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Sport is so simple yet often so complex. Sometimes black and white, more often colourful. I try to make a bit of sense of it - mostly cricket, rugby union and rugby league - but try harder to have a laugh along the way. "We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees” - Jason Kidd
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England could play Ben Stokes at five-eighth and still beat the Wallabies at the World Cup. And that’s not because everything that Stokes has…
A "load of tripe" and a "stitch-up" – the words of former Wallabies captains Phil Kearns and Stirling Mortlock summed up the exasperation many…
What makes Fiji such a dangerous team for the Wallabies to face in their Rugby World Cup opener is that the tournament gives them…
Twenty-five of the 50 greatest players in Rugby World Cup history have been revealed over the past five days, now it's time to get…
Mitch Marsh is back in the Australian cricket team, which means it’s a decent time to ponder Bernard Foley’s chances of Wallabies selection for…
According to official rankings, Wales are the best international rugby team in the world and Ben Stokes isn’t the best all-rounder in world cricket.…
Maro Itoje said it best when asked what kind of impact Will Skelton was having at Saracens. "When I see him play and I…
If the Wallabies were in a mess mentally last season, then surely now’s the time to head to Eden Park with a bit of…
Facing a full-pitched Ben Stokes delivery at Edgbaston, Steve Smith’s front foot was outside leg stump, his back foot deep in the crease as…
Rush defence is all the rage, and it seems it has the potential to turn the upcoming Rugby World Cup into a French Open-style…
Do you remember the time when we could all agree that Israel Folau made a horrible choice? It was in last year’s Rugby Championship…
Keep it tight or give it some height seems to be Michael Cheika’s plan for the Wallabies in Johannesburg this weekend, in Australia’s first…
It was just over two months until the start of the cricket World Cup when Australia faced India in a series-deciding clash at a…
If you thought this winter’s flu season was bad, a similarly draining condition is starting to take hold in Australia: Folau Fatigue. It’s hard…
If the reports are true that Taniela Tupou has been offered a new contract worth close to $1 million per season, then Rugby Australia…
Hopefully Jake White’s advice to Dave Wessels this week included running plenty of Melbourne traffic at Jack Debreczeni. White called his fellow South African…
As uplifting as it’s been to see Folau Fainga’a on top of the Super Rugby try-scoring list, it can’t paper over the issue that…
Bernard Foley is off his game and almost off contract, so does he have a future in Australia even if he wants to stay?…
Dan McKellar won’t be the next Wallabies coach, but one factor in his first season at the helm of the finals-bound Brumbies is a…
Foxtel’s financial flop and more fallout from the Israel Folau saga; it's a week that's been far from rosy for Raelene Castle. As the…
Yep fair enough. The Rebels defence has been woeful. And defence – maybe more so at this stage of the season – is what sets up wins. Concede 30 points tonight and the Rebels probably fall short. I was just trying to point out a strategy to get those four or five tries that they will likely need to get the chocolates.
Rebels need to make it a rough night for former teammate
Yeah I suppose so PeterK. Quade looks in control at the moment. But geez I reckon Super Rugby demands a bit of run in your five-eighth. Test rugby perhaps less so but the Wallabies are one team that you’d argue need it more than most because they rarely get dominance in the forwards. It’s not like he can play like Farrell. Or Handre Pollard.
Calm down over Quade
Yeah Quade should be there somewhere. I’d would be great to see his running game fire up over the next few weeks. Would get Wallabies fans even more excited! The Wallabies need a genuine playmaker as the forwards don’t dominate other packs. Owen Farrell isn’t much of a running five-eighth largely because he doesn’t have to be – he controls things being a brutish Pommy pack and feeds his midfield when they’re on a roll.
Calm down over Quade
Hey I’m a Quade fan Kenny’s Leg. There was no intention to create click-bait. Like Glenn Maxwell, Quade certainly brings out the effusive side in rugby fans – from all around. Quade has been going well, but well enough to say he’s worthy of a Wallabies jersey? I’d suggest after three games it’s more of a punt than a call backed up by enough consistent Rebels’ performances.
Thanks for pointing out the Ned miss on Kerevi. Didn’t see that. Poor ‘ol Ned – I was just trying to give him a rap 🙂
Calm down over Quade
Yep Fionn, the comparison was used to highlight that Quade’s good stuff gets highlighted much more than someone like Hanigan, which is understandable given he’s a playmaker with usually more influence on a game. But aside from that, because of his history and demeanour, people can get a bit carried away with relatively small involvements. A lot of people want him to thrive as when he’s on he’s brilliant to watch, much like Glenn Maxwell. But let’s take a few deep breaths; talk of a Wallabies call-up in understandable but to say he’s already moved ahead of Bernard Foley – after three games – is a bit much. Mostly, I want to see him pick his times to run and break the line that way. The Wallabies need that as the forwards aren’t going to boss too many packs around – although for that reason it makes it hard to create gaps in the defensive line when you’re not going forward with any great pace or power.
Calm down over Quade
Good to get an update on Zack Holmes, thanks James – good read. Plenty of pressure at Toulouse!
Aussie abroad: Zack Holmes
Yeah Rhys by lightweight I probably meant physical dominance, although being so new to Super Rugby they haven’t had time to prove much. Tonight should show us a lot. I get the feeling they will kick for field position a lot and try to muscle their way forward with a strong lineout. And with the security of a strong scrum they can afford to push a few passes after six or so phases.
Thorn’s cultural revolution at Reds set for first examination
Fair enough Freddie. Yeah cultural change usually creates significant upheaval, especially if it means cutting your staff in a fairly public and humiliating manner. And it comes with great risk.
As a comparison, imagine what it would be like to manage an NFL squad with all those egos and testosterone?! How many in a squad? About 55 I think? Imagine trying to build and maintain a club culture with so many alphas?!? Tough! Although Super Rugby squads aren’t nearly as big, it still seems more realistic to manage egos and only shake the real outliers. Is Quade, for instance, one of those?
Thorn’s cultural revolution at Reds set for first examination
Crash it up one-off for five phases then kick for field position?!? Thorn and Peter Ryan bringing the Broncos to Ballymore?!? 🙂
Thorn’s cultural revolution at Reds set for first examination
Yep that’s the great unknown: does “squeaky clean” as you put it get the job done? I like the philosophy, that you get growth and camaraderie out of army camps and lung-busting summer workouts. But does it produce results or is it fanciful? I hate the cliche, but have the Reds “bought in” to Thorn’s approach?! I hope it works. It will prove that coaches can make a real attitudinal difference, not just a strategic effect.
Thorn’s cultural revolution at Reds set for first examination
I reckon that back-row is a pretty lightweight and probably lacking a bit of power Fionn. And Izack Rodda doesn’t seem to dominate physically as you’d expect someone at 120kg should.
Thorn’s cultural revolution at Reds set for first examination
Ha sorry snowybaker. The Donald pops up EVERYWHERE! It was a quick line to make sure that I’m not deemed to be a nationalistic loony. Patriotic yes, but when national pride goes too far, that’s dangerous. Trump often steps into that territory when he talks foreign policy, trade etc. But this is only sport, right? I’m open to a foreign coach. But a foreigner comes with risks – he would have to turn things around quicker than an Aussie. To me, that’s just our parochialism.
A role for White, but not as Wallabies head coach
No Val I’d be keen to see White get a gig in Australian rugby. You can’t argue with his record across many countries and age groups over a long time. That’s not a fluke! But what I was trying to address was a bit sympathetic to White in that a foreigner doesn’t get cut much slack if things don’t improve – and fast! I think – as pointed out in a few comments – it’s an Australian parochialism that drives this. But it’s probably an innate tribal trait for most humans; they tend to trust their own, particularly when under pressure and stress.
So I’m not against a foreign coach for the Wallabies. I’d prefer an Aussie. But for that foreigner, beware that the marking system is a lot more rigorous.
I liked Robbie Deans. A tough, sincere and honest man. White seems like a strong character. Get him in whether it’s as head coach or Director of Rugby.
A role for White, but not as Wallabies head coach
Agreed Dre, the scheduling is all over the place like Lloyd Pope’s hair. But it’s hard to feel sorry for the players. They want to be paid more which naturally means playing more. And all international players are pretty much in the same boat – they roll from format to format in different countries often within a few short weeks. They should be willing to adapt and not make excuses.
For a lot of the Aussies that demanded more during the pay dispute, they are the same cricketers that moan about the packed schedule. They can’t see the link?!?
Australia’s batting: it’s not the batsmen, it’s the formats
Fair call. But I was trying to keep the article to a simple argument about who the Wallabies look to for more points. Spot on regarding Beale and Foley – they missed quite a few tackles in the first half in Salta too.
And thanks for pointing out that Toomua didn’t play 10 in RC. Factual frailties from me 🙂
Don’t cut Quade Cooper from World Cup contention just yet
Yep we are all prone to a brain fade, right?!? 🙂 Woops. Thanks for pointing out.
Don’t cut Quade Cooper from World Cup contention just yet
That will do me. So if you’ve got your feet planted on the ground, swinging arms and shoulders to the head are just unlucky mistakes. I mean you’ve got your feet on the ground, right, so it can’t be careless or reckless. Give me a break.
Folau ban farce: It’s World Rugby that need to lift
No way did he aim to take O’Mahony down. I challenge you to jump in a contest close to the ball with an opponent and NOT have any contact with them. It’s just about inevitable if you both judge the path of the ball correctly. There wasn’t any intent from Folau that to me was careless or reckless.
Folau ban farce: It’s World Rugby that need to lift
Yeah good points Brasstax. But the appeal is conducted before an independent commissioner. Which makes it all a bit nebulous. Do they need to take into account the recent public sympathy given CA said they took into account the public’s initial outrage when handing out the bans?!? Does the independent commissioner take into account the financial implications you mention? Justice not simple. The Rabada appeal proved how differently the independent commissioner can view an incident.
Come back soon, Steve – we already miss you
Hey Paul – I mean a 3-month reduction from 12 months to 9 months. That would mean he’d be available from January 1. Therefore he would get that second half of the Sheffield Shield season – I think it is split down the middle so 5 games between October and December and 5 games between February and March.
When would they leave for the Ashes? Start of June? So squad announced middle of May? Not sure if any Test series away in March and April like this year. Wouldn’t think so. So Shield form is paramount over that second stage.
It’s not entirely out of the picture that an appeal could lead to a return to state cricket as soon as possible and an international ban reduced from 12 months to 9 months?!? Even 6 months?!?
Come back soon, Steve – we already miss you
Yep fair enough ozina. Geez I woulda loved to have seen those two Tests you mentioned! A shame given the quality of the teams. I thought first Test was a cracker and I’m revved for the rest of the series. But a buzz around the ground coming through my TV would naturally add to it 🙂
At least there was passion on the field in Durban
Yep agreed. Our summer Test crowds are healthy, and it’s due in a large way to the schedule being over the school holidays-Christmas-NY stretch. Nonetheless, play a four-Test series against South Africa in Australia in March and I reckon the crowds would still be solid. 20,000 I’d say for weekend day’s play in Sydney and Melbourne for a start.
Yeah, perhaps the South Africans have moved on to Super Rugby after a long multi-format series against India. March cricket tricky. I’d imagine the crowds will be down in New Zealand too for the two Tests against England. But like South Africa, I think Test cricket has been diving for a while with the Kiwis…
At least there was passion on the field in Durban
Yeah schoolyard trash talk was meant to highlight the intellect level, but you’re right – it was, hopefully, more bitter than an average playground squabble. And I agree, it’s a risky business pursuing sledging through a session or a long innings. I guess the mentality is once you start, you can’t then go silent because that would be an admission that it hasn’t worked.
I actually wouldn’t like to see banter taken out of the game. It gives it a bit of spice. But as always, stay in the boundaries of decency.
At least there was passion on the field in Durban
Boring isn’t a criticism, for either side Peter. It’s pragmatic and proven, and why not especially in the knockout stages of a World Cup. I do think England at least mix up their attack a bit more than the Boks and hence defenders have to be more alert and well positioned.
England to have the edge over box-happy Boks