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Joined August 2020
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Author, jazz musician, teacher and rugby lover. Definitely not a rugby player - absolutely hopeless at that.
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Some of it reminded me of the football world cup. Incessant whinging, staying down to milk penalties, etc. Unbecoming of NZ rugby.
Reds snap 25-year drought in Christchurch to beat Crusaders as Wilson, Ryan star
I noticed that too. Went very quiet. The bloke is hyper-competitive but lacks the decency and good sportsmanship to acknowledge good performances from Aussie sides.
Reds snap 25-year drought in Christchurch to beat Crusaders as Wilson, Ryan star
Have been far too many cheap shots from the Crusaders over the years (Moody and Owen Franks have been guilty of some especially thuggish ones against Oz teams, most of which went unpunished in Chistchurch). I still remember the Saders no 6’s two head shots on Michael Hooper at Leichardt Oval last year, too – he was badly concussed from those and I’m sure those shots helped push him out of the game prematurely.
Reds snap 25-year drought in Christchurch to beat Crusaders as Wilson, Ryan star
Salakaia-Loto deserves a spot. He seems to be our best scrummaging lock, and the Rebels habe pretty much collapsed without him.
Reds snap 25-year drought in Christchurch to beat Crusaders as Wilson, Ryan star
Can’t see much wrong with that team, although Slipper is starting to remind me of Phil Vickery at the end of his career – his powers might be fading just a little. Marley Pierce might be worth a go at loose-head in the absence of Bell – he’s got huge upside. Like Paul Cully, I’d also be investing in Tom Lynagh rather than Noah Lolosio – Lynagh seems to have a calmness about him that will serve him well in test rugby.
Reds snap 25-year drought in Christchurch to beat Crusaders as Wilson, Ryan star
Great to see another prop who is at the level of AAA and Tupou, especially when the latter two are coming back from injuries. Marley Pierce looks promising as well, as does the Rebels’ loose-head. Massimo de Lutiis up in Qld will also be quite special, all going well.
Reds snap 25-year drought in Christchurch to beat Crusaders as Wilson, Ryan star
Rodda and Carter looked far more impressive than Neville and Swain. If they keep that up they’ll both be chances for the Wallabies. I’d like to see Skelton picked again, too.
Beale, Rodda shine on Super Rugby return as Force smash Crusaders to keep finals hopes alive
I’ve been impressed by Julian Heaven at the Waratahs. Has a great frame for a hooker and seems to do this basics well. One to watch.
Aussie-born England capped rake Nic Dolly signs with Force ... and he'll soon be eligible for the Wallabies
The 2023 Boks are a strong team, no doubt – especially in the forwards. They have a scrum, and a reserve scrum, that is the envy of most. But they were not clearly the better team than Ireland, NZ and France; indeed, they lost to Ireland in the pool games and only just snuck past France and NZ. I actually though that France were the strongest team this year – it was a shame they couldn’t win it.
If we’re to compare eras, I actually think that the 1987 and 2015 All Blacks were arguably the most dominant teams compared to their rivals. The 1991 and 1999 Wallabies were both excellent, too, as was the 2003 English teams. After that I’d say the 2009 Boks. I’ve never felt that the Boks had the extreme quality at 10 to really lay claim to the the title of best ever team, whereas Australia (Lynagh and Larkham), NZ (Fox and Carter) and England (Wilkinson) certainly have had that in spades. All of these teams have had outstanding packs, all the AB packs in 1987 and 2015 stand a little taller than the rest, for mine.
But if I had to choose the team that most stirred the emotions – that played the most beautiful rugby I’ve yet seen – it was the 1984 Wallabies. THAT was a team for the true believers.
Legacies can't be won: History won't look back kindly on Rassie's Springboks
Well done All Blacks – did the southern hemisphere proud. That final 20 minutes from Jordie Barrett was just monumental. (If only the Wallabies had a 12 of that calibre – Samu L
Kerevi’s tournament was lamentable.) Still not convinced, however, that the ABs have the tight five to win the whole thing – I guess we’ll find out! Commiserations to Ireland, too – a wonderful team over many years, and probably deserving of a WC win.
37 phases and OUT! Whitelock the hero as All Blacks win epic RWC QF to break Ireland's hearts again
On May 5, 2007, the Queensland Reds – then coached by Eddie Jones – lost 92-3 (!) to the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfield. I remember that game vividly – the Reds played the same one-out, bash-it-up stuff that the Wallabies dished out last night v Wales. On both occasions, one has to wonder: where is the shape in attack? Why is the set piece so bad? Why has the defence completely fallen apart? When Eddie gets it wrong, he gets it badly wrong. But he is capable of strategic master-strokes, too. At this stage I think the Wallabies badly need someone who can give them some shape – Jamie Joseph would be perfect.
The Wrap: With Wallabies done and dusted in 15 miserable days, who do we trust to take Australian rugby forward?
Actually an excellent team on paper – the forward pack is the best we’ve fielded in years, and there are plenty of threats in the backline. Carter Gordon could be anything if he gets his confidence up, and we’ve finally got some genuine size/power from 11 to 14. Not at all convinced by the Donaldson selection – Max Jorgensen will surely be playing before long – but if Carter is struggling with his goal-kicking, it can be rationalised on those grounds. Go the Wallabies! I think they’ll have far too much for Georgia.
Comment: Eddie Jones has taken risks by naming his big three for Wallabies opener - but he had to
“Australia has front row issues, which is like saying Greece is facing a budget crisis.”
A very evocative simile, Harry, but a little unfair methinks. Apart from a short period when Al Baxter and Matt Dunning were getting their skeletons rearranged by Carl Hayman, Andrew Sheridan et al, Australia has mostly had quite a strong scrum; indeed, at the last two worlds cups the Wallaby pack gave their northern rivals (England and Wales) a bit of a towelling. The current Wallaby props, Bell and Tupou, are potentially every bit as robust as the South Africans; they just need far more experience. The replacement props, Slipper and Pone, are not at the “Bomb Squad” level, but I wouldn’t quite compare them to the Greek budgetary situation – Pone in particular could scare a few opponents, especially in the loose – he has huge potential at No3. The weak link is definitely at hooker – Marx is way ahead of Porecki here, even though the latter is a fine technician and a good lineout thrower. My sense is that the Wallaby pack is on the up, big-time, and might surprise a few people at this world cup. They ain’t the Boks, sure, but they’re capable of parity against just about all of the top-tier teams.
Packs Power Rankings: Boks' 'bomb squad' edges France, injured Wallaby who Eddie can't replace
No fly-half needed against the Georgians?
Predicted Wallabies 23 for RWC opener: Front row tweak, bag handler to finisher, what to expect from Georgia
Faessler played superbly on debut, but it appeared the Kiwi loosehead targeted his right shoulder on those final three scrums, and the tight-heads were either too fatigued (Pone) or too naive (Nongorr) to help him out. Was it legal scrummaging from the ABs? Didn’t appear so to me. But certainly effective.
Wallabies player ratings: Young forwards fire but key players struggle in Bledisloe heartache
Some interesting younger players could yet come into the mix post WC. Lachlan Hooper (Tom’s younger brother), Teddy Wilson and Max Jorgensen all look extremely promising. Joseph S might yet prove the hype (and money) is worth it, too. Good times ahead for Eddie with this team, methinks.
Wallabies player ratings: Young forwards fire but key players struggle in Bledisloe heartache
Great job Roar journos! Really appreciate your efforts.
It's not Eddie's first rodeo, but old school methods could leave behind a trail of broken bodies
I really like what Eddie is doing so far. We’re not winning matches, sure, but he’s blooding talented younger players and potentially setting us up nicely for the Lions tour and 2027 WC. I know we don’t have much of a chance of getting beyond the semis in France, but the future is looking much brighter – everyone picked in the team for the Dunedin test has ample ability, if not experience. Tate is the quickest 9 in the world just about, and if he can get it to Gordon quickly, the latter could stuart to really unlock opposition offences. The forward pack finally has some power, too, especially if we can get Brendan PA in at hooker (once he’s back from injury).
Wallabies CONFIRMED: Tate to captain 'new era' as Eddie changes back-row, calls up rookie prop after Thor blow
Not sure I agree about Green. I’d be playing Marsh as a swashbuckling opener – Sehwag style – and drop Warner. I remember what a huge impact Green had in India when he entered the fray in the third test. Need to persist with players of that ability, especially given age is on his side. Not sure that Warner has much tread on the tyre left – what’s the point in persisting with him?
Flem’s Verdict: Aussies earned the Ashes urn well before rain put a dampener on England's chances
Positives:
* Skelton, Marky Mark, Carter Gordon and Angus Bell. The pack generally looked to have a fair bit of potential, but need more time together.
* Issues re selection: Tom Wright (not the answer at 15), White/Cooper (perhaps a tad over the hill), Porecki (time to try Faessler?).
* Biggest issue is discipline/confidence. Argentina played far smarter than us, especially in the later stages of the first and second halves.
Studs and duds: Carter's 'brave' step up, Cheik hails 'bloody handful' as Marky nails WC spot, Wright gets it wrong
Nonsense. Green scored an extraordonary 100 in the final test in India, and we were a much stronger team once he came back in that series. He hasn’t set the world on fire in the first few tests, but his fielding has been world class. There’s roo. For either Green or Marsh to take over from Warner at opener, I think. Head could be another option.
Marsh madness! Former whipping boy to the rescue with brutal ton as Wood five-for routs Aussies
Mark Ella, John Eales and David Campese were Australia’s three most naturally talented players.
Wallabies CONFIRMED: Why Jones opted for Hodge at 12 as Suli starts and four debutants named for Boks clash
Skelton, Frost and Tom Hooper could potentially make the ABs, in time. Tupou and Bell possible as well. But we’d have any of their top five hookers over ours.
Wallabies CONFIRMED: Why Jones opted for Hodge at 12 as Suli starts and four debutants named for Boks clash
What a stupid comment. Hooper is a great of modern Australian rugby; Biden has helped save Western democracy after the nightmare years of Trump. Perhaps you can go post comments like this on Breitbart, or some other lunatic fringe website.
Wallabies CONFIRMED: Why Jones opted for Hodge at 12 as Suli starts and four debutants named for Boks clash
Yes indeed. Whatever happened to Isaac Lucas? Has he been playing well in Japan?
The five candidates for the Wallabies No.10 jersey - and the old heads who may sneak in to join them