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Joined February 2008
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Here’s an idea for The Roar website designers. When someone makes a post why not have their name appear in the colour of the team they support?
I would find that really interesting.
Mind you, I am also happy with the status quo – red is my favourite colour!
Reds, Blues shows 'Tahs how rugby should be played
Here’s an idea for The Roar website designers. When someone makes a post why not have their name appear in the colour of the team they support?
I would find that really interesting.
Mind you, I am also happy with the status quo – red is my favourite colour!
Reds, Blues shows 'Tahs how rugby should be played
Everyone has been saying it and everyone saw it. It was so obvious.
Spiro, I don’t deny Italy their credit. You’re right in suggesting that we of the South disrespect or disregard the North in the way they play the game and in their ability to win to our own detriment. I guess the World Cup stats reinforce that perspective. But my disappointment with the Wallabies over the weekend, despite taking a victory for what it is, is that the Wallabies seemed to squander the pressure they had built up with either poor execution or some sort of ‘pray while you pass’ manouvre. Deans called this ‘rolling the dice’, but it didn’t look like that to me. It looked more desperate and less in-control.
The Wallabies toughed out a hard win over Italy, good
Italy’s scrum penalty on half time was shocking. Castro was actually lying flat on his face beneath Slipper’s shoulder when the ref put his arm out. How do you get into that position without bring in and sliding underneath?
Sharpe was my MOTM. He has become so consistent in his performance that he is beginning to go unnoticed.
I think the Barnes thing works. He kicked everything he should have kicked and then some that he shouldn’t have been expected to kick. But after everything was on song in Hong Kong the backline has a rub in it somewhere.
Wallabies splutter to win over stubborn Italy
Some are suggesting that Barnes inclusion is a band-aid to Cooper’s weakness in defense, that Barnes can cover this better than Giteau.
Big names benched for Wallabies side to play Italy
The Wallabies DID kick away a lot of ball. Obviously they were trying to launch attacks behind structured defense. I have no problem with that either. However, it very soon became apparent that England was ready for this. The chip kicks were nicely done because you have to run onto a ball that is still bouncing, but England were ready for it every single time. They always had players running onto these kicks. So why did the Wallabies persist with this strategy? Why, why, why?
Why did we keep serving up chips to the country that invented them ??(sorry, I had to put this line in).
England plays the Australian game to beat the Wallabies
The Wallabies played without respect for the Poms and maybe without respect for the game.
Despite England playing very, very well and winning deservedly, the Wallabies of Bloemfontien and Hong Kong would have beaten them lastnight.
I don’t know which Wallabies showed up last night. Different individuals played well but the decision making between No9 and 13 was woeful. And it seems clear that The Wallabies don’t know when to abort Plan A.
England teach Wallabies a rugby lesson at Twickenham
Don’t forget we have four test matches to go. I would be surprised if Deans didn’t try some of the players before the tour is out. Surely he has a plan to run some of these players and maybe Italy presents a beter opportunity. Continuity and momentum is worth bottling though – I can see why Deans is approaching Wales with no changes.
Deans wants better decisions against Wales
Spiro, if the near future reveals that the Wallabies have turned the corner and are heading to RWC11 with great hopes, I would prefer to look at Bloemfontein as the tipping point rather than Hong Kong. You don’t need to ask your statistician about Bloemfontein – we all know about that one. I would like to think that this performance was an important precursor to what has taken place in Hong Kong.
Did the Wallabies Hong Kong win mean anything?
I remember that NZ v Tonga 2003 match. That was a very exciting moment in the competition, goosebumps and all that. But the fact that it was completely unexpected is probably had a lot to do with the goosebumps.
As an Australian, I like the haka. From an outsiders persepctive it should be viewed culturally more than through any other lens. This is difficult because of the timing; immediately prior to kick-off. No doubt many players and fans feel the haka has more to do with the start of a match that it does with the pre-match proceedings that include the national anthems. As a kid I remember being in awe of the haka though I must admit now, after seeing it so many times, I think of it more as an add-on to the kiwi national anthem. I have no doubt that it means something entirely different to a native kiwi, but I’m not a native kiwi.
I think it’s ironic that Waltzing Matilda has the physical and emotional impact of a lullaby. While I feel a sense of embarrassment when it is sung, mainly because the fans don’t really seem to join in ( it only evey happens when John Williamson is at the ground. If he wasn’t there I don’t think there’s anyway the song would start up spontaneously) I sort of hope that it nullifies any of the warrior-like aggression the kiwi players have built up prior to kick-off by performing the haka.
Is the Haka losing its relevance?
Groan. We’ve been here before chaps.
Which style is better: Wallabies or Dragons?
Thanks, Mick. I knew that, only wasn’t sure whether it was “permanent” permanent or whether it was more of a “don’t call us we’ll call you” type of permanent. Henjak seemed to just disappear of the face of the Earth. I thought league had an interest. Maybe he’s in Japan. Anyone know?
Wallabies are still number 2, unfortunately
It is difficult to explain why NZ don’t have more World Cups because nobody argues that they are the most consistently good team by a country mile. Perhaps the irony is that consistency eventually becomes a team’s weakness.
I tend to think of choking as something that you inflict upon yourself (and I’m not talking about the proverbial chicken). This is what Norman did. Nobody was attacking his weakness. Nobody was nullifying his strengths. The nature of golf is that it is only you and your mind that hit that ball. But Rugby being a sport of one team against another is entirely different.
Is it not logical that while NZ spend so much time playing well so consistently other teams, while building towards a long-term goal, eventually understand NZs strengths and how to nullify them and understand their weaknesses and how to exploit them? NZ on the other hand have less time to adjust and prepare for the plans being laid by other teams.
And I think Rod MacQueen more or less said that you don’t have to be the No 1 side to win a RWC. Winning a RWC is about winning a tournament, 7 matches or so in a couple of weeks (or is a month). This is not a normal schedule. It is not the same as preparing for a match or even for a series where you play one match a week at most, sometimes 3 weeks apart. That said, when The Wallabies won 1999 they held just about every piece of silverware within the next 2 years.
Nobody can deny NZ their greatness. But if it’s RWCs they want then they are either chokers, poor poker players, or just haven’t learned to understand the concept of a tournament.
Forget last RWC, All Blacks no longer choke
Imagine a tasty little conspiracy…George Smith makes a comeback after realising that a rest was all he needed.
And don’t forget Vickerman.
And where is Matt Henjak these days? Does anyone know?
Wallabies are still number 2, unfortunately
Tests have infinitely more of a statistical link with previous tests than coins have with previous tosses. That’s why we cherish the sort of confidence that comes from winning tight matches. It’s also why teams attain the tag of ‘chokers’.
Wallabies are still number 2, unfortunately
Grip yourself bayboy. That’s the way I saw it. When you have something constructive to say then spit it out.
Wallabies suffer heartbreak against All Blacks
“The ABs showed that to beat them you have to stop them finding a strength and allowing them to play to that strength.”
And when nothing is working and that strength is to then play rehearsed moves outside the laws of the game, ie. by your own rules, in a manner in which a referee is bamboozled….well what then? How do teams beat THAT?
Wallabies suffer heartbreak against All Blacks
What really concerns me about the illegal tactics that McCaw and Reid employed was that it was so clearly rehearsed. I didn’t pick up the play lastnight watching it, but looking at the tape again I noticed a few things:
1. McCaw immediately opted for a scrum and not a certain 3 points indicating that he was sure he’d get the 7 points off this play from the scrum being so close to the line and off to the left of field.
2. McCaw and Reid pulled exactly the same play twice only, as mentioned above, the scrum had to be reset. Indicating that the whole pack knew this play was going on.
3. At least the second time the ref was in perfect position to pick up the illegal play but didn’t. Now this man is trained to notice these things. It’s his job. It’s how he earns a living. Yet he let McCaw break early and take 5 or 6 steps to get outside Reid, the No8 who was still picking up the ball.
Is it not obvious the ABs actually train and rehearse moves that are outside the laws of the game? Many Roarers will see this as part-and-parcel but I see it as a huge negative on the game and how it is perceived.
While better kicking would have beaten the ABs who were comprehensively outplayed within the laws of the game, the ABs won a record 10th straight using a play that was rehearsed outside of the laws of the game using their captain, a man judged to be the best in the world, as the centre-piece of that illegal move.
That sucks.
Wallabies suffer heartbreak against All Blacks
That’s it. All over. The All Blacks won but did not outplay their opponents. Unfortunately it came down to goal kicks. It was not Giteau’s night (again) and I’m afraid that was the difference.
Wallabies versus All Blacks Roar live blog
The best thing about this game is that the Reds are capable of much better. I thought they looked sluggish in the 2nd half while the Crusaders seemed much fitter, this after a bye. And the kicking was pretty poor by the Reds own standards. Compare Genia’s kicking with his game against the Stormers. He’d be pretty disappointed. A few aimless kicks. QC kicked well enough though. But his goal kicking was way off his best.
So I think there’s more to look forward to in the Year of the Reds.
Live scores, blog: Reds vs Crusaders