- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Roar Rookie
Joined August 2019
0
Views
0
Published
78
Comments
Published
Comments
No subs + return of proper rucking = sorted
Three easy changes to improve rugby right now
I loved the Wales Scotland game……..
I worry about the Wallaby defensive set up. Scotland conceded the lowest points over the 6n at 59. When Matt Taylor was defensive coach we leaked like a sieve (100+ each 6n). We would score one good try and immediately cough 2 stupid ones. We have stopped doing that, but Oz now seem to have caught the bug. Common link – Matt Taylor
The Wrap: Wallabies mauled by resurgent All Blacks
When someone leaves a job with goodwill all round, it is often a measure of that person. Many thanks to Dave for his stint in Glasgow and good luck with the new job. Given the strong connection with the new coaching team in Oz and the Scotland scene, it would be great to see more collaboration between these old Unions. Both countries could benefit from young players having stints at provincial level away from home, national development XV’s touring etc. Finally, I remember the electricity of watching Campese’s Randwick play at the Melrose 7’s, be great to see some great old Australian clubs play the Borders 7 circuit again.
Dave Rennie finishes at Glasgow, free to coach Wallabies early
His grandfather was from Govan. That bit of Glaswegian in him probably explains why he was “comfortable with conflict……”
Aussie abroad: Nathan Hines
Given RA acquired most of their new coaching and management talent from the Scottish Rugby Union, please please please go the whole hog and take Mark Dodson….
My pick would be Andrew Fagan – top bloke.
Who should take the helm at Rugby Australia?
Interesting. Matt Taylor left Scotland under a bit of a cloud to return to Oz. Look at the tries conceded in 6N last year versus this year. Think its 15 v 5. So maybe worth watching just how effective the Wallaby defensive game will be. Also Dave Rennie’s Glasgow was not exactly renowned as a fortress, indeed they favoured a fairly fast open game, definitely not one that focussed on defence and hit on the break. Question if the proposed philosophy here will be adopted, even if they could.
Why defence will be the best form of attack for Dave Rennie’s new Wallabies
Interesting. I wonder if there is a fault line in the SH block with SA, they have been flirting with the North and this vote may perhaps test the depth of their intent.
The battle for World Rugby: Agustin Pichot versus Bill Beaumont
I do think the Lions as a concept will continue to be squeezed out of relevance, and we should be prepared to let it go. The point of having a SH team in the 6N would be a means of injecting liquidity into the SH unions whilst taking nothing away from the tournament. I would also like to see NH touring the south in June and taking time to play provincial teams. So going forward the SH teams have their cash generator once every 3 years in the 6N (instead of every 4 hosting Lions), and the North does proper tours again to the South. It could be trialled for 3yrs.
Tim Horan's way forward for Australian rugby
Ben, the “harder to sustain”, bit is driven by the ever compressed nature of the tour. Not helped by the late finish of pro club comps in the north. It is therefore making it more difficult to weld a team from 4N in a short timescale and reducing the number and quality of the provincial games you like. It therefore pressures the coach to pick established combo’s and a test team in advance, the old way of winning a place through performance on tour has gone. Sounds as if Wales doing a tour on their own is what you are after. I am fine with that.
Tim Horan's way forward for Australian rugby
Peter, the share of gate takings would be a given, also the bigger pie, TV rights. Might also work better from a player welfare perspective as easier to plan sabbaticals etc.
Strikes me 6N was always the biggest stumbling block to the World Rugby global calendar. Understandable as it is unquestionably a superb rugby festival loved by all. This way round, everybody wins
Tim Horan's way forward for Australian rugby
Thanks KP, but might not be what you think due to tribal warfare. If Oz (or any SH team), based themselves outside Twickers….say, Murrayfield, then a game against England would be a home fixture. How good would that be to attend? The default position in 6N is that neutrals love upsets, and everyone cheers when England lose, so the SH team would gain support
Tim Horan's way forward for Australian rugby
Couple of thoughts. Being Scottish (and Australian too), and therefore bitter and twisted, I think Gatland has ruined the Lions concept with his Welsh bias. It is getting harder to sustain as it is no longer a tour, rather a test series alone and the magic has gone. That said, the SH need the cash, no doubt, and the NH should help them, no doubts at all.
Lots of folk in the North regard the 6N as sacrosanct, and with good reason. However, as a die hard 6N fan and and a fan of SH rugby, I would love to see a rotation of Oz, SA and AB’s play in the 6N every year, basing themselves in the UK. What a draw that would be. It would make each Union solvent at a stroke, would also give SH fans the excuse to go experience the 6N in person.
Tim Horan's way forward for Australian rugby
I usually enjoy Spiro’s musings, this one has a bit to unpack though. The Scott Johnston de-power the maul piece, when was this never a focal point of Australian rugby politics? Bit ironic given its the Brumbies main strike weapon, and in any event not the source of tries offshore it once was as defensive cheating has been perfected too.
Talking of Johnston. And Rennie. And Matt Taylor. What were the SRU thinking? Most employment contracts disallow poaching colleagues when you leave for a lengthy period. A word of warning on Taylor, many happy to see him go in Scotland. Against the same 3 6N opponents Scotland shipped 11 tries under Taylor. This year 2 tries only.
As for Folau. Enough. Just stop it Spiro. The PI players seem to have voted with their feet (and wallets). Interesting cultural challenge for Rennie to manage going forward.
Lastly on number of Super teams. Johnston will be acutely aware that Scotland only has two pro teams, and the concentration of playing resource has made them tough to beat and a good way to groom internationals. Suspect his hand is behind the move to reduce Australia to 3 Super Rugby teams.
Shadow of Folau obscures signs of rugby's revival in Australia
Interesting review. Scotland and Oz have interchanged 6 and 7 on the rankings for the last couple of years, so even allowing for the vagaries of the ranking system – they are not far apart. The 6N saw 1 win and one bland, boring draw with England where nothing much happened. I wondered at the time how much better Oz would have done in the same position given most of the teams are ranked above them, and, that they share the same frailties playing away from home. My conclusion – similar outcomes.
Huw Jones isn’t travelling because his defence is porous. I would have had Rory Hutchison over Peter Horne. Darcy Graham – just wow, and to think he and Hogg are both from Hawick.
Scotland could beat Ireland but lose to Japan (good punt methinks). However, watching the Japan v Boks game – Japan are very poor at kick chase and particularly receiving and one Finn Russell (curious no comment on a man who has tortured Oz last 2 games we played) will be smacking his lips.
Rugby World Cup 2019 preview series: Scotland
At a tangent, but did anyone watch the Japan v Boks game? Humidity was a shocker and the ball a bar of soap the whole game. Boks kicked everything and contested the kicks well. Japan’s receiving under pressure and conditions was poor.
Seems to me first rate kick and chase will be crucial in the conditions. To me Oz have the worst kick chase game in the top tier, and that is a big worry. I can see lots of fancy dan backs moves coming to nought. Boks had the best of the weekend hit outs.
Five talking points from Wallabies vs Samoa World Cup warm-up
Went to all of Scotland’s games in 91. They were a good side then and were just squeezed in the Semi by a huge England pack. Often wonder how a Scotland v Wallabies final would have played out. No doubt Oz would have won, but would have been a good game on the eye! Thought at the time that the weird England tactics stemmed from the grand slam loss in 90, they were playing lovely flowing stuff up until that loss – then returned to conservative, ball up jumper, ways. Too big an ask to change strategy at such short notice.
"We're taking Bill back home!" How the Wallabies won the 1991 Rugby World Cup
As was the case in the old days. 8 replacements every game is farcical, and does no favours to the wee teams who have less strength in depth – hence fewer upsets
Too many players, too complex and not enough stars of the Lomu variety
With you on the big hit culture. A potential mitigant would be going back to being a 15 man sport instead of 23. Fresh legs running hard at tired legs is not a good look. With no subs, teams had to balance power with stamina and made for interesting watching. A return to proper rucking would also create more space and de-emphasise the hit (I know, dreaming about old style rucking coming back, but loved that part of the game).
Too many players, too complex and not enough stars of the Lomu variety
Long time between drinks since 1983.
Scots now a decent team and I am a wee bit disappointed that they didn’t put more on the scoreboard. Will still have a dram to celebrate though….
Mystified at why Jones started with 5 Saracens who have had no game time since the autumn. It showed. Also, for all Itoje’s positives, his discipline and attitude sucks at times and he was a penalty machine
Jones takes blame as Scotland upset England