Roar Rookie
Joined September 2014
29.5k
Views
13
Published
435
Comments
Published
Comments
The rugby gods reserve a cruel form of punishment for the Wallabies fan. Years of fresh starts, promising juniors, high-profile coaches, only to be…
The pending conclusion of the Super Rugby season will have coaches (armchair or otherwise) looking at gaps in their squads and how they can…
The 2021 rugby season is drawing to a close (in the southern hemisphere at least), and despite perpetual mediocrity from Australia, it has been…
As Super Rugby 2021 concludes, and with the Wallabies squad due to be announced today, I wondered what those not selected for higher duties…
Three games, three wins, three different styles. The Brumbies' season keeps building after wins over the Blues, Sunwolves and Bulls in the last three…
Two articles were published today calling for the abolishment of Super Rugby as we know it. Paul Cully in SMH advocates for Australia to…
After topping the Australian conference for the last two years – although you can hardly call a 6-9 season successful – and recruiting reasonably…
The lesson to learn from the Western Force's drawn-out culling is that rugby must transition into the next stage of professionalism and become a…
Finally a decision about Super Rugby has been made. One thing that really strikes me about the reaction to cutting the Force is that…
When Rio was awarded the 2016 games nine years back, Brazilians thought it would bring all kinds of good things to the country, especially…
The fledgling third tier of rugby will return in Australia soon with National Rugby Championship kicking off its second season in about six weeks.…
Full credit to Argentina for their win over the Wallabies. They played as a unit. They played with passion. They played with intent. I…
With the current state of rugby in Austalia – an arguably under-performing national team, funding difficulties and low levels of public interest – there…
It’s going to be shown live on NITV (digital channel 34)
Tupou's comeback confirmed as Jones selects 13 Wallabies in Aus A team for Tonga, surprise choice at No.8
Just seen it will be on free to air TV. NITV (digital channel 34)
Tupou's comeback confirmed as Jones selects 13 Wallabies in Aus A team for Tonga, surprise choice at No.8
Your “friend” can watch it on free to air TV. NITV (digital channel 34 in my area…).
Tupou's comeback confirmed as Jones selects 13 Wallabies in Aus A team for Tonga, surprise choice at No.8
Match will be on free to air. NITV.
Tupou's comeback confirmed as Jones selects 13 Wallabies in Aus A team for Tonga, surprise choice at No.8
Hear, hear. Direct all further commentary to the Hammer, Phil Waugh and NZR counterparts. Please and thank you.
Burning issue Super Rugby Pacific Commission must put top of its priority list
A few spring to mind…Ella’s the best example! Toutai and Steve Kefu – not sure if they played together? Faingaa twins.
'He's a gun': Meet the other Hooper hoping to make 'own name' for the Junior Wallabies in World Cup
At 9-6 with 10 minutes to go, it was a real arm wrestle that was there for taking for both sides. Considering the weather there was suprisingly little dropped ball and not enough scrums for the cheifs to build platform from. A try either way at that stage probably would have been enough considering there were so few scoring opportunities. But the silly mistakes (which as you rightly say came from the pressure of the situation) cost the Brumbies any chance of momentum. Cheifs turned mistakes into points. Too good.
'Gutted': Five-minute horror period ends Brumbies' Super Rugby hopes as Chiefs set up final with Crusaders
Disappointing finish for the Brumbies. They were right in it most of the game, just a few silly mistakes (unfortunately a few from Wright) and the momentum swung far enough to give the chiefs a couple of opportunities at the end.
'Gutted': Five-minute horror period ends Brumbies' Super Rugby hopes as Chiefs set up final with Crusaders
Definitely need to work on engaging more fans. There’s only so much they can do with rules (given its a global game) – but obviously tweaks here and there can be implemented. Better marketing is a must!
The biggest issue is how uneven the comp is – that needs to be the number one fix. That mostly falls onto Australian teams unfortunately. Plus figuring out how to support MP and Fiji – it’s a worry hearing how many of their players are potentially leaving next season.
How can the competition as a whole fix that (putting aside Aus development pathways/funding etc)? Some cross-country player movement while retaining National eligibility will help to plug the depth gaps. But perhaps a with a quota (IE max 5?). More game time for wider playing squad/academy players – eg B division/U20s comp including all teams. Reciprocal arrangement with other national unions to partially fund players joining SR (eg Tonga, Samoa, USA), indigenous pathway programs.
Lift the standard of the bottom ranked teams (without diluting the top too much) and a lot of the other problems take care of themselves.
Steve Hansen claims 'NRL's a better game to watch' than 'predictable' Super Rugby, backs RA plans to 'jazz it up'
Is the quote from Larkham correct?? Brumbies website has Hooper at 6, Samu 7, Valetini at 8…as does the Roar team list.
'Robust discussions': Why Alaalatoa was scratched from final as the other Hooper gets chance to push RWC claims
Although Fisher is ‘retiring’, I strongly suspect he will still be around in a mentorship capacity. A few of the comments he has made suggest he won’t be able to give it away completely haha.
Super Rugby Report card and 2024 predictions: How the Aussie teams fared and what the future holds
I loved it! Bold indeed, but backed up with two strong scrums on the back of a few match winning turn overs earlier in the season. It’s good to see some personality on display.
The Wrap: Super Rugby’s semi-final cream rises to the top
Very interesting comments about complacency and knowing he would be selected. It’s something Aus SR sides really need to be mindful of as their depth is not great. The coaches must make sure the top players keep working to improve. Rob Valetini comes to mind, he had a meteoric rise and has been fine this year without being outstanding. If you compare him to someone like Ardie Savea, who just seems to keep getting better and better.
Exclusive: 'I've only got myself to blame' - Salakaia-Loto opens up on 'complacency' that led to Test axing
Aussies on London Irish’s books: Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Joe Powell, Oli Hoskins.
Rugby News: Foketi's new deal, All Black off to France, more financial chaos in UK as giants suspended
About on par I’d say!
Brumbies' back three go big to book home quarterfinal and end Rebels' season
Needs to improve his defence before playing Test rugby.
Brumbies' back three go big to book home quarterfinal and end Rebels' season
Strange comment even for him. Though I suspect in the unlikely event that we win it this year he will retire on that note.
'Win or lose it will be time to go': Eddie makes bizarre contract claim, says Skelton's world's best, adds huge Arnold hint
Wright’s defence (and passing for that matter) should be a question for Larkham more than Jones.
The Wrap: Is 'enigma' fullback the Wright move for Wallabies, SR not burning but smouldering
Chiefs were just too good. Strangled the life out the Brumbies. The intercept try was the killer blow, game still winnable for the Brumbies at that point – shown by scoring the last 14 points of the game. But Chiefs just too strong in defence overall. Brumbies with some work to do to regain their momentum. Likely home quarter against Hurricanes.
Brumbies' top two hopes blow up in smoke as Chiefs confirm status as Super Rugby favourites, Alaalatoa injured
Huge defensive effort from the Reds. Hunting as a pack, minimising mistakes, forcing errors. Very impressive. More please.
'We defended like a pack of dogs': Tate leads Reds to stunning win after Thorn's huge call ends 10 years of pain
Good thoughts. Main concern would be a dilution of content with such frequent game between Aus sides. You would end up having minimum 3 matches (once in SRP and twice in SRAU) and maximum 6 between some sides (IE twice in SRP plus possible final, twice in SR AU plus possible final). A 5th or 6th March up in the same year would have a degree of tedium I suspect even in the context of no wallabies.
–
But SRAU would certainly serve the purpose of more match time for non wallabies. What are the alternatives? NRC would be ideal. But I do like the current mini-tours some teams are taking to Japan – this may be something worth expanding on, perhaps 5-6 games tours if possible. While it wouldn’t have the spectator appeal or interest of an organised competition, it would give more game time and hopefully funded by bigger crowds in Rugby hungry places like Japan. Would Rugby may even chip in for a couple of games in the Pacific.
Why RA should bring back Super Rugby AU - and keep Super Rugby Pacific
I think the difference here is actually the salary the Force would contribute compared to what the Brumbies could contribute due to salary cap restraints. I suspect RA probably played hard ball in their top up, offering much less than what he is currently receiving as they know he wants to stay in Aus plus we have a few options at 9 now. So it was then up to the club to increase their percentage. The Brumbies obviously aren’t in that position but the Force are.
Exclusive: Bombshell twist as Wallabies star heads West to start domino effect in pointer to centralisation
Sad to see him go as a Brumbies fan, but it’s the right move for Aus rugby. Perhaps even the right move for the Brumbies as R. Lonergan is an excellent player and needs more game time to step up to the next level.
Is O’Connors Force move confirmed?
Exclusive: Bombshell twist as Wallabies star heads West to start domino effect in pointer to centralisation
Very good.
Brumbies rue missed chances as dubious refereeing calls help Hurricanes win thriller
Wallabies have to win big this weekend to have any chance of making the quarters. They will need the maximum 5 points and stop Wales getting any bonus points. So whatever game plan they take will need to focus on scoring 4+ tries, winning by more than 7 and making sure Wales don’t score 4 tries. Hard to see that happening unfortunately.
This is no time for X-factor: The Wallabies' challenge is to find a structure to out-structure super-structured Wales