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Thanks Geoff, good stuff again … comp looks more even this year but early days yet
The Wrap: Reds light up Melbourne, while it's lights out for TV over Lienert-Brown concussion
Mz, thanks for that …hmmm don’t worry, you/we have hope., … it’s a marathon not a sprint 😊
At least the rugby’s been good!
The Wrap: The two massive power shifts shaping Australian and New Zealand rugby
Perofeta has, imo not quite lived up to his promise that he showed with the U20’s same can be said about Nock
The Wrap: The two massive power shifts shaping Australian and New Zealand rugby
Blues also have Zane Sullivan who they bought over as a first five … they have options
The Wrap: The two massive power shifts shaping Australian and New Zealand rugby
Thanks Geoff, the weekend started well but soon fell away. I’m talking about my prowess of tipping rugby. I must be a patsy!
Yes started well, Tipped Rebels to get over Moana Pasifika and the under siege Melbourne team duly obliged. Thank you Rebs!!
Next match in, the Tahs in Sydney, had to be a shot’s eye huh? I mean a shoe in, hosting the Highlanders, the perfect opportunity to take another NZ scalp … Nope!! but if Tane kicked that last min goal. It would have been 2 from 2. But I suppose with my history 1 each from 2 games was Ok …
Yeah I know the Crusaders have been done in Fiji before but after 2 losses in a row, unlikely to start the season 0-3. Trouble is no one told Fiji Drua .. their win 20-10 win looked more decisive than that … my tips 1 from 3 .. come on!
Brumbies had to show the loss last week to the Chiefs was a mistake, an aberration, a nightmare of a performance. They will make up the lost ground. So confident I was to took them on the line giving the Force 17.5 start. Nah they were going to win by more than that … easy… Nope, not easy at all. In fact lucky to win. Hey that’s 2 from 4?? My mates were laughing at me. The Sportsbet guys were displaying an apologitic smile .. Yep two from four .. ego a little bruised but knew that the next two games would give me 4 from 6 .. there’s been worse weeks!
Digger’s mob without Jordie were ripe for the taking and the Blues to remain unbeaten over first three rounds looked to restore the balance. I’m starting to dislike Wellington as a venue .. seriously, how could that be. Canes getting over the Blues to remain unbeaten? What would the odds have been on that before the comp started! 2 from 5 … you have to be kidding! Blues have to go home without even a bonus point.. the game had to be rigged surely.
A quick bite of dinner without talking to the missus … I was going to retire to enjoy the last game of the round.
A brilliant game the Reds played very well against the Chiefs, the ‘form side of the comp’ (I thought!). Geoff you might be right that the Chiefs didn’t look like breaking through the Reds defence but in the 23 phases before the pathway was blocked, the Chiefs looked like stealing it at the death! Great game. No so great tipping 2 from 6. Unbelievable! I won’t bother taking a ticket in Lotto.
I’m weird .. I enjoyed the rugby over the weekend (not so much the tipping part of it!!)
Then to wake up on Sunday morning to the news .. England beat Ireland in the 6N and Italy … yep ITALY getting over Scotland. Now all that is needed is for Wales to beat France.
Finally how much did the RWC cost the Wallabies – why is it a big secret now?
The Wrap: The two massive power shifts shaping Australian and New Zealand rugby
🥊
'Over the moon': Reds deny Chiefs for 23 PHASES to win 'titanic' trans-Tasman clash as Kiss' revolution continues
I am not writing off the Crusaders, they will be there come finals time (I also believe the same of the Brumbies)
Talk about depth .. for a side who never won a SR game under Warren Gatland, the Chiefs also lost key players post 2023 RWC but I think they are the most watchable SRP franchise at the moment… they have players ‘who step up’.
Roarers know I like the Chiefs but LOVE the Blues 😊
McMillan must be chuffed …
The Wrap: ‘World’s best provincial rugby competition’ delivers a superb Super Round
Also that after Crusaders, Blues had lost more experience than other franchises. But nope I’ve bled blue and white all my life with Chiefs being my No 2 …
Santa Claus coaching the Blues will not make me change my allegiance. I have a lot of respect for Jamie Joseph but the Blues are not ruthless enough … yet.
Look at the Chiefs 1st half last weekend .. fantastic rugby. Everyone is blaming the Brumbies poor day out but it’s my belief that Chiefs took it all away from them.
That’s where I’d like to see the Blues back too … like they were in the 80’s. Totally dominant! That’s not too much to ask is it? 😊
The Wrap: ‘World’s best provincial rugby competition’ delivers a superb Super Round
The Chiefs first half was as good as I can recall for many years Muz. The attack was relentless, they played the game at high speed with a lot of continuity, the whole pack played well and the support play … just sublime..
Sone were saying the the Brumbies played poorly. I have so much respect for the Brumbies but they were not allowed to play their game (they’ll be back).
The Wrap: ‘World’s best provincial rugby competition’ delivers a superb Super Round
“Anyone who tipped 6 from 6 for this round, deserves high praise indeed.”
Anyone who claims to have tipped 6 from 6 I think is a liar’ 😊
The Wrap: ‘World’s best provincial rugby competition’ delivers a superb Super Round
That maybe so but it will be a pity in my opinion. Melbourne is such a great sporting state but it needs a concentrated effort by RA, Vic Government to come to terms with that and a strong marketing campaign, no lip service type stuff. RA (or ARU as it was) should remember why it entered the Victorian market in the first place.. im sure they did their due diligence.
I think this is a problem with Federation in the sense that each State and Territory has its own agenda.
Do I have the answer .. no, I’m not that clever but I see even with the change of leadership in RA, there is still little transparency.
The Wrap: ‘World’s best provincial rugby competition’ delivers a superb Super Round
Impossible for tipping .. I was out after Blues game backed them to beat Highlanders by 15 in a multi at the TAB… I won’t talk about the other results.
The Wrap: ‘World’s best provincial rugby competition’ delivers a superb Super Round
BTW … Best provincial competition in the world? No, but when the South African teams and the Sunwolves and Argentina was involved, imo it had the potential to be if marketed properly
The Wrap: ‘World’s best provincial rugby competition’ delivers a superb Super Round
Morning Geoff. Yes agree wholeheartedly that it was an excellent weekend of rugby.
Each match had something memorable to takeaway. The Blues match left us with a hat trick of tries to Hoskins Sotutu and that audacious Telea try started by Perofeta from behind his own goal line on HT.
The Chiefs match achieved what I felt was the greatest 1st half of rugby for a long time. I believe the intensity of the relentless attack contributed heavily to the Brumbies defence uncharacteristically falling away in the last quarter.
Moana Pasifika’s 1st ever win against the Drua is a reward for Tana Umaga’s coaching resolve.
If the effort of the Waratahs to send the Crusaders packing and a season start of zero from two does not being back some disgruntled fans I’ll be surprised. They just have to keep doing it for Coleman’s sake! Edmed I thought was very good and his foot race against Reece to save a try was a display of outstanding total commitment.
Rebels needed that win over what I thought was a poor Force commitment. Rebels need a bit of good fortune and at least for the Rebel fans who attended .. good on ‘em.
Yes the Reds game against the Canes was messy, punctuated by lots of little errors but the closeness of the game has me glued.
One win for Aussie sides against Kiwi teams could have been easily two, had the Reds been able to take advantage of several opportunities before FT, but I think the next couple of rounds will tell us a lot more about who the serious challengers will be from RA’s teams.
With both Schmidt and Robertson in attendance for the Super Round would love an insight of what each is now thinking following the weekend’s rugby activity.
The Wrap: ‘World’s best provincial rugby competition’ delivers a superb Super Round
I agree, incredible half.
'Reality check': Brumbies cop hiding from Chiefs in worst display ever under Larkham
Very good Mr Jones. Was thinking, is there anyone else who earns as many frequent flyer points as Harry Jones.
A pleasure to read your articles mate and this is no different. Pleased you did not pen this article in your native tongue.
It’s going to take a very good team to stop Ireland from winning the 6N with another grand slam.
England conquered, Irish in their sights and 'the only holes Ireland have are exactly where Scottish swords fit'
Thanks Geoff. Rugby is back! What a great start too. Last Friday game to kick off the 2024 season was fantastic. The first half was as good as any 40 mins of quality rugby that I recall for many a year.
The Chiefs no doubt are one of the favourites for the gong in 2024 although after DMac was off injured early in the 2nd half, the game, while still brutal settled down a mite. If any neutral didn’t enjoy that game then I don’t know what else they want.
Very early days by I thought the next most watchable game was the interstate game Sat night between the Reds and Chook’s Tahs. Again first half was very competitive and while the penalty try, which imo was not truly justified (sorry disagree it was definitely early, a 50/50 at worst) to award it, then following up with a YC gave the hosts a huge leg up.
Anyhow week one only, my BLUES I thought had ‘an Ok’ first 40 (live) stumbled a bit in the second half (on replay) . Kept my eye on Zarn Sullivan, not a perfect start by any means but to me he looks to have the skills to warrant examinations as to higher prospects. Sure we have “Will” from Canterbury off injured presently but he, Jordan might not have 15 tied up just yet. Who has a better left boot that Sullivan in NZ?.
Disappointment for me was the performance of the Rebels and Force. The Brumbies will be there when the whips are crackin’, the Canes just has too much class for “Twiggies boys” over all positions.
Due to family commitments didn’t watch the game Saturday in Dunedin .. may have a lookie mid week.
Gotta say, no tipping panel on Thursdays when ‘us commoners’ have the opportunity to us to bag openly the experts picks will be missed by a number of regulars. No Brett MacKay no Diggercane, no Harry, no Tony no Christie, and no yourself Geoff, bantering against each other, it’s a shame. Loved watching the bias in the tips by the panelists .. and the follow up mitigation attempts … I
The Wrap: Opening round of SRP a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same
Depressing wrap Geoff, but thanks for bringing it for the attention of rugby fans.
Trouble is that many have their own agendas.
The Wrap: Code Orange as looming Rebels decision places rugby pathways at risk
Great article given the situation the Rebels find themselves in.
While so many are negative, have to love the positivity of Salakaia-Loto and I wish him and the Rebels well for 2024 and beyond.
'We decide our destiny': Motivation driving Wallaby's Aussie comeback, why off-field drama won't derail Rebels
Thanks Geoff. It seems a little early in the year for rugby but in less than 2 weeks .. away we go again.
With so many changes of coaches and players post 2023, I have a keen interest in the performance of Vern Cotter. Ok he is not so much an “up and comer” but he is, in the Blues coaching ranks.
Sure he has had success internationally with both Fiji and Scotland as well as with clubs in the NH but I hope he and his mate Jason O’Halloran can transition into Super Rugby at the Blues!
If he can continue the progressive re-birth of the Blues under MacDonald he before moved on to the AB’s coaching team, the the Blues will have a red hot shot of taking out the title for 2024.
Of the players who will be entrusted with the fortunes for 2024, one player I will follow is Zarn Sullivan. Still only 23 after being signed by the Blues in 2020, he has played
most of his games at full back but he didn’t disappoint when asked to play 1st five for the franchise.
In fact imo Sullivan might have moved ahead of Perofeta with his prodigious left boot as 1st choice 10 in a straight swap with 15 between them. Let’s see if Cotter agrees. I would have thought that with Mo’unga and Barrett in Japan, up and coming flyhalves will be licking theirs lips at an opportunity to be noticed.
The Wrap: 'Curious and uncomfortable' move on the eve of SRP, and 12 players who will light up the comp in 2024
As always GP you make sense. Thanks
The Wrap: Concussion is a key area where Australian rugby can become a leader, not a follower
Ha! Harry is warming up… rugby is on the way!
'The putative heir or the actual king': Ireland and France think they're the world's best - the Six Nations opener could settle it
A belated Happy New Year Geoff and welcome back.
I’m sure your preferable opening wrap for 2024 was meant to be celebration of RA and the States had woken up to serious issues that confront its survival. With the demise of HM, the betrayal of EJ exposed, the calamity of the Wallabies RWC performance in the rear vision mirror, left behind in 2023, in spite of the size of the challenges ahead one could be forgiven to believe there are some blue skies ahead.
The blue skies is not a total illusion but surely if RA seek to sail their ship to calmer waters, to achieve goals it needs the cooperation of all parties involved. It needs compromise and a show of unity that will give a degree of confidence to those backers of the code.
The Wrap: Unity, integrity and the other casualties of shameful leaks aimed at the Rebels
Thanks Harry. Interesting.
Rugby is far from being dead in Australia but imo for them to move forward, the selection of administrators have got to become less focused on their own patch.
Wishful thinking .. maybe but let’s see if lessons of the past have been absorbed.
BTW, a Happy New Year mate to you and yours .. hope 2024 is a goodie for you.
Broken promises, sacrificial lambs and a monumental low blow - goodbye, good riddance to 2023 for Wallabies fans
Dunno why Cotter/Papali’i dint give the ball to Sullivan to kick for goals. He seemed to play 1st receiver quite a bit too, so he might as well have swapped positions with Perofeta.
The Wrap: Reds light up Melbourne, while it's lights out for TV over Lienert-Brown concussion