Thanks Geoff – you sum things up very clearly across the twelve teams. Unless things change the Rebels and the Force will be fighting it out for the wooden spoon at the end of the season.

In commenting on the Rebels two pre-season games I noted two failings: firstly a continuation of their scramble defense woes from previous years and a lack of offensive penetration near the goal line. These sins lasted for the first 10 minutes of each half v theTahs; and for the entire first half v the Drua. Unfortunately v the Brumbies they lasted the whole game. Let’s hope that 60 days respite from further bad news headlines allows them to regain their composure and confidence and ket the undoubted calss available in this year’s team to shine through.

A lot of changes to the panel this year Tony with no explanation. Any comment

Home games all the way except for the Hurricanes being too good in Perth. Looking forward to the Stockade tomorrow night.

Thanks Geoff – a great article. I have given up guessing what the future holds, so I will hold my piece until that is clearer. But I will add my thanks to Baden and “Docs” for all the things they have done for Victorian rugby over the years along with many others who have put their personal future on the line for the cause of realising the potential that exists in Victoria. Jimmy Orange is a standout but there are many others.

I posit a question. If the Rebels had caved into the RA demand to hand over their license and IP in the same way that the Tahs caved late last year, would we be where we are today?

At least tickets for Friday night are now on sale. If you are in Victoria, go and but one or more.

“Loose” is a bit of an understatement. Okay on attack but on defence a rabble, especially on the goal line. Thankfully at half time they sorted it out. Two weeks in a row they have had slow starts.

The second half was much better: made their tackles and threw some great passes and were fitter than the Drua at the end. Good signs.

Decent crowd with many Fijian supporters and a straggle of passing Swifties making their way to the ‘G’. One or two “ex” directors in the crowd. The staff looked upbeat.

Onward to round 1.

Some hope. The gates open at 4.00. How long do you reckon the queues will be at that time?

Sad to hear about Hough

Thanks Geoff – a good list of players to look out for.

My Rebels players of interest this year is a mix of established players who need to have a signature season to solidify their Wallabies roles a bunch of younger players who will be expected to step up this year.

The first category is headed by Uelese and Pone – both with the necessary physical assets and lots of talent but have never quite nailed it. Jordie had an impressive 60 minutes v the Tahs last week and needs to on. As usual Pone was walking the sidelines. I hope he is fit.

You have mentioned Canham. A big big opportunity with LSL alongside. I am very confident he will take. Otherwise, Tualima, Maiava and Hough are ready for more game time and the opportunity to shine.

On an other tack: can you have a quiet word with the Rebels management and get them to move the Drua trial somewhere at least 20 ks away from the madness that will accompany Tay-Tays take over of the central Melbourne on Friday evening. Quins would be my preference – just saying.

No

Intact” Porecki limped off in the first half. Ditto HJH in second. neither looked too bad but who knows.

Both Bell and Tupou started and neither scrum had ascendancy in first half but the Rebels dominated in the second. Both lineouts were OK but as the game went on the Rebels dominated all set piece – final try was PT for collapsing the maul.

The Tahs dominated the first 10 minutes of each half scoring their only tries. Their goal line defence was good all game and made the Rebels work harder that they should have needed to score tries. But otherwise the Rebels were all over them like a rash for most of the game.

Nice day out for a rebels fan after all the sh**t this week.

Welcome back Geoff. Great to have the Roar roaring again. I have to admit I lost a bit of interest rugby following Spring’s debacles. But ready tp get into the new season.
I am glad that the Rebels ’24 season is secured and encuraged by what you report about the limits on RAs scope to act against the Rebel’s best interests going towards ’25. A lot of the news coverage, including on this site, has reminded me of the scurrilous reporting in the lead up to the axing of the Force. I also remember the steady decline in player focus and intent as a resolution was dragged out for an eternity. I really hope that does not happen this time around.
Since Foxtel lost the rights the Herald Sun has essentially ignored the existence of the Rebels (the Age, disappointingly, has not been much better). But low-and -behold a two-page spread on their apparent woes on Saturday. Nothing like a good gloat to warm the cockles of their heart (if they have one).
Onward and upward is what I say. Tally Ho.

Happy New Year Geoff. My main worry is LH. After Gibbon it’s the big Caboose playing the role of utility prop.

Hardwick is gone

Christy It’s pity you did not seek your own comments from the Rebels rather than regurgitating News’ misinformation almost verbatim. See The Rebel’s response reposted by DGS. A fairly blunt dismissal. If you want to call Baden Stephenson a liar man up. Otherwise show some balance.

Tony
Interesting article and I have no issues with most of it but your enthusiasm for Mark Reason’s comments and allowing “They need fewer Aussie teams…” to pass without comment suggests that you agree with him. Given this I would be keen to understand the Roar’s official editorial position on which team(s) should be cut?

Redi is a quite eclectic classical cellist – he’s no Yo-Yo Ma. His version of Nevermind. It won’t be to everyone’s taste

Thanks Geoff an excellent summary of the the year – unfortunately. I’m afraid the goings n at the WC and the ongoing charade that if RA has taken the gloss off the year for me. So consigned to the dustbin of life and look forward to next year.

Fortunately the Rebels look good for next year – but then they always do. They have a strong squad with depth in most areas. They have an even better squad of coaches. It was good to meet new coaches Brad Harris and Rob Taylor at the recent RCV “cricket” lunch. I had a long talk with Rob and he came across as very capable and very eager for success at the Rebels. His role on kicking strategies and their integration with the defence will be an important first for the Rebels if they can make it work.

Excellent choices on the music front as usual. I was unaware that Natalie had a new one out. Her eponymous 2014 album has been on high rotation round my place since it came out. I really enjoyed Jason Isbell’s concert earlier this year (I think I mentioned his support act Allison Russell at the time). I will look up your others.

I would toss in a few others: Rhiannon Giddens’ You’re the One (I know you will disagree); Ben Harper’s Wide Open Light (standout solo concert of the year for me); and, My Nirvana by Redi Hasa (which may have come out in ’22 but a “23 album for me).

I spent too much money going to see Elton John and Paul McCartney this year but I figured it was the last chance finally see two people who have played a big part in the sound track of my life for over 55 years. No regrets about EJ – an astoundingly good show. Not so sure about Paul but I suspect that has a lot to do with how sh?t a concert stadium Marvel is. Anyway they were both better than watching the Wallabies at the RWC.

Best wishes for the festive season to you and yours and onward to 2024.

Thanks Geoff. Must have been tough to write late at night.

I really have nothing to say at the moment. Need time to reflect.

Good luck to your other team. I don’t think mine will make the quarters.

Thanks Geoff. An encouraging performance by the Wallabies but the Fijian will be licking their lips at our defence, especially in the last quarter. The bench in general was poor but they were hampered by the weird mix that Eddie selected.

Georgia had a few players who clearly were wearing spiders as far as the Wallaby arachnophobes were concerned. Fiji have at least six who will know who to run at.

Looking forward to a night of mini matches tonight to catch up on the action I have missed. I do recommend the Japan v Chile match to put a smile on your face.

By the way on the RCV Superbru tipping table I’m running third. There is someone called Allanthus on 25th 😊

I agree. Lots of fun to watch. If the match was to be decided by the enthusiasm of the competing crowds Chile would be declared the winners in a close run thing. The scoreboard blew out towards the end but it was a much closer match than that.

With three Rebels alumni in the Japanese team I started out on their side, but Chile won me over. Starting with their anthem. Much better than a haka to get your blood up!

Definitely a glass half full man then?

Thanks Geoff. I missed the opening ceremony as well. No ticketing issues, just the lack of willpower to get out of bed at 5 am on a very cold Melbourne morning. But I did make it to the kick-off and much enjoyed watching a high pressure game while having no skin in the game. From about the 30 minute mark I thought the French had it under control, although the second AB try did cause temporary doubt. I doubt the French will start another half in this tournament not totally switched on.

What is it with these pesky refs enforcing the rules? They will be insisting a straight feeds to scrum if we’re not careful. One thing I did notice was no “brakefoot” set ups at the scrum. Or was that just a Sanzaar law variation trial?

Stan’s coverage was remarkably good – comprehensive with no technical glitches. Michael Hooper is going to be a special comments star. 😊

Lots of very good memories there Geoff, thanks for the post. Only five more sleeps. Enjoy the trip.

First Nations colours.

Thanks Brett – I agree with most of your opinions but have to take issue with your love of the so called Wallaby “Gold”. Awful in my opinion. Crass at best, tasteless at worst.

As a one time trawler of the gold souks of the Gulf, I have learnt that the colour “Gold” is highly variable: from vary pale yellow in the lower carat range of “7” to very deep yellow at the higher range of “24”. The Wallaby jumper is way beyond that and verges on orange.

This matters as colour collates with hardness, as in ability to withstand abrasion and aggression. “7” is as hard as nails, “24” might as well be made of putty. But this needs to be balanced with subtly- a touch of class, elan, verve. Take the last scale and reverse it. That is why the point of perfection is “18” carat gold, which the Wallabies had just about right in 2003. A paler classy “Ausiie way” with a touch of steel. The current Wallabies “orange” (which I accept we are stuck with) suggests lots of verve and elan but with a soft underbelly which can always come back and bite us. I don’t like it and never will. (For those looking to shop Doha souk for “18” carat gold and Manama souk for “24” carat gold).

As for the Wallabies change strip – just awful. Where does white fit in the Australian national palette?. Should be red, black and gold.

Ireland’s is the worst. Irish green is “emerald green”. It looks like someone in marketing really wanted to go “teal” but in the end didn’t have the ticker. I expect a lot of Irishmen picking fights in French bars when they get the mickey taken out of them.

Back row left in the photo above. Perched rather nicely