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Joined April 2023
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Sam is an analyst and journalist who has been working with clubs and writing about rugby for the past ten years. He is passionate about explaining the game in an easy to understand way to cut through complexity and help others fall in love with the game, the way he has.
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Say it quietly, but there was enough in that first half performance against New Zealand which suggested everything Eddie Jones has been speaking about…
Somewhere along the line, Pool C of the 2023 Rugby World Cup has turned into the pool of death. Not because it’s filled with…
It wasn’t that long ago that the All Blacks appeared to be a waning force. They had been at the top since, well, forever…
Eddie Jones’ second coming with Australia has started almost as poorly as it could have. Australia were destroyed by a South African side featuring…
Eddie Jones’ first squad includes incredibly experienced players like James Slipper (127 caps) and Michael Hooper (124), but you know all about them. So,…
We advance to the Super Rugby semi-finals and the Brumbies remain as Australia’s sole representative. It’s been a hit and miss season for the…
The Brumbies are the best team in Australia, and they have a chance to make the Super Rugby semi-finals this weekend but to do…
It looks almost certain that Nic White will be included in Eddie Jones’ Test squad. He has been ever present since 2019 and was…
Eddie Jones’ debut with Australia is coming up. His first game in charge will be on July 8 against South Africa in Pretoria. We…
The last time the Queensland Reds won in New Zealand, Quade Cooper scored 16 points, Bundee Aki and Gareth Anscombe were Chiefs, and Steve…
Like pretty much every other position in the Australian squad, fullback remains open. In the five recent Australian matches, four fullbacks were used. Tom…
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article talking about how Eddie Jones might find success with Will Skelton in the backrow. Understandably, most…
Carter Gordon has been the most exciting flyhalf talent among the Australian teams so far this season and rightly finds himself in Eddie Jones’…
There were rumours that Brad Thorn wouldn’t make it past the bye week if the Reds lost in Samoa. The victory, their third of…
Jordan Petaia has been consistent. In 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022 he scored two tries per Super Rugby season. In 2023 he has broken…
A lot has been written about Eddie Jones’ appointment as coach of Australia since it was announced in January. However, we haven’t yet had…
Thank you PM!
ANALYSIS: The Carter Gordon traits that make him a Wallaby bolter, and the one reason he's still a risk
Thanks a lot Ozinsa! It’s interesting as an outsider, I’m based up in the UK, because we don’t always see the hype so it can be easier to be a little more objective there.
ANALYSIS: The Carter Gordon traits that make him a Wallaby bolter, and the one reason he's still a risk
Thanks John Ferguson! I agree with you. I think it’s still better to give them a chance because you’ll never know otherwise. But, it’s true that it’s going to be a struggle and people should be aware of that and set expectations accordingly.
ANALYSIS: The Carter Gordon traits that make him a Wallaby bolter, and the one reason he's still a risk
Thanks a lot Mzilikazi! Agree, I think we need to see Gordon in an international game to see if he dives straight in. Even someone like Marcus Smith, who had massive talent and was very highly talked up, hasn’t immediately flown when given the chance.
ANALYSIS: The Carter Gordon traits that make him a Wallaby bolter, and the one reason he's still a risk
Thanks Mo! I’ve enjoyed the back and forth so far but appreciate that is something I can do more with. It’s been great hearing people’s opinions and I do read all the comments on my articles.
ANALYSIS: The Carter Gordon traits that make him a Wallaby bolter, and the one reason he's still a risk
Thanks a lot Brett! I appreciate it.
ANALYSIS: The two biggest issues killing the Reds are linked - can Thorn fix them before he packs up his desk?
Thanks for reading Harry! From most angles, good, unless you’re asking about the rugby….
ANALYSIS: The two biggest issues killing the Reds are linked - can Thorn fix them before he packs up his desk?
Thanks for the feedback Rocky! I don’t want to step on the “real rugby experts” toes as a newb here!
ANALYSIS: The two biggest issues killing the Reds are linked - can Thorn fix them before he packs up his desk?
Thanks Wooliej! I appreciate it
ANALYSIS: The two biggest issues killing the Reds are linked - can Thorn fix them before he packs up his desk?
Lots of players in Australia who aren’t in the squad though!
We shall see how he does. I’m sure I’ll be writing more about him as the season goes on.
ANALYSIS: Why Jones should end the Wallabies' backline lottery and give Petaia a perfect platform to perform
Cheers JC! I think all skills have specialization. However, most teams now will defend with a fly-half and fullback in the backfield with both wingers up – generally. That means that the job of a fullback isn’t quite as complicated as it might have been in the past when teams operated with a pendulum defence.
ANALYSIS: Why Jones should end the Wallabies' backline lottery and give Petaia a perfect platform to perform
Hey Passit! Yeah I think you’re right and it’s not a glaring error. However, it’s been an area Wales have been caught out with as they also try and defend that X-Ball with two men. The idea is that you don’t lose a defender from elsewhere. However, if you can’t make the call against elite attackers, they you frequently get hurt. The way England run it here is very good though and a lot of non-elite centres would bit on the hard line.
ANALYSIS: Why Jones should end the Wallabies' backline lottery and give Petaia a perfect platform to perform
Thanks for the feedback Rocky! In terms of Flook being secure, I don’t think he’s nailed on for the World Cup but I mean secure in that, currently, he’s in the squad!
ANALYSIS: Why Jones should end the Wallabies' backline lottery and give Petaia a perfect platform to perform
Yeah as Nick says, it’s easier to pass right to left. The difference isn’t really much though and teams regularly switch wingers around without much problem.
ANALYSIS: Why Jones should end the Wallabies' backline lottery and give Petaia a perfect platform to perform
Thanks Ozinsa, I appreciate it! I think Skelton probably won’t play as a backrow but I’d be surprised if Jones isn’t investigating it as a possibility. For example, Lawes had been, apart from very few exceptions, exclusively a lock until he was moved to six in 2018. I would say there’s double figures chance it happens.
ANALYSIS: Why pick Richie Arnold, and what does Wallabies call up tell us about how Eddie wants to play?
Thank you Soapit! Appreciate it
ANALYSIS: Why pick Richie Arnold, and what does Wallabies call up tell us about how Eddie wants to play?
Thanks Harry! I certainly have so far, always good to get other people’s views!
ANALYSIS: Why pick Richie Arnold, and what does Wallabies call up tell us about how Eddie wants to play?
Thank you so much Passit2me! Really appreciate the kind words
ANALYSIS: Why pick Richie Arnold, and what does Wallabies call up tell us about how Eddie wants to play?
Hi Phil, thanks for the feedback. You are right that Toulouse don’t use that quick ball and instead set-up the box kick. However, it was there to be played quickly and so Arnold did his job in generating quick ball, even if Dupont didn’t use it quickly.
ANALYSIS: Why pick Richie Arnold, and what does Wallabies call up tell us about how Eddie wants to play?
I wouldn’t be shocked if Eddie does that. Although Frost has only played flanker once and that was back in May 2021 so it would be a similar step in the dark to moving Skelton there.
ANALYSIS: Why pick Richie Arnold, and what does Wallabies call up tell us about how Eddie wants to play?
Hi JCMasher, happy to help shine a bit of a light on Arnold. I get where you are coming from with Skelton but he’s pretty good in the ruck. He’s hit 232 rucks this year which is 2nd most of La Rochelle and 18th most in the league. He also has a high percentage of successful ruck entries. So I wouldn’t be overly concerned about him not making the conversion looking at rucks alone.
ANALYSIS: Why pick Richie Arnold, and what does Wallabies call up tell us about how Eddie wants to play?
I think that happens a lot Red Rob. A lot of players end up moving to a club, or nation, with more progressive coaches and suddenly they look much better.
ANALYSIS: The attribute that makes Will Skelton world class, and why he should start for Wallabies at RWC