When you pick a squad not based on form and invite 50 or so to try out for the parts you get the results we are seeing now , Whilst well lauded at the time the RWC was 2nd place not 1st . The musical chairs in the team selection is a destabilizing aspect of Chieka’s style that needs to be questioned . The English have built a squad from adversity …in New Zealand the culture and squad mentality is embedded . We don’t seem to have grown from the RWC experience …Why ???

Is this a blog about the match ? I found the match an enthralling encounter right down to the wire with pressure on both sides to stay in the hunt for a finals birth – a captivating backdrop to proceedings . I have to say the Rebels deserved the win which was decided in the forwards . I actually think the Rebels can improve …they seem to be enjoying their Rugby whilst the Tahs desperation in the second stanza gave fans some hope. All is not lost ….the Tahs seem a different side when they have Bernard & Kurtley on the field , I suspect Izzy is under the gun when those other attacking options are diminished . I found the “man of the match” announcement somewhat embarrassing however , I’ll leave it at that .

Fair Call …. Also this white line fever actually started with the last two Waratah’s games where 4 players have put the renaissance in jeopardy …. I fear for the fate of the Wallabies at the RWC with regard to NH refereeing …any thoughts ?

Brett , very sad to here Vinay had passed , I played cricket with him for RosevilleCC some 25 years ago and lost touch- he was a true gentleman a real prince of a man . Also on the rugby I think posters could do a little better when ridiculing players under 25 yrs … eg. should never wear a wallabies jersey, hopeless … I also suspect that when someone covers all games – maybe leave the snide remarks out if possible . I watched the Stormers / Rebels game and thought the forwards battle was close and intense …then I read “Jones & Timani got found out” as a throw away line which I thought was a little reckless by the writer …In a RWC Cup year . it may be more constructive to talk in terms of where improvement needs to be made in order for a player to reach a level worthy of consideration ….Hooper , Simmons for example have been much maligned beyond the pale in my view ….The positives of other aspirants like Pocock , Gill etc should be amplified . This is probably a watershed moment for the site with many insightful and thought provoking articles .. the fact that some leading lights of the site have pulled up stumps indicates that the line between challenging banter and insult (which includes trolling) has caused the lines to become blurred . I appreciate that the editorial staff have tweaked to this undercurrent and are addressing the issue head on . I think Aretha Franklin best put it R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Can’t see it happening , once you become an Australian citizen that should be it … the same rights as any citizen ….If the Rugby Authorities push the envelope too far on this score they could possibly end up in the Hague …be careful what you wish for .

The Tahs/Brumbies encounter should be a cracker ..plenty to play for – Tahs in a thriller . Brett went for the Rebels and he’s not sure why , I think it will be interesting to see how Timani and McMahon go with Jones coming back into the fold , they seem much better when Luke is on the paddock with his high work rate and drive leading me to believe that may be the tipping point …Leafa throwing straight another .

Nice article , I have mentioned the following during the “……affair” (I wont bring up his name again as the forum gets wound up by haters …..) My comment to my children …”.don’t worship sports stars or any other public figures but feel free to admire them and realise that they are human and are capable of making stupid and sometimes horrible mistakes ” . And the old catchcry used by the ARL of bringing the game into disrepute makes me shudder every time I hear it …”.holier than thou” ethos in sports administration just isn’t that a priority in these challenging times domestically and abroad .

The 2nd Texter or the second shooter , the Supruda film ….I’m done with the cloak and dagger , innuendo and conspiracy theories . I respectfully ask that all parties shift the trial from Australia to the United States where it belongs ie. on JUDGE JUDY ! Oh , and welcome back Georgina , the Super Rugby season is upon us , a World Cup looming …. why not throw the legal reporting over to someone like Richard Ackland or his equivalent ?

Great article , answers a lot of questions and gives the hapless punter a better idea of why its not working . It seems that there is a disconnect in the make up of the board ….. They look to need board members with PASSION , FINANCIAL/COMMERCIAL ACUMEN and a VISION individually of where they see the game going say 3,5 and 10 years into the future . The game is a professional enterprise whether we like it or not but seems to have been run more like a “not for profit” since going pro …. you only need say 3 independent directors ( with no real links to Rugby) to keep the compliance and financial issues on track , the rest can come from varying backgrounds and disciplines and be prepared to be seen (share the load …the lack of engagement hasn’t worked) and transparent to the stakeholders including the public (We want to have a better feel for who are the stewards of this great game !) . A cursory look at the landscape of Australian Rugby looks to have an overlap in administration and duplication of roles , systems , advertising etc from the Wallabies to grass roots , What I am saying is there are more vested interests in Australian Rugby than the Middle East peace process . We should be looking outside the square where say the Board appoints a task force to look at how other sports overseas approach their methods and engagement with their stakeholders and the public ie. NBA , NFL , NBL ,NHL , PGA and possibly meet with Marquee Globally recognised Clubs … Dallas Cowboys , Boca Juniors , Real Madrid , Man United , Rangers etc . The task force could also meet with some of the major global advertisers to get a better feel for what they are looking for their approach to sponsorship and branding (not a branch office in Australia). And if anyone is unsure , stakeholders includes grass roots ! If you consider the sport as a business it is already getting a massive lift from all the unpaid volunteers , parents etc for the love of the game …. that is a comparative advantage we cant afford to lose .

Mick , The ARU wouldn’t make it onto the ASX boards , it would likely not be underwritten and would appeal more to venture capitalists at best . The penny dropped for me when O’Neill made an address to schoolboys and parents explaining how tight money was at the ARU in the year he walked out with the multi million dollar parachute – now that was priceless !

Gnostic , Yes , it starts at the top … the ARU board ..accountability , transparency , accessibility seems a good starting point …. as you point out a loose culture at Bear Stearns saw it capitulate after the end of the leadership of the late Ace Greenberg saw a new management team take shape from 2001 …these cultural changes fuelled by entitlement , arrogance and a lack of oversight and accountability are typical of the silent decay of once lauded organisations not unlike it appears our own ARU which started on O’Neill’s watch but is proving problematic for the current incumbent Pulver . I know the ARU is cash strapped , but it is now a business whether we like it or not ,and, the game from top (Wallabies) to bottom (Under 8’s) needs to consider a more streamlined and inclusive approach to Rugby in Australia as well as revisiting the ARU’s place in Sanzar and World Rugby . The great underlying reason why Rugby survives is due to the untiring work of countless volunteers who provide support and stewardship in an unpaid capacity for the love of the game to in the end prop up the professional aspects of Australian Rugby ….what other business you know of gets that kind of unpaid support ?…We are doing our bit as supporters of the code in varying capacities now its time for the upper echelons to man up and engage a leading management group like McKinsey to study to overlaps , cost overruns , revenue opportunities and leakages and operational structures at all levels and frankly and honestly create a dialog with the Rugby family on the findings …I suppose it will be good luck to that ! ( But beats rabbiting on about the Beale Saga until the 10th or 20th anniversary of the Beale saga …) …sorry if I was off topic . a little rusty and in rant mode .

AAP mmm , real top shelf in sports -no journalists name …beat up , security guard a joke , innuendo rife on Nine Network and the pièce de résistance the well worn self righteous indignation of those who seem to make hating a lifestyle option …. It’s no wonder Australian Sport in general is enduring challenging times as we become increasingly aware that our sporting heroes are human and don’t and won’t live in a bubble our society has provided for them . Admire sportsman but don’t worship them , and at 22 years of age don’t judge them too harshly (for those out there who do ) . The rhetoric quickly spirals down to the Scott Allen tipping point ,,,how quickly we forget .

This is getting boring , nothing new just a rehash of the bleeding obvious . Why don’t we start up a “Who shot JFK ” thread , it would be just as useful and insightful . The die has been cast , we have to work with what we have got and make the most of it with the resources we have at hand whether we like it or not . Until the books are released , legal actions instigated , ARU opens up or another player or official has another brain explosion ….there is little point in wasting energy in this area , its what our opposition are hoping for in the lead up to RWC 2015 … We seem to be running into the lack of content period …. I think I’ll check back next year for the season 2015 … to all , have a safe and prosperous holiday period .

Big Sammy will need to channel his aggression sensibly or he could become a penalty magnet , In the tight time frame he will need as much game time as possible , not in the stands . Imagine a love child of Sam Burgess & Will Skelton ……yikes !

I like Pocock , but I have a nagging feeling that the injured knee may not hold up and the impression I had that the opposition and referees had worked him out to a degree in the year before his injury . I just feel whilst being sidelined his legend has grown vs reality at the time of his injury . I wish him nothing but the best in his comeback and would love to see him pick up from his form at the Force & Wallabies a few seasons back so give him a chance to settle back in , don’t rush it.

Ben , Any women that come to mind for the list ? … It’s harder to write sarcasm (may have been better in standup mode) , article seemed to start out to shock but you just didn’t seem to drag it back in by the end , have a look at Louis CK , George Carlin , Gervais , Bill Burr , Jim Jefferies now that’s funny ….. In the current environment in sport ( Rugby circus ala KB , Wallaby coaching round robin, EOYT , Phillip Hughes tragedy etc) a troll type article possibly missed the mark with a few roarers , but however the response seemed to bring the “Jacqui Lambie” out in some poor souls and that was funny , I guess it’s a case of the ends justifying the means I suppose .

We are running out of time ….keep the current squad intact ….expand it to 40 players and try and get in a couple of Aust vs Aust A games at maybe Pirtek ,Orange or Ballymore …. Camp say at AIS with all the diagnostics (make it easier for Bernie to play a part ) . I think the scrum needs work on the mental side of things , these guys have the skills but just don’t seem to be gelling as a cohesive unit …maybe the mindset is “don’t lose this feed” rather than “lets smash’em” . I think the best way forward is assume that those injured players coming back from serious injury aren’t coming back and the fantasy of the mercenaries in Europe wont be called on . Cheika and the wider group to work like crazy to get everyone on the same page . The super15 games for the Waratahs against Aussie teams should be brutal in 2015 as the opponents have only a couple of games each against NSW to create a lasting impression with Cheika for RWC selection purposes . The incumbents will know the quality (Moore,Pocock etc) which may or may not loom as the RWC approaches. A concrete statement by the ARU on eligibility would probably help and should be made before the season kicks off as these touted fantasy teams full of injured and offshore players may start to have a debilitating effect on the campaign at a point in time which is fast approaching . So get ready for a cracking Super 15 in 2015 .

Must be the Schoolboy stats you are looking at .

Thanks for the article Brett , I think the Wallabies are competing well and are not that far off , they look to have more upside than other nations in the lead up to the World Cup ….The fine difference is in the headspace of the players …the skills are there ,it’s the belief that will get them over the line . Now some wider observations – At times the threads can make Jacquie Lambie sound remotely plausible – Comments after yesterday’s D Lord article are testament to that …Going wider , If you want to grow this game – do you think someone on the fringes would be eager to pick up a sport where players are continually dragged down ?… Hooper at just 22yrs must be wondering about the hate factor , Horwill too ….. Carter , Rob Simmons etc .. the joy and responsibility of being selected seems to be diminishing . There is a difference between passion and stupidity , a little more mutual respect and maybe talking the positives and negatives of a players skillset , attributes and performance . I prefer player X to player Y because …rather than dragging down players who are striving to achieve their optimum performance for themselves , their club and country . The majority of fans are even handed and fair but its the noise that you speak of that does silent damage to growing the game as well as the disenfranchisement of grass roots rugby by the ARU we have seen over the years (plus the NRC which is a great initiative by the ARU but not give the support required to do it justice) . The Wallaby Squad are doing their best in difficult circumstances , there are some sensational players in the wings (due to serious injury , returning from OS , code hopping or just striking form) , but we can’t count on them … at this point its pure fantasy until they get back on the paddock and prove themselves . Time is running out , the reality of Australian players offshore to be considered for Wallaby selection appears to be a non issue following Cheika’s recent comments so the collective would do better to “get over” the facts as they currently stand and deal with the talent that we currently possess in the squad , Super15 , NRC and dare I say it Club rugby . I know there are long suffering fans out there where frustration appears to be a key driver for some of the vitriol we read , but keep the faith , be constructive and supportive of our campaign and anything is possible . As an aside , I just loved the atmosphere of the Ireland match , that silence of the crowd when a kick is being made was stunning , reminded me of that BBC snooker classic “Pot Black” .

I think Australian rugby is better off by having guys like Jacques Pots , Gareth Delve etc in the Mix …. It is a tangible way of blooding existing talent with some offshore flavour which can manifest a different approach in work ethic , concepts & method onto their teammates … Other sports have done it successfully …Cricket : Imran Khan (NSW) , Barry Richards (SA) / Rugby League : Burgess Dynasty (and supermum!) , Adrian Morley/ Soccer celebrates it ! …In this age of Free Trade Agreements and Rugby being a professional sport players should be able to ply their trade wherever full knowing that quite often eligibility for the national squad is sometimes compromised for the player ..The Genia …um… I mean Genie ! has been let out of the bottle for some time …don’t think it will get back in .

Sanzar isn’t the ABC (Mark Scott hasn’t moved across?) so of course their doing it for the money …. It may entice more sponsorship dollars due to an increased viewership/customer penetration for say consumer discretionary sector companies across foreign boarders . Also it aid existing sponsors increasing their reach as well …. Commercially it makes sense but as for the game I’m not so sure , time will tell.

Baldy , would it be fairer to say the Rebels were not releasing Luke to play due to heavy workload in the Super15 and I think a broken foot (in Soiuth Africa) near the end of the season , …I agree Gower is a beast but this doesn’t seem the optimum way to talk him up .

Have you got the matching attack stats ? It would be interesting to see what sort of possible penetration those mentioned have .

If the Wallabies individually believe it , it will come to pass , a siege mentality with either bring out the best or worst in a player ,and, or team .

Rugby , it’s a mind game ….the difference between success and failure is between the players ears . The Wallabies to their credit kept plugging away against a willing French side …The squad have to believe in themselves , their team mates and their structures (we are not there yet) .You only have to look at the All Blacks in this regard , Firstly – when an opponent makes an error it is incumbent on every All Black collectively to punish the opposition , we don’t seem to have that sort of ruthless intent (yet). And secondly when a game is in the balance at the death you “expect” the All Blacks to score and close the game out whilst with the Wallabies it seems we “hope” to score ….its about “belief” , keep at it Cheika ! … I think the late great Chrissy Amphlett best put it “There’s a fine line between pleasure and pain !”.