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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…
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
Interesting one. Would love him to stay with the Brumbies, but it doesn’t make sense to have 2 of our best 9s at the one club. One could argue it’s the salary cap at work. Similar situation that forced Genia to the Rebels if memory serves? If White really wants to stay at the Brumbies he might have to settle for a smaller deal (perhaps with a sabbatical in Japan).
Revealed: Star Wallaby could be forced to leave Brumbies as Rugby Australia's belt tightens
Thanks Geoff. A few more TMO examples…in the Brumbies game the Ref correctly called a no try against Drua for crawling on the ground but still called for TMO check despite being 1m away. I get checking for a potential try but when you are right there and see it, just call it. The video angles were a dog’s breakfast so it was hard to see anything either way.
The other was the missed high shot from Swinton in the first minute. Force player gets an HIA and Swinton later cited for what looks like a shoulder direct to head.
It’s obviously a fine line between being over officious and under officious. But in these two instances we have a TMO check that added nothing to the on field decision and a missed foul play that would have added value to the on field ref. So ultimately that is what we want – valued added by TMO interventions.
The Wrap: Old habits creep back into Super Rugby, and they’re not welcome
Interesting suggestion…he certainly has form in quickly turning around a team’s performance. Sustainable success is the issue. That’s where McKellar would have been the perfect choice. But a 2 year ‘smash and grab’ contract to use Jones’s words might just work for Cheika at the Reds.
Reds need someone to cut through the bulls--t: Cheika is the right choice at right time
The agent is really earning his commission on this one!
'They desperately need it': Ex-Wallaby pushes Suaalii chase, RA's big worry as NRL star's links to rugby firm up
In Larkham’s first stint I thought thought the Brumbies went backwards – bearing in mind they were no 1 or 2 ranked Aus team mostly during that time. McKellar improved the side during his stint I thought and got the team playing more clinically, albeit not the most expansive game plan. I was quite nervous about Larkham taking over – very much had a ‘jobs for the boys’ feel to the appointment. But he’s definitely shown a lot of improvement as a coach and has made some shrewd signings this year – Debreczeni, Toole, Schoup and Van Nek the standouts. Target for next year should signing an inside centre – yet to be convinced on Tua or Sapsford.
Stephen Larkham has the Brumbies buzzing, but don’t expect him to take the credit
The article lists 2 year deal worth $700k…IE $350k per year not $700k per year. So $50k per year pay cut. Still not insignificant.
Exclusive: Two more years for Suli to get it right in rugby as winger gets extension through to Lions tour
Good news. Best not the listen to anything the player agent says though 😂
Exclusive: Breakthrough in negotiations as key Wallabies duo set to remain in Australia
Great to hear Hansen is doing well. I would have have loved to keep him at the Brumbies, but good on him for taking an opportunity and excelling. If he had remined though, I highly doubt he would be making a Wallabies 23, even on current form. That is mostly down to his playing style and the type of winger/fullback Australian teams typically pick. I couldn’t see him getting picked over Koroibete, Petaia, Wright, Nawaqanitawase et al. What that says about the Wallabies I am not sure – on paper it would seem silly to not want a player starting for the best team in the world!
Hansen stars as Ireland move one win away from Grand Slam with just England to play
Cal Kestis
Wallabies star reveals comeback plan, wants unique skills of rugby protected amidst law variations
What I mean really is the stoppages that have no impact on the 80 mins of game time. So the TMO interventions, drinks breaks, time off for subs/hammy stretches/general d**cking about. Like how an NFL games takes 4 hours to finish 60 minutes of play. It felt like there was much less dead time, even if ball in play time didn’t increase.
Perception might be the most important thing as Super Rugby Pacific starts with a bang
A reduced “ball not in play” time might be a more telling statistic to explain the faster feel of the games. It certainly felt like stoppages of all kind were shorter and obviously there was much less TMO input.
Perception might be the most important thing as Super Rugby Pacific starts with a bang
I felt like there was an adjustment in the Brumbies style to have more play running off 10 rather than 9 or 12 as we saw last year. Debreczeni had quite a few touches and Lolesio notably more often playing at first receiver. A positive move either way.
World Cup bolters on show for Eddie as Thorn's Reds face early season test - SRP talking points
JD looked good didn’t he. A natural 10 you can structure the game around rather than a skilled player who the coach puts into the 10 jersey (in the style Lolesio, JOC, Hodge, Edmed etc). 2 terrible kicks in there, but otherwise made great decisions. In hindsight he would have been a great pick up for any of the SR clubs in 2020 and agree he may have had some wallaby caps by now. Will be interested to see how the Brumbies manage him and NL.
'Humble pie': Larkham's Brumbies spoil Waratahs party as young guns shine on Super Rugby debuts
Yeah that’s the risk. Though he’s capable enough defending in the front line at 10 which shouldn’t be too different from 12. He played at 12 for Aus U20s. So would just be interesting to see how he goes there at SR level.
'Nightmare for coaches': Backline tweak and backrow conundrum - Predicted Brumbies XV
I’d play Frost at 6, Samu at 7, Valetini 8 to get these 3 on the field at the same time. Frost could switch to second row when Neville or Swain sub off in second half.
At some point this season I’d be interested to see Debreczeni at 10 and Lolesio at 12…would need a tweak to the game plan as NL is not a crash ball runner, but it might help unlock the outside backs.
'Nightmare for coaches': Backline tweak and backrow conundrum - Predicted Brumbies XV
I was pleasantly surprised to see a SR ad on tv the other night (although on one of the 9 digital channels). The same ad also popped up in my YouTube feed. So there is at least an attempt at marketing this year!
Why 2023 must start with a bang for Australian rugby
Debreczeni looked solid. Hopefully he and Lolesio push each other this year so one or both step up to the next level.
Aussie sevens flyer, Latu shine in front of Eddie as Brumbies edge Tahs in Super Rugby trial
Yes people go in knowing that head contact is a risk. What most don’t know or are only now realising is the risk of CTE. So it’s an important distinction Geoff makes about contact sport vs collision sport. It’s all about lowering the risk by reducing the chance of head contact and reducing the level of force when head contact occurs.
You mention the scrum, but that’s a perfect example of where change has been implemented to reduce spinal injury but fabric if the game has been maintained. The vexing issue now is how to adjust the tackle height rules without drastically changing the game. NZ probably has it right with tackle hight at sternum. Tackle height at the waist seems intuitively too low but then I haven’t seen any of the trial games in France. And therein lies the problem which Geoff describes – poor implementation if change.
The Wrap: Rugby’s leadership failings only add confusion to head injury debate
I wasn’t really following you until you mentioned it all played out in the Australian!
PS Cheika saw out his contract – it just wasn’t renewed any further. And John Connelly I think saw out his contract too. It would be interesting to compare to other nations about ratio of sacked head coach to completed contract. Bearing in mind there would be a reasonable amount of ‘non-renewed’ contacts as in Cheika’s case. NZ probably the only recent nation to have happily retired coaches due to extended success (Henry then Hansen)
The Wrap: Rugby Australia get their man but at what cost to their 'junk bond status' reputation?
Rodda is an interesting call. I was trying to think of a second rower but the position has been so fluid especially with intermittently available OS players. I thought maybe Frost, but he needs a couple more years to establish himself – could be an option for 2025-2027.
ANALYSIS: Why Eddie will bring back essence of Aussie sport to Wallabies - and the four tight-five forwards he needs
Who do you think he’ll appoint as captain? When Bell is fit you’d want him playing good minutes so I doubt he’ll stick with Slipper. I’m not sure he’ll go back to Hooper either given his problems last year – better off letting him focus on his own game. Nic White seems the only other realistic option or maybe Alaalatoa (depending on Tupou’s fitness) unless he goes someone really left field eg McDermott or Kerevi.
ANALYSIS: Why Eddie will bring back essence of Aussie sport to Wallabies - and the four tight-five forwards he needs
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.
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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