Roar Pro
Joined August 2013
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The Waratahs have created an entertaining attacking game style with a twist - it's built on blue-collar grunt work. It doesn't rely on trick…
The kicking strategy did not work. Many are calling for a return to the ball in hand game plan. It's plain to see now…
There is a healthy debate in Australian rugby about playing with style versus playing for results, but is it really important how the Wallabies…
There has been some excellent analysis of the Wallaby/Springbok game during the week from Scott Allen, Brett McKay and other Roarers. Two particular issues…
There are a number of Wallabies who are making the step up from Super Rugby simultaneously, and we are paying for this lack of…
"We are in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me. And we can stay here and get the shit kicked out of us, or we…
From Bledisloe 1 to Bledisloe 2, New Zealand went from scoring 6 tries, to scoring 2. Australia went from scoring 2 tries, to scoring…
Looking at the first Bledisloe, the two teams played contrasting styles. Considering the few changes made to the teams, and the quick turn-around, it's…
I wrote an article last week on five KPIs that needed to be met for a Wallaby victory. They concerned technical aspects of the…
Ewen McKenzie has said attacking, running rugby will be back with his Wallabies. It's easier said than done. Test matches typically aren't won by…
I have been stewing on this article for a couple of years now, since about the time it dawned on me our national sporting…
God yes. A lot of eggs placed in the CFS basket – the guy has been in a doctors surgery 2 weeks out of the 3 since he left school – with no other line breaking options sought in the outside backs. Digby coming home would add more go-forward in the backline working directly off Genia or Cooper than O’Connor. Seems Carmichael is the stumbling block on that one though, as they fell out badly.
Are we ready for the third coming of JOC?
Agree with soapit – his pace is the last thing you need to worry about. Did you see him burn Billy Slater over 60m on the Rexona greatest athlete program? I know it was on sand and not playing for sheep stations, but he still has very good gas.
O'Connor to play wing: Graham
A bit small for 13? Could work with a big 12 alongside I guess.
O'Connor to play wing: Graham
Agree he is consistently a standout in the wing. He is quick enough to finish off every half chance on the outside, and great in traffic supporting off the inside shoulder of the 10. His feet are just incredible.
Are we ready for the third coming of JOC?
Probably tells you a lot about how Jim Carmichael views Richard Graham in his future plans, don’t you think? Overruling Graham is the first step in lessening his influence in preparation for a coaching change.
Are we ready for the third coming of JOC?
Yes the dickhead will come out, but it’s likely that Horwill would land one on him at training this time around. There won’t be any leeway given.
Are we ready for the third coming of JOC?
He is not a 10, the Lions series proved that. So you are looking at 15, 12, or 11/14.
In the Wallabies right now, I only see a chance on the wing for him, and he would be handy.
At the reds, he would be 12 or 15. He would be very effective in either position, but our need is probably greater at 15.
Are we ready for the third coming of JOC?
That’s about right. Keep in mind 2 things, though:
1. NZ had 5 teams from the outset
2. You can’t blame Australia for trying to stay financially afloat – Super Rugby with Australian participation is buggered if we can’t pay the bills at the pro level.
The more things change in Super Rugby, the worse they become
Felix, Australia and SA were arm in arm on the expansion from 12 to 14. Both wanted an extra team, and outvoted NZ who were happy with the 12.
The more things change in Super Rugby, the worse they become
Hi BB,
I love the heart on the sleeve here. I can relate to it, big time.
I started playing when I was 5, finished when I was 32, have since played Masters rugby, I coach it, I spend Saturdays watching my kids play at School, and in the afternoon I am either on the hill watching the Rats down the road from where I live, or watching first XV rugby supporting my kids school. I regularly download the video online to watch my old school win our first title in 20 years, the previous title featuring my younger brother all those years back.
The Reds won the Super title on my 40th birthday, and I was flown to Brisbane and given tickets to watch it with my boys – the best birthday present I could imagine. Memories came flooding of playing junior grand finals in bare feet on the hallowed turf at Ballymore, watching my first QLD game against Scotland at Ballymore in 1982. My then 15 year old and 11 year old sons cried at full time of that victory over the mighty Crusaders, as despite being born and raised on Sydney’s northern beaches they couldn’t avoid my passion for rugby and the Reds, and it’s theirs too.
I am not a religious man, but rugby for me is my religion. Rugby fans are the tribe I identify with, and gravitate towards.
BB – you and I, and most of the people on this site, are rugby tragics. Of course we know everything about the teams, where they are from, their style of play, their traditions, because we love it and we are interested in it.
Rugby in Australia has a latent audience that does not yet share our passion, but could be swayed this way. We need to help them come to an understanding of our game, by making it easy to understand who the teams are (why not have the place names in the team names, like we have here in Australia?), putting games on FTA, while staying financially solvent. If we don’t, we here will disappear up our own backsides.
I personally would hate to not play the SAF teams, but RUPA, the ARU, and most people on this site are just trying to find pragmatic ways to ensure the survival of the professional game in Australia. Unless SARU is going to give us a greater share of their TV revenue (of course they shouldn’t), or drop the 6th team, then we have to find a way to get TV revenue sufficient to keep pro rugby going.
The more things change in Super Rugby, the worse they become
That’s fair enough. Typical Aussies tend to like typical Aussie shows. Go figure?
Rugby union broadcasts need to get the basics right
I don’t want to get hung up on whether it’s Spiro or Wayne Smith, etc, just someone who works full time on rugby and is informed and not worried about offending others in the game.
Rugby union broadcasts need to get the basics right
Would love to see Scott Allen have a 10 minute analysis segment each week!
Rugby union broadcasts need to get the basics right
He has been on a rugby HQ and was a breath of fresh air, but is hemmed in by the structure of the show.
Rugby union broadcasts need to get the basics right
NOS, the key on those shows are that the people on them work exclusively in Rugby League, either in media related roles (Paul Kent, Matty Johns) specialist coaching roles (Matty Johns, Gorden Tallis), management roles (Ben Ikin, Blocker), development roles (Nathan Hindmarsh). It is their profession, their passion – their life.
The Rugby HQ guys are part timers who have real jobs in the corporate world, and barely have time to put make up on and get changed before the show. They don’t have time to do the preparation, the investigation, to get across the detail.
They add nothing to the general rugby conversation above what we fans speculate on. They are not insiders.
In contrast, I have heard the likes of Nick Farr Jones speak off the record at lunch engagements and you get real opinions on hard issues facing the game. Rugby HQ is in A parallel universe with its fingers in its ears as far as the state of the game goes.
Rugby union broadcasts need to get the basics right
Paul, It has occurred to me that there might be some corporate agenda in not pushing harder for controversial topics on that show. Then again, the other shows I mentioned are all on Fox too, and are outstanding.
Changing the Rugby HQ format to mirror NRL on Fox would be ideal. Paul Kent doesn’t give a stuff who he offends – he asks the hard questions and gives an informed opinion without sugar coating. Spiro or Wayne Smith would no doubt be similar if allowed to get on.
Unlike our current guys who are ex players who all have day jobs in the city earning big money and do some rugby punditry on the side, the NRL guys live and breath it. It’s all that they do so they are across every detail. Then alternating each week between past players, current coaches, and current players, and choosing guys who talk straight and give an opinion rather than media trained drivel.
It could be such a good thing for rugby’s profile if done properly, but it’s just a bunch of guys who are barely more informed of the machinations of the code than we are, so you get nothing from it.
Rugby union broadcasts need to get the basics right
I agree wholeheartedly. Rugby HQ, the only rugby program we have, is boring. NRL on Fox, Monday Night with Matty Johns, and The Back Page are variously hard hitting, insightful, topical, and funny. Rugby HQ is woefully off the pace – next Prop Model is just embarrassing. It needs the likes of Gordon Bray, Spiro, Wayne Smith, Rod McQueen, etc,etc to get people with an educated opinion on not just the games, but the issues around the games. It needs debate, disagreement, investigative journalism and hard hitting interviews. If Spiro sat at the desk with pulver, like Paul Kent does with NRL CEO David Smith on NRL on Fox occasionally, we could see some hard hitting questions. NRC, for example, or solving the revenue problem, or reforming schools rugby, or the club rugby scene, is NEVER mentioned on that show.
Rugby union broadcasts need to get the basics right
Why? Argentina was admitted without being in SR. And besides, my understanding is that the broadcast revenue from test matches from the Aus broadcasters is very valuable for Sanzar.
It's time for Australia to cast off the shackles of Super Rugby
It is still Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs in rugby and Qld Bulls, NSW Blues in cricket
It's time for Australia to cast off the shackles of Super Rugby
As a rugby fan, SR is great footy. I would hate to lose it. But the facts are the facts and we need to find a way to increase TV revenue. I think there is a solution within SR, but clearly not in the proposed format.
It's time for Australia to cast off the shackles of Super Rugby
See Ben Darwin’s article today…place names are important. Casual sports fans don’t know what cities these teams represent so struggle to identify with them as either friend or foe. They would rather know we are playing Durban or Auckland, than Blues and Sharks. It is a problem
It's time for Australia to cast off the shackles of Super Rugby
Absolutely love that team.
One criticism, need another lineout jumper in the back row, so either Wilson or Poido have to go. I would stick with Poido. Who to put at 6 then? Cockbain. Ball running workhorse, big hitter in defence, excellent lineout jumper.
The Golden Wallabies - Australia's best ever XV