White had a spectacular falling out with the Brumbs if memory serves, though i did think of him too. It’s in the lap of the gods, erm, goddess.

Double Agent, with a few minor tweaks we’re back in business. We just didn’t turn up the other day, lethargy got the better of us, ‘cept for Koroibete’s two spectacular tries! Otherwise maybe there’s something in the water over there is all i can think… the sooner Eddie J returns home to resume his unfinished business, the better off we’ll be.

“As a Waratah supporter I am a huge fan of Michael Cheika, so my comments may seem biased…” Your bias is understandable. Quote: “In just his second season in charge [of NSW in 2014], Cheika coached the Waratahs to their first ever Super Rugby title, with the team finishing seven points ahead of their nearest rivals, the Crusaders.[13] The Waratahs defeated the Brumbies 26–8 in the semifinal which earned them a first home final against their Christchurch-based rivals, the Crusaders, whom the Waratahs had not defeated in over a decade. In the 2014 Super Rugby final the Waratahs beat the Crusaders by a single point, 33-32, in a nail-biter witnessed by a record Super Rugby crowd of over 61,007 people at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.[5]” Who can ever forget it. “During the 2015 Super Rugby season, the Waratahs campaign to retain their title started with a 25–13 loss to the Western Force in Sydney, which was later followed by a second loss to the Force in Round 13, losing 18–11 in Perth. Cheika led the Waratahs to a 29–24 win over the eventual New Zealand conference winners the Hurricanes in Wellington, and a 32–22 win over the Crusaders in Sydney. Across the 16 matches of the 2015 regular season the Waratahs conceded 11 yellow cards. Two players, Will Skelton and Tolu Latu, were suspended from playing during the latter stages of the tournament leading to Cheika’s tactics being questioned. The Waratahs had lost to the Highlanders 26–19 in Dunedin in Round 5 and were defeated by them again in the semifinal in Sydney by 35–17. It was a surprise for some how well the Waratahs did, considering the team had to play for 10 consecutive weeks between their second bye and the knock out stage, which included their two away matches against South Africa opposition.[citation needed]” Yes, we were unfortunate not to win back-to-back Super titles under Chek’s direction, i.e. thought he leapt at the soon-to-be vacated Wallabies job a bit too quickly, but that’s life.
“I wish him [Chek] well for the future and thank him for being our coach. I hope he and Robbie Deans are not lost to Australian rugby.” Well said. Was hoping either would rebuild the Tahs for us, but seemingly not.
“Their contributions to our national team have been immense. It may seem a step down to work at the provincial level again, but Super rugby is so important we need coaches of their level [calibre] to develop our players. As Eddie Jones has shown there is a path back to [the] top if they want it.” The money’s pretty good in France so Chek’s bank balance is destined to remain healthy for a while to come yet, plus he doesn’t gamble, so all’s well. Erm, I’m hoping Eddie Jones, who wants to return home according to yesterday’s paper, throws his hat into the ring regarding the vacant Wallabies job…
(What’s wrong with the darn paragraphing feature in this thing? Doesn’t work.)

Of the “five contenders to replace Chek” (Brisbane Times, Oct., 21, 2019 — 10.59am ), Dave Rennie (Glasgow Warriors); Eddie Jones (England); Jamie Joseph (Japan); Dan McKellar (Brumbies); Scott Wisemantel (England), Eddie J would be ideal so as to retain the services of Scott Johnson, and they’d also complement each other well. But with Eddie’s England threatening to win this world cup, looking as good as they are, an extension to his contract appears inevitable.
(That’s a decent-looking cap Chek’s wearing [in the vid]… and for all the criticism he’s copping due to our 40-16 loss to the Poms, under his tenure our scrum improved out of sight, held its own against all-comers. For that we’re in debt to Chek. And that, quote: “Australia 47 – New Zealand 26. Wallaby gold. A Test victory for the ages and a massive springboard for a successful Rugby World Cup challenge. The result represents a thrashing of the All Blacks by a brilliantly selected and well-coached – how good is it to be able for once to say this – Wallabies side.
At best, the most ardent Wallabies supporters were expressing ‘cautious optimism’ (Alan Jones, in this case) about the chances of the Wallabies defeating the All Blacks in the first Bledisloe Cup Test of 2019 played in the magnificent new stadium at Perth. It was the sort of optimism a person falling out of a plane without a parachute has when hoping for a soft landing.
But the 47 points scored by the rampant Wallabies represents the most ever in a Test scored against an All Blacks side since the team’s first Test, at Sydney, in 1903.” — Spiro, 11 Aug, 2019)

“Moreover, for now anyway, Michael Cheika has solved his No.10 problem with Matt Toomua providing the answer with a dominating performance.” Yes, but he was only on the field for the last 36 minutes. For mine he’s more effective off the bench, so we’d do better to stick with the Genia-Foley combo at kick-off. See how we go against Uruguay… These Wallabies can still go a long way in this tourney, 😊

“That Bernard Foley was hooked just four minutes into the second half was illustrative both of the curiosity that surrounded his inclusion to begin with, and for the thinking that he could somehow have done something to change the coach’s mind in just four minutes.”
Sorry Brett, dare say he’s our best option currently, with Matt Toomua coming off the bench again for mine. Foley was hooked i s’pose cause he spilt a pass when we were on the front foot. Toomua did admittedly play well when he came on. We’re still in this with a little bit of luck… 😊 but Foley starts for mine (needs some encouragement from Chek, like “We believe in you, son! And we’re countin’ on ya!”).

Yes agree, Faf cost his Boks big time. His forwards worked tirelessly to win ball, then De Klerk simply surrendered possession with ineffective silly up-and-under box kick returns. ABs said thank you very much.

Great to see him back. Terrific for Oz rugby. And hopefully Deans comes back into the Oz rugby picture too.

Would like to see Deans offered the Tahs’ rebuild & coaching job. Ideal for the abruptly vacated position.
“For a detailed description of all this I suggest people read the excellent Deans biography “Black, Red and Gold”.”
Sounds good.
(The paragraphing thingy isn’t working again, ugh.)

Clear & obvious like a sore thumb. It was merely Nic Berry’s way of guaranteeing the final wouldn’t be played at Estadio José Amalfitani … located in the Liniers neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, near Liniers railway station.[1] (Not far from where that Eichmann fella was finally corralled in 1960, but the notorious ‘angel of death’ only just managed to slip away)

Otherwise the Haguaries might just have got away with winning their first ever Super Rugby title, upsetting the balance of power aka pecking order.

Now we’re in for more disconcerting crucial refereeing decisions in Christchurch come Staurday…

Canes deserved to be in the final. Now though, seems we’re gunna be in for more rap dancing…

William Franklin (Billy) Graham Jr. would be proud of Izzy. Stick to your guns, son. The world’s gone stark-raving nuts considering, we can’t even express a religious point of view these days without suffering monetary penalty.
Izzy will be dearly missed at the Cup come September if his contract is shredded. ARU, wake up to yourselves. Can’t you see the dynamic combo with Quade at 5/8 and Izzy on the wing? Izzy is absolutely irreplaceable.
(Scott Johnson take note – regardless what Chek sez, or thinks, for that matter.)

Sat 30 Mar 7:45 PM Reds vs Rebels Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
Fri 10 May 7:45 PM Rebels vs Reds AAMI Park, Melbourne.
May the reunited firm of Will & Quade learneth that thorned one a rugby lesson he won’t too sooneth forgeteth, ???? !! [fuming]

this place has become like Hotel California. Once you’re logged in, you can’t log out, it seemeth… 🙁
(if only Henley had’ve alternated the drum beat at the end, would’ve been a true classic. as is, so monotonous and boring ending).

the way our boys are currently playing makes you wanna pull the plug, and deny ’em life support…
we’re sort of like England back in 2015 under Stuart Lancaster. it was obvious then when they lost to us in the RWC that they nevertheless had the talent to be true contenders. we’re in the same boat. bringing back a refreshed and revitalised J O’Neill could well be the panacea required. (With heartfelt apologies to Raelene).

Seem to recall one Vivian ‘Smokin’ Joe’ Richards tame a two-pronged pace attack consisting of Messieurs DK & Thommo at the MCG, but Thommo didn’t feature in this one…
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17023/scorecard/63304/australia-vs-west-indies-1st-test-west-indies-tour-of-australia-1981-82
My uncle witnessed it, and I definitely heard it [on radio], so it must’ve happened. 🙁

“Sooner or later, hopefully, the message will sink in and the Wallabies will go out into a Test with the preparation to be able to play several different ways depending on what the opposition is doing and how it is responding to the Wallabies’ original game plan.”

This will happen when Jones, Eddie resumes his rudely interrupted Wallabies’ coaching career (though will the Poms ever let him go now?), and the incumbent receives his well-earned flickaroo. The latter needs to finish off his interrupted Tahs apprenticeship, and hopefully win another couple of Super titles for us.

Yeah, the replay is on tonight (Mon. 20 Aug) at 6pm on Fox. Happy to check it again. Was Folau’s flick pass out of the back of his hand forward?

From memory Dingo had a good unimpeded 5 year run as Wallabies head coach. I admired his selections, e.g. playing JOC at 5/8 against the Lions, or was it England? But what nagged at the back of the head on occasion was his truthful admission that if he’d been offered the ABs job, his first preference understandably, that he would have taken it and knocked back the Wallabies position.
There’s some good reading here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Deans#Australia
Anyway, Cheika now has to be put on notice. Enough farce, time for solid 80 minute performances and results, or see you later Mick. He could always return to the Tahs to take care of unfinished business. We were on the verge of winning back-to-back Super titles but the moment he was offered the Wallabies vacancy he simply lost interest in the Tahs. Must’ve been the $$$ signs that bedazzled him.

There should be an indigenous warrior and didgeridoo performed after the Haka. Actually, at all our home tests to confirm who we are.

“I would love to see Barnes being neutral with the All Blacks.”

Too much to wish for I dare think.

“…with Pocock the only one in gold who never gave an inch for 80 minutes. I didn’t see him miss a tackle in 118, but his teammates managed to miss 40.”

In the 2nd half i seem to recall Poey badly missed one; he was standing out near the left touchline.

“The pain continued with the Wallabies giving away nine penalties, six of them from scrums, where they were totally outplayed,”

Actually the first scrum penalty of the game should have been awarded to us when Kepu’s opposite Kiwi prop Moody went down flat on his stomach (to sample the Homebush turf) as Kepu remained crouched in position; but erm, ref Jaco Peyper missed it as did assistant ref Wayne Barnes. Mystifying indeed.

The ref got a few things wrong last night, costly to us, e.g. the flick pass out of the back of Folau’s hand actually went backwards to his left-side support player yet was called forward; and again when Foley gifted the ABs their first try when we were hemmed in our 22 his clearance kick (after one of our guys called a mark) should have been sent well down field into ABs’ territory, yet Bernie put up a dumb high ball which came back down in our own half, the ABs caught it, said ‘thankyou very much’ and ran it straight back at us with interest; Foley seems to do this on a constant basis: gift the opposition try-scoring opportunities! From this incident the ABs went in to score, however the last pass was clearly forward yet Peyper and Barnes missed it, as did the Fox commentary team which left me dumbfounded. It was also interesting to hear Kearnsie’s comments towards the end, that when Folau was on the park our restarts courtesy of Bernie all went deep, but when Folau hobbled off with his ankle injury, suddenly Foley thought it a good opportunity to have a short kick-off. Go figure.

We need a real No.8 for next Saturday: Scott Higginbotham.

Jed Holloway should start or at least be on the bench. So too Paddy Ryan.

Nick Phipps gets at least 30 or 40 minutes game time, not just a measly few minutes at the death when it’s all over.

And umm, Cheika it seems has done his dash; time to hand in his head coaching badge considering according to Greg Clark last night in the corresponding match last year in the 1st half the ABs posted their highest tally ever against us and, in this year’s corresponding fixture at ANZ last night this time it was in the 2nd half that they repeated the dose. Under Cheika’s tutelage we’re progressing backwards!

Should the England RFU sack/terminate Eddie Jones’ contract, we — the ARU, or ‘RA’ as it’s now called — need to instantly offer him a second stint as Wallabies’ head coach as he has proved beyond all doubt that he is indeed a master coach, i.e. he assisted Jake White take his Springboks to a world cup victory in 2007, then his Cherry Blossoms defeated the Boks at the 2015 world cup, and now his brilliant coaching of England… We need the maestro from Matraville back at the helm of the Wallabies sooner than later!

I’d be surprised if Wikipedia was wrong/misleading. Gospel to me. Who knows, he could be related to Lt. Col. Wilbur “Bull” Meechum. Wouldn’t put it past him.

“Wallabies need a world class playmaker at number 10.”

Quade Santini Cooper

But is Cheika and Larkham smart enough to realise such?

Doubtful.

“Wallabies heartbreak loss to Ireland shows need for a playmaker at no.10”

Quade Santini Cooper

But is the coach smart enough to realise such?

This guy van Marwijk doesn’t want Australia to progress to the next round. You’d have to be brain-dead to think he does. Didn’t the Roos defeat his team the Netherlands in recent times, twice, so for BvM this is square-up get even time. And he’s doing a hell of a good job by not allowing Cahill to play. Meanwhile Gallop, Lowy and the FFA (who should shoulder the blame for this world cup disaster) have handed Arnie a Herculean task — qualify us for 2022 Arnie… and if you walk out in disgust as Ange did, well, we’ll simply hire another Dutchman so that our campaign can once again be derailed.

Cahill was instrumental in helping the Roos qualify for Moscow 2018, yet his reward now is to be completely left out of the action — Cahill is “our” Ronaldo! He has to play! He must!

So Gallop’s and Lowy’s and the FFA’s “in our wisdom” decision to appoint this Dutch fellow ahead of Graham Arnold following Postecoglu’s dummy spit walk out is proving a disaster for Australian soccer…

What to do?

Sack the Dutchman immediately and call in Arnold right now, or Kevin Muscat or John Aloisi or Tony Popovic or even Paul Okon, but this conniving shrewd two-faced Dutch bugger must go immediately because if Cahill had have played in both matches thus far for 30 or 40 minutes there’s every chance we could have beaten France and Denmark and be top of our group.