Roar Guru
Joined November 2008
49.3k
Views
26
Published
7.9k
Comments
ex grade union player, ex ref, ex very poor coach. Played in UK, South Africa, NZ and here.
Published
Comments
Rhys Bosley thought some of you might be interested in this after a post I wrote on his recent thread. I was born in…
I was surprised at the team announced for the third Test in Perth on Sunday. It's not that any of the players were a…
While head clashes in rugby are often a no-fault incident, they happen more often than in the past and at a greater speed and…
We have had a few weeks to get a peek at some of the youngsters and the squads for this year. Who do you…
I am a fan of Michael Cheika but I am starting to see some worrying trends appearing that are making me think that he…
It has become obvious that I was wildly optimistic in my expectations from Australia's Super teams. I thought they would all step up in…
Who is going to be the top performers in Australian Super Rugby this year, and who can make the finals? Waratahs My team look…
If the Wallabies want to make dramatic improvements, they should start by re-assessing Ewen McKenzie's assistant coaches. First to go should be Andrew Blades.…
I loved watching the rise and rise of the Reds from their disaster and failures to being the strongest side in Australia. The team…
With the British and Irish Lions visiting Australia in 2013, what do you think the Wallabies' chances are of coming away with a win…
I watched our Australian schoolboys fight against a schoolboy All Blacks team which showed real skills in the open and a strong pack, as…
I have never witnessed anything more cringeworthy than the after game interviews following the Wallabies' loss to the All Blacks last Saturday. There was…
I had the painful experience of watching the 'talent' wasted by the Waratahs against the Stormers. You could almost read the pain on Berrick…
I was expecting great things from the Reds last season and they didn't disappoint. They were like an elastic band that has been pulled…
Like many on The Roar I have been frustrated by poor forward play by the Wallabies that was on show at the World Cup…
If I have to watch another game that the Wallabies are expected to win comfortably and they blow it, I may give up completely.…
The Waratahs effort has me almost speechless. Saturday night I was all rage and smouldering murderous intent. This morning I am at a loss,…
I am an interested watcher of cricket rather than a committed ex player or knowledgeable tragic. I understand why Mitchell, Hilfenhouse, North and co…
I think it is appropriate to ask questions of the Wallaby team and coaches regarding the World Cup. We are only 13 months out…
I just watched our Under 20’s get demolished by the Baby Blacks in the Junior World Trophy. The thing that annoys the hell out…
Should be a very interesting season and the Tahs need to make a serious step up right from the start.
Good article Jez.
How do the Reds and Tahs shape up ahead of their final trial?
Geoff, at my age it cannot make my life any shorter, Ha!…..
It does make me wonder what others have gone through, as there is a fairly broad range of ex-players here it could be interesting. Anecdotal stories are never a scientific study but they are interesting.
I am not convinced about simply lowering the tackle height, my experience as a coach over 10 years showed me that poor tackling skill produced more head injuries, mainly, but not always, by sticking their head in front of the attacking player and getting hit by knees. Several concussions came from accidental kicks to the head mostly from friendly fire! One young guy was paralyzed for life by a poor attempt at a head-on tackle.
The Wrap: Rugby enters 2022 confused, off kilter and at a major crossroads
Geoff, I had a bad concussion in 1972 and was blind for a short while and played on, don’t remember anything of the game, gained (sight only) migraines a few times a year ever since. No other symptoms, although I had a few more concussions up to 81 when I stopped playing.
The Wrap: Rugby enters 2022 confused, off kilter and at a major crossroads
Ray, he played very well last night. Another miss!
Should Rugby Australia be compensated for Mack Hansen's Ireland call-up?
Busted FB, Totally agree, a great post.
I think the problem rests on a focus on emotive responses and not on rational thinking. We are at our best when we are put under some pressure, but not too much, a mixture of carrot and stick and not just carrots, humans get sick of carrots all the time, and not just stick, as we end up vicious or cowered under that. Our balance is stuffed.
One thing I like to see is the outrageous ability that our emotional ‘ego pump’ does to the players. Unfortunately, a couple of mistakes and some criticism and the ego turns from your best friend to your worst enemy. The talk in your head moves from ‘you are amazing’ to ‘you always stuff up under pressure’ and it happens in a nanosecond.
Should Rugby Australia be compensated for Mack Hansen's Ireland call-up?
Ray same with the Reds, they could do with Carter Gordon right now, yet he could hardly get a game with the Reds.
It strikes me the coaches have brought all of the U20’s players into a washing machine of trials and 10 mins at the end of a game, mostly already won, then decide to ignore them.
We need a group of old players/coaches who spend several weeks a year just looking for talent with dedication. Don’t need one without the other.
I would suggest Bob Dwyer should be one of them as he is the only coach we have had who could ID talent that stood up.
Should Rugby Australia be compensated for Mack Hansen's Ireland call-up?
Love to see England done by Scotland. I’ll be watching the game with interest.
Hogg laughs off latest round of Eddie Jones mind games ahead of Six Nations showdown
Pity the opposite isn’t as true Ken. The article about Mack Hansen is just one of many where we are incapable of holding onto youngsters. Many reasons why of course but it is a big issue for us.
'There's not much longer left for me': Award-winning Kellaway reflects on his rookie road
This problem has been with us for the last 20 years. It starts out with guys not getting a start in SR and looking elsewhere and it also means that others can ID our talent better than we can. The second is the biggest problem and we have it today. Who in Australia can decide that a youngster can make it to the national team and then stick with him and ensure he gets an opportunity in a SR team?
Then look at our SR teams they are all trying to take advantage of the window of greatness ie players with several years in a pro system, as this is then a lesser risk than an unknown youngster.
Compensation is understandable but who gets the money? Not RA is suggest, they act like a drunk on 365 paydays a year.
Should Rugby Australia be compensated for Mack Hansen's Ireland call-up?
MK, if I get down to Tassie in the next year or so, I will warn you and if you have time, I’ll call in for a drink with you.
We could exchange a couple of war stories regarding our ‘amazing and overhyped’ exploits on the rugby field during our well-spent yuuuffff!
'It's a different game': Jamie Roberts on the changes he must make to adapt to Super Rugby
Ken, it’s a ‘stills’ original but I just took the patent off it so that you can use it. Others need to apply and I warn them, originals for nothing ain’t gonna happen to just anyone!
Castle certain Folau sacking was right call but admits she would 'do some things differently'
Don’t care, as long as we stick it up him and them this year.
'Up to his old tricks again': Eddie Jones quick to start mind games
Doc, you need the optometrist if you thought he contributed little to the Force. He is a genuine, if older FB and the pity was that he went to the Force as Hodge and Banks could have learnt a lot from him.
'It's a different game': Jamie Roberts on the changes he must make to adapt to Super Rugby
MK, I am a fading facade of what I was but that wasn’t much to start with.
'It's a different game': Jamie Roberts on the changes he must make to adapt to Super Rugby
Oz, we could be for a couple of very good games this year. Not expecting too much early on in the season but hoping they hit their straps in midseason and push on.
Coleman is a charismatic coach and has had a huge impact on the clubs he has coached. He is no mug and a ‘Westy’ with a league background so there will be no bullshit.
'It's a different game': Jamie Roberts on the changes he must make to adapt to Super Rugby
Great D and a good understanding of what you need to win. I think he will add a lot to the tahs, like Rob Kearney did for the force.
'It's a different game': Jamie Roberts on the changes he must make to adapt to Super Rugby
Jez, I think several of these you are picking based on what we saw in the RC last year. I am thinking about what we saw in Europe without Kerevi and Cooper. A very different beast and few took the opportunity to shine.
I think some would be in ‘I Hope’ column ie from the top:
Penga A, Latu – hoping Fainga’a, Lonergan, McInerney, Mafi, Kaitu’u
Slipper and Bell if he continues to improve this year. Who’s showing promise at loose?
Tupoa – AAA and Hoping Fa’amausili, may make it but we haven’t seen enough of Faa.
Rodda, Arnold, many hoping
Skelton, hoping S. Loto
Open side agree
6/8’s Leota, Valetini and Swinton, agree re Wilson but needs to carry harder.
White, Mcdermott – Gordon won’t make it.
Wings agree
Fullback Hodge?- totally unknown at this stage. I am hoping not Banks
Hodge, Petaia, Hoping Beale maybe OTH
Must-dos in 2022: What Aussie rugby fans want to see this year
JC, as a whinging ex pommie (buggered off and left them behind 50 years ago) my wish list would take up a couple of pages here. From your restricted list, competitive SR teams is essential if we want to take back the Bledisloe for a year or two (dreaming?). I think it is up to the Reds, Brumbies and Force, can’t see the others getting to that level this season.
Wallaby selection? I am not convinced Rennie knows who 2/3rds of the players who will make the ‘spine’ for the RWC are yet. His inability to select consistently is in line with what we see every game, Tate is fantastic, then his pass is too weak, Valetini has a top game then he don’t and so it goes. Our players lack consistency and it must be doing Rennie’s head in, I am guessing, as it does mine in…
So who will be in the team:
Hooper
Tupou
Kellaway
White
Ikitau
Hodge (utility)
Bell
if he can get them Arnold, Cooper and Kerevi.
I assume Slipper will be too old.
I reckon about 10 out of 31. I think the rest are up for grabs and it must happen this year.
Must-dos in 2022: What Aussie rugby fans want to see this year
Mono, tell Mark Loane that Descarte got it wrong, ‘I think therefore I ain’t sure’, is what he should have said!
John Eales: Maybe 'Nobody' is perfect?
BF, Cornelson was a serious handful and I wonder if his 3? tries against the AB’s in one game will stand forever or a very long time, whichever is longest! Not so much a fan of Shaw but he stood no-nonsense, decent captain I thought but not in Loane’s league.
John Eales: Maybe 'Nobody' is perfect?
Busted, Peter and Mono, aren’t these little asides interesting. Mark Loane and Toutai Kefu are the two best backrowers in my time of Wallaby watching. BTW we have had some good ones over the years.
John Eales: Maybe 'Nobody' is perfect?
Pauld, First you need to understand what you are saying:
mortality rate:
– The number of deaths per given unit of population over a given period of time.
– the ratio of deaths in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 per year
It is how you chose to portray the figures, I have little interest apart from mortality rate as above. I have shown them as most Aussies would want to see them ie what %age of the population has died from covid, a % that is never mentioned 0.0144%. Your numbers don’t make any sense. If America’s mortality rate is 2% that would be 6,681,554 and the total is less than one million. Time to open those text books Paul.
Western Force forced East: Border restrictions cause chaos for Super Rugby draw
Peter, I thought that our time with Eddie Jones taught us that stats are a poor man’s guide to following rugby.
John Eales: Maybe 'Nobody' is perfect?
For those of you who are interested in concussion and headgear here is some further information following on from my article in 2020. https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/12/16/its-time-for-all-rugby-players-young-and-old-to-wear-head-protection/
There are a couple of reports out that I have just heard about and well worth a read. Seems they help but more work is needed to improve them over time.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC314393/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10439-022-02912-5
Let’s see if this gets through the review process
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health