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Joined August 2022
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Journalist by day, rugby fanatic by night. Always trying to find ways to bring new eyes to Rugby Union, whilst aiming to bring easy to understand analysis to those who already love the game. Objectivity is a must, but passion for one's team is non-negotiable.
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The Melbourne Rebels are edging ever closer to their maiden finals series but have not yet made a statement to the competition about their…
Everything about the Wallabies in 2024 is new: new coach, new assistants, new expectations, but the same 23 matchday jerseys to fill. Form throughout…
Australia has always produced tremendously talented rugby players but as a country we’ve had a detrimental tendency to over-hype youngsters, creating unrealistic, unfair, and…
The ACT Brumbies’ struggles against New Zealand opposition in 2024 has been a shock. The side is heavily laden with Wallabies and has strong…
The Rebels are the second highest Australian team on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, and halfway into the season it shows they have a…
Teams are heading into the midway block of the Super Rugby season and for many sides it will be crucial to shaping their final…
The Queensland Reds and the ACT Brumbies will battle it out under the lights of Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, and one team will…
So far in 2024 the ACT Brumbies have managed to close out tight wins despite not being at their best. This ability to eke…
The Queensland Reds’ victory over competition favourites the Chiefs was the third consecutive game where they improved, and this consistency of performance speaks volumes…
The Waratahs' comprehensive win over the Crusaders was the upset of Super Round, and should be celebrated accordingly, but emotionally fuelled desperation cannot be…
It would be easy to focus on the Queensland Reds’ expansive gameplan and herald the razzle dazzle of the outside backs, but there is…
The 2024 season offers a rare opportunity of continuity for Australian Super Rugby sides despite being at the start of a four-year world cup…
Amongst the rugby lessons of 2023, a key one was that a strong scrum can win games. Conversely, a weak scrum can see a…
The word depth in the world of rugby is a positive one; coaches want it, clubs strive to build it and countries around the…
Rugby World Cup 2023 may not have brought much delight to Wallabies supporters but there has been some amazing talent on show, talent that…
Sure, the Wallabies could mathematically still make the quarter finals but it’s highly unlikely, so Australian rugby fans must look for greener pastures elsewhere.…
Australian rugby supporters are on their knees after a humiliating Rugby World Cup campaign. The players are undercooked, the decisions in the top office…
The Wallabies loss to Fiji was owed to the islander’s ferocity and clinical execution at the ruck. But, let’s be clear, Wales is not…
The Wallabies are anew after registering their first win in 2023 and a crucial cog in Eddie Jones’ new "F1" supercar are his halfbacks.…
Perhaps no other position or jersey is more coveted than the number 10 jersey, it bares with it a responsibility like no other. The…
Cheers Jezdexter! very interesting three rounds ahead!
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
HAHAHAHA Go the Force, are you watching?
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
Dmac factor has them pipping the Blues just, head to head very even sides but put Dmac in they would be favoruites.
The chiefs have scored 166 points with Dmac and only 32 without, it’s a huge inconcistency which shows why they are not top three.
The Reds were able to neutralise him and get the win, very impressive in only their 3rd game under a new coach.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
Blues have beaten Drua at home, Highlanders neutral venue, lost to Hurricanes away, beat Tahs by 2 points away, thumped the winless Crusaders at home, and thumped Moana by 39 points.
Only played 1 top of the table team and lost, and only managed to thump a depleated Crusaders team and Moana.
Perofeta, Sullivan, and Tuipolotu are all injured with the second worst performing scrum in the comp. Worst for goalkicking and have conceded the most turnovers.
Not to mention their very high (fourth highest) penality count.
It doesn’t look like they have proven so far that they are a top three team, so 3rd seems a little too high?
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
They lost to the Hurricanes by a try after leading and then conceding at the death to the team who are undefeated and clear favourites, beat the Cheifs and lost to the Brums in extra time with lots of room to grow.
The loss to the Force in Perth does dampen the party and their spark, but at this stage it looks like a blip, as opposed to an indication of their form.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
I have been quietly impressed with the Landers and I like JRK, Nareki and Timoci togeher with Ajay and Patchell running the cutter off the service of Folau but their wins came against Moana and the Tahs away. Hence why they are both higher than those teams but at the same time have still lost game by more than the Tahs have lost theres to similar teams in similar circumstances, it just doesn’t look like they’re cieling is as high as a Crusaders or Drua. Drua are yet to drop a game at home and Saders run the Chiefs close in round 1 then beat them, then only just lost to the Blues, two teams I can’t see the Landers beating.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
I will look to have this fixed, structure and fonting is out of my hands.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
Hey TWAS, nothing against your Rebels, just calling it as I see it.
The main thing splitting the Tahs and Rebel’s is defence. The Burn City boys are just leaking too many points, heavy defeats at home to both the Brums and Reds as well as a blowout against a Hurricanes side that made 14 changes to their matchday squad were big factors behind the lower ranking.
The wins against Moana and Force were good and the win against the Tahs but the for and againsts plus their shotty goal kicking has meant they ranked just below them.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
Blues have beaten Drua at home, Highlanders neutral venue, lost to Hurricanes away, beat Tahs by 2 points away, thumped the winless Crusaders at home, and thumped moana by 39 points.
Only played 1 top of the table team and lost, and only managed to thump a depleated Crusaders team and Moana.
Perofeta and Tuipolotu are both injured with the second worst performing scrum in the comp. Worst for goalkicking and have conceded the most turnovers.
It doesn’t look like they have proven so far that they are a top three team, so 3rd seems a little too high?
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons
I’m not saying he was Wallabies standard, I merely said he looked good. He beat a heap of defenders and made a lot of metres in traffic.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
Hey Mike, I think that it would be a fair first time observation for your mate to make, but I think although his running lines didn’t offer much this week, running is one thing he is not scared to do, just watch any of his test match appearances.
His defence last night on a lot of big men was strong and solid.
I think Lolesio is just fine tuning his decision making and just maybe .5 of a second behind where he needs to be. Also, the goal kicking factor is huge, Drua wouldn’t have beat the Waratahs if Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula didn’t have one of the best kicking stats in the comp.
Test level is about taking the 3 points on offer and Lolesio has clutched them up there before. Until the other 10s show consistent goal kicking and confidence in doing so, it is a two horse race between Lolesio and Donaldson because no other person now that Hodge is gone (even Ryan Lonergan) has a high kick success rate.
Gordon is close behind, but until he nails the kicks he won’t close that gap I don’t think.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
The game wasn’t as flashy as many perhaps thought or wanted but it played out that each team played to their strengths and in the end Brumbies were the more composed and experienced side with the smarts in key positions and the 1% ability to clinch the tries and the kicks.
Petaia is a quality winger and he looked dangerous whenever he had the ball, just needs to hold onto it. Wilson was guilty of that as well, too loose in the carry.
Darcy Swain and Cadyrn Neville won that contest while the Reds scrummaging was impressive with a massivley shuffled roster and partnerships. Blake and Nonggorr should be proud.
Lolesio wasn’t squeeky clean, his running game put the Brums under pressure at times but nailed the core rolls and never looked stressed, which is key at test level.
Tom Wright still not faultless but very very good tonight.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
It’s a good observation Cec! I don’t think fatigue is a big factor yet for these players you have mentioned but it is interesting in terms of where their depth is.
I think after the BYE week, we should see players like Angus Blyth, Connor Vest and Kalani Thomas get some minutes but the Reds are perhaps fortunate they haven’t suffered more injuries at lock and backrow.
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Hahaha what an update from our very own weather reporter.
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Breakdown will be king indeed, with Reimer on the bench we could be looking at a period of pilfering mania from around the 55th minute mark. Darcy and Cadyrn look to have been chosen for their grunt and Swain particularly for his ability to swim through a maul. Can’t have the Reds scoring off a 5m lineout.
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Cheers jeznez!
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Thanks The Ferret for your support, enjoy the tequila and beaches and I’ll see what I can conjure next week, it’s gonna be a hellavu game.
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Took kind BF, enjoy the game and keep an eye on that phase counter!
I think a Wright at 6 Valetini at 8 and a Wilson on the bench is very possible for the Wallabies this year. They need a 6 to do the dirty work and a Wright or a Hanigan are doing just that.
I can’t see two big ball carrying dominant forwards in Wilson and Valetini working on the field at the same time.
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Cheers JV! Depending on the result, perhaps Caxton street will be a sea of Red both before and after?!
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Very kind words Reds Harry, thanks so the support. I hear you on rotation, but with the BYE weeks coming up perhaps now is not the time to separate combinations and to rotate, maybe wait till an easier game?
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Although it may not have worked against the Force, it has still been their tactic. Maybe needs a look at?
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Cheers Bobby, I expect a big crowd, perhaps looking at a competition high for this season?
ANALYSIS: 'Efficiency and ruthlessness' - Race to the 22m to determine Australia's Super Rugby front-runners
Cheers TLN, you can give my Reds piece https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/03/14/kiss-of-life-reds-trajectory-down-to-unrivalled-discipline-and-work-rate/ and Tahs piece a read here https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/03/08/analysis-battle-for-the-gain-line-to-decide-if-tah-tough-waratahs-can-go-back-to-back-against-kiwi-teams/
ANALYSIS: Good teams win when they're not at their best - but the Brumbies have a lot to fix to challenge in Super Rugby
Cheers CM!
I think they are lucky that the draw and therefore time to gel are on their side, but they can’t afford any banana skin games, like it is this weekend against MP to get away from them.
Their cohesion factor as Ben Darwin is very fond of, is very high, so they should be right if they as Lonergan says “fully commit,”
ANALYSIS: Good teams win when they're not at their best - but the Brumbies have a lot to fix to challenge in Super Rugby
For sure Jimbo81, Brumbies showed last night they are they are learning how to put the foot on the throat, it’s a discipline which has lacked in Aussie teams for a very long time.
I think that, coupled with their willingness to counter attack a little more, and counter in a more structured and more purposeful way shows their ceiling is higher than in previous years.
What is pleasing as well is that they are building as opposed to peaking.
But yes, very interesting to see when they play the heavy weights like Blues and Hurricanes.
Super Rugby Power Rankings - and how the next three games will shape the Aussie clubs' seasons