Roar Rookie
Joined March 2021
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Australian rugby has had a rocky ride in the last few months (years perhaps, decades even) but let’s not dwell on that. Instead, let’s…
Harry Kimble had a thing for hats. He wore more than a few during his time in rugby as a ball boy, player, ref,…
Australians as a people tend towards a sunny outlook. At least that’s the popular perception. Yet for some reason, rugby in these parts seems…
It has to be a record. Not even three days after Australia was announced as the host of not one but two Rugby World…
Could there possibly be a more treacherous (some might say suicidal) rugby mission than to set up shop in the most rabid AFL city…
If we've heard it once, we've heard it a thousand times: Australian Super Rugby teams are just a no-good sorry bunch, losing 92 per…
At this time of year, everyone has their own rugby wish list. Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie’s list would no doubt begin and end…
Samu Kerevi said it best a couple of years back, with his memorable promise to “learn the learnings”, and – after a 2021 season…
“Age and treachery will triumph over youth and exuberance” was the encouraging message on a birthday card purchased recently for an older family member.…
The Wallabies right now resemble a golden retriever puppy – good-natured, full of energy and easy to like despite the occasional accident on the…
Numbers tell a story but not always the full story or the most important, and they don’t always get to the heart of the…
It’s the question that just won’t go away: should Australian rugby’s overseas contingent be eligible to play for the Wallabies? The argument fired up…
Like any respectable rugby tragic, I’ve spent the past few years scouring articles, listening to pods and indulging the experts who all claim to…
How much is too much when it comes to Test rugby? Rugby hasn’t always been good at getting its offering right. However, with Rugby…
A week is a long time in rugby. This time last week I started to draft an outline of the key things I thought…
Unlikely to carry two specialist 7s in a match-day 23. Need someone like Samu on the bench to cover the back row.
COMMENT: Eddie has made one huge gamble - and it's not the No.10 call - as he avoids ruthless Hooper decision
Jones said a while back that players pick themselves (by their actions). So too captains.
COMMENT: Eddie has made one huge gamble - and it's not the No.10 call - as he avoids ruthless Hooper decision
Jones isn’t afraid to make bold captaincy calls, as Christy says. With no Hartley-style grub in the squad, he could have opted for a fresh start with one of the younger guys. Valetini would probably run a mile rather than lead the team out but Ikitau seems to have future leader written all over him. Yet, Jones chose Hooper (and Slipper) and the reason has to be that, as Rennie also quickly discovered, Hooper IS the captain as far as the team is concerned so to do anything else would make a mockery of the position. To reassure anyone concerned by Hooper’s relatively quiet SRP season, he was firing on all cylinders at training on Friday — and if that doesn’t convince, enjoy a replay of the Wallabies’ matches against France and Ireland last November where World Rugby’s two most recent POTYs were strangely invisible thanks largely to a small gold pest with 7 on his back.
COMMENT: Eddie has made one huge gamble - and it's not the No.10 call - as he avoids ruthless Hooper decision
Awesome game. Amazing grit, Brumbies. Commiserations, Hurricanes. The Reds have given the Brums a handy blueprint to play the Chiefs next week. Go get ‘em!
'Courage and desire': Heroic Brumbies deny Ardie to beat Hurricanes to set up semi-final showdown with Chiefs
Finding this news hard to process. Wayne Smith always wrote something worth reading, and I’ll never forget his steady, fair reporting during Australian rugby’s horror year in 2919-20. Vale Smithy. We’ll miss you greatly.
'Sharp witted, brave, insightful': Rugby pays tribute after veteran writer Wayne Smith dies
Get the impression he’s been doing a lot of the organising and communicating this year. Team prob missing his voice when he’s not there.
'Driving force behind the title': Cheika opens up on Hooper's legacy as Jake White reveals how he became a Tah
Well done Brums, especially with your two big piggies unavailable. But what a missed opportunity this season has been for the Rebs. There’s been so much to enjoy about the team. Good news that the coaching team is staying put. Just wish Hodge, Philip and Hosea weren’t leaving just yet. They need cohesion and experienced heads to turn those narrow losses into wins next year. Any chance Philip could change his mind?
Brumbies' back three go big to book home quarterfinal and end Rebels' season
Don’t remember that particular moment but it sounds hilarious. 😁
'Driving force behind the title': Cheika opens up on Hooper's legacy as Jake White reveals how he became a Tah
Lovely piece, Christy. White’s lack of vision was definitely to the Tahs’ benefit — and well done to Cheik for quickly recognising Hoops’ potential. What a player he has been in both blue and gold over more than a decade! Cheik has it spot on when he highlights Hooper’s dependability. That’s what I’ll miss most. I don’t think we’ll really know what we had till it’s gone.
'Driving force behind the title': Cheika opens up on Hooper's legacy as Jake White reveals how he became a Tah
Thank you, Michael Hooper, for your commitment to and hard work for the sky blue jersey over the last decade-plus. What a roller-coaster, including that mammoth Super Rugby championship in 2014! I’ll be at the SFS to wish you well on Saturday. Whatever your next step, please stay connected with NSW rugby in some way.
France World Cup shapes as Wallaby star's Test swansong with OS and Olympic Games beckoning
Best wishes to both Dave and Andy. While I didn’t always agree with their decisions, they both deserved more respectful treatment from McLennan. Thanks for all your hard work, guys.
Ex-Wallabies coach's next move confirmed as departing RA CEO linked to vacant Welsh job
Wyn Jones and Alun Wyn Jones are different people.
'By picking him there will be some people hurt': Hansen defiant over Folau World XV selection, but backs Pride flag response
Dylan Riley is also an Aussie, I think.
Rugby News: Hansen's Wallabies taunt - 'easy ride' but can't win RWC - LSL's reason for return, Foley honoured
2019 all over again?
ANALYSIS: The three tactical paths open to Eddie at the RWC - and the one that suits his cattle best
Cheika actually admitted that he’d never intended Ned to play so many Tests in his first year of international rugby but circumstances (Jack Dempsey’s injury perhaps?) forced his hand. Loved seeing Ned’s evolution over the years. He’s turned into a damn fine player, is fantastic off the field and is making the haters eat their words. One thing, Ned. It’s a gold jersey, never yellow!
'The worst bombing I ever got': Advice from 'the GOAT' that helped Ned Hanigan tune out the haters
LSL is a good acquisition for the Rebels, as is Potter for the Force. But the loss of Philip and Hosea is really unfortunate. Philip has been an unsung hero for both the Rebels and Wallabies in recent years, while Hosea is a real emerging talent. Hope they both return sooner rather than later.
Exclusive: Salakaia-Loto signs with Rebels to rocket into RWC mix as two leave, Force bring home another Aussie
A fitting game to go out on for Parry — what a career! Congrats to both teams for a fantastic combative and exciting Test match, and cheers to the organisers and fans for a terrific atmosphere. 😊
End of an era: Parry signs off a winner as Marsters leads Wallaroos to big win over Fiji
Just left the SFS after an absolute cracker of a Super Rugby game following a very entertaining Test. Kudos to all the players and supporters. Rugby most definitely the winner tonight. 😊
Magnificent Mark: Waratahs secure finals spot with stunning win over Fiji
“I’m getting tired of a lop sided competition. Bring back the fearsome encounters with close results …”
Sounds like a bloody close result. Did you want a draw?
Hardwick heartbreak: Rebels' campaign all but over after ref stinker proves costly
Welcome back, Matty Philip! Imagine a lot of work went in to rehab and get back on the field so quickly after the ACL. Go well — the Rebs and Wallabies need you.
COMPLETE SRP Rd 13 teams: Reds young gun misses debut over discipline issue, Philip back for Rebels
A big loss to the rugby scene, that’s for sure. Thanks for all the balanced and insightful coverage over many years, GeeRob!
Carter Gordon has the gift of time - but how long until he gets to test himself in a Wallabies jersey?
All best wishes for the future, Shannon, and congrats on a wonderful playing career. Will be in the stands on Saturday to see your hopefully victorious finale.
'Her impact has been profound': Wallaroos skipper calls it quits, moves into coaching role
Absolutely — piggies and defence got the job done and made for the best moment in rugby so far this year. This is what Aus rugby and SRP need for sustainable success, not McLennan’s silly code war carry-on.
'We defended like a pack of dogs': Tate leads Reds to stunning win after Thorn's huge call ends 10 years of pain
This Tahs fan is enormously impressed by the Reds’ performance. Toughest gig in SRP this year is the Chiefs away and the Reds found the belief and did the unthinkable. Awesome effort, boys.
'We defended like a pack of dogs': Tate leads Reds to stunning win after Thorn's huge call ends 10 years of pain
This smacks of Eddie Jones trying to manipulate the Wallabies to see him as their defender against the evil media (who were asking perfectly reasonable questions BTW). He wants to see if a siege mentality will work. It won’t. What’s more, I reckon the senior players aren’t falling for his shtick, that’s why they’re being sidelined. The worst thing is, the memory of Jones’ unpleasantness will linger long after he’s failed (again) and been kicked out (again). I keep reminding myself that Jones is not the Wallabies who seem like a great bunch. Hoping they do themselves proud on Saturday.
'Load of rubbish': Eddie slams Carter critique ahead of ABs rematch, says Wallabies must 'invest' in young 10