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Joined October 2021
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Craggy veteran who has been writing about Test rugby since 1979 when the Wallabies' jersey had three stripes and was 100% baggy cotton.
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Phil Kearns was the prototype of the new-age hooker in Australia when he burst onto the scene as a bullocking, ball-handling runner to go…
For a full 30 seconds, prop Ewen McKenzie was the hero of the Wallabies’ first World Cup final triumph in 1991. The British commentary…
Few sides were caught unawares by the great John Eales after the bogus billing for his first run-on role for Queensland in Canberra. As…
George Gregan left an indelible mark on Australia’s World Cup fortunes but also one on New Zealanders that they have never forgotten. The halfback…
There wasn’t even a Player of the Tournament award at the World Cup until David Campese ruled the 1991 edition so completely. While rugby…
The Wallabies’ single try for their triumph in the 1991 World Cup final is an historic yet bland lineout rumble over the line from…
It’s 20 years since Stirling Mortlock’s treasured World Cup moment yet it still hits the senses like fresh-cut grass to many of us. For…
It wasn’t just scoring the first try of the 1999 World Cup final that etched Ben Tune’s name in history but nominating how he’d…
It’s six short years since Carter Gordon was a skinny schoolboy on the sidelines at All Blacks’ training getting a photo snapped with Kiwi…
Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika dance the friends-and-foes tango like few others in rugby when it comes to their classic coaching rivalry. They’ll aim…
The great thing about the mind games of Eddie Jones is that his reputation means everyone searches for “The Great Con” that might not…
Where is the disruptor, where is the shake-up game, that throws out all our simplistic calculations on the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals? The most…
There’s a lot of chatter about near-misses, if-onlys or 70 minutes of goodness when analysing the performances of Australia’s five Super Rugby Pacific teams…
It’s a bit overblown to call it a cavalry charge of reinforcements but the absolute best thing for the Wallabies in a World Cup…
As World Cup bolters go, Queenslander Matt Faessler keeps simmering away in conversations about the hooking spots. Queensland Reds coach Brad Thorn rarely blows…
Misstep and miss out. You always want high stakes at play and the strange two-division splintering of Super Rugby Pacific is just that. Few…
No matter how dynamic and skilful the full-on Fraser McReight-Michael Hooper scrap may be in Townsville on Saturday, we are not at the dawn…
The Lachie Swinton debacle is the reason fans will keep pulling their hair out over the TMO and over-officious refereeing. The reason for having…
Eddie Jones picking just 33 names in his first Wallabies training squad was a clear-thinking and overdue change of tack. With one decision, he…
Jake Gordon has carried plenty on his shoulders at the misfiring NSW Waratahs this year and now faces the tandem challenge of Nic White…
I feel directing to a charity like Legacy would be wonderful. we are in a trans-Tasman comp like never before so it suits that thread too
Crystal ball gaze at a Wallabies-ABs ANZAC XV that could seriously stretch the Lions in 2025
Like the Baa-Baas style game but it becomes a little superfluous if it’s played after Tests not used as a buildup game for Tests
Crystal ball gaze at a Wallabies-ABs ANZAC XV that could seriously stretch the Lions in 2025
True words
Crystal ball gaze at a Wallabies-ABs ANZAC XV that could seriously stretch the Lions in 2025
You can’t give away penalties for being lippy or be gabbing to the touch judge
ANALYSIS: Frosty the go man is 'a player every nation wants to unearth' making an Eales-like run at RWC
Banks should have done more territory kicking as you say. Samu hurt his back in the lead-up and was taken out of the reserves.
Tupou was one very good penalty and one very bad penalty but definite signs of improvement elsewhere
ANALYSIS: Frosty the go man is 'a player every nation wants to unearth' making an Eales-like run at RWC
True. We don’t find the grass enough on territory kicks. When was the last time a Wallaby kick sailed just over a head a la the banks moment and won great territory. Hodge kicks it long but not well enough or with enough command in other areas.
ANALYSIS: Frosty the go man is 'a player every nation wants to unearth' making an Eales-like run at RWC
Definitely. He has far more skills than simply battering ram stuff
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
Yes. Wilson and Vunivalu should both now go to japan with Reds.
Joey Fittock has been very good and busy in both games.
Navosailagi is a different style of winger, a graceful, gliding winger but could find holes and make metres. Good signs.
The Jake Upfield behind the back pass was a 10.
Riori surprised me. Young but did what was required
Flook’s touches were classy. Lynagh has lovely hands.
He’s the best kicker in the Reds squad but needs to rid himself of the careless kicks
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
The best of draws
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
Giteau Law isn’t a World Rugby law. If Rennie wants 4 overseas based players for RWC, not 3, he’ll get them in the final wash-up
Australians wouldn’t cop watching SR with all the stars overseas.
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
I agree. Rugby league wingers can have plenty of involvements waiting for the ball on the wing or hitting it up hard from their quarter.
Rugby has devolved to where wingers might get 5 touches a game if they stay on their wings. Suli isn’t natural in roaming infield like a Digby or Koroibete. But they learnt to do that, things like pick and goes.
Wendell was given time and Tests to develop. Playing in a gun side, you could utilise his best traits and cover his weaknesses. No such luxury with today’s team
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
ZZZZZzzzzzz
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
Nawaqanitawase was excellent. Not the first time the bells and whistles have come out for a NSW player (in 2020) before true substance backed it up. He was superb in japan. Deserves his spot absolutely. Has Test winger traits.
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
It was as if he was surprised that the big Japanese backrower had any strength at all when he ran at him near the tryline. You can miss those but not make such a poor attempt
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
Wilson is a terrific player and unlucky to miss. He should have had a chance in the A games in Japan after the Bledisloe. He would have starred in an open 15-try game like Osaka or the previous game. You would have seen all his best traits…offloads, terrific sense near the tryline, energy to his runs etc.
Wilson is a big body, bigger than Gleeson as you say.
It has to be said, Gleeson really made plenty of post-contact metres against the islanders teams in the three games in Fiji. Rennie liked the look of him then.
He hasn’t got Wilson’s range of skills but trucking it up, some feet and punching through the line is what all coaches look for it seems.
Wilson needs to build a deceptive slant or half-step at the line and power on through. That’s where he’s being marked down unfortunately
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
Did you notice how everything flowed faster in Japan with no TMO for those Australia A games? There was speed, fatigue and running unlike the stop-start of many Tests.
There’s a big gap between A games and Tests. Some can step up some won’t.
ANALYSIS: Where key selection battles were decided and what the outcomes say about Dave Rennie
Rennie made a frank admission after the England series that counter-attack and plays off turnover ball are his department in coaching. He said that area had to improve. I’d suggest that area still has to show a big lift. Kicking away turnover ball is not a plan
REPORT CARD: Every Wallabies player rated, with biggest improvers and major concerns, from TRC
Good call. He’s a drummer in the band
REPORT CARD: Every Wallabies player rated, with biggest improvers and major concerns, from TRC
He’s never played a full season at Super level. Donaldson doesn’t yet have the right to be impatient. Perform and you win selection
REPORT CARD: Every Wallabies player rated, with biggest improvers and major concerns, from TRC
Definitely. Perform and you get a Wallaby tour. I like that incentive
REPORT CARD: Every Wallabies player rated, with biggest improvers and major concerns, from TRC
Donaldson and Edmed are both excellent prospects and more natural 10s than Lolesio in terms of the kick and play-make areas.
You just lament that the Australian system hasn’t been able to give them another 20 games of experience as young men at the NPC, NRC, Australia A, mid-week Wallaby tour game style of level.
For example, someone like lock Bill Campbell played eight games on the 1984 Grand Slam tour (18 games on the tour) without playing a Test. That’s like another full season of education in rugby.
Modern players just don’t get that to their detriment
REPORT CARD: Every Wallabies player rated, with biggest improvers and major concerns, from TRC
I think there will be a degree of…how did we get to 12 months out from a World Cup and have so little idea how No.10 is going to play out.
Cooper would have been the No.1 pick for sure. He made others outside him look better in those 5 Tests last year.
The unfortunate doubt is this…he will be fit to play on his Achilles next year and will have games under his belt by mid-year but that is a long way short of jinking, darting and moving confidently to be fully rounded. A big wait and see
REPORT CARD: Every Wallabies player rated, with biggest improvers and major concerns, from TRC
Wallabies came third and deserved no better than that
REPORT CARD: Every Wallabies player rated, with biggest improvers and major concerns, from TRC
I rejoice every time I see Philip has now played more than 20 Tests. He’s the sort of guy who might have been ignored and not played a single one.
Underrated all the time and a workhorse you notice far more live than when watching on TV. His physicality is obvious live and he goes all day.
REPORT CARD: Every Wallabies player rated, with biggest improvers and major concerns, from TRC
Good memory. Skelton did play
Crystal ball gaze at a Wallabies-ABs ANZAC XV that could seriously stretch the Lions in 2025