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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 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
Crikey! Was not expecting this but also not totally surprised. Perhaps EJ will be a better fit for this group, in that they are not necessary the most skillful but there’s scope to get them playing more cohesively. Interesting that he is covering Wallaroos as well. If nothing else Jones will build the profile of union in this country…but may not be for the better ????.
'Major coup': Rennie axed with Eddie Jones returning as Wallabies coach on mammoth deal for two Cups
Interesting he played 10 as a junior. Maybe worth a try there with the Reds this year given they have plenty of centre options (including JOC)
'You might want to take that': The phone call that shows more players are on Rennie's Wallabies selection radar
Will be interesting to see if he does come back. Indeed if he signed to SR for 2024, he would become eligible for Wallabies this year and could be a bolter for WC. We may well see more of these young players going overseas early but then coming back to Aus once they are a realistic chance for national selection. Perhaps an opportunity for Aus rugby (I think Nic Bishop previously suggested similar) to establish links to OS clubs +/- Europe and Japan based Australian academies to get their young player more game time, higher salaries from the outset but keep them within the Aussie tent.
'It was a big call': Junior Wallabies star opens up on decision to leave, hints about Aussie return
He’s been capped by Tonga so no longer eligible for Australia I believe.
Rugby News: Wallabies' 2024 tour opposition revealed, Borthwick's All Blacks challenge, Folau runs riot
It’s a real quandary Aus rugby at the moment. Ultimately it all comes down to money. The SR Pacific comp has the potential to be really great, but will remain imbalanced while Aus, Drua and MP can’t access their whole talent pool and NZ manage to retain more of their second and third tier players to boost the depth. I agree in principle to lowering the number of OS picks but it relies on players valuing the chance for test rugby over the almighty dollar (or pound, euro, or Yen). But in reality it means players like Wilson won’t stick around unless they are getting regular time in tests.
This is an interesting option NB, and perhaps the best way to make it work would be to loan players out in the SR off season. One of the biggest problems currently is lack of game time for developing players. So picture the Table Edmed’s of the world going off to Europe or Japan for 3-4 months in the SR off season. But it would certainly rely in significant good will from the OS club.
Rugby in Australia will die in isolation. The only cure is to break out of the circle of insularity, not reinforce it
Yeah fair call especially with Frost, Rodda, skelton. Depends if Latu sorts himself out too though.
Coach's corner: Who should be in Rennie's World Cup squad? And will Jones make it to the tournament?
Maybe…maybe not!
Coach's corner: Who should be in Rennie's World Cup squad? And will Jones make it to the tournament?
How likely do you think it is that DR will get more than 3 OS picks? As it stands I think Cooper, Kerevi, Korobiete add the most value. Next 3 ranked in DRs eyes I’d say are probably Skelton, Arnold, Foley (maybe not in that order).
Coach's corner: Who should be in Rennie's World Cup squad? And will Jones make it to the tournament?
Yeah exactly. What I mean by variables though, is there is only one thing happening in the play (short pass, straight to ground, new ruck) and it is right under his nose. So the ref doesn’t have to run to a wider ruck, look for forward pass, obstructions etc and get distracted by all the other variables that come with open play.
The Wallabies’ Miracle in Cardiff, and the lessons of momentum
The refs pay particular attention when the attacking team tries to wind down the close with submissive rucks like that. I think because it’s such a negative tactic the referees add an extra later of scrutiny and because there isn’t any speed or nuance to the play there aren’t any other variables to distract them.
The Wallabies’ Miracle in Cardiff, and the lessons of momentum
Really encouraging win and showed composure first to come back from so far behind then hold on for the win. Mark N and Lonergan right getting a lot of praise. I thought Samu, McDermott and Lolesio all lifted the team when they came on. But I can’t stress enough how much I hate that tactic of trying to close out the game with one out forward pods. It’s so negative, the carries end up being very passive and the refs get the microscope out for the most minor infringement. It never works and it’s just lucky we were more than 3 points ahead.
'I thought that was it': How Wallabies young gun salvaged hero-to-zero moment to save season
Yes it seems a poorly thought out rule. As the scrums are non-contested there shouldn’t be an issue with a non-front rower packing there.
But Ireland failed to capitalise on the rules as they stand.
The Wrap: Wallabies’ inability to win the big moments a real pain in the neck
In regards to losing the second player to pack a scrum, I was very surprised Ireland didn’t go for the scrum restart off the initial penalty. 10 minutes with 13 men – game should have been settled right there.
The Wrap: Wallabies’ inability to win the big moments a real pain in the neck
Had to look it up…Rob Seib started as attack coach in 2020 which I think was NL’s first year.
ANALYSIS: Time to pray Australia, because it's Quade Cooper or bust for the RWC. And when he's gone there's no one else
NL started at the Brumbies after Larkham left, so has never played under him. Will be interesting to see if Larkham’s guidance can improve his game – similarly Jack Debreczeni who could be a dark horse for Wallabies given the problems at 10. But I have my doubts about Larkham’s coaching ability unfortunately.
ANALYSIS: Time to pray Australia, because it's Quade Cooper or bust for the RWC. And when he's gone there's no one else
McKellar didn’t start at Vikings until 2011 though
'Holy hell, what's he done?': Mack Hansen's breakthrough moment revealed, as McKellar reflects on one who got away
Bealham left Aus in 2010 and McKellar started at the Brumbies in 2014…but why let facts get in they way of a good old fashioned gripe?
'Holy hell, what's he done?': Mack Hansen's breakthrough moment revealed, as McKellar reflects on one who got away
Where they still managed to lose from a very winnable position.
'Everything's on the table': RA considers Rennie's future, radical selection oversight, after Italy debacle
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