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Joined April 2022
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A bit to like about the Reds so far but as a long suffering fan I’m not getting ahead of myself. Lots of comments about players but the one almost completely unsung hero for me is Ryan Smith. An absolute workhorse make tonnes of tackles and hits a lot of rucks and being effective. Same goes for Wright, shows how much he has been missed the last couple of seasons with his bad run of injuries. The fact that these 2 are doing all the boring stuff so well means Wilson and McReight can do there thing and look very good (which they are). Also agree that Faessler is underrated. Josh Flook is already very good and has even more potential, he could be a 10 year Wallaby, super smart.
'Breathing life back into Australian rugby': How Reds revolution can supercharge several Wallaby careers
Good analysis about the locks / number 6’s Harry. I was interested when reading Joe Schmidt’s book that he talked how the Ireland game plan was predominantly about winning collisions. (Even though many others thought it was something else). Big emphasis on dominant ball carries and strong clean outs – this was the core the rest of the plan was built around. To do this you need speed and mobility in your pack, so would certainly fit the likes of Hanigan, Wilson, Holloway. The probable signing of Laurie Fischer may signal that Joe’s view of what is core to successful rugby may not have changed a lot.
BTW I was very impressed with Hanigan on the weekend – I have previously not been a fan but he bought something and made a real impact.
Jed, Ned and Tane Edmed: The direction Joe Schmidt should head to put Eddie era to bed
Thanks Geoff, do you know, or can you say what the approximate cost to run the Orange program? How much does the school pay, how much were the Rebels funding?
The Wrap: Code Orange as looming Rebels decision places rugby pathways at risk
Christy, do you or any Roarers know the process for selecting the Chair of RA. I believe Herbert is considered ‘interim’?
'What a shame': McLennan GONE as Rugby Australia name World Cup-winner chairman to bookend wild year
Phil is off track. The states have all agreed to centralising high performance. They have not agreed to hand over the commercial aspects of the game. Hard to blame them with RA’s track record of burning cash.
Extract from the QRU media release below.
“Centralisation” would include a national player-contracting model, and alignment of key high-performance staff, such as coaching, strength and conditioning, and medical to operate as one national system.
The QRU is committed to working with Rugby Australia to lead reform of our game at a high-performance level, and help Rugby Australia develop an improved game through high-performance centralisation.
We want to play our part to improve rugby in this country.
We have seen the benefits of centralising high-performance outcomes with teams like Ireland.
The fact is Hamish has lost the confidence of the people who can vote him out of a job. By definition until Hamish goes, centralisation cannot happen. Therefore he has to go.
Let’s hope someone very clever is lining up David Nucifora to come in as director of high performance. I also hope they asking him how it should be structured. He said point blank he would not consider it under the current structure. He is finishing up with Ireland so now might be the perfect time to make it happen.
States not RA the issue Australian rugby is facing as Wallabies great calls on reform measures to be backed
Can someone post here what the process is for selecting the RA board / Chairman? Do the member unions get a say?
'Always knew it would get really ugly': RA chief's strange admission as World Cup budget blow out revealed
Are there any breakdown experts or referees on this chat that can explain to me what was going on the the French defensive breakdown. To me it seemed like they were purposely rolling through the WB’s side of the ruck to slow the play – but virtually no penalties? Fair play they got away with it. Or was I imagining it?
'Results haven’t been good': Wallabies head into World Cup winless after being humbled by France
NRC was great but lacked the connection to the club system. I was never quite sure who to cheer for as players from my club were spread across the 2 Qld teams. A simple tweak that could work would be to nominate which clubs could provide players to each NRC team. For example UQ players can only be selected for Brisbane City and Brothers players can only be selected for Qld Country and so on across the clubs. This way the club supporter base has a natural team to follow at the next tier. This shouldn’t preclude the NRC teams selecting other players from outside those ‘Premier’ clubs if the talent is there. For those that follow the major club rugby comps this is a plus, and if you don’t follow these then I don’t see a downside from that perspective.
Why RA CEO is leaning into 'beating heart' of club rugby in third tier plan as crunch talks loom
Which junior rugby club did JS play for? I believe he only played league. I struggle with the “back to rugby” rhetoric. He only played rugby while on scholarship at Kings.
Star power is one thing but that pay check could keep 10 junior potential stars in rugby and away from RL and surely help build the sports base for the long term.
The Folau Factor: Why Rugby Australia have gone all-in on Suaalii
How good is EJ. The ultimate salesman, if he comes close to backing it up in the 1st 3 years of his deal it will be money well spent. People seem to forget rugby is, (or at least should be), about the grassroots, and I don’t mean Shute Shield or Hospital cup etc. I mean the Bullsharks, River Rats, Cods, Boars etc….. The Wallabies job is (or should be) to provide inspiration and aspiration to the next generation of life long rusted on rugby supporters. To achieve this they have to win regularly of course.
If EJ can get the Wallabies winning regularly for the next 3 years, which his record suggests he may be able to do, he will have done his job. If Hamish and Andy (not the radio jocks) are half smart they will be planning for their new Wallabies coach to take over in 2026 after a tense and close Lions series in 2025. EJ then moves into a director of rugby role, or game development role, or some such similar gig that allows him to continue to be the games best sales person in the lead up to a home World Cup in 2027.
Surely if a nufty like me can dream that up it is not beyond the realms of possibility??
ANALYSIS: In just 30 minutes Eddie Jones managed what Castle and Rennie couldn't in three years
Geoff, do you or any of your colleagues have any information about the French law changes and how it has gone? Surely understanding what has worked and what can be improved would be beneficial. Particularly in regards the practicalities of game play, coaching, referring.
The Wrap: Rugby’s leadership failings only add confusion to head injury debate
I feel bad for LSL, he has been a good servant of the team and the game, a few minutes against MP last week would have been a good way to finish up even if BT thought he did not want to take him to NZ.
On BT I fear we have peaked. I’m all for culture, and backs to the wall, and team and on this front I think BT has taken the Reds a long way. But the passion and the pre-game gee up can only take you so far. It doesn’t land lineouts, it doesn’t make tackles, it doesn’t set your defensive patterns, it doesn’t help you unpick defences to score points, it doesn’t take good 20 year olds and make them great 23 year old Reds players.
Thorn reveals miracle moment that's inspiring Reds, gives verdict on Matera escape and Lukhan banishment
Ken, I enjoy your work on here. Insightful comment about Jim McKay. I have always rated him highly and he added a lot when he came back to the Reds. However it seems like we have hit our limit in attack and we have no plan B if things are not running our way or we lose JOC. I am not close enough to know but reckon Jim is also being held back by BT. My sense is that BT’s “my way or the highway” on game plan/style and personnel is the main thing hurting the Reds. I personally think BT has reached his limit with the group and I don’t expect much improvement from here.
The worry for the Reds is surely around recruitment / development / retention, the fact there is no other 10 in the squad is beyond my understanding.
ANALYSIS: Are the NSW Waratahs better than the Queensland Reds?
For me scrums are where we can improve – they are no longer a fair contest for the ball. The halfback is allowed to align the left shoulder with the centre line of the scrum. He is supposed to put the ball in straight – but it is rarely put in straight. I cannot remember a penalty for incorrect scrum feed? The problem here is that there is effectively no chance for the opposition to realistically compete for the ball. Your only option is to play for a penalty. Because possession is almost assured for the feeding team (as long as they are not penalised) we see them also playing for the penalty. When this happens, we get less set piece attacking play, which should be coveted by the backs (and attack coaches) with all 16 forwards consumed in the scrum.
I like the MLR law variation. The other thing would be to give more short arm free kicks and let the halfback take the penalty within 5m of the infringement. I think smart teams would see the attacking opportunity.
The times they are a-changin: The truth about what impact rugby's infuriating stoppages are having on action
I also think Cambell at 15 gives an extra playmaker option. He did that quite a bit last week and it helps the continuity, particularly if they are playing up tempo. Added bonus is it probably takes some pressure of Hunter.
Super Rugby teams: Tupou benched, Jorgo back for Fiji trip, Petaia sidelined, Swain surprise