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Joined April 2020
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I find it shocking & striking when these incredible human specimens, often our heroes, die young. It is so sobering. The players that reach these heights are unbelievable physical supermen yet, in many cases they burn through like supernovas. Why? How? Is it the extreme physicality of the sport? The intensity of training? The lifestyle (in days of yore, perhaps not that ascetic…)? As a normal Joe, getting on in years, I remain mystified.
The game they play in heaven: A 'Dream XV' made up of unforgettable players
…akin to Farrell? I have a sense there’s much gnashing of teeth, breast-beating & regret in Pomworld since young Owen said ‘fornicate it!’ & took off for Gallic Euros & la belle vie.
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
for what it’s worth: Fast Eddie has the best winning record of all Pom coaches! Shocking, I know. Something like 70+%.
'Want to show rugby isn't dead in Melbourne': Rebels skipper's fighting words as Eddie calls for 'hard decisions'
Rugger has some serious financial challenges, it seems. The Wallies on the ropes. And, taking a peek at the UK, the largest rugby fraternity anywhere (?), things look rough. Welsh rugby in dire straits. The Irish, the Warriors & the Wasps gone. Kiwis sold to PE (which means there MUST be money in it, or else these ‘pirates’ wouldn’t be interested). At the same time, the French & Japanese seem to have endless resources. Not sure about South African rugger. Kind of sad after the most enthralling, ever, & watched RWC.
'Want to show rugby isn't dead in Melbourne': Rebels skipper's fighting words as Eddie calls for 'hard decisions'
LOL. Good old rucking? I used to bleed in various parts of the anatomy when caught on the wrong side of the ruck. Remember the days? Coach: ‘If he’s lying there, he’s turf. Weed him out!’ Big men would climb on you & stomp & rake… There wasn’t much dallying on the wrong side…
Boring, slow Rugby has lost its mojo and needs a makeover - here's some ways to get it back in fashion
This may be true in Oz. I believe it’s because of the disastrous WC campaign. Not so elsewhere. The RWC…the excitement about 6N….the Lion’s Tour…European rugger contests…(Don’t watch Super… literally no time left!) Once Oz gets back, which it indubitably will, watch the excitement return. (Just look at the 7s teams!!)
Boring, slow Rugby has lost its mojo and needs a makeover - here's some ways to get it back in fashion
Really??? Clearly not a true rugger fan. SCRAP THE SCRUM? What?? I enjoy every aspect of the scrum…even the resets. I love the tactics…the dark arts…the scheming. In fact, there is not a single thing I’d change. Line outs are fine. Deliberate knock on in the Red Zone? Penalty/yellow/possible penalty try…every day! If you don’t like the nuances, I truly believe you simply don’t get the game. Those of us who played (and reffed/coached) are always looking for ways to improve, not change, Heaven’s Game.????
Boring, slow Rugby has lost its mojo and needs a makeover - here's some ways to get it back in fashion
I speak under correction, but didn’t Porta single handedly beat a Springbok team of yore? In the ’80s, I think…
Masters of the Air: The ten greatest kickers in rugby history - from All Blacks 'wizard' to the Scot who changed the game
Including that unbelievable WWC Final. Also one of the great rugger games of all time…
Broken promises, sacrificial lambs and a monumental low blow - goodbye, good riddance to 2023 for Wallabies fans
I don’t think I say ‘coach’ anywhere. Call him what you will. He was a paid member of the Bok camp. Take a deep breath. Bad day at the office?
Rugby News: 'Doesn't seem right' - Mack urges RA to avoid Kiwi coach, Clive tells Poms to ditch 'ridiculous' ban
No comment on O’Neill’s value. His book was a little self-serving, but I did think it was OK. Merely highlighting on what he wrote oh-so-many years ago. As ScottD alluded to: you’d think, when bringing Eddie on, they may have asked him to comment on O’Neill’s take. I will say, reading his take & watching the way Eddie acted with the Poms…. There was quite a bit of smoke there…
Rugby News: 'Doesn't seem right' - Mack urges RA to avoid Kiwi coach, Clive tells Poms to ditch 'ridiculous' ban
Hansen’s top comment: “OH F##k!!!!”
Rugby News: 'Doesn't seem right' - Mack urges RA to avoid Kiwi coach, Clive tells Poms to ditch 'ridiculous' ban
Well…except that Saffers had…drumroll…EDDIE!!!! 😁
Rugby News: 'Doesn't seem right' - Mack urges RA to avoid Kiwi coach, Clive tells Poms to ditch 'ridiculous' ban
Just how crazy was McLennan – & whomever else selected Jones? From John O’Neill’s book, It’s Only a Game, printed in 2007: ‘An amazing grasp of technical know-how could not camouflage the enormous room for improvement he required in other areas. The way he dealt with his coaching staff, his employers at the ARU and, to a lesser extent, his players, was far from a strength.” And: “I believed Eddie required time away from coaching Australia to improve on his shortcomings in man management and team selection.” It would be interesting to know if, especially considering some of his England issues, these ‘old’ problems were discussed prior to his appointment. Will they do any better this time around?
Rugby News: 'Doesn't seem right' - Mack urges RA to avoid Kiwi coach, Clive tells Poms to ditch 'ridiculous' ban
I get the too much Old Guard comment. However, I can’t help but compare that to South Africa. They seemed to have an abundance old ‘Old Guard’ & it worked for them. I’m trying to think of any ‘bright, new stars’ introduced… There were some truly ancient grafters in there…& it really was they who pulled them through. Something else going on. One area where SA was really settled, was in the coaching/management area. Clear focus? Maybe it’s in the phrase ‘ultra conservative’…
Rugby News: 'Can't see how this is right' - England star turns back on Test team at 21, historic moment for Moana
Again: wrong, Carlin. I wanted MORE!
Anything but a snorefest: Revisiting one of the most fascinating RWC finals ever
Jez. May I recommend League? It seems more up your alley. I’m astonished at the number of bitter (loser?) comments here. Two of the greatest games in rugger history were played during the QFs by the ABs…&? Oh…that’s right: the Saffers. The Final – all finals – call for a different approach, especially when considering the weather. Your definition of ‘entertaining rugby’ has a narrow interpretation. Personally, I love ALL facets of the game. And I mean ALL. Yes. Even managing the refs!
Anything but a snorefest: Revisiting one of the most fascinating RWC finals ever
How ’bout the Final was ‘over’ for Saffers the moment the hooker was taken out? Unlike RR, I’m going to be honest & gracious & say it was simply a poor clean out. No malicious intent. Fourie – 37! – had to do his bit & more. Ruined as a spectacle? I guess you’re with the witless old Kiwi commentators & better suited to League ‘If I do not win, I’m taking my ball home until they change the rules’. Pretty pathetic. I KNOW the ABs have it in them unlock the Boks. And they have (countless times) & will. This time they came up short (IMHO through unfortunate decision-making, NOT taking the points on offer.) It was an absolutely riveting, absorbing spectacle. I love defense. And attack. So we rugby-Union purist fans loved the game. (Damn! How good was PSTD? The almost-perfect acronym!)
Anything but a snorefest: Revisiting one of the most fascinating RWC finals ever
The REAL lesson from this: TAKE THE POINTS ON OFFER. The ABs boldly went for the corner twice, I believe, from fairly close to the posts. Mo’unga would’ve fed on these…
SPIRO ZAVOS: 'Crazy brave' Boks are a team for the ages - but key decisions cleared their path to glory
Shush! Get over it. Jeez! THere’s an opening. Maybe you should apply. Show how it’s done…n all that…
'Just a game, k---heads': Why world's top rugby ref has decided to give the game away
Golden Rule for Finals. Take-the-points. Ignore the 2 misses (probably induced by tackle brutality). Reflect upon the 2 corner kicks from in front of the posts. That’s madness! This, truly, was a game that the ABs let slip away. (Reminds of the game against France that they lost, while camped in front of the posts – 2007? – when no dropgoals were attempted…)
SPIRO ZAVOS: 'Crazy brave' Boks are a team for the ages - but key decisions cleared their path to glory
BOK (along with his entire team) – a fine Kiwi, by many accounts! – begs to differ. And – gee! – I guess that’s where it rests, notwithstanding couch refs squirming. Every game has become a whinefest. Golden Rule: play to minimize interference from those damn refs. Just hope the final is not marred by (usually accidental) yellow/red cards. Could kill the whole damn thing. And, BTW, it would NOT be the refs fault. The officiating team has clear instructions & standards to apply.
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
Read my introductory sentence, pal. Not taking sides.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Merely making an important observation for all sports in general, & full contact sports in particular…especially if rugger wants to escape the brewing legal hurricane on the horizon.
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
If you’ve read Dan Retief’s unauthorized biography of Luyt, you’d know – for sure! – that Rassie (notwithstanding his weirdness & demons) is nothing like Luyt. If anything, Luyt was startlingly more akin to Trump, albeit more successful (in the self-made man sense). That nothing is in caps: NOTHING…
'Wild honesty and deep anger' vs the 'good company man': Coaching box culture clash at heart of World Cup final
I must say, I remain quite mystified by the self-imposed rules some countries seem to place on their best-and-brightest. Teams like the Argies & the Boks do not seem to have all this tortured handwringing. Maybe someone can enlighten me? (I’ve heard that it is to ‘protect’ local rugby, but the Pumas – on the one end of the scale & the Springboks on the other – seem to manage with ease.) Giving young athletes a choice between country honors & generating income during a very short window, seems like a terrible thing to do. I look forward to the comments…should there be any.
Razor's pursuit of 'hard bastard' Sam Whitelock reveals the ugly truth about the modern All Blacks