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Joined February 2017
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Flying out of Ireland in the second half of December and bound for the city of Clermont-Ferrand in the Massif Central of France, the…
This fine historic and vintage conveyance can be viewed by appointment at 200 Whitton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW2 7BA. Vendors note: This high-cost chariot…
The most impressive man-made hole in the ground that I have ever seen is the Kimberley Big Hole, in what is now the Northern…
I attended this event, which was part of the Tens weekend, on Thursday past at Suncorp Stadium. Rod Kafer, the National Coaching Advisory Panel…
Thanks for the response, Peta. Interesting rugby career you have had. I do respect your right to your opinion, and I can see where you are coming from.
My career can’t match yours, as I never played to any high level. It was as a coach that I went higher, mainly at schools level in Ireland and Zimbabwe. Thirteen players I coached went on to wear an Irish jersey at various levels, five at full senior level. One remains a close contact, and lifelong friend.
Out of interest, where do you live ? NZ ? I now live in Qld…..have never done any serious coaching there
Super Rugby teams: Reds name young gun for Tahs clash in front of Schmidt, Test halves to start against Wallaby-laden Brumbies
“Skelton’s been continually poor, except in overseas clubs…maybe he actually realised he can’t just dial it in over there as he did here.”
I am always astounded to read these types of comment. I don’t think there is any real understanding of the type of lock Skelton is, or how this type of player is used by the good coaches who have mentored and developed him.
I think it is best to look at these articles, and then perhaps rethink the commonly held views of some on Skelton, and the other giant locks now playing the game.
https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/why-the-wallabies-cannot-do-without-will-skelton-at-the-world-cup/
https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/the-bigger-the-behemoth-the-closer-to-silverware-you-get/
Also look at this try Skelton scored on debut.
https://www.facebook.com/Wallabies/videos/skelton-2014-debut-vs-france/344445084038139/
Super Rugby teams: Reds name young gun for Tahs clash in front of Schmidt, Test halves to start against Wallaby-laden Brumbies
Great, TTN !
The Wrap: Concussion is a key area where Australian rugby can become a leader, not a follower
“well it’s evening here!” Where is “here”, TTN ? Always interested in travels ! Hope you are having a great time 😊
The Wrap: Concussion is a key area where Australian rugby can become a leader, not a follower
“huge forwards,” Not so sure about that. The WB’s had, as far as I know, the heaviest pack at RWC France. Ireland don’t have any really giant or exceptionally heavy players.
The Wrap: Concussion is a key area where Australian rugby can become a leader, not a follower
“For props there’s a particular issue with practise scrummaging, with the incredible statement of the English prop Steve Thompson that he would lose consciousness most days”
Steve Thompson was actually England’s hooker, King. But that is a small detail. I would ask if you have played in the front row yourself, or coached the scrum ? I ask, because in my experience, having played mainly as a lock, but with a few games in the front row, and having coached the scrum at elite schools 1st XV level, I have never seen a concussion from any scrum contact.
I would have thought, in the truly disturbing Steve Thompson case, the damage was done in head contacts as a ball carrier and tackler. Therefore it is probably the cumulative effect of sub concussive impacts, much more than direct concussive contacts, that have left Steve Thompson in his current condition.
The Wrap: Concussion is a key area where Australian rugby can become a leader, not a follower
Thanks for the Wrap, Geoff. An important topic to keep right front and central of any debates on where the game is headed. Your articles on this area raise awareness. It is something you have written a lot on over the past, what, 2/3 years ?
“….. the recent World Cup saw the addition of more backroom officials, employed to scour through vision, a few seconds behind play, to identify purveyors of foul play. Once they had their man, match officials then curiously seemed to switch sides, trying to find mitigating factors to apply against the prescribed foul play sanction.”
That is an astute comment. There was one incident in the Scotland /Wales 6N game on the weekend. I don’t recall names without rewatching the incident, but at a ruck the Scottish cleaning forward made clear head contact with a player already in the ruck.
To my eye it was a clear yellow card, no more, as the impact not severe, or the player coming in at speed from distance. But the TMO clearly, as you say, “switched sides”, and in the end decided it was not foul play. No card, and no penalty either. Not eeven a word to the offending player to take more care.
The Wrap: Concussion is a key area where Australian rugby can become a leader, not a follower
Nice NEAT nutshell.
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
Thanks for the article, Declan. A big factor in this 6 Nations is how teams will cover for key injured or absent players. Absentees of note, Farrell and Dupont. Injured players such as Jak Morgan and Mack Hanse will hurt Wales and Ireland.
“Jack Crowley and Harry Byrne. While both are good players, neither are in Sexton’s league.” I think if you look at Sexton’s final season, and esp. the qf defeat, these players are in Sexton’s league. But ofc nowhere near where Sexton was at his peak. Ronan O’Gara certainly rates Crowley, saying “……when I see a 10, I understand what’s involved and I can see it pretty much straight away. It was something that just jumped out at me, kind of: ‘Yeah, I like that guy. Get him.”
ROG tried to get Crowley to LAR. Crowley said no ! Rare that happens to ROG.
And it will be the first season that Ireland do not have a top fly-half in 30 years – Before Sexton there was Ronan O’Gara; before O’Gara there was David Humphreys; and before Humphreys there was Eric Elwood, who started in 1993! Yes, that is fair comment. I guess Paddy Jackson would have been the man now, had things not gone so wrong in his life.
Big names out and no clear favourites - who'll win the Six Nations in 2024?
“The 5N goes back to 2010,” Should ofc be 1910 !
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
“Lucu and Jalibert might be even better (as a combo, able to get it past 2nd receiver) than the incumbents. ”
I think this might be true of the Irish halves too. To be clear, what I am saying is “better than JGP and the Sexton combo that played in the RWC quarters.”
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
“The battle of the hookers will be a good one. Both are World Class.” I would even hazard “all three”, as I would include Ronan Kelleher as that good too.
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
“……..childhood did seem more fun than what it is nowadays.” You don’t see street games any longer….soccer, cricket, skipping. Rare to hear the sound of young voices. It is sad !
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
“But seriously can it match a Bok vs All Blacks at a packed Capetown Stadium ” I would agree with you on that one match up, JN, especially in any SA stadium. But looking at the overall RC comp, in my view it does not have the history of the 5N/6N.
The 5N goes back to 2010, when France came in to make the 5. So in there you have two World Wars, the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, and a whole lot more. The 6N is a mere infant. I just don’t see the overall RC ever getting close. The tyranny od distance is a huge lead weight, ofc. For example, 6N, you hop on an early morning flight out of Dublin/Edinburgh, or take the train from London, watch the game in Paris, are back home for supper. Very different to flying out of Auckland to Jo’burg.
But saying all that, I look forward to the RC this year, with Joe Schmidt and his marsupials 😊
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
In a nice nest nutshell !
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
Good post, Ehhh. It is quite clear a number of posters have not watched NH games for the past several years. They making fools of themselves !
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
“What has changed is OZ and NZ attacks are nit as good as they use to be.”
Or perhaps that the NH teams are now more attack orientated, and very sophisticated attack patterns have evolved ?
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
Excellent, Harry. Here we go again, the 6 Nations ! I have just been reading a piece where ROG is giving some views on ” the big blue six-time champions (and 2013 wooden spooners) host the hungry green five-time winners (never sixth place)”. Interesting facts in there, surprised only one 6N difference, and also Ireland never 6th…were they ever 5th in the old days ? Must look and see.
O’Gara likes Crowley “he’s lacking minutes but I don’t think he’s lacking mental fortitude, that’s for sure.”
“The La Rochelle head coach isn’t expecting much in the way of a World Cup hangover when Friday’s two beaten quarter-finalists meet in the middle.” I would be of the same opinion. A cracking game is the hope. At this stage, I would be happy with a draw. The French will be hard to beat down on the Med. coastlands. A win would be just unbelievably sweet.
“… what is so important at test level is he doesn’t let mistakes eat at his mindset. So, he’ll continue to back his decisions, he’ll continue to ask questions of the defence, ”
“……when I see a 10, I understand what’s involved and I can see it pretty much straight away. It was something that just jumped out at me, kind of: ‘Yeah, I like that guy. Get him.”
ROG tried to get Crowley to LAR. Crowley said no ! Rare that happens to ROG.
Crowley will be a key man over in France this weekend. I hope his little mate Casey is on the bench.
The Irish team is due to out in a few hours. I fear only one Ulsterman at best in the 23, at worst none.
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
Geoff, so pleased to see you back again, with the Monday Wrap. I had feared you might not be returning to write for us this year.
I wondered a bit what exactly was happening with the Rebels. Your article is certainly enlightening, but also very disturbing. We would all have hoped the bad times of the McLennan rule were now banished and gone into the mists of time. Australian Rugby does not need this sort of thing, as the climb out of the abyss begins under Joe Schmidt.
With the now much stronger roster, it would be one’s earnest hope that the Rebels have a sterling season, and begin to build strong defences aginst the naysayers who wish the franchise ill.
The Wrap: Unity, integrity and the other casualties of shameful leaks aimed at the Rebels
Thank you for another of your most interesting articles, Peter. I really enjoy these dips into the past, so good to recall players of real flair. And a nice ending too : Health ? ” in the main, okay. I turn 72 this year and I’m still enjoying life. I do a lot of walking, playing golf & now I have a granddaughter to dote on.” Great to see a man who has played the game in both codes at the top, and is not ruined in his older age.
Russell Fairfax - rediscovering a ‘free spirit’ of the rugby codes
What I’m saying, Muzzo, is that Razor now faces a very tough coach of the WB’s. He may have been happier to see Schmidt just retire, not have to face him.
Nobody Goes For Pints with Joe: 'Cult-like figure' with an 'exhausting' style who might just restore pride to a rabble
ozinsa 👍
COMMENT: In trading Greatest Showman for 'boring' and 'pragmatic' Sleepy Joe, RA gambling with game's future
Top post, Cec !
COMMENT: In trading Greatest Showman for 'boring' and 'pragmatic' Sleepy Joe, RA gambling with game's future
” Maybe the media should get real.” They won’t like that comment, Dally 😊
COMMENT: In trading Greatest Showman for 'boring' and 'pragmatic' Sleepy Joe, RA gambling with game's future
Thanks for the Wrap, Geoff. Plenty of players there I have to go and look up….but that is good. Always interesting to get insights into backgrounds. And who emerges from the shadows.
I watched some “frightening” highlights footage of the Munster v Crusaders game last week…….the speed and accuracy of the Crusaders at the breakdown was what was frightening. I don’t see that in the bits of pre season games here in Australia. Ofc, highlight reels can be misleading, as can trial games. I hope so anyway.
The Wrap: 'Curious and uncomfortable' move on the eve of SRP, and 12 players who will light up the comp in 2024