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Joined July 2014
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I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.
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Thanks for a great read again Nic!
I said it the other week but we are really in trouble when the ref impacts the play do much (even without the slowing down call). WR can’t be happy with this but we hear nothing.
It’s sad because it over shadows the actual game half the time.
The rule book doesn’t help the refs to be fair but I don’t recall the reffing of the breakdown ever being this variable and impactful? Maybe we should ban the jackal to rapidly simplify the breakdown? Is it just too complex to ref as it is or do we need to demand more from refs? Or do we go the other way and say who cares about hands past the ball?
Re the back row make-up Samu was probably the best 6 in Super Rugby in AU so not surprised he stepped up. Offers way more than Leota outside hard ball carrying. McReight the future Hooper and Harry Wilson is going to have a hell of a hard time getting the 8 off Valetini.
Biggest dilemma for Rennie is perhaps what to do with Foley. But for Lolesio’s concussion I doubt he would have played. Now what? Was he always just a back up to the back up and we send him back to Japan or do we persevere and get him ready to play behind QC?
ANALYSIS: How Wallabies' big body theory panned out at Marvel, and what to do with Pete Samu after stunner
Fair point Nik! Need the cattle as well. Lord can only do so much. Frustratingly this has been a known gap in the Wallabies for a long time, just like their clearances, but we’ve seen very little progress. Crystal balling I reckon Bell, Latu, HJH would be a bloody good “on ball” front row and also pretty handy around the park! Prorecki OK too. Slips, 7As and FF are more traditional specialist front row with less to offer outside core roles. In the backs we’ve seen perhaps only Daugunu as being a genuine pest over the ball. I was hoping Kerevi with his 7s exposure would be an improve at ruck time but injury crueled us getting a look there.
ANALYSIS: The biggest challenge facing Dave Rennie if he's to avoid another Bledisloe blow
The Wallabies have noticably being staying out of rucks and commiting minimal players. I assume to ensure a strong defensive line but we are missing a trick. Often times in a game I’ll see a the Wallaby tackler get back to their feet with no thought of a pilfer or the first man in just marks up as the pillar or to stop a pick and go. Not very aggressive. The individual players need to be better at picking their moments and of course have better pilfering skills. We’ve got Lord Laurie in the saddle now and he is meant to be a breakdown wizard so hopefully this is somethng that can be remedied post haste.
ANALYSIS: The biggest challenge facing Dave Rennie if he's to avoid another Bledisloe blow
Absolutely Brett I’m dreaming a bit on this one but I hope WR is at least having this sort of conversation. If they believe everything is hunky dory as is then we’ve got problems.
Tweak the bench: Learn to love fatigue again and the game will be better off
Right but the point stands – there isn’t enough space on the pitch. The point is I think something needs to be done. What that is I’m open to all suggestions. Just throwing this one out there.
Tweak the bench: Learn to love fatigue again and the game will be better off
If WR don’t budge on this then dropping a loose forward could be another option with 14v14. Fact is players are too fit now and along with substitutes the gaps in 15v15 on a 50m wide field are no longer there. Rugby is less exciting for it.
Tweak the bench: Learn to love fatigue again and the game will be better off
Thanks as always Nick. The variability in how refs police the breakdown is I think rugby’s biggest problem right now. It can have such a huge impact on the outcome of the game that I’m sure the bookies look at who is reffing a game when deciding the odds. In such a subjective area with so many moving parts it’s almost impossible for the ref to make the right calls every time. Given this I think we need to seriously consider simplifying the rules around the ruck. I liked how NH refs last season were super strict on “rolling away” but that seems to have faded a bit and the laws may need tweaking. Whether that’s allowing a wider gate or even removing the pilfer altogether and making the ruck about pushing the other team off the ball I’m not sure. What I do know is that currently it’s too complex and having too much of an impact on the outcome of the game.
ANALYSIS: How break downs at the breakdown cost the Wallabies, and the changes needed before ABs clash
Good stuff Brendon. To me this tells me we should tweak the rules to make securing your own ruck easier. As you analysis shows there is little reward for playing multi phase rugby unless you’re camped in your opponen’ts 22.
Rugbycology: 'Coach killers' - High Risk Errors and what they tell us about the four Rugby Championship rivals
BB is a brilliant ball playing 15. He ain’t a 10. He’s been less effective since moving there. The fact he’s a freak talent papers over the fact he isn’t a test match 10. No brainer for me with Mounga at 10. The Barretts can fight it out for starting 15.
Coach’s Corner: Why Foketi is serious contender after Samu blow, which No.10 gives ABs best shot to beat Boks
I learnt that England are still very one dimensional, just very good at that dimension, and they still can’t score tries as evidenced in the 6Ns.
I learnt that the Wallabies attack is not skillful/cohesive enough to execute the plan with an over reliance on brute force. Would love to see the high skill forwards/backs interplay that Ireland do in Tests and the Tahs do at Super level. You can see Gus Bell has the best hands in the tight 5 and it’s no wonder because he does it all day at the Tahs. Leota, Bobby V, Phillip, etc use size not guile to make gainline. Really think Holloway could have complemented the Wallaby pack beautifully. Basically not enough Tahs! 🙂
The Thursday Two-up: What we learned about RWC rivals , which team produced the biggest surprise
Quick thoughts on off season goals for the 5 AU teams:
– Brums: figure out who the new 12 and 15 will be and find a replacent for Sio. Try to not let McKellar’s departure derail the game plan. Larkham will want to make his mark but that could risk undoing the years McKellar has put in. Glad Lord Laurie is staying put!
– Reds: Brett nailed this one. I would add that Thorn may want to evolve his coaching style. Great at building a squad but what about managing a mature side. Different skill set for a coach.
– Tahs: figure out how to get proper size in the pack. Blues and Chiefs games showed that with enough big runners the valiant Tah defence was conceding the gain line and ultimately the game. Figure out how to integrate Beale and Nadolo. Nadolo especially could be a game changer as a genuine freak who can do things others can’t. Even at his age he was carving in the English Prem this year.
– Force: Biggest challenge of all. Big player turnover and a new coach with, so far, limited new signings. Cron needs to get in their ASAP. Sort the squad. Go on tour and play some games.
– Rebels: Depth the key word. When they had the first team with Pone and Leota etc all fit they showed good signs. Hoesea missed the whole season so lets not forget about his talent. Foote needs to find a clear identity for the Rebels play as well. Looked all over the place this year.
What lessons must Australia's Super Rugby sides learn for next season?
Nadolo has been carving in the English Premiership despite his age. He’s like a good version of Naiyaravoro. He does things others can’t. I’m really excited to see him cause some havoc next year.
Nine transfers that would spice up Super Rugby in 2023
SA is a bit of a basket case TBH. At one of their top level games on the weekend they had a powercut and the game had to stop (if you didn’t know they have rolling blackouts around the country because they can’t manage their power grid and it’s been going on for years). They literally can’t even guarantee they can keep the lights on so no way WR is going to risk an event there right now. Feel sorry for the fans but a RWC is worth too much money to risk on SA right now.
The Wrap: The light at the end of Australian rugby’s tunnel isn’t an oncoming train after all
Isn’t it the same game plan that has been beating the Kiwi’s for years now? Beat them up front and in tight and deploy a judicious kicking game that doesn’t allow them to use their ball in hand skills. Clearly hard to execute other NZ wouldn’t be the benchmark but I’m not sure there are any secrets in what the Brums are doing!
ANALYSIS: Why Lord Laurie is still king of the contact zone
The Rebels may as well just steal the Tahs tagline and add 1 to it. #reset23. There is nothing but to pick and stick and let the combos develop no matter how rough it’s going to be.
The Melbourne Rebels are stuck in a moment they can’t get out of
6:2 bench. Will Harrison to cover for Gordon if required. Bit of a risk but need the forwards firepower v the Brums
Super Rugby Teams Round 3: The return of the Hunter as Reds head west
Cheers Geoff. I was thinking from the strict legal point of view around protecting the participants in their sport. Hadn’t really thought about it from trying to encourage participation. In that sense rugby and fight sports couldn’t be further apart! It’s going to be a tough balance for rugby to land on appropriate levels of risk but with the cat of the bag in terms of the long term impacts of concussion the sport has to change something. Thanks again Geoff.
The Wrap: Rugby enters 2022 confused, off kilter and at a major crossroads
Great article Geoff! I was thinking though how does a sport like boxing or MMA avoid all this chat when the sole point of those sports is to render your opponent unconcious?
The Wrap: Rugby enters 2022 confused, off kilter and at a major crossroads
Hooper should have been 8.5 and a dead cert for John Wales medalist. Otherwise bang on with the assessment I reckon. Great review of the crew across the season.
Glimpses of greatness and lamentable let-downs: Wallabies 2021 player ratings
I knew Piutau and Pollard were on the top dollars but I still can’t believe it. Neither get anywhere near a World 15 side. Yes great players but not the best by any measure.
One Wallaby on rugby rich list top 10 as Bok, ex-All Black share No.1 spot
Japan turned out to provide the itchy bum game we were worrying about Baz! Glad we found a way to win (again) despite not being at our best. Good signs and we did after all score 5 tries to 2 so not all doom and gloom after the match up. Onwards and upwards!
The Thursday rugby two-up: Spring Tour hopes and dreams
3-1 record for the Wallabies but not sure who they’ll drop a game against. I can see them winning against every team but also see a possibility of a loss to any one of our opponents. If forced I’d tip to recent history and say we lost to England, even with a lot of changes in their squad.
In terms of players it’s really all about Perese and Skelton. We know Arnold is a gun but Skelton hasn’t played a test for 5-6 years and we need to see if his heart is in it.
The Thursday rugby two-up: Spring Tour hopes and dreams
Yawn about the Exeter Chiefs. There is a soccer team on South Africa with practically the same logo and nobody seems to care. They are called the Kaiser Chiefs believe it or not (same as the band). Maybe they shouldn’t appropriate the German language and native North American icons.
Rugby World: What SBW owes to Mundine and Wilkinson, McMahon out of Japan clash, Faf's woe
Looking at that list how good would a SH “lions” team be!?
Seven Wallabies, five All Blacks and three Boks in our Team of The Rugby Championship
Glad I’m not the only one who’s been swinging from Foketi’s nuts this year. Arguably with Perese was a better combo than Simone and Ikitau this year but injury crueled that show.
Re Foley letting others take the first play – on closer inspection he seems to be organising the players about him to give himself that second play opportunity. He’s not just sitting around hoping Foketi or Ikitau make a good first play. Am I onto something here or he really just floating around waiting for an opportunity?
ANALYSIS: How Foley really handled recall, what it says about Aus rugby, and teammate he owes big time