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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.…
Moreover despite the Headingley review blunder and crucial dropped catches in the India series, Paine hasn’t even been that bad of a captain, wicketkeeper or batsmen. His glove-work is actually quite good, and his batting has involved some gutsy knocks to drive Australia out of troubled positions. At 7, his job isn’t to score daddy hundreds, it’s to play to a situation- and he’s done that on multiple occasions
'Extremely concerned': Paine takes 'mental health break' putting him OUT of first Test with career in doubt
As much as Paine has done wrong, the whole saga is fishy- why did CA instate him as captain when they clearly knew about the texts beforehand in the 2017 Ashes. For the story to be released on the eve of the Ashes and especially for calls for Paine’s removal of captaincy, someone or some people of CA being involved in a media story sell surely isn’t an exaggeration or nonsensical conspiracy theory
'Extremely concerned': Paine takes 'mental health break' putting him OUT of first Test with career in doubt
Wallabies are building nicely, every game matters but an EOYT game lets players learn more in game scenarios which in my view is more valuable than the result, given the 2023 RWC in mind. A 3-0 sweep in the UK does not reflect the questionable referring in Scotland and Wales and a sub-par performance against England. It’s all part of a process rather than peaking too early.
It's been emotional. But much more good than bad for Wallabies in 2021
Let’s be honest if Rassie didn’t release that video, Nienaber would win the coach award whilst Etzebeth, Am, DDA and Kolisi would very likely be in the nominations.
'Laughable': Salty South Africans react as two Wallabies and no Boks make POTY shortlist
true- I think the coaches also really wanted him to work on his kicking game- can’t remember from SR if he did but so far haven’t seen him kick as much- partly due to the fact he’s barely getting the ball and when he does he’s prone to the poor decision
VOTE: Wallabies DIY player ratings vs England
True- think stifling of possession is a big combination of some questionable breakdown calls, poor kicking and poor execution at what has been an improving scrum and line out for the Aussies if you think about the 57-22 drubbing. Paisami gets a lot of unfair stick for someone who nails people much bigger than him and is so committed in contact. Going forward doesn’t help with JOC not giving him quality ball.
VOTE: Wallabies DIY player ratings vs England
Who cares? They’ve whacked NZ at home plenty a time, hold the Ashes and have been no1 plenty of times. A WT20, given they’ve never won it before, is more important as of now. Win that and then they’ll have all eyes on the WTC.
'Legacy on the line': Five burning questions for Australia ahead of T20 World Cup final
Leota and Hoops were quite good actually. Second rows also held their own so the forwards were in no ways bashed.
VOTE: Wallabies DIY player ratings vs England
JB at 12 isn’t a bad idea- do you not mean Savea and Ioane should be playing when the game’s more open rather than Blackadder?
MATCH REPORT: All Blacks stunned as Ireland roar to deserved win
Aussie fans do love to underrate their players; specifically Hooper in Rugby and Warner in Cricket. He was exceptional tonight as was Wade and Stoinis, the most unlikeliest of heroes
MATCH REPORT: Wonderful Wade's stunning heist sends Australia to World Cup final
Absolutely- whilst Aus will be disappointed, I was thinking that both teams needed to play this game to really learn about themselves for 2023. A loss by 2 points means nothing in the scheme of things
VOTE: Wallabies player ratings vs Scotland
Hooper was excellent, as was Rodda and Leota. Think Paisami’s criticism is very unfair, he was titanic in defence. Much of his attacking misflair is perhaps linked to JOC’s tactics of kicking deep and playing joué at the wrong time. Ikitau also was tremendous too, he’s come a long long way in defence and looks test class. Perese was very good too.
VOTE: Wallabies player ratings vs Scotland
Your point is pretty valid, Scotland do have some ‘edge’ against Eddie Jones’ England. It’s remarkable since they’ve been under Steve Tandy and have some sheer steel and much more grit and dog in their pack.
MATCH REPORT: Wallabies will be 'filthy with themselves' as Scotland end winning streak
You talk about research but Scotland haven’t beaten England twice at Twickers. They drew 38 all in 2019, and won 11-6 this year. Unless you count that draw as a win given Scotland were 31-0 after 35 mins. Also, had fans been there I highly doubt Scotland would’ve won against England earlier.
MATCH REPORT: Wallabies will be 'filthy with themselves' as Scotland end winning streak
Havili looked damn physical and has probably learnt after facing SA. Loved his rushing up leading the line. Jonathan Davies was near non existent and DH’s line-speed partly threw Anscombe off guard
Barrett stars as All Blacks destroy Wales with breathtaking finale and leapfrog Boks at No. 1
How many times have we seen Stoinis get out to Rashid with that same ball- zero foot movement.
MATCH REPORT: Buttler blitzkrieg sees England hand Australia 'an absolute hiding'
He’s trying to say that it’s possible beating NZ without some key players akin to Wales’ situation. South Africa’s victory over NZ is a perfect example of it. Dane has struggled with injuries and Codie Taylor has been no1 hooker since 2017. Cane has been injured for a while and only just returning. Lost captaincy too so it’s fair to say both of them don’t walk straight back in.
The fascinating vision from Wales' last win over NZ, and the lessons to be learned 68 years later
Tipuric and Faletau may be out of form but they’re not playing. Nor is Navidi who is Wales’ best forward
The Thursday rugby two-up: What needs fixing this spring?
Kurtley Beale can play 10. Move Kellaway or Petaia to 15
The Thursday rugby two-up: What needs fixing this spring?
Tbf since 57-0 the saffers nearly beat the All Blacks in SA, lost 24-25 at home. Since then it’s been back to the best sporting rivalry in the world, after India Pakistan in cricket
ANALYSIS: Eddie Jones facing acid Tests as Wallabies and Springboks aim to pile on his misery
Oh yeah add that too. Even in the 57-0 game, SA were actually quite dominant in collision too there. Virtually since Rassie came the Saffers have some edge over AB forwards regardless of results
ANALYSIS: Eddie Jones facing acid Tests as Wallabies and Springboks aim to pile on his misery
New Zealand- last 5 games against SA, they’ve lost the collisions yet won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1. In the RWC game the Saffers were so much better and more physical in contact before some Mo’unga, Barrett and Reece magic
ANALYSIS: Eddie Jones facing acid Tests as Wallabies and Springboks aim to pile on his misery
No Louis Lynagh in the England squad- surely Rennie is ringing him up? Especially with Koroibete out
'A chance to change perception': Successful spring tour would mean more than usual for Wallabies
Think Sri Lanka will have to look back at 2014 for a long, long time- dreadful since and can really see Ireland fancy themselves against them
Was Sri Lanka’s 2014 squad the best T20 World Cup-winning team?
Can’t wait for Eddie to coach a cricket team
'Sh-t, this guy is nuts': Eddie Jones has a book out and of course it contains some absolute gold