Roar Rookie
Joined January 2015
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A rugby follower since birth.
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The Brumbies and Reds' performances against the Waratahs and Force respectively were excellent and showed something missing in Australian rugby for a long time:…
Dusty 10 thanks for your comments. Anyone selecting a team has blinkers on with some of their selections, this writer included. However I think you may have had a blindfold on when you say Wright hasn’t put a foot wrong this year lol. As I said in the article he has some undoubted skills (in attack) but he has continued to make errors that are never _ mentioned on the tv coverage. The way rugby is played these days, the 10 ends up playing close to half the game at the back so I’m comfortable that Donaldson will handle it. As a straight fullback Campbell is a long way in front of the rest of the pack and if he kicked goals would have been my first choice. IMO Kellaway has been a very good player who has been ruined with the constant change of positions and teams throughout his career. Had he been well managed purely as a fullback and I believe a goal kicker he could have been anything but his form this year is below par and seems to have lost pace. Some good discussion and thanks again for your opinion.
From Lynagh at No.10 to McReight as skipper: A Wallabies team to set the cat among the pigeons
Talking Rugby is what it is all about Rich lol.
From Lynagh at No.10 to McReight as skipper: A Wallabies team to set the cat among the pigeons
A good side Dom Serret, there are always close calls. I would go with that backrow if Wilson isn’t fit. Carter Gordon imo is another player who has been played in the wrong position. He would be one hell of a number 12 and if he had spent some time there he would have been in my squad.
From Lynagh at No.10 to McReight as skipper: A Wallabies team to set the cat among the pigeons
Beefa, I’ve had my comments on Wright but agree about Ryan Smith. One of the players I considered very unlucky. Josh Flook is another. If Hodgman is definitely available I’d have him in the starting side but I’ve heard conflicting stories whether he is eligible.
'His decision making is exceptional': Lynagh masterclass, Ryan hat-trick as future Wallabies help Reds stomp Force
Thanks, my mistake. Apologies to the Rebels.
'His decision making is exceptional': Lynagh masterclass, Ryan hat-trick as future Wallabies help Reds stomp Force
The Brumbies and Reds performances against the Waratahs and Force respectively were excellent and showed something missing in our rugby for a long time, neither team took their foot off the throat of the opposition and played out the 80 minutes. Having said that, they weren’t playing Kiwi teams but the Reds in particular have been very good against our friends from across the ditch this year.
Rugby in Australia at the top level is not in the perilous state that some would have us believe, perhaps with the exception of the front row. With coaches who are first of all good selectors and can then coach and improve the players they select, the Wallabies can work their way back up to being in the top two or three teams in the world. Fraser McReight is my clear choice as skipper and not just because he is one of a couple of automatic selections and plays a lot of minutes.
In order to set the cat among the pigeons here is my 1st test team.
15 Donaldson 14 Ryan 13 Ikitau 12 Paisami 11 Toole 10 Lynagh 9 McDermott 8 Wilson (if fit)
7 McReight (Capt) 6 Valetini 5 Rodda 4 Swain 3 Tupou 2 Faessler 1 Kailea (oh for a fit Angus Bell)
Reserves: Paenga-Amosa, Slipper, Alaalatoa, Uru, L Wright, J Gordon, Lolesio, Campbell
The good thing is there are some very unlucky players who have missed out. Frost, for example, had his best game for ages against the “Warastars” and if he retains that form would force a rethink. The team will cause grief to the Tom Wright fan club, particularly the Stan Sport team, but the mistakes that he still has in his game seem to be overlooked because of his undoubted skills in other areas. There is still a lingering feeling that in the heat of a Bledisloe, a single mistake can be costly.
In this “Rookie’s” opinion, Donaldson is potentially a long term 15 in the mould of a Matt Burke (solid, good pace, big boot and first choice goal kicker). Please note this not to suggest that he is in Burke’s class at this stage but has a similar style. There are already the comments around Ryan and Toole being inexperienced and too small. There is no substitute for real pace, the Springboks have proven that small wings cannot only handle test rugby but can be match and indeed World Cup winners.
So, let the fun and games begin.
'His decision making is exceptional': Lynagh masterclass, Ryan hat-trick as future Wallabies help Reds stomp Force
What an enjoyable article to read. Thank you for lightening the rugby mood!
If Australia is looking for big men, let's not neglect the old and the fat
Unfortunately the Brumbies continue to stumble in the big games. They continue to develop some outstanding players but can’t deliver when it counts. Second on the table was up for grabs. Surely a couple of the players being called certainties for the Wallabies must have damaged their selection prospects. They need to get back on the horse quickly, pardon the pun.
Brumbies 'systematically taken apart by the Blues' in 'non-contest' as Larkham's men cop huge reality check
Congratulations to all at the Force on a great game and win. We saw what would and should be the best balanced second row for this year’s Wallabies, Rodda and Carter. Big engines, uncompromising and skillful.
Also saw the best full back performance by an Aussie this year. I’ve not always been a KB fan but he has matured well.
Beale, Rodda shine on Super Rugby return as Force smash Crusaders to keep finals hopes alive
Thank you for an excellent article Ross.
You make highly relevant and valid points for the most part although some points are seen through that wonderful thing, hindsight. Your point that there is clearly a lack of grassroots knowledge of the game at Board level hits the nail on the head.
One suggestion you make in the article that I am unsure about, is that there be a general vote of rugby “shareholders” to elect the Board. I am not sure if it will achieve what we want and need. Using Qantas as an example, I’m not convinced the shareholder model will provide the desired outcome. Change appears to be happening now at Qantas but only after their Board ( elected by Qantas Shareholders ) has overseen a major loss of support of their customer base and general status in Australia.
Also, in my experience, State and Territory Rugby Boards were already elected by the grassroots members.
However, without an alternative model to propose, I believe your option warrants implementation as soon as possible. There isn’t much to lose !
COMMENT: Australian rugby is a depressing picture - the RA board must be axed and the constitution changed
I’ll believe all the hype written about the Brumbies every year about how they are the best team when they finally win another Super Rugby title. Tonight was a very tough and reasonably skilful match but you would think the Brumbies won by 20 the way journos and ex-players carry on. The Brumbies have unearthed two long term Wallabies in No 8 Cale and Winger Toole (shame the Brumbies didn’t use him tonight, another example of why they don’t win big matches). Had the Reds kicked their goals and the poor decision making around the scrums not occurred we would be talking about another Brumbies loss in a major game.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
There can be no doubt that the Brumbies have been the most consistent, not successful Australian Super Rugby team for twenty years. However the brutal truth is that it is also twenty years since they last won a title other than Super Rugby Australia. Clearly something is missing.
The biggest issue to be confronted by Australian rugby is not the number of teams or anything else, it is the clear lack of ability within Australia to produce high quality coaches in significant numbers.
As the great Dick Marks recently scribed, the lack of appropriate coaching accreditation is a blight on system.
How else can it be explained that Hookers can go all the way through “the pathway “ without having been taught how to throw the ball into the lineout or Halfbacks can’t pass a ball off the deck, just to name the two most obvious shortcomings commonly found in Australian professional rugby.
The three contenders to take over the Wallabies if Eddie Jones walks
Faessler should definitely be in instead of Uelese who is a great footballer but you simply can’t trust his throwing. Faessler is also a good jackal which is now missing.
'Butch defence, Larkham glide': What Eddie sees in Test rookie as Wallabies make SEVEN changes
Goal kicking is the big worry.
'Butch defence, Larkham glide': What Eddie sees in Test rookie as Wallabies make SEVEN changes
I believe Eddie Jones is currently the best coach to take the Wallabies forward and I’m certain there wouldn’t be a Wallaby who doesn’t give everything for the team.
However for Jones or any other coach to specify that the way to play rugby is currently x, y or z is wrong. In Australia where the coaching and growth of our young players does not match that of traditional rugby countries such as South Africa, New Zealand and Europe our national coach does not have access to multiple players in every position with the necessary skills, lineout throwing, kicking and halfback passing to name three. Basic skills that any underage player should possess.
The first and most important skill of being a good coach in Australia in particular is to be a good selector, after which you select the best players with the best skills available and then you determine what type of game you want to play. You don’t play running rugby or kicking rugby or heaven help us mauling off a line out rugby. You work out tactics that suit your team’s capabilities and will cause the opposition you are playing the most problems. Picking the best defensive players and going out to ensure the opponents don’t score is one possibility. Although not popular it’s one of a number of options to win big matches. Obviously the perfect game is played by defending, running, kicking, mauling and counter attacking etc. Oils ain’t oils as the saying goes, you play with what you’ve got and the opposition don’t.
In this test we tried to play the ball solely in Springbok territory but we simply don’t have the kickers to do that. Nic White gives 110% but he is not playing the game we need. Carter Gordon is going to be a long term Wallaby, if handled well, but half the reason he looked better than Cooper was Tate McDermott was inside him giving him the keys to the team. Anybody who has watched Quade Cooper over the years would be aware he is a confidence player who likes to lead. Give him the kick offs (I know he missed one), line kicks, goal kicks and the keys to how the game is played and you get the best out of him particularly with his maturity over recent years.
Australia gets carried away occasionally when NSW (2014) or Qld (2011) have a good season or the usual solid performance from the Brumbies who are always up the table, but I think it’s 2002 the last time they won a true Super Rugby title. We do not have the depth of other major international teams, it’s time we confronted the issue at the grassroots (a truly concerted effort to get the basics right from the beginning) and adopt smarter ways for the Wallabies to play at international level.
Wallabies player ratings: Forward pack eaten up, Suli taught a lesson and kicking game badly off
Not a bad team either Paddy Boy although I just can’t bring myself to agree with Wright at 15.
From Lynagh at No.10 to McReight as skipper: A Wallabies team to set the cat among the pigeons