The Roar
The Roar

The Roar

Harry Jones

Roar Guru

Joined August 2013

715k

Views

274

Published

20.5k

Comments

"Never confuse motion with action."

Published

Comments

Older Submissions

Nick, the quickest path for Australia to resume their place in the top 3 is through fitness and defensive starch, no? Erasmus inherited a proper mess, and in 2 years, he had the Boks conceding less than 12 points per test (less than 13 versus Tier Ones). The key point was that in 2019, the Boks never lost a second half (only Wales were able to equal SA in a 2H). The average margin in favour of SA in 2Hs in 2019 was 13.8 points. The Wallaby bench hasn’t performed well recently. And elite fitness seems attainable. Is Rennie known for fit, starchy D teams?

The Dave Rennie casebook: Can a Kiwi coach the Wallabies again?

View Comment
Rugby
 
1d

The irony about Cheika is that the style of rugby he wanted the Wallabies to play in the QF was basically QC-ball. He played QC in QF without the QC.

The Dave Rennie casebook: Can a Kiwi coach the Wallabies again?

View Comment
Rugby
 
1d

Yes, and if you can also be a registered physio like J Nienaber, you can hang out in goal area during the match! 🙂

The Dave Rennie casebook: Can a Kiwi coach the Wallabies again?

View Comment
Rugby
 
1d

Being a national coach of a big team sport is incredibly complex; the best are able to mould psyche, skill, style, alliance, politik, apprenticeship, media, and bloody-mindedness into a stew of patriotic sports devotion. Rugby needs Australia to come right. I don’t know who can rebuild hope and results. Dave Rennie is smart. Might be a bit rough? Dunno.

The Dave Rennie casebook: Can a Kiwi coach the Wallabies again?

View Comment
Rugby
 
1d

So, I think it’s part of being a national representative: think and believe what you want, but mindful prudence in making public statements.

Israel Folau and the inexplicable public interest in sportspeople's opinions

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

He chose to have a very particular type of job. Ambassadorial; representative. Imagine if Siya Kolisi tweeted out something similar.

Israel Folau and the inexplicable public interest in sportspeople's opinions

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

Actually, there is a vibrant theological debate on this issue. Most Christian theologians believe God operates in an “open system,” in which He absolutely intervenes, in response to prayer or to make a point or to set in motion His plans. Most believe God determines each election, for example, and the results of wars. In the moment, this may not seem fair or good, but He knows all and intends all and works all of it to His omniscient purpose. But a minority of Christian scholars see a “closed system,” in which God created the universe, set up laws, and then very seldom intervenes (actual miracles) in the process.

Israel Folau links bushfire crisis and drought to same-sex marriage and abortion

View Comment
Rugby
 
3d

Probably hoped against all the odds that he would be chill until December 2019, and scored 5-6 tries in the meantime.

Israel Folau links bushfire crisis and drought to same-sex marriage and abortion

View Comment
Rugby
 
3d

Chiefs getting Cruden (if he can stay healthy) looks like a game changer?

The biggest talking point for each NZ Super Rugby franchise in 2020

View Comment
Rugby
 
2d

Is he OK? I mean, is he sentient?

Israel Folau links bushfire crisis and drought to same-sex marriage and abortion

View Comment
Rugby
 
3d

Big moments define big players.

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

Correct. And I am completely sure Itoje agrees. He has the heart of a champion. He wants to be the Michael Jordan of rugby. He knows that 3 min was ‘championship time.’ He will be a Beast NEXT time

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

He’s an expensive shot artist!

The Wrap: The art of writing the recurring rugby column

View Comment
Rugby
 
3d

It’s not a cheap shot. Nothing Geoff does is cheap. He just spent $6 million in Japan.

The Wrap: The art of writing the recurring rugby column

View Comment
Rugby
 
3d

Actually, it is easy for me to say that: Itoje tackled, pursued, and chased Bok carriers all match, and this probably depleted him. His tackles were not dominant as PSDT’s and Underhill’s, Lawes’, and other Boks’ were. He is super athletic, and has dominated matches against other teams. But (1) this 3-minute period was crucial; (2) it came after only a stop-start 29 minutes (injuries stopped play for 4-5 minutes) and all the Bok forwards had one day less rest, after a grueling Welsh fight; and (3) he contributed virtually nothing as a cleaner or carrier. Perhaps he was hurt. I don’t know. He’s in most teams of the tournament. He’ll probably be Man of the Lions Tour. He just didn’t rise to THIS particular occasion.

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

This is like quantum rugby physics comedy! Good one!

The Wrap: The art of writing the recurring rugby column

View Comment
Rugby
 
3d

Mike Brown at 15.

Jones: I got RWC final selections wrong

View Comment
Rugby
 
4d

Too soon, probably. You and I probably need a month on the naughty chair and then we’ll have a virtual beer and a laugh. If I went over the line, I am sorry.

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

I’d have him in my England 23! 🙂

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

Billy V was phenomenal during this stretch. At one point he seemed over, until Duane V kind of carouseled him. It was white knuckle time for Bok fans.

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

Yes, Sam played the part of Victor Matfield (2015) this time around, and played far too much rugby in 2019, but jeez he was a great player for so many years, so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt and using his entire body of work. I think Itoje should be England’s PSDT at 6, and then when Curry or Underhill comes on at 55:00, switch to LO lock if he’s going well. I think his more natural partner is Kruis.

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

Sorry! Awkward prose by me. I was trying to point out that no try has been scored yet, so it would’ve been a huge moment

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

Yes, after you made your observation or theory, I watched the 1H again and I think you are on to something. I think the Boks did the AB v Poey tactic: make Itoje and Curry into tacklers. I also saw that Itoje did not dominate in the tackle, unlike the Bok bigs.

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

Checked full game stats. Itoje carried 5 times. He gained 0 metres. So, the 3 minute period:
he was actually more active on attack than in the other 77 minutes. On the tackle stats: yes, Itoje had 16, but to put that in perspective, Mostert had 15, Kolisi 13, Etzebeth 13, Malherbe 11, etc. etc. It was a forward-tackling tight-loose match. England needed a carrier to get over the gainline CONSISTENTLY in addition to Underhill and B Vunipola, to set up their attack patterns.

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w

One man’s dissection is another man’s dissertation.

Three minutes when Maro Itoje failed to win the medal he wanted

View Comment
Rugby
 
1w
Older Comments