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The Roar

Nicholas Bishop

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Joined January 2016

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Nick Bishop has worked as a rugby analyst and advisor to Graham Henry (1999-2003), Mike Ruddock (2004-2005) and most recently Stuart Lancaster (2011-2015). He also worked on the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia and produced his first rugby book with Graham Henry at the end of the tour. Three more rugby books have followed, all of which of have either been nominated for or won national sports book awards. Nick’s latest is a biography of Phil Larder, the first top Rugby League coach to successfully transfer over to Union, entitled “The Iron Curtain”. He is currently writing articles for The Roar and The Rugby Site, and working as a strategy consultant to Stuart Lancaster and the Leinster coaching staff for their European and Pro 14 playoff matches. Leinster achieved the double of European Champions Cup and Pro 14 league winners in 2018. They repeated their Pro 14 win in 2019 and finished runners-up to Saracens in Europe.

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I think Bell is fine to stay as long as NSW find the right THP Waxy. I understand why they’ve moved poor HJH there but it is not an answer….

Is the Bell ringing for change in the Wallabies front row?

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Cheers KP!

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And he’s a lot prettier than Cholley too. 😁

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👍

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Injury by far the biggest issue with Uelese Bob. If he’d had a clear run he might well have been the first choice at 2019 RWC!

Is the Bell ringing for change in the Wallabies front row?

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Cheers Dean – stay safe, you and yours too!

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Yes Bell has coped well so far. There will be some interesting experience to come ofc, particularly when he plays against some of the SA front rowers, but let that come in due course 😊

Is the Bell ringing for change in the Wallabies front row?

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Kepu’s at London Irish now Mitch, does he still have a link back to NSW?

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One of the interesting law changes occurred around the mid 1980’s IIRC Mitch. When the ‘no shoulders below hips’ rule came in a lot of coaches tries to move shorter second rows into tight-head prop. The Gloucester lock John Orwin (who as about 6’4) even played some games for England at THP!

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Depends on the power really Soap. Cholley and other guys like Fran Cotton could do (and Cotton on both sides of the scrum) because they had the power, and they evolved a technique to deal with more compact opponents.

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One of the bonuses of a tall front rower I didn’t have space to mention Jez, is the enhanced lineout lifting ability. Both John Hayes and Carl Hayman were 6’4 plus and as back lifter they could propel their receivers to heights the opposition could not reach. So I expect Bell to be moved to the back of the line if he can prove he can do the same!

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The point is that he does have the power to recover and that is the main aspect we need to know at this stage of his development… None of the tight-heads he has played so far have exposed any obvious deficiencies despite what Gloria imagines, and Bell did fine against AAA in the short time he was on the field. So I fully agree with your final comment 😊

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Yes TLN, the key is what happens when the feet starts to move, and who can stay in the most effective pushing plane as that happens…

Some good taller hooker around too, Bizzy (du Plessis) is about 6’3 for example, Malcolm Marx about the same height.

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Yep AJ, and France really had those two outstanding 7’s in Rives and Skrela who did all of the work for the big boys!

Tommy Lawton was a freak of nature in the generation in which emerged. Quite odd to see him tucking his brother Rob under his left arm, when Rob was a lot smaller than he!

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Dad and son together works Brett – just as the Farrells proved in England. There will also come a time when they have to go their separate ways in order to sustain the learning process…

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Angus Ta’avao is a case in point Jez. He had the size, and his subsequent rise at the Chiefs has proven he has the talent to make it all the way. Why did that not happen at the Tahs?

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Can you fill me in on Bell snr’s pedigree a a scrum coach Jez?

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I looked at four games Peter and I did not see any major issues beyond the typical learning curve for a tall, young loose-head. Bell shows some ability to fix issues on the hoof and when allowed to scrum at his preferred height, he is a force.

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I don’t think he could go there now though MZ – three (Bell, Slipper and Sio) would deffo be a crowd competing for one position!

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Richie has improved out in France too!

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Agreed MZ, and I suggested that switch a coupla seasons ago! TR does not have the frame to put on the kind of weight that justifies staying at loose-head. He’s not even as big as Ben Robinson, another short LHP!

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Scott Sio is still a decent player but he doesn’t have Bell’s tools to work with.

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True Peter – if went to the Reds he would start immediately ahead of J.P.Smith. 👍

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I doubt it would suit WB interests to have the three top LHPs all competing at the same region Fionn!

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What is happening with Nick Frost? – haven’t seen much of him at the Brumbies this year, despite the loss of Arnold and Carter…

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