover, when the clubs lose their internationals to Test footy. You would think that most club recruiters and employers would be looking for a degree of longevity, so the 1 in 3 ideal is not likely to find favour. You also want a period where you have a settled team that has time to gel together as a good unit, and London Irish is a good example of it this season.

Does Australian rugby need an academy in the northern hemisphere?

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Rugby
 
Dec

Hey, Nick,
You forgot to mention Saia Faingaa who was Creevey’s predecessor.

Does Australian rugby need an academy in the northern hemisphere?

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Rugby
 
Dec

Definitely on my bucket list!

Why World Rugby’s Brain Health Initiative is making my head hurt

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Rugby
 
Nov

It seems to me that if it is too hard to get it going in NSW and Qld, then, initially leave those states alone, especially if resources are stretched. Orange is clearly playing the long game and working with what he has. Let this gestate and grow, naturally. It sounds like he needs to take on some partners who can get some funding and then, maybe concentrate purely on Western Sydney and grow the base from there. He is on a winner, but Rome was not built in a day (much to the dislike of many Roarers, who always want instant results!)

Growing rugby in Australia through the state school system: No, this isn’t a joke

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Rugby
 
Dec

Mate, I am in Brisbane!!

Why World Rugby’s Brain Health Initiative is making my head hurt

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Rugby
 
Nov

mate, at 210:1, why not only $5? Mind you they have firmed in to 101, but there are still 17 rounds to go. Two straignt wins on the trot and they hammered the Newcastle Falcons last week. Every week you can see them gelling more and more as a team, too. Plus there is a raft of Aussies playing – Phipps, Coleman, Simmons, Hoskins and Rona -all going well.

To be honest, I am a shy gambler, but it is just that much better to have a little bit of skin in the game.

Why World Rugby’s Brain Health Initiative is making my head hurt

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Rugby
 
Nov

ozinsa, I too am an Irish fan and, yes, I saw it too. I think the commentator mentioned that other Premiership clubs are trialling it, too.
BTW I’ve got $5 each way at 251.00 for them to win the final – a big first step last Saturday, and they definitely have the cattle to do it, especially if Coleman can get fit again. Miracles can happen! Just get to get that winger to pass the ball to outside supports. 2 tries butchered and I hate to see a winger carrying league style. If you are going to play in the mid-field, you need to be able to free up your hands to pass.
The other thing I noticed was that, at least from the handful of premiership games that I have seen , is that seem to be coaching low height, because there is not much high tackling. The danger is, of course, where blokes have not been used to it and get their head in front of the tackled player’s knee. That’s is pure brute force, knee on skull, and possibly more injurious than other collisions.

Why World Rugby’s Brain Health Initiative is making my head hurt

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Rugby
 
Nov

A pleasure, Bobby

How to make rugby a true spectator sport

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Rugby
 
Nov

Yeah, thanks, Dave.

How to make rugby a true spectator sport

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Rugby
 
Nov

The irony is that the more that players are forced to tackle low, the more that heads will come into contact with knees. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

How to make rugby a true spectator sport

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Rugby
 
Nov

Onya bike, Loosie – but I did enjoy that comment

How to make rugby a true spectator sport

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Rugby
 
Nov

You are correct… “as fans we know the refs will make mistakes and that to us is part of the game”…it’s called the ‘rub of the green’, it has been around forever and we generally just cop it and get on with it.

Refereeing or umpiring?

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Rugby
 
Nov

Yowser!

ANALYSIS: Give the ref a propeller hat, thank Kurtley for the memories and fix this blight on the game

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Rugby
 
Nov

The point is that players are not criminals. The overwhelming majority of cards come from brainsnaps in the heat of the the game and at test level, the speed and intensity of it. They know if they have made a mistake, they give themselves a “brutal history revisional lecture” and move on, resolving not to make that mistake, again and they don’t need 10 minutes in the “naughty chair” to improve themselves as human beings or Rugby players.
That is just dumb. A penalty and 3 points is usually a fair sanction.

Refereeing or umpiring?

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Rugby
 
Nov

Sheek, always a great pleasure to hear from you and I totally agree. For a game that is touted as one of inclusivity, the powers that be seem to be doing their best to kill it and make it robotic. I get the head contact stuff and Valetini’s tackle was dumb, but I wonder what the defence coaches are teaching. If I were Dave Rennie I would be telling Dan McKellar to spend the pre-season, getting Valetini’s height right. They seem to have achieved it with Swinton, and the message has to get through. I watch a fair bit of the Gallagher Premiership and it is fairly clear that the coaches are getting it right in that department.

We talked about catching up for a beer about 10 years ago, and never have. I haven’t forgotten.

Refereeing or umpiring?

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Rugby
 
Nov

Exactly, Gooch and that stupid try by Wales, yesterday was a classic example. A good thing they didn’t have a hundred cameras on it, because we would have been forced to watch every one of them twice. Talk about death by a thousand cuts! We have to stop these ridiculous ref stoppages. It’s not about them.

Refereeing or umpiring?

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Rugby
 
Nov

Mate, we need to ensure that that TMO interference doesn’t creep into our SH comps. If the onfield ref can’t be trusted to do his job, then he shouldn’t be there. It’s called imperfect perfection.

Let him make mistakes. If these people are so worried about their careers that they need 3 other refs making their calls for them, they are not good enough.

Refereeing or umpiring?

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Rugby
 
Nov

Noodles,
I submitted this article before the Wales Game and all I can say is that my comments were spot on. Talk about inconsistent refereeing! The ball goes one inch forward and you have a yellow card, one inch back and it’s a seven pointer. I trust that DR will file a scathing report on that game and that that ref (whatever his name was) should never ref at that level, again.

Refereeing or umpiring?

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Rugby
 
Nov

Exactly what Scrum said – I had a couple of years as a referee (didn’t enjoy it much) and almost every game, there was someone there to review me, both at half time and post game. You get rated and that is how you get better. I imagine it’s even more rigorous at the highest level.
Rassie petulantly forgot the number one rule – you show respect in public and you do whatever you need behind closed doors, and follow the system.

'Forever tarnished': Nic Berry reveals heavy toll of Rassie's 'character assassination'

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Rugby
 
Nov

There have been many sub-standard performances by many referees over many years, but there is a way of dealing with it. Erasmus stepped way over the line, in a completely unnecessary way, and showed his true colours. Certainly not welcome at my place!

'Forever tarnished': Nic Berry reveals heavy toll of Rassie's 'character assassination'

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Rugby
 
Nov

Absolutely, Macca – go for it. I’ve sent a message to the cwrugby link. BTW I also have a great affinity for Parkes.

Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life

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Rugby
 
Oct

I think we have seen enough of Dave Rennie to know he won’t bring in new blood against England, even if Rona and Morahan deserve a go. Unless he is purely treating this as auditions for the RWC.
Dumb Rugby and poor kicking.

Wallabies vs Scotland: Did I see what I needed to see?

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Rugby
 
Nov

Gotta fix the kicking game! You need to be able to find grass and give your chasers opportunities

MATCH REPORT: Wallabies will be 'filthy with themselves' as Scotland end winning streak

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Rugby
 
Nov
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