Sorry.. but Daugunu covers no-one….

I truly do not see what we see in him.. he is fast, yes, but most certainly does not have the creativity of Ili.. nor the general skillset / kicking of Hodge…. or anyone really…

Struggles to catch the ball….cannot kick or pass very well, so only option is to run….then is 50/50 to hold onto the ball in contact…

I see him as a net negative to the Rebs… the rest of their back 3 is strong IMO.

You are 100% correct in the fact that the CIA coined the term “Blowback” during its campaign in / against the drug cartels of Columbia…

You are 100% incorrect in the fact it was to describe unintended consequences.

The CIA are not that smart. They kinda talk literally.

Whey they said “blowback” they were literally talking about getting their “blow back” ….. No one likes to lose tonnes of cocaine… Especially not the CIA.

“It is obvious, from the success he has had as a coach, that Eddie is a good coach. What is also obvious, the role of Wallabies coach was to much for him to take on”

I would suggest it is obvious he WAS a good coach…but he has not shown anything in the last few years that would suggest he was STILL a good coach.

If RA had actually paid attention to his last few years at England, they would have seen this as it was very clear the wheels had fallen off. He has seemed bereft of any real coaching direction and has simply relied on “trust me..we are building” line despite absolutely zero evidence being shown of that.

Just like with Aus, his game tactics, squad selections and coaching appointments were eratic and seemingly haphazard. His relationship with the press was caustic and childish. His approach was clearly dictatorial – the astounding numbers of assistance coaches he burned through was testament of that – coupled with the ousting of any senior players the probably didn’t just say “yes sir” . And finally, he was stubborn and refused to cede any element of accountability of accept any feedback – becoming even more beliggerant when things were turning southward.

It’s easy to say this in hindsight ( 20-20 vision and all that ) but really, this was never going to end well…

We are all being a bit too harsh on Eddie. Not everything he said was bullshit…He did say as he flew out that;

“We’ve got a young squad here. They’re going to make some waves at France”

They ( and he ) sure did make some waves…pity for us there were just wipeouts!

I think this overly simplifies the Irish game.. if you look at their tries against Scotland.. most of them came from very complex, intricate rugby executed to perfection.
No one thing that requires outrageous skills … except the skill of being able to the core basics of ruby time and time again without error…. but 15 of those little things put together in perfect timing with everyone doing their job.
To be honest that Scotland game, well the first half, was as complete a demolition of a top 5 team as I have seen in a long time.. Scotland had zero answers and Scotland are a bloody good team. It was impressive.
Totally agree that if ABs win, it will rank highly… they can absolutely do it.. but they will need to play very very well to do it.

Lol

Wallabies by 12…

Wait.. what??

Goes to show the importance of system / coaching and likely more at a club level than international… none of these players were ever really on our radar until they went OS

– Dempsey ( tried but discarded )
– Hansen
– Tuipulotu
– Ritchie Arnold
– Jermaine Ainsley ( just played for Maori All blacks!! )
– Angus Ta’avao ( not Aus qualified but as a case in point……Played 3 seasons for Blues… then came and played 2 seasons for Tahs..who so thoroughly ruined him that he went back to NZ domestic rugby… before getting back to chiefs and now AB’s )

Just imagine if we have world class coaching / systems….

Correction – “In fact, the only thing holding both back from RE-CREATING the most infuriating outcome to the North in history…..”
The 2016 6 Nations was re-named to the “World Cup 5th Place Play-off” … well it was by SANZAAR anyways! ????

Yes yes yes and yes.

Now..time for me to play the cynic.

The “hidden in plain sight” part of all this is that RA probably don’t really care if they have to foreclose on Eddie in, say, 2026…. he will have done his job…. and that job is to crank up the PE deal.

Sure it will cost em to punt him, but this whole move now to displace Rennie and put Eddie in has been as much about setting RA up in a better position for the PE deal that is due this year.

Increase interest in the game, increase column inches in the print media, increase minutes on the screen media, increase ticket sales, successful WRC campaign ( not even winning..but just doing better than everyone expected ) gives RA a much more valuable asset for which they can sell their souls. Stronger position to bargain and that means they could well end up with many millions of $ MORE than had we continued the same trajectory.

That EASILY pays for EJ’s payout… it also, no doubt, contributes to McClennan’s bonus and golden handshake ( likely at some stage before the wheels fall off the EJ train ) he claims for walking away having done such a marvelous job.

Never forget… it’s all about the money.

And that NZ’s female PM should have had a sock shoved down her throat…

I have met more fossils from the Mezozoic that are more in touch with today than him.

AJ vs EJ in balttling it out in the Press??
Hear me know, believe me later.
AJ sold his Southern Highlands mansion on the assumption he was getting the call up to coach the Wallabies. The he got gazumped by EJ. AJ, incensed, starts plotting revenge.
AJ decides agianst a war of attrition – he wants to wipe EJ in 1 move…. so he gathers his biggest / baddest weapons and attacks with all guns blazing….leading with words like “sociopath” and “psychopath”….. and laying waste to the reputation of the one they call “Eddie”…. then sits back and quietly hums to himself as he appreciates his most magnificent work. He patiently waits for the smoke to dissappear so he can revel in looking down on a desmembered EJ lying in pices on the ground…
After minutes, the smoke finally starts to lift… then, as in a dream, through the smoke he sees the outline of a small, bald headed man…. and wafting on the breeze, AJ hears chuckling and what sounds for all the world like “I will let the one go through to the keeper” ….
( reminds me of the scene in Independance Day when they launch the nuke strike and all cheer when the vidoe feed goes out… then it comes back and there is the mothership..,. untouched… )

you betcha Tommy

All Class.

If you happen to be reading DR – I can only apologise – it wasn’t right.

Thankyou for your grace and poise in the face of ridiculous circumstances. You were, are and will always be, a man of your word – in stark contrast to the used car salesman that is the RA Chair. You had the opportunity to back out when the RA coup happened as you took up the role… you didn’t….you honoured your word when many would have turned and fled…. pity we could not show you the same integrity in return.

I am glad you know that the players had your back – as it sure looked that way to an outsider.

Go well mate. No doubt we will see you around the traps.

Cheers

#inRenniewetrust
#DRabetteraussiethanHM

5 years would have been demanded by EJ… and RA have just said “yes” to whatever he wanted to get him.

Gut feel says it was always going to be 4 years… starting 2024 and covering lions & home WC..but they brought it forward 1 year when he got ditched.

yup…we sure are.

RIP DR… you wil be missed old chap.

I most definitly bought what you were selling…

Nice read.

Tend to agree with everything.

My 3.67 cents ( inflation has been high this year! ) is that they had to OFFER 5 years for Eddie to take the job… so they did.

There has already been talk about EJ having interest the game’s broader set-up… the Wallaroos appoitnment speaks to that. EJ actually mentions in one of his books that he would love to take on a role in the future that was less coaching and more system management.

Hamish McClennan may be many things, but stupid he is not. He will KNOW that potential EJ year 3 curse ( England 2018 & England 2022 ) … he also knows that 2023 will be the year that the Private Equity deal is done… and the value of that will be linked, directly, to the frequency and vlume of Rugby being in the public discourse… already EJ has boosted that and an “unexpected” performance at RWC23 will obviously help that.

Get EJ in with promise of 5 years…. boost the private equity deal value…. hopefully ride the EJ wave to the Lions tour… then move him into his “director of rugby” type role for the last 2 years ( or pay him out with all the extra money we have from the PE deal ) and give a “nice” australian coach a shot at the 27 home world cup.

Speaking of great fielders…

Boony
Mervy
Warney
Ritchie-y
Rackermany
Tubby
Lehmany
Finchy
Cosgrovey

Great read JD!

On a side note… Always felt sorry for anyone that had an “annus horribilis” …. Sounds terribly painful

Here is hoping that one Jonny Hill is now ( finally ) on the radar of the Ref’s… “Been doing it all day ref”

He is a genuine grub and should have been at least yellow carded in the Brisbane test the double fist to the face of Swain…

Unfortunately, he is probably never going to play for England again….

It’s the mo…. word on the street is the ladies love it… so Faf is back to his best in front of hordes of adoring women…

In terms of players… I actually think the 2023 team will be significantly better than 2015 in many positions assuming they are fit . A couple of key positions, 2015 are def better served, but overall 2023 squad is a step up I think. If you lined them up side by side and picked who you would take… I think 2023 would get more…

Props – Holmes / Kepu / Slipper / Sio / Toby Smith vs Slipper / Bell / Sio / AAA / Tupo – you take Slipper / Sio / Bell / Kepu / Tupo / AAA ( 2023 =4, 2015 = 3 )

Hookers – Moore / Palota Nau / Hansen vs Porecki / FF / Lonergan – easily take Moore / TPN and Porecki ( 2023 = 1 / 2015 = 2 )

Locks – Carter / Mumm / Douglas / Simmons vs Frost / Skelton / Arnold / Rodda – you could argu take all 4 from 2023… but lets leave Douglas or Simmons in place of Rodda. ( 2023 = 3, 2015 = 1 )

Backrow – Pockock / Hooper / Fardy / McCalman / McMahon vs Hooper / Valentini / Holloway McReight / Samu – You take Pocock / Hooper / Samu / Fardy / Valentini ( 2023 = 3, 20015 =3 )

No 9’s – 2015 – Genia / Phipps vs White / McDermott …. you take Genia / White ( 2023 = 1, 2015 = 1 )

10’s – 2015 Cooper / Foley / Toomua vs Cooper / Foley / Lolesio – You take cooper / foley / toomua ( 2023 = 2, 2015 = 3 – although 2015 versions of cooper / foley could be argued to be better than 2023 )

Centres – Kurindrani / Giteau / Horne / Beale vs Kerevi / Ikitau / Paisami / Perese – you take Kerevi / Giteau / Beale / Ikitau ( 2023 = 2, 2015 = 2 )

Back 3 – Folau / Mitchell / Tomane / Speight – 2023 vs Kellaway / Wright / Banks / Nawaqanitawase / Korobiete – You take Folau / Korobiete / Nawaqanitawase as x factor / Kellaway ( 2023 = 3, 2015 = 1 )

Obviously some subjective calls in there.. but I think there are more LOCKED in guys from 2023 squad…( some of which were in 2015 sqaud too to be fair )

2023 LOCK-ins – Slipper, Hooper, Valentini, White ( behind Genia ), Cooper, Tupo, Bell, Skelton, Frost, Samu, Kerevi, Korobiete.

2015 LOCK-INs – Pocock, Slipper, Hooper, Moore, TPN, Fardy, Genia, Cooper, Giteau, Folau.

As such, I actually see the 2023 team being really good pound for pound and with some genuine world class players in some positions…… we just lack stars that are in their prime years in the 10 & 15 jerseys and a bloody hooker than can throw lineouts stright… either good players that are in final stages of careers or young players yet to be proven.

Obviously, the 2003 / 1999 teams were the best ever in Wallaby jerseys….and we definitely considered best in the world at times during that period. The 1991 team has an outstanding mix of class senior players with a solid group of emerging supoerstars… so always a bit harsh to compare a team aginst them.

Penrith would likely beat Aus / NZ too in 50% of games i rekon.

Coheision is, quite simply, the biggest determining factor in a team sport like Rugby / Soccer / League / AFL.

Teams that train and play with each other for years will more often beat teams pulled together for short periods – assuming they are of a similar overall standard. None of Penrith’s starting 13 would be far from any of those national teams…

Agree totally re Hooper / Gamble / McReight… I just think McReight plays too small for international rugby where backrows are huge and he is trying to tackle big men runnig much harder than they do in SR.

Disagree re Holloway… I think he is perfect foil for Hooper & Valetini.

Definitely disagree with BPA…. Porecki a post code away in 1st…. and Lonergan for mine in 2nd.

Definitely disagree with Simmons AND Arnold AND LSL. Rodda starts with Skelton on bench for mine. And you also have Neville a mile in front of Simmons & LSL – Arnold could be argued to be 4th in line…

Absolutely NO question on Samu … Samu is almost the 1st picked in the 23 …at number 20… he is just too good off the bench… ( same as Skelton )

Come on mate… they are some pretty broad comments slamming the current RA group without actually specifying what they “haven’t done” or what you would expect them to actually be doing. I think some of your arguments hold true for years past but not the current group.

1 – Re Pathways / Talent building – I would argue the current RA administration has done a bit in this regard. Re-introduction of Aus A sides and competing in pacific nations cup / japan tours. Strengthening of SR club academies. Broadcast deals that include club rugby. The start of professional women’s SR sides. Changes & support for the 7 sides – looking to become professional. All of these activities designed to combine to improve the identification & capture of talent into Rugby generally and ultimately the Wallabies specifically.

2 – Re Marquee players.. the only one recently as been Vunivalu… and that was signed before this RA group was formed. Goodness knows he will be back in league by next year and I am pretty confident that money will be going to retain a proven Rugby talent form going to France / Japan. Beyond that, I have not seen any “marquee” players signed from outside Rubgy circles.

3 – Parochialism – word from the street is that the SR clubs have been certinaly coming into the fold with the aim to improve Wallabies performance. Rennie has been very active in this regard …. They have continued to support the Force and fight NZR to keep 5 teams when the easy route would have been to drop either Rebels or Force or both.

4 – Rennie has been coach for the 3 years…. and they have confirmed him through until the WC which was his original contract… quite rightly, they will review that based on performance but I would actually expect him to continue… Re Super rugby teams… NSW has had some changes ( defiitely needed and proven by last years results to be warranted ) .. QLD have had Thorne for 4 years now… Brumbies same same for years… Force have been settled whilst back in SR and Rebels have churned …but again, results indicated the needed change… 7’s coaches have been same for 6 years ( although they did swap between men / womens and back again ) …..The only “firing” of coaches recently was Dwayne Tink for the Wallaroos last year… and that was behavioural based on conduct unbecoming. They have also been focussed on bringing Australian coaches back to Australia and ensuring that all coahces in Rennie’s team have been Australians ( eg wisemantle , mckellar etc )

5 – Re private equity… they obviously see an injection of money as vital to continue to do all the things mentioned above – Australia A, Academies, Professional Super W & 7’s teams, growing Club rugby…. it ALL costs money… so I would say they are not expecting “miracles” but most deifnitely understand they need money … and if they are going to do private equity, the time is NOW – Lions in 25 and World Cup in 27 makes the deal attractive to a Private Equity consortium as they will see returns – so they will never get a better price than now. In addition, RA need the money now to secure the merging talent up until 2027. Aus winning a home world cup is the biggest opportunity for the game in decades… and is the single biggest drawcard they have for 16-20 year olds that are, right now, choosing their future betwene league and Rugby… as such they need money NOW to secure them in the game ensure that we have the next generaiton of players to take over from the current emerging crop.

If you are able to articulate what RA should be doing that is better than what they are doing currently, I am all ears – as I am sure mopst Rugby lovers would be.