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Roar Guru
Joined February 2008
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Rugby Tragic, love all facets of the sport.
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Now I understand that there has to be a ratio — a few of us publishing posts on this venerable site and a lot more people commenting. After all, why would you bother having such a great site if it didn’t have a few hundred, or thousand, armchair critics?
In cricket you often hear the term ‘bunny’, such as when a particular bowler regularly gets a batsman out, and that batsman finds that bowler particularly difficult to play.
I am loving this season, not the least for the fact that we are all theorising.
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.
There is a lot of uncertainty in Australian rugby at the moment, particularly with regards to whether the nation is best suited by continuing with the SANZAAR model of Super Rugby.
Rugby communities often pay lip service to how we can give back, well Welsh club Scarlets have a tremendous idea to assist in these troubled times.
Yesterday, Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle announced that a deal had been done with the four Super Rugby franchises and the Western Force to run an internal Aussie conference competition.
What I like about the new US Major League Rugby is the sheer enthusiasm for and the absolute optimism about their new competition.
Trial form is not indicative of season form, as Dan McKellar pointed out. The Brumbies regularly smack the Rebels in trials but don’t carry it into the season proper.
As a rugby tragic, aficionado, alickadoo and former ref (I’m getting the cataracts fixed this month!), I always grimace when people talk or ask about the rules of rugby.
MLR, the USA’s fledgling professional rugby competition, is about to enter its third season, kicking off on February 9, with three new expansion teams.
I’m sitting in my high-rise apartment in Brisbane on a nice warm day – not too hot, normal air quality – looking over the Brisbane River at Hamilton Reach.
Congratulations to the Western Force from a rusted-on Canberra Vikings supporter.
Those of us who have immersed ourselves in this beautiful game know that some days are good, others are bad and some are just plain indifferent.
When we, the rugby community, want to try out a new experimental law – as we regularly should – we get World Rugby to sanction a trial.
I wrote a similar article to this four years ago. It was entitled something like “Let’s sneak up and bite them on the bum”.
I have been a rusted-on Brumbies nut from Day 1 in 1996. Let’s face it, it’s just a lot less stressful than being a Reds or Waratahs fan!
It has been refreshing to just have the game and the players to talk about, this year. The “back office” issues seem to have settled down with calm and co-ordinated leadership from Messrs Rennie, Marinos and McLennan.
Like he said, it all falls into place, when the national team is attracting interest, and heading in the right direction. Congratulations to all concerned and those behind the scenes working to the plan.
The Wrap: With the bushfires now out, can Andy Marinos regenerate Australian rugby?
An absolute pleasure, Simon, but everyone who has been involved in our game will have their own special stories and I would personally love to read them on a regular basis. Thanks for getting Topo involved.
I’m a little embarrassed because I forgot to mention the great Tavi Sio who was also coaching at North’s that year. We used to catch up once a year when Scott played in the state champs against my stepson who was playing for ACT.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
Absolutely, Topo. Just name it. Looking forward to catching up.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
Never say never, Brett. It’s always about the money and the money talks. There will be a way.
Club World Cup a decent idea on paper, but no chance of finding room in the calendar
Wives and sisters never get it, mums do -it’s a lottery mate just hold the line.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
My pleasure, Jacko.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
My pleasure, Jacko. You know, I thought after submitting it, they probably won’t publish it because they can tell I was on the piss when I wrote it (well that’s how I do most of my best writing) and when it hadn’t turned up after couple of days, I’m thinking .. I probably wouldn’t have published that drunken rant either, but imagine my surprise when it got published – when I read it back over, I’m thinkiing, OK not too bad, hope the lads enjoy it.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
… and still being lived. Just when you thought it was all going downhill along come Dave Rennie and Quade and all of a sudden, hope springs eternal. This game will never be predictable.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
My pleasure, mate.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
It was so much fun. We had one bloke who turned up, who was a flanker, who had actually played for Ireland. Best he could do was third grade.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
…and may it never change, KFTD!
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
Thanks, JC, and as the WB’s have been showing us, lately, it doesn’t need much fixing – all you need is a coach who doesn’t play favourites, and the rest falls into place.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
It was a magic time of life and I am part of two very special families – Navy and Rugby. It just doesn’t get much better than that.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
Thanks, mate. That means a lot to me.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
My absolute pleasure, Bobby. I just think we Roarers should celebrate the magic fabric of our wonderful game, whenever possible.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
Absolutely, mate!
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
Mate! ..a beautiful read. As the esteemed Wallaby prop, Buddha, would say ..”go you good thing!”
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
Mate .. a very ordinary one, but the love affair will never diminish.
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life
DR will never concede that any game is a dead rubber, and I like the way that he builds anticipation by introducing players off the bench. By now, you would think that no player believes he has a right to the jersey. I think that there have been times in the past where complacency was the number one enemy. I’d bet (just reading between the lines) that every training session sees all the players giving their best.
TEAM CONFIRMED: McMahon on bench, Holmes becomes oldest Wallaby in pro era, Tate rested
I’d probably write more often on here, but you do get a bit tired of putting yourself out there, only to be “shot at” by people with a narrow point to prove, who don’t put themselves out there. I don’t know whether you do or not, because I don’t think I’ve come across you before, but you just happen to be the target of my frustration.
How do you say 'vive la difference' in Australian?
Adam,
I would respectfully love to challenge you to:
1. Lose the angst
2. try to think positively,
3. stop being a sniper and actually produce a 500 word post yourself, with an original idea.
Do you think you can do it, Adam? If not then it proves to me that you were probably a back that never put his head in a dark place, or maybe just a spectator?
How do you say 'vive la difference' in Australian?
The Editor made a change or two.. the last line was actually, ..”this article was written with the assistance of a couple of Monday night Sov Plonks!!..”
How do you say 'vive la difference' in Australian?
Adam,
It seems that the only chips here are the ones that you are spitting. No contempt intended, just a light hearted article about the fact that we have four great teams all playing in the one bubble and every week there is something different to look forward to vis a vis respective playing styles and matchups.
How do you say 'vive la difference' in Australian?
Simon, can you put me in touch with Topo?
Enough of the sniping and griping: This is how rugby can enrich your life