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Joined September 2009
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Too often on The Roar we are negative, and that includes me. So following the Waratahs lead from Friday night, here's something positive. Last weekend…
After attracting so much negative publicity over the past few years, I feel that the Wallabies scrum has finally come of age. It started…
Two weeks ago, I made the eight hour drive to Sydney to watch the Wallabies and All Blacks test. I am a whole-hearted rugby…
There’s a few things making Foley look good, -A pack that is achieving dominance, a no 9 who passes to where the 10 should be making him stand flatter and someone with a bit of tactical nous outside him.
The lack of penetration in the backline is a worry, his out of hand kicking is a worry and his defence is still poor. He had a hand in stopping the George north try, by just about falling over in front of him, fair enough he got there and slowed him down a bit, but come on.
I find it annoying that he is not subject to anywhere near the same scrutiny as QC. Remember when QC wasn’t defending at 10, the world was ending. Yet BF not defending in the10 channel barely gets a mention, along with his woeful passing and defence. QC’s kicks in his only chance were tough, his yellow card was not deserved.
I’m not saying that QC should be the 10, however fan boys need to take of the blue coloured glasses and compare all commers evenly
Quade who? Foley is clearly Australia's first-choice flyhalf
Grimmace’s boss “So Grimmace, what have you achieved in the last 3 years?”
G “28% of what I set out to achieve”
What do you recon Grimamce’s boss would say next? Wouldn’t be “Have another year”
I’m definitely not one to call for the coach after every loss, but come on! After so much good work when Carmichael first came in, he now looks to have built himself one hell of an ivory tower.
RG won’t tolerate any excuses?!?. Hope we don’t have to hear any more at his press conferences. Word is that Liam Gill threatened to walk but they dangled the big C in front of him.
What a joke
Pressure on Graham to produce at Reds
This is sad. What’s the NSWRU/ARU doing about it? As much as I’m not a fan of TPN as a footballer, the work he’s done at the Two Blues has been fantastic from what I’ve read. It’s a shame more of the Moore Park/Paddington Flowers don’t get out and do a bit.
When you think about where Rugby was in this country 1999-2003 compared to now, its just depressing.
The Penrith Emus have become a joke
What a great idea. It’s what Rugby needs with the ammount of rugby people so disillusioned at the moment. I can’t remember a time when there felt like such a gulf between grassroots and the national side. I recon it’d be a two way street, not to name names (KB) but some could do with a dose of this.
Want engagement, Bill Pulver? Let's have Club Week
Good write up fellas. As a former hooker and THP, scrum resets frustrate me to tears. A line I heard Ewen Mackenzie say at one stage is something along the lines of “Why don’t we enforce the rules we’ve got? I believe if we got the refs enforcing the current rules it’d go along way to fixing the mess. I’m talking about simple stuff like, pushing straight, shoulders above hips (not a rule I know), and my pet hate- not binding properly, binding on sleeves rubbish with elbow pointing straight down. I recon making the 9 feed straight and the hookers having to hook would raise the scrum a bit which can’t be a bad thing.
Good points about stopping the clock after the first reset.
What was different with the scrummaging in the late 90’s/early 2000’s? There didn’t seem to be the number of resets then. Has it just been bought on by the advancement of professionalism over the years?
Scrumma-mogram: It's official, scrums are at an all-time low
Textbook comeback. Top article mate
Running rugby or the grind? How to win the Rugby World Cup
Good Stuff. I was not looking forward to the WC at all, but I’ve loved it One thing I’ve enjoyed has been the standard of the TV commentary (something I though I’d never say). Even with a few Ch 9 monkeys in the mix. Makes me think that Ch 9 deliberately ask their commentators to dumb it down.
11 reasons why this is the greatest cricket World Cup ever
I though it was great considering both teams had one full training session together and the conditions. It was loose, Brisbane missed 34 tackles from memory but still managed to win. But defences will tighten up once they get some time together. I’m interested to see how the rule changes are ‘used’ throughout the season
What we learnt from the opening game of the NRC
Its a great view from the top of the tipping ladder Brett. Won’t last long.
Super Rugby Expert tips: Round 3
I nearly ran off the road when he announced it in Melbourne. It will be shame to see the end of him. His knowledge of cricket is often understated. Any word on what his plans for the future are?
Kerry O'Keeffe - one out of left field!
You’re spot on about Australia loving cricket again. I’m back celebrating pommy wickets like Wallaby/Reds tries. My Mrs commented how glad she was that there’s no rugby for a while and the lounge room will be quite for a while!!!!
And good on MJ to come back like that. Big balls, would have been very easy to just roll over. I’m happy to say I was wrong in doubting him. Genuine fast bowling is one of the greatest things in sport.
ASHES: Talking points from Day 3 in Adelaide
Thanks for a season of great articles Brett. Sanchez looks like he needs a break, I don’t think he’s found form yet but he’s getting better, Kev is on the way back. The rugby blokes at work and I all now feel a sense of optimism with the NRC and the way in which the Wallabies are playing with renewed energy and positivity. Even the non die hards are showing interest. Its a shame its 7 months until the next test match. At least we’ve the other national team coached by a fat aussie to watch.
Wales win caps off a turnaround year for the Wallabies
Then what happens to the standard of the Australian S15 sides?
Springbok squad announced for Rugby Championship
I think part of the problem with Beale and Brand O’Connor is that these guys were anointed as Wallaby greats at such a young age. When you’re constantly hearing about how great you are and how great you will be you’d have to start to believe it. It seems to me that they haven’t had anyone come down hard on them and pull them into line early on.
When you think about us normal people playing club football and having a normal job compared to child stars they miss out on the ‘learning experiences’ that many of us get. Getting strips torn off my by the coach and captain for attitude at training, my first written warning from a cranky boss for not turning up to work in a fit state. Just two of many valuable lessons that it appears to me the child prodigies aren’t getting.
I spose the point that I’m making is that these guys don’t seem to have to earn anything. Straight out of school to Super Rugby on good $’s. O’Connor hasn’t even played a club game! I nearly fell over when I read that.
It’s the world we live in, kids are going to get anointed early. It’s up to the people involved -Super Rugby, ARU and parents to ensure they stay grounded.
I’m not trying to justify their behaviour. I still want their heads on a stick for their behaviour. Imagine how someone like Scott Higginbotham must feel about missing a once in a career chnage to play the Lions and these two clowns carry on like they did.
Kurtley Beale: rugby's child star
Great article. Who cares if they get belted, it happens all the time. Fred summed it up beautifully. You’ve got to feel for the players who actually live in the country, played the supposed selection game played in Townsville recently only to find that most of the side is city based. Now we’ll never know how well the Lions can boatrace. Anyone for a game of Stumps?
Who knows who might have been discovered, who up until now has been missed for one reason or another!?!?
Usually its the NSWRU screw country rugby over. ARU following the NSWRU’s lead hmmmmmmm
Country players dudded a rare shot at Lions
I’m glad I was at the reds game. They played their best available team against the Lions, doubt we’ll see much of that.
The Quade omission is one issue, but Beale. I’m staggered, is what he did that much better than Quade’s comments (if that’s the reason fo romission). As with Burgess, Frisbie and Prior are both far better 9’s, much less annoying and what sort of precedent does this set? Kimlin has been pretty good, shame about Palmer but Sio has been good as well.
A lesson in Deans-speak
My thoughts on burgess. I wouldn’t pick either
Higginbotham, Ioane, and Timani injured, out of Wallabies squad
Yep he is. There was an article on Green and Gold Rugby asking who the haters are going to hate. I think we have our target. I recon every Wallaby will be trying even more than before to get under his skin.
Lions rout Barbarians 59-8 in Hong Kong
Phipps!?!?!?! On the up side he’s better than Burgess. What else does Nic White have to do!!!!? Higgers is a hug blow and you have to feel for him personally. Haven’t we learnt the McCalman lesson? Even Brown or Hodgson would be better. What does McCalman offer on the field that those mentioned as well as Shatz, Quirk, or Saffy don’t?
Douglass isn’t a bad choice. See that, me being positive about a NSW selection.
Higginbotham, Ioane, and Timani injured, out of Wallabies squad
The tahs lost, lost it not the ref. They had their chances, one right at the end. Two things that don’t help their cause are the sulking of their captain after the match (did he acknowledge the opposition?) and Chieka going on about the ref. Even if its true (the Crusaders had some dud calls too) it’s not a good look and won’t win anyone over.
The Cheika message isn't universally embraced yet
I’m not quite 35 but from almost the same background from the sounds of it and I watch the BBL, so do many of my mates and my dad and a few of his mates, I think we were all a bit ashamed to admit it for a while. I’m also a huge fan of test cricket It took a while but I’ve quite enjoyed the last 2 seasons of the BBL,.
They’re two different things, T20 is hit and giggle and captain to a formula (to a point) whereas test cricket is exactly that a test. You watch T20 knowing you’ll see some 6’s, a few wickets. You watch a test not knowing what you’re going to get. Yes I am being simplistic.
I think part of the reason I got into T20 is the different approach that CH10 take than CH9. The variety of commentators from different backgrounds and the lack of conversations about their favorite pizzas all add to the experience. It has even allowed guys like KP and Flintoff to be seen in a different light. The conversation between Ricky Pointing and KP last season will stick with me for a while yet
Vive la difference: Embracing change in cricket