The Roar
The Roar

Nicholas Bishop

Expert

Joined January 2016

3.09m

Views

426

Published

49.9k

Comments

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.

Published

Comments

RG has spent more time on the treatment table than anywhere else for two years, poor bloke. He cannot be used as a standard.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Yep a fully fit Philip and Hosea together could be he best combo in Aussie! Potentially.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Front row good with everyone fit, second row a little short by modern standards and filled with 4/6 tweeners!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Call those taxis!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Cannot argue with that, Philip is a real battler with some excellent skills to boot JC.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Problem for Swinton is that he is pretty much lineout + defence where the other two can carry more effectively, so he may struggle to make Eddie’s squad for the WC.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Sitting in the Bali sunshine… 😁

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

I think Eddie would be foolish to go with some combo of Harry/Bobby/Langi at 6 and 8 Don. The Aussie lineout was not great in 2022 and it needs all the support it can get.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Meafou will be a French international sooner rather than later LR….

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

BT does have a bit of a history in cutting players loose who go on to help out elsewhere though Numps – Quade, Slipper, Rodda, Lucas and Hockings all had a lot of rugby left in them, and not all had to be released.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

If the opponents starting reading the calls it makes it very difficult for the thrower M, so I would not be too hard on Lonergan for those turnovers…

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

The Force have had a couple of English wings plus Rob Kearney (albeit in middle age!), so maybe a precedent there. Lots of decent Welsh players available at the season’s end!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

He’s not by nature an aggressor, but that’s fine – neither was Eales and it didn’t stop him developing.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

It’s like he overclocks at some key moments isn’t it, maybe primarily a mental thing.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Yes it works in too ways – sometimes he tries too hard to be physical and loses control, at other too desperate to make a play and makes the wrong decision. Cooler head needed!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

I think he’ll improve again once he gets his impulsiveness sorted, maybe not in Canberra?

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Where’s Cullen Grace in the pecking order now?

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

I’m not sure I’d want Hoops exploring the stratosphere too much Peter 😁

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

I don’t think the Swin/Frost combo is a balanced one Jez.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Yes I can’t be bothered to argue the toss with another Skelton naysayer Dean/PS. Prob the same poster anyway!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Yes I can recall three such TO’s in the second half.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Let’s hope it sets a trend!

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

The Reds need a lift in tempo AJ, esp in the work of the tight five who have been too set-piece orinted in seasons past. Proof of the pudding v Kiwi teams see here https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/can-eddie-jones-find-a-way-for-broken-wallabies-to-beat-all-blacks/ .

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

Yes he was pencilled in to start with Neville on Eddie’s Tik-Tok sheet – but only a crazy person would rate him above Frost right now…

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

‘Snuck off to Bali’ 😱 😂

Not a bad spot to do a bit of sneaking at all.

Why Brumbies star is becoming a pivotal figure in Eddie's RWC hopes - and the big blow to the Wallabies

close