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Joined August 2020
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After the end of silly season and Christmas festivities, for English cricket, it marks the start of whipping out the firing board. England are…
The Spring internationals are upon us after nearly three years of World Cup and pandemic disruption. Earlier in 2021, the Six Nations was a…
The last few weeks have shown the farcical element of the British and Irish Lions touring covid hotspot South Africa. I, like many people,…
South Africa release their 45-man squad this Saturday, a bulky one including players that will be picked for the South Africa A fixture against…
The recent floggings of Australian Super Rugby teams by the polished New Zealand outfits re-invites the perennial idea that rugby union is not popular…
This Lions squad reveal has plenty of gossip about it. Warren Gatland, love or loathe him, is making some bold calls. The drama around…
The various articles on everyone selecting their squads and XVs for the British and Irish Lions has been entertaining and extremely insightful. Sadly, this…
Cricket is well and truly back to life, in the white-ball game at least. The recent India-England series showed us how rich both nations…
Watching Super Rugby Aotearoa highlights in the UK are regularly filled with Jordie Barrett satisfyingly nail 55 metre shots at goal with pure ease.…
With this Lions talk of selecting unique XVs, I was thinking about the idea of combined Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere sides going toe-to-toe…
Super Rugby AU is well in flight and has seen both some good and ugly things. The Waratahs, once Australia's premier rugby team and…
While everyone is throwing their Lions XV's left, right and centre, no one is speaking about the World Champions. South Africa may not have…
I'll say it – this Six Nations, even without fans, was the best instalment for a while in northern hemisphere rugby. Eight games decided…
There may be no fan attendance, but the Six Nations is certainly living up to all expectations. All of the games – apart from…
As a lover of cricket and rugby union, I often like to compare what the sporting codes can learn from each other. Whilst there…
As the 2020 season comes to a close, Dave Rennie will have seen the end of his first rock-and-roll season with the Wallabies filled…
Nicholas Bishop and Rhys Bosley have written some awesome articles on the Australian blindside problem, but I think we can take this debate even…
2020 has been globally disrupted, but there was still ample opportunity for rugby to be played. As the international year ends with the conclusion…
Spring in 2020 has marked the much-needed return of international Test rugby in both hemispheres of the globe. The Six Nations concluded on Halloween…
The disrupted 2020 Six Nations finally came to a conclusion last Saturday, with England claiming their third championship in five years under Eddie Jones.…
Was Jalibert in the mix? Would say he is better than Smith on International showing. Santiago Carreras also criminally underrated but hard to disagree with your list
Power rankings: The top 10 flyhalves in world rugby come from eight countries, but none of them are Aussies
Wales may be in a slump but they still had a very strong, if not very close to full strength XV out today. AWJ, Beard, Adams, Williams, Morgan, the Front Row, Tipuric, Faletau, North, Anscombe, Priestland all very experienced and feature regularly in their strongest side. Compare that with the Australians who had their virtual C/D team out.
'I’m the eternal optimist': Rennie's Wallabies pull off remarkable 21-point comeback as next gen stands up
I would say Maxwell is an easy omission at this rate if Green won’t open (unlikely with this being a send-off tournament for Finch). Maxwell has been overhyped and overrated for some time now, don’t remember him doing anything for Aus for a while now. Zampa and Agar are better bowlers too.
Cameron Green must be parachuted into Australia's T20 World Cup squad
I always thought Wilson was a better 6 for the Wallabies and vice versa for Valetini at 8.
Get your questions in for Issue 39 of Coach's Corner
Geoff Boycott reiterates this time and time again in an Ashes series, the Aussies are up for it and are always looking to win a fight and not necessarily just sledging. I think England prioritise the Ashes mainly for the financial gain rather than the history and intense rivalry both fans love.
Are Australia really that much better than England?
I think Australia, although certainly have issues, are not far at all from being a seriously good team. Right now, they’re a good-very good team and easily in the top 2-3 Test playing teams in the world. One thing overlooked is that this Australian team can at least grasp the basics of Test cricket, something England and many other nations cannot, which is batting long periods, leaving well and relentless top-of-off stump bowling. Pucovski will be back in the mix, and for Asia, Labuschagne, Smith and Khawaja are top players of spin. Judging by Kyle Jamieson, Cummins and Hazlewood should perform well in Asia especially in Karachi and certain Indian wickets. The only issue is Starc, Lyon and whether Sri Lanka set up a rank bunsen.
Are Australia really that much better than England?
Tour from hell volume 4?
Drinking culture, fat shaming and a tactical disaster: England's Ashes nightmare revealed
Think Rizwan and Pant are neck and neck. I suppose Pant played the more memorable and eye-catching knocks. Jamieson, Rahul and Conway are very unlucky not to make this side. Don’t think Hasan Ali would make any pace line up in Australia, NZ or India.
The best Test cricket XI of 2021
I think it’s good they’re slow; it wears down England’s attack. They’re already quite uninventive when it’s not swinging, so wearing them down into the dirt is what Labuschagne and Smith do well.
Numbers show Smith in midst of biggest form slump since 2013
Very true; he doesn’t look comfortable at all against Wood. I think Jimmy also had his number in the 2015 Ashes series when the pitches weren’t London roads. Smith learnt from averaging 33 apart from the Oval and Lord’s when he became immense from that series onwards.
Numbers show Smith in midst of biggest form slump since 2013
At the end of the day, Kohli, Smith and co having a form slump isn’t something absurd. Every legend goes through these periods (Cook, Clarke, Ponting, Sachin) ; their record is quite impeccable if they were to retire today, both with 27 test tons. Given Smith has dominated the past 3 Ashes series, it’s probably about time he had some lack of success against England. Plus this slump will be cushioned by the fact Australia are about to win the Ashes.
Numbers show Smith in midst of biggest form slump since 2013
The Saffers would be even worse right now touring Aus. Even the Boks can’t win down under
DAY 1 REPORT: England on the canvas as Aussies dominate lopsided Boxing Day fight
Do you think Dupont is so individually world class, he let France down in the 6N? I think Squidge said in some video, possibly against Ireland that Dupont just backs his ability so much which leads to him occasionally playing the wrong play or making the wrong decision- he’s just so class that the error is understated?
Why Michael Hooper should have been World Rugby's player of the year
Almost thought about an Australian batting lineup for a second there
Why Michael Hooper should have been World Rugby's player of the year
I mean that’s just false; Hooper is the 3rd best 7 ever to play the game after Mccaw and Pocock. Pretty sure England’s previous lack of an out and out 7 was fixed by youngsters actually modelling their game on Hooper and co etc.
Wallabies miss out as Dupont named player of the year
Is this like Rugby where Australia’s best player repeatedly gets marked down because of some absurd bias against him?
VOTE: DIY player ratings from the first Ashes Test
I thought the Wallabies were good in 2001 in all fairness. On the rise now though
When the Gabba fortress was nearly breached
I’m English but I do watch a hell of a load of Rugby in Australia; Lolesio is very good when no pressure’s on him. Haven’t seen much of Harrison but Ben Donaldson the Tahs 10 with the mullet is ok.
The next batch: The Wallabies to watch for 2022
It’s interesting to hear commentator’s rationale for the Gabba fortress, similar to Eden Park’s All Black dominance- most of them say if it’s the first game of a tour, away teams are severely underprepped and not up to facing the heat, bounce and Australian crowd. This Ashes test will have the most peculiar build-up with little preparation and forecasts of rain. Like the last test in 2017-18, it was rain affected and balanced up until England’s second innings collapse- the pitch was not an Australian bouncy wicket. India’s win was a combination of a fairytale, near fluke performance from Pant and an Indian team with virtually nothing to lose.
When the Gabba fortress was nearly breached
I think this will be the closest Australian Ashes in a while. Root is in hot form, Stokes performs on the biggest stages and is suited to bat in Australia. Robinson’s length should trouble the Aussies and Broad and Anderson can’t wait to bowl at Harris, Warner and Head. Major issue for them is a quality spinner, which they don’t possess. I think Smith could be due a bad run against England given he’s been so good for the last 3 series. Marnus will be the key wicket. I really can’t see a whitewash or 4-0, so I’m saying 2-1 Australia. Hazlewood and Cummins will come good but I don’t think either side has enough preparation to hit the ground running at what I’m thinking of a rain-affected draw at Brisbane. Australia’s record in day-nighter’s is impeccable, so I really don’t see how England are going to easily win at Adelaide. Either way, Brisbane and Melbourne ( if it’s a flat deck will be a draw, if it’s like the India wicket it’s even) will be the key defining games.
'Most talked-about series in 15 years': My Ashes preview
Depth in Aus looks very strong, they’re building nicely for 2023. A home series against England and away tests against the Boks and NZ will test them, but a lot of talent for sure. Only major concern is a back-up younger 10 and a crash ball at centre.
The next batch: The Wallabies to watch for 2022
Australia nearly beat India in India in 2017, smashed them by 330 odd runs in one game. Currently, NZ are 62 all out in Mumbai and are going to loose heavily. I get NZ are punching above their weight in cricket, which is remarkable; but to suggest they’re the No1 Test team in all conditions is absurd. Their spin bowling is woeful apart from a few competent players whereas their batting ( even with Williamson) is inept at facing spin.
'WHAT'S JUST HAPPENED?' Cricket world in disbelief as NZ spinner stuns India with TEN-wicket haul
It’s because NZ are a pub team when the ball doesn’t swing and there’s the slightest of spin
'WHAT'S JUST HAPPENED?' Cricket world in disbelief as NZ spinner stuns India with TEN-wicket haul
Dmac in all fairness was quite poor this year
Numbers speak to just how hard Rennie is working to find Wallabies' way forward
As much as I would want Marsh to open, it’s not going to happen unless the Aussies win this Test and rotate for 2 dead rubbers. I think Marsh/Green opening would be very fascinating, Marsh would be playing very high risk t20 shots against swing which would be a sight to see. Green in the long term probably has to bat higher, like Marnus he gets himself in to 30 and finds silly ways to get out.
Turning a blind eye to Warner’s woes proving costly for Aussies - as McDonald sticks his head in sand yet again