Roar Guru
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The Wallabies can defeat the 2013 British and Irish Lions. And this is exactly how they can do it. The Strategy: Tactical and overwhelming…
The ACT Brumbies were excellent last night, completely outplaying the Queensland Reds. Rugby has very little in common with boxing. However, one similarity is…
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Was the brutal bashing of this young and unlucky Wallabies team by a resurgent Springboks the making…
Let's not forget that the 2012 Wallabies, with some help from their 2011 teammates, are the second-best rugby team in the world. And this…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness”,…
From the extraordinary performances by the athletes to the brilliant coverage by the ABC, the Paralympics have shown us the way our athletes should…
The Wallabies continue to be their own worst enemy. Clearly, they have learned nothing from the two rugby lessons provided by the All Blacks…
It is not fair to blame Robbie Deans for the result in Auckland. It was the perfect storm. The World Champion All Blacks played…
The Wallabies lack a world-class fly half, despite there being many pretenders. Whether it was Mark Ella in 1984, Grant Fox in 1987, Noddy…
The 2012 New Zealand All Blacks again showed the Wallabies how to win Test matches in tight situations. The All Blacks won comfortably, yet…
This is the second part of my article, after the enthralling Wallabies game against Wales. I made a number of predictions about the game,…
This is the first part of my article on this evening's Wallabies game against Wales. Coming soon is the second part, where I compare…
The wallabies combinations fired in brisbane tonight. They produced an outstanding performance and a test match for the ages. The scrum worked, the Reds'…
The Wallabies selectors have been clever in selecting proven combinations for the first Wales Test match. The dramatic circumstances of last Tuesday evening and…
Following yesterday's article setting out my backline for the upcoming Welsh series, here is my forward pack and bench. It follows the same principles…
It's that time of the year again: international selection time. As such, it's also time for conjecture, opinion, analysis and bias. I have chipkicked…
The Queensland Reds will fall just short of the 2012 Super Rugby playoffs by my projections, despite their win over the Brumbies on the…
Since becoming the coach of the Wallabies, Robbie Deans has made several mistakes. In hindsight, many of these were avoidable and must not be…
Since taking the helm of the Qantas Wallabies, Robbie Deans has made several mistakes. In hindsight, many of these were avoidable. He must not…
Rob Horne's beautiful try against the Bulls last on Friday evening proved that traditional backplay, the likes of which is now rarely seen, still…
mjb, I fully support David’s assessment, particularly in those first few games, and in the first TRC game, a home bledisloe against the best team in the world. Proven Combinations: a great place to start. Those combinations, together with consistent coaching and tactics, then either continue to fire at international level or they are tweaked as form dictates. David’s backline would have been exactly my choice. Interestingly, at the time I was concerned about Beales defence at 12, particularly against Nonu, But he was never suited at 10.
There has to be more to Ewen McKenzie's resignation
i was at the game on Saturday evening, sitting about 20 feet from Ewen McKenzie as he stood, with his lap top, on the 22. Firstly, it was a great game. Secondly, at the conclusion of the game, i watched the coach’s body language. He remained in his game spot for more than 5 minutes after the conclusion of the game. He then slowly walked onto the field, past the AB’s, and commenced speaking to AB coach Steve Hansen who was on the edge of his player group, in mid field. They spoke, with no eye contact for a minute or two. Link then crossed half way appearing to be heading for his distraught players, and where McKay and Blades already were. There was no acknowledgement from either the players to the coach, or coach to assistant coaches, or vice versa. Hooper was sitting on the dais. McKenzie approached Hooper, spoke for a brief time, during which time Folau walked past, reacted towards Hooper but completely ignored Coach McKenzie.
McKenzie then walked slowly back to the side line and off the field.
I was stunned at what I had witnessed. There are some very good and decent men in this team, both in the coaching and playing ranks. Clearly, even they could not rise above the still to be announced issues within this group. Even in their despair at the losing, again, on the bell, neither the coach or the players could raise even eye contact or a pat on the back.
I conclude that there has to have been some very, very serious goings on for this to occur, things that are at odds with the ability and potential of this team. We supporters must patiently wait. The truth will out, eventually.
SPIRO: Anatomy of the ARU-Beale crisis 2: Michael Cheika next Wallabies coach
finally rugby is learning from league that these sort of spats keep up the profile and supporter interest when there is nothing happening on the field or the TV!!! (Yes, this is tongue firmly implanted in cheek!!!)
For some fun, and with my crystal ball on the table in front of me, and a complete lack of data, what happened is this:
1. Patston and/or her role with the team wasn’t working, due to a combination of that she was unsuitable/ineffective in the role, the role was ill-defined, or she was indeed having the affair with Link). Nobody did anything to solve this. The players will always win this one when it is a mid level employee!!! Its the law of the jungle, supply and demand.
2. Beale was a goose in sending the text. One man’s childish prank is another one’s “highly offensive” text.
3. Beale did apologise, he was forgiven, Link knew about it at the time and then when it suited Patston, she resurrected it. Sounds very vindictive and high risk and selfish (trying to strengthen today’s case by using fully concluded past events) to me. Hardly the sort of person I would want around a fragile rugby team.
4. Beale will stay because he has the vocal senior player support. Link will go because he has lost the dressing room and said he didn’t know about the text in June when he did know.
5. Cheika will coach the Tahs in 2015 and then transfer to Wallabies for the World Cup. If the Tahs backline fires again in 2015, they will be the Wallabies back line, at 9,10,12, 13 15, with Kuridrani and Speight on the wings. Toomua will be on the bench.
6. NZ will still win the RWC but SA and Australia will threaten if they are on the very best game and they use their x factor players, including Skelton, Folau and Beale, effectively.
SPIRO: Anatomy of the Beale-ARU crisis: Heads must roll
finally rugby is learning from league that these sort of spats keep up the profile and supporter interest when there is nothing happening on the field or the TV!!! (Yes, this is tongue firmly implanted in cheek!!!)
SPIRO: Anatomy of the Beale-ARU crisis: Heads must roll
ARU needs to keep pace with teams from SA. It has the player base, albeit in either AFL and or NRL. This is the opportunity for ARU to seed more teams and maintain status quo. the more teams you have the more competition there is for Wallabies jerseys, and the more the code foot print in Aus grows. Simple economies of scale. (Happy New Year Brett)
Super Rugby future plans get wackier
outstanding article from an ideal perspective. I think that the honesty and perceptiveness that the white Rhino shows says it all. Here’s hoping that we all see much more of Clyde in 2014………..a truly awesome sight in full flight…………..
RATHBONE: My take on Jake's resignation
Brett, from the outside of Canberra looking in, this is much more than just a problem for Brumbies. Brumbies players now make up the majority of the national team, and correctly so. It is a disaster for Aust. Rugby. I think that they will rue the day that White was overlooked. It is not that Link is not a good coach, he is just not what is needed at the moment. Discipline is paramount and manipulation of the players (in a good sense) motivation and collectiveness. White is a master at this. Forget the rubbish about Brumbies playing style, they now provide 9-10-12-13 of the wallabies backline and scored more points than any other Aust team in super rugby 2013!!! Oh, and they made the final!!!!!
Jake White stuns the Brumbies with early departure
So, here is a practical approach.
Select the best 50 players ensuring that there are 25 Brumbies in there.
Ask them politely to form two lines, brumbies and others. then commence playing a game.
The best players get the jersey!!!!!
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
CH, cummins has great later last year. But form counts for a lot. In this article, being brumby is a msut have. he is not that much in form or good enough to override either Shipperley or tomane. its all about combinations
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
brett, thanks. Its not so much about Ben as it is Kimlin’s form. he has really matured in the six role and Auelua is awesome and deserves his chance. Its a tough one.
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
. Mowen was a tough one. its jsut that kimlin and auelua are playing so well. Mowen comes off the bench. Horwill and genia will provide the leadership.
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
spot on and he tried to shoehorn star individuals (barnes, beale) into that team………. and then instruct them to play percentage rugby.
If you were really serious about your team and playing against the lions, would you enter a boxing ring and risk damaging your hand with jsut one punch!!!!!!!! No sensible man would even consider this.
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
But the current mob have not delivered. If they are good enough, they are old enough. the new guys will be in familiar surroundings in terms of players and combinations and tactics.
Dont compromise the biggest test series by repeating the same mistake of picking the current mob of underperfromers and expecting a different outcome!!!!!!
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
JP, this is exactly the point. you simply use the brumbies play book. they already know it and its the sort of game that wins tight test matches. expand and adjust in later tests but the first one is critical.
JOC and Sugar ray Cooper are their own worst enemies. they have created their own problems and now they will suffer the consequences of not understanding the meaning of team.
I have it on good authority that the senior players were very unhappy that JOC/Beale and Cooper were cut so much slack by deans.
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
Dmac, I am not crowning the brumbies. It is about their playing style, their motivation, their cohesion and combinations and the passion and competitiveness.
you dont build a rugby team from scratch over night. the prep time for the first test is very limited.
With the brumbies, you get more than the sum of the parts.
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
mowen is on the bench. beale is in the dog house and would be a disaster in any team…………for the foreseable future.
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
Beale is toxic………brilliantwhen fit and in form but currently toxic. he punched his captain!!!!!!!
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
I dont understand. tell me more. If you are questioning my credibility, ask the 390,000 readers of previous articles.
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
hammer, it is much more than jsut selection. it is an approach from which selection flows. from the top, it requires a completely different, unselfish mindset.
How the Wallabies can defeat the 2013 Lions
Basketball needs a strong Syd kings and unfortunately, this mob ain’t that. Bring back the good old days!!!!!
Sydney Kings stunned by Perth Wildcats
Brett, Had all the best intentions to get to the game early to watch the NRC. But, the Chancer beer at the Regatta Hotel got in the way, together with catching up with 13 school mates I have known since, First Form, 1970! First time to Suncorp! What a wonderful stadium. Leaves ANZ well behind.
I am looking forward to the NRC semis. Central Coast stadium is also a great venue to watch Rugby at. Melbourne look too strong right across the pack, but would love to see the underdogs, NSW Country Eagles, and their unglamorous, unsung but highly effective halves pairings go all the way.
The NRC wrap Round 9: Yes, rugby was played over the weekend