Roar Guru
Joined July 2014
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Formerly, I am a mediocre rugby backrower and more mediocre water polo centre-forward. Writing is a hobby and rugby is my passion. Catch up with my rugby thoughts and analysis on the Rugby Fixation podcast, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts & more.
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The Rugby Championship starts this weekend, and while there’s so much importance in the Wallabies returning to winning ways in their first hit-out against…
Dave Rennie is a man who knows what he wants. In the current catch-cry of Australian fans, #InRennieWeTrust and his selections throughout his 20-Test…
It’s been an almighty age since the Wallabies held the Bledisloe Cup. Embarrassingly long. Against one other team (albeit, a very good one), the…
Two games into Dave Rennie’s tenure with the Wallabies, one thing is certain: if you’re not up to it, you’re out. Pete Samu and…
Following on from that enthralling Bledisloe Cup fixture was a range of emotions. No one is ever truly happy with a draw, but this…
It has been nearly an entire year since Australia’s quarter-final exit at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but with only two of the same…
Saying that the year has been a cataclysmic cycle of cluster rucks is putting it mildly, but in every cloud, a silver lining. For…
The South African Super Rugby conference has a slightly different feel about it this season, but even without some of the names that have…
Following on from the brief analysis of the Australian conference, I wanted to inspect the trans-Tasman rivals and see how the New Zealand conference…
The 2019 Super Rugby season is barely over a month away and excitement is reaching fever pitch. A much-needed break from rugby was taken…
Time and time again the axe gets called in a knee-jerk reaction to the abysmal state of particular aspects of Australian rugby. Recurring themes…
The completion of the Super Rugby season has left an empty feeling within me. It's not that I didn't enjoy the season; I did.…
What a whirlwind year! I feel I haven't had a week without rugby since February and it has often been hard to compose my…
Following on from my article regarding my predictions for the bottom nine of the ladder is this set of bold choices for the other…
Every avid fan of rugby has seen the constant news outlets posting of new signings, new goals and new motivation for the upcoming 2017…
Continuing on from the discussion of forwards in Australian rugby that I'll be looking out for is my delve into the backs as I…
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has conceded “when you play 15 Tests against the top eight nations in one year, there's no easy games”. This…
Since the Maori All Blacks ventured to the United States on the eve of the first weekend of November for a non-Test match, countless…
Prior to the third match of the European tour clash with France, Michael Cheika took it upon himself to shake up the Wallabies team…
The Wallabies' 2016 season is on the final stretch. There are five games against Wales, Scotland, France, Ireland and England. These are all that…
Great point, Brett. The right players exist in the Super comp, we just haven’t identified who is going to get the most development. Hooper and Pocock are rightly the first two penciled into the back row slots in the Wallabies squad, but time has been put into so many players on a minimal level without completely developing many genuine options.
Leroy Houston, Adam Korczyk, Richard Hardwick, Caleb Timu, Liam Wright come to mind as players who have been thrust into squads as a quick fix for the back row without consistent selection or persistence in the squad. Hanigan and Tui to a lesser extent have this issue as Cheika probably saw both of them as being behind Jack Dempsey when healthy and all of them could potentially be behind Naisarani when he’s eligible, but given the time frames around the World Cup I’d have rathered the focus and work put into 2-4 of those names as opposed to giving everyone a little experience and assuming one weekend in a squad makes them prepared for a test match.
RWC bolters are out there, if they’re wanted
Great point. I really do question the merit of some of the other coaches. Obviously defence comes into question a fair bit and Grey hasn’t made many supporters from his work, but even Larkham and Raiwalui don’t seem the most qualified coaches for the job (great players of course in their day).
How do you solve a problem without a solution?
The idea of the article is that Cheika is “starting to finalise” the squad he’d want to take. I don’t think the squad should be finalised two years out anymore than you do.
A battle of possible and probable to settle pressing rugby questions
Nice predictions, Brett. I have to say that I agree with most, but perhaps have slightly more faith in the Sharks and Blues and slightly less faith in the Chiefs, Jaguares and Reds (which isn’t ideal as a supporter of them).
The conference system again will cause lots of confusion for fans and uproar for certain teams who feel hard done by the format, but I’m looking forward to the season and still firmly feel that any of about 6-8 teams could win it if things go their way, which excites me as a fan of the competition first and foremost.
Good luck to your team
My bold on-paper February predictions
Big fan of that team, Colm. I like that mix of players. I’d probably opt to start Best over George and maybe Richie Gray over Wyn Jones, but other than that, that’d be my starting team too.
What should the Lions squad look like?
Nice article, Brett. The impending Six Nations, 10’s tournament, Fantasy Rugby Season and then Super Rugby season starting all within the next 3 weeks has me very excited.
In terms of the content, I agree that Con Foley is being sorely overlooked. I thought the Force could’ve used a man of his skill-set in their squad; maybe next year.
Hopes are never higher than the first week of February
Yes as Paul mentioned he can only play the one, probably 12. Given he’s new to the team as well, a 10-12 combo of Jooste-Godwin could excel, but doesn’t have the experience or skill of Lealiifano-Toomua yet.
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
He’s a fantastic player, RT. I hope he gets picked up somewhere soon.
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential forwards
We’re in the same boat, mate. I thought 2016 was going to be his year, so now that we’ve seen it my expectations have been replaced with hope that he can deliver on his early forecasted potential.
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
I agree with you in his potential, but in a comment above I mentioned how I rate the mentioned halfbacks as better than him and that he’s in the wider squad, behind Phipps and Lucas, at the Tahs. I hope he gets his chance, but the fact he’s been brought up so much means that I didn’t need to mention him for him to get some love, which is good.
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
If Beale were back he would be, but he’all still be with the Wasps in England I believe
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
I did mention Irae Simone and Jake Gordon would have got a mention, as intended, if it weren’t for the fact that I rate Powell, Stirzaker, Meehan and Louwrens above him and that Phipps and Lucas are still seen as above him at the Tahs (based on his position in wider training squad). I rate them both big time and hope that they get the chances they deserve to impress for the Tahs and then push for higher honours.
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
Jooste has a lot of promise, but just as much pressure having to fill in at 10 in a team that will be without their starting 10 and 12 of this year and without Tomane, their most dangerous back in terms of try scoring (in my opinion).
Morahan wowed me in the French game and then did very little against the French Barbarians. If he can play at his best and regularly inject himself into the game much the same way as Haylett-Petty and Naivalu do then we are in for a treat.
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
Exactly, it’s not a position of strength which is why we need our younger players like Debrezceni, Jooste, Deegan, Hegarty and McIntrye to step up and contest those positions.
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
I don’t have many either, but there is always room to build depth and to challenge the incumbents and I think that’s particularly necessary at 9, 10 and 12
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
I think it’d be interesting to see a Godwin/Hodge combo trialled against less intense opposition, because I see Hodge as a bit of a 13 in that regard, but would prefer Kerevi/Kuridrani as the combo if all options are healthy. Potentially a Kerevi/Hodge option too.
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
Agreed with you there, Rebel. The Aussie Super teams should be receiving a bit of a mix up in rankings based on the 2016 season. Tahs will need to gel to improve, the Reds and Rebels have both bolstered their forward packs and the Brumbies and Force have lost a few key backs. Very keen to see how they stack up – they all have a good shot at impressing
Wallabies 2017: Casting an eye over the potential backs
I didn’t praise Kuridrani’s defense in the 13 channel, I praised his defence, which was good whenever asked to make a tackle. Speight, on at least three occasions, went to make a tackle only to fall over around their feet and had to rely on someone else, usually Kuridrani, to help make the tackle with/for him. When I rewatch the game I will try to come back with exact times, but I think by having another look you’ll see what I mean.
Who impressed and who regressed against France
I thought he did a whole lot of work too, I just don’t think the work he did was overly effective in many areas other than defence and lineouts. This aspect was exaggerated int he absence of Coleman, Arnold and Timani, but regardless, I still think he should be partnering Arnold in the starting team this week
Who impressed and who regressed against France
T*his article was submitted prior to the release of the 19 players named in the Wallaby XV squad.
Who impressed and who regressed against France
They’re two fantastic players who I believe were exceptionally unlucky to be stuck behind other long-term players. Staniforth in particular I think was fairly underrated and wouldn’t be as well remembered as a lot of other players from his era.
Picking a Wallabies team from players that dropped out of Test contention
Very solid list of NZ players. It’s amazing how many players got a chance for the All Blacks, but true to form, the competition is fierce enough to separate the good from the great from the best.
Picking a Wallabies team from players that dropped out of Test contention
Well Cheika is the current coach and he only just went overseas. I’m not blaming Cheika though, other coaches have selected others too.
Picking a Wallabies team from players that dropped out of Test contention
Hi Nick,
Deegan played alright against Brisbane City and directed play fairly well. He can kick and defend, but isn’t that much of a superstar that I’d be racing him in to the squad. Couldn’t hurt to give him some exposure and see if he rises to the challenge though, right?
How do you solve a problem without a solution?