Roar Guru
Joined February 2009
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Cricket is a topical subject these days, so I will keep this pretty short. Many of you might think I am way off anyway,…
With the Rugby World Cup just under two months away the beginnings of a Wallabies team is coming together. But who will steer the…
Those that run the Reds, the team I have followed since I can remember, have made a fatal decision that has put them on…
Who the hell picks the Man of the Match? OK, I know it is the state selectors, but what do they see that we…
There was a very interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday. Solomon Haumono has come clean after 13 years of everyone believing he went…
A thought occurred to me today: Whilst Cooper is good, perhaps Beale is the real reason for the resurgance of the Wallabies late last year.…
[caption id="attachment_2564" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="Australia\'s Chris Latham - AP Photo/Mark Baker"][/caption] Coming to the end of this year, can only mean one thing to…
At the end of this article is a video of the Wallabies' change room after the Welsh win. I love how, during the Lions'…
This may be a conspiracy theory, but it could be a good one. Long have people outside of NSW felt that their clubs don't…
While it was a bit before my time, from watching The Rise and Rise of the Wallabies, I understand the Wallabies from 1982 were…
Who supposes that?
Five things: What Beale has over other golden oldies, double pain for Brumbies as Blues expose Australia's biggest weakness
“Brad Thorn, who’d taken a long time to adapt to rugby after the Broncos, was there too.”
Thorn transitioned in 2000, returning to league in 2005. He was picked for the ABs in 2001 on the end of year tour, but to his massive credit, he declined, thinking himself unready.
He was selected again in 2003, and made his debut. I don’t think it too him a long time to adapt.
I’d say he took to it like a fish to water… in possibly the hardest spot except maybe prop for a League player to play.
Hansen's done Joey Manu no favours comparing him to SBW. He'll be more like RTS - and Foz is the reason why
Agreed… it was up there with lowest of the low acts.
I remember Josh Reynolds had a propensity for it for a period and I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t given a solid ban each time.
NRL Round 7 judiciary: Knight gets ban for tunnel brawl, Tigers star facing ban, Roosters duo charged
I don’t think it was meant for him. It certainly looked like it was meant to be a cut out to the winger.
Great grab by Hunter.
'Like a Scud missile': World Cup reject leads rout, but Reds suffer fresh blow with Petaia's season in jeopardy
I’m not sure it’s a great loss for the Wallabies. Bloke has hardly shone for the Reds this year.
I have been critical of HP as well, with the backline working a LOT better with Henry at 12. Last night he was very good. Well done.
There seemed to be a conscious effort to play loop plays and pull passes deep for the second man play last night and they weren’t used to it. Players were in each other’s way and it just wasn’t smooth. Lots of improvement, but it could have been a slippery game for them to drop… they held together well and kept the ‘Landers to nil. I didn’t think they played that badly either but some really poor pass choices hampered them at key times.
'Like a Scud missile': World Cup reject leads rout, but Reds suffer fresh blow with Petaia's season in jeopardy
Moment of madness, or calculated grab… it’s either tackle Tedesco there, or let him run 80 and score. He stopped a possible try at a key time… the team held on defensively. Moment of madness seems a bit harsh. Had they lost the game, it would have been a HUGE post match blow up by his coach behind closed doors, but… he gambled to stop a try.
'Both were really clear': Roosters in a rage over ref's contentious calls as Storm win on the back of two dubious tries
Id say a better 12 than HP. Balance doesn’t look right with him there at the moment. I want him to play well, but it just doesnt seem to be working.
Super Rugby teams week 9: Beale back for first time in 1494 days, Reds make 6 changes, Wallaby returns for Brumbies
Shifting Wright means two changes…
Aus rugby loves an over-shuffle, but really, keeping Wright at six to me is the smart thing to do.
Super Rugby teams week 9: Beale back for first time in 1494 days, Reds make 6 changes, Wallaby returns for Brumbies
Was an amazing writer, and a huge contributor to this site! Certainly kicked off many great discussions.
Thankfully, we were lucky enough that he shared his writing with us here.
Thoughts with his family, but truly a life well lived.
RIP, David Lord: Australian sports journalism icon was 'always thoughtful and thought-provoking'
Well, I go on to say that I think the lineout is poor because of the throwing, but I see many above me disagree… so maybe not.
CONFIRMED: Wallabies land final piece of coaching puzzle as ex-Lion signs on ahead of showpiece event
Good call, but jeez, the Rebels lineout is poor! Granted, I think it has more to do with the hookers, than the actual blokes standing in the lineout…
CONFIRMED: Wallabies land final piece of coaching puzzle as ex-Lion signs on ahead of showpiece event
Pretty key week this week for the Reds. They need a big effort and a win this week!
Going to be tough with the outs and new ins.
JP at 13 is OK, so long as he doesn’t try to offload every time he touches it, and try to win the game every touch.
I’d keep Wright at 6… don’t weaken two spots. Bring new youngster in.
Blyth to the row!
Reds cop another blow with Wallabies hopefuls to miss Highlanders clash
Shouldn’t matter for that act. Intent was obvious.
'Not ideal': Reds star duo cop Super Rugby bans after red cards - but where's the consistency?
Serious had clashes can be accidental. We have seen many tackles gone wrong.
A headbutt is a deliberate, malicious act… the result of that act should have no bearing on the ban the perpetrator gets. A malicious act like that MUST have a higher entry point, regardless of the outcome or contact.
'Not ideal': Reds star duo cop Super Rugby bans after red cards - but where's the consistency?
What was the mitigation for the headbutt pray tell?
Agreed, the Reds bans are the same as everyone elses, but there is no way a Headbutt should be punished less than a tackle gone wrong. It was not a swinging arm or anything, it was a run of the mill shoulder to head. Again, punishment is bang on what everyone else gets, so no issue there.
But again, Headbutts need more than 2 weeks, whether they hit or not.
'Not ideal': Reds star duo cop Super Rugby bans after red cards - but where's the consistency?
Yeah, I can’t recall a game where he finished in the positives in regards to influence. I don’t understand why we keep going to him, apart from how robust he is… Perhaps he is a better option at 12 than HP, who I feel is also a big problem in the Reds backline at the moment. Bloke has a big body, can kick, can pass… just a thought.
Lynagh is showing him as the best starting option, simply through omission.
The Wrap: Crusaders' shot clock fiasco and shhh, don’t put the moz on Darby
I don’t think the Flanagan tackle was worth a binning. It looked worse than it was because Flanagan spiralled out. There was no direct body, or shoulder contact with the head. Yes, his arm swung through and made contact, but again, only because he spiralled out. Report is fine for me. He will get his just deserves off the judiciary, and I expect fine only, no weeks.
Lomax shines on a wing with some flair in Dragons' win over Tigers as Bunker hauls off Bird but spares Klemmer ... twice
Good read. Thanks.
Reds had a great start to the year in regards to their play, if not their results, but they have fallen backwards badly… they need to rediscover a bit of mojo now, badly, otherwise, another season of what could have been.
Rebels are still slow starters, fast finishers. Gordon’s passing game is great to watch… can pass a long ball. Everyone laments his goal kicking, but aside from his first howler, he kicked well. We do need alternatives in the Wallabies though… the obsession with “5/8 MUST KICK” is a bit odd.
The Wrap: Crusaders' shot clock fiasco and shhh, don’t put the moz on Darby
Lineout desperately needs attention… If Highlanders were smarter earlier, they would have just pumped the corners, and played an all territory game… put it out in the Rebels half and watch their lineout go to pieces time and time again.
'Kid wonder': Lancaster, Gordon shine as Rebels take one giant step in locking in maiden Super Rugby finals berth
I like someone reveling in the fact that the unglamorous work is glamorous as it allows the team to do well. Not everyone can be Messi. But that does not make their role less important, nor does it give them a pass to gloss over their key duties and chase glory in highlights.
'Brutal and violent': The two aspects Reds workhorse wants to fix to take next step towards Wallabies
Has he got more mature and talented players? They are the same group (obviously more mature as they age), but effectively younger playmakers have come through.
Their discipline is much better… Reds used to be very high on the penalty count. Their set piece has improved… their lineout is a definite weapon now.
'Brutal and violent': The two aspects Reds workhorse wants to fix to take next step towards Wallabies
I think the difference is that League doesn’t pay overs for players who aren’t as good as those currently running around. That is the measure of success (which sounds odd).
If you pay $1.5M for a player to come over, and that player subjectively isn’t as good as one who has been slaving away on less than half that, then the $1.5M was failed. It can’t be anything else… the money offered by Rugby Aus is so far above what is currently paid for rugby players, that the converts MUST be best in the world to justify it. If JS comes next year, and doesn’t light up the game, then he IS objectively a failure based on the money paid.
Rooster must remodel: Angus Crichton says he'd want to 'dominate' in rugby union - this is what he'd have to change
Maybe I was a bit lax throwing that out there… but Don is right… is the chance/risk worth making him one of the highest paid players in Rugby? Nope, because even watching his schoolboy highlights, I am not sold he would have been a national player had he stayed in Rugby. He can’t pass like a centre should. It doesn’t even look developed at schoolboy level.
Rooster must remodel: Angus Crichton says he'd want to 'dominate' in rugby union - this is what he'd have to change
And that kid went on to be… Santa Claus.
Might have worked out for that one, but indeed, it could have gone completely the other way a lot easier.
Captaincy is not the fixer for everyone… Most would not take ownership. Most would continue on to the detriment of the team, but with even more entitlement.
Why his latest ban could be best thing for Latrell’s career - or the beginning of the end
Bloke would have been a QLD stalwart for many years.
'There were no decisions to make': Skipper drops retirement bombshell after doctors' grave warnings