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The Reds are the real deal. Les Kiss’ side have now played all five Kiwi sides, beating three and pushing both the Hurricanes and…
Joe Schmidt achieved much of his success by making Eddie Jones look like a Pomeranian, with his coaching methods reported as tough, unpleasant and even brutal.
The pressure on Darren Coleman over the last few months was both foreseeable and unsurprising. Much has been written about Coleman not having enough…
Les Kiss identified the most significant change made since his arrival at the Reds to being his diverse and highly qualified assistants.
The Reds performances against Kiwi opposition over the past two weeks are the most impressive back to back by an Australian side since 2014.…
The saddest thing about Australian Rugby right now is that it hasn’t learnt its lesson. In a month when Tom Brady was throwing darts…
It has been interesting to see the reaction to Hamish McLennan’s purge this week. It was unanimously agreed on these threads that Hammer McLennan…
"I’m not a fan of changing the rules because one team is dominating,” commented one Roarer last week. It is a disappointing interpretation of…
"Winning is winning. We don’t care how we do it.” That was the common refrain from South African supporters before the World Cup and…
Rugby has become 'cynical' on the back of bigger players, confusing laws and game stoppages.
As a proud Queenslander, I was saddened by the QRU’s ‘centralisation position' - but not surprised. It is a stark reminder of the parochialism…
Geoff Parkes’ article last week suggesting the game was entering ‘Chinese Water Torture Territory’ was one of the best-written pieces of 2023 regarding the…
In case you missed it, Eddie Jones is currently public enemy number one. It may be cathartic for Australian Rugby fans to make Jones…
The historical revisionism and wishful thinking floating around this site now is tantamount to denial. “Should never have got rid of Rennie”. “Eddie is…
A missed opportunity. One that slipped through the net. Sad. None of that is strong enough. It is a tragedy for Rugby Union that…
Eddie isn’t crazy. He hasn’t lost the plot. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s channeling his inner Jose Mourinho. First up, let’s get…
Ripping the bandaid off. Shock and raw. Call it what you like but Eddie doesn’t mess about does he? Some may see it as…
"Don’t you do it!" How many of us were thinking that, no screaming it, as Nic White went to box kick the ball away…
Let’s leave his cringeworthy warning to the All Blacks to one side for now. Eddie Jones’ early press conferences border on alarming. Rambling in…
"Leaguies know nothing about playing Union. Never have, never will." I was astounded to read the above post on an article following the Springbok’s…
Don’t know much about Antonio but each of the other guys you mention are known for their professionalism and preparation.
Don’t buy at all the argument that across 14-16 competitive provincial games in a season we shouldn’t expect a tight head to play 60-70 minutes on average.
'He'd been flogged to death': Rebels GM's scathing Tupou claim as Wallaby battles to reignite his fire
Fair comment but Leinster play in 2 competitions, somewhere between 25-30 games a season not including preseason and before test rugby obviously.
And they are renowned for training like they play, for expecting players to prepare professionally, not lose condition pre-season etc.
* Leinster played 28 games between September 2022 and May 2023 not including warm ups. There are 16 in Super Rugby if you make the final.
'He'd been flogged to death': Rebels GM's scathing Tupou claim as Wallaby battles to reignite his fire
IF it’s true that he played the second most minutes of any player in Super Rugby for the last 2 seasons then that is a problem.
I’d like to see Stiles prove that- he’s made the comment, it’s only fair.
That said, if Taniela thinks he’s going to get it easy at Leinster then he’s in for a very rude surprise. Many of their methods come from Joe Schmidt who is famous for how hard he is – makes Thorn look like cotton wool. Those guys are renowned for being uncompromising with preparation, training and playing. Things Tupou isn’t renowned for.
'He'd been flogged to death': Rebels GM's scathing Tupou claim as Wallaby battles to reignite his fire
Errrmmm… starting Frost, Cale and Lonergan with Wright at 15 is patently biased towards the Reds?
Pity this has all already degenerated into a Brumbies v Reds discussion.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
Lovely balanced comment from a Brumbies man ????
Swain is an absolute liability and should not be near a Wallaby jumper in much the same way as Swinton. Neville is getting old.
Valetini doesn’t do enough of the stuff you need a 6 to do to start. And I don’t believe he’s an 8.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
If you were picking a back row on both form and balance right now it would be Liam Wright, McReight and Cale with Valetini coming off the bench.
Brumbies won that game because of outstanding team defence and the Reds missing 3 easy kicks (including one that hit the post).
Wallaby 23 at this point of the season:
1. Angus Bell
2. Matt Faessler
3. ?
4. Ryan Smith
5. Nick Frost
6. Wright (c)
7. McReight
8. Cale
9. Lonergan
10. Lynagh
11. Koroibete
12. Gordon
13. Flook
14. Wright
15. Kellaway (vc)
16. ?
17. ?
18. Tupou
19. Uru
20. Valetini
21. McDermott
22. Kerevi
23. Jorgenson
That bench combination would be absolutely deadly. But not sure how Schmidt will want to play the game.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
People forget HMP and Lynagh are 20yo with less than a season of professional rugby under their belts.
Kiss has spoken about rotation and spelling them. He also probably thought Creighton had a bigger boot for territory.
Bottom line, the Reds win that game if they kick 1/3 very easy missed kicks.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
First class game – one of the few Australian derbies in recent memory that matched the quality of Kiwi games.
Reds place kicking lost it and Brumbies defence won it. Thought BOK had a pretty good game. Question mark over some of the scrums very late in the game but not much else to complain about.
80% of the Wallaby 23 should come from these two teams with the exception of only Bell, Tupou and Kellaway. I’d like to see Lonergan picked to start at 9 with McDermott on the bench.
'It was brutal': Clutch Lolesio kicks Brumbies to 'Test match intensity' win over Reds as Wright shines again
At best, Schmidt might emulate 2015 and cause a major resurgence on field between 2025-2027. But again, it is short termism.
Without a complete overhaul, without governance reforms and serious people running the game at board level, all you have is a sugar hit.
'Previous chairman can not be a scapegoat': First salvo fired in bid to spill the Rugby Australia board
Isaac Henry is the best 12 in Australian Rugby but he’s out for the season.
I’m not sure I trust Paisami or Foketi as test inside centers. Hodge is too old. Kerevi maybe …
'Best place for me': Wallaby-in-waiting Jorgensen commits to Aussie rugby in boost ahead of Lions series
Short termism and simplistic thinking. McLennan just made a very bad situation worse.
People gravitate to the ‘evil twins’ (Jones and Hamish) because it provides a source of comfort- ie now they are gone things will come good.
'Previous chairman can not be a scapegoat': First salvo fired in bid to spill the Rugby Australia board
Personally, I think they should let Petaia go at the end of the season – erratic, often injured and really is a winger trying to play fullback.
There are plenty of players who should be in a line ahead of him: Toole, Kellaway, Jorgensen, Koroibete, Pietsch, Campbell in no particular order.
As for Vunivalu. Just hasn’t worked.
'Best place for me': Wallaby-in-waiting Jorgensen commits to Aussie rugby in boost ahead of Lions series
Really would like to see people move away from the negativity around Sua’ali’i and start embracing the fact we have some supremely talented young backs coming through.
Would love to see a McDermott, Lynagh, Koroibete, Carter, Flook, Toole, Jorgensen back line for example with players like Ikitau, Lonergan, Kellaway and Sua’ali’i breathing down their neck.
Now is the time to move away from what hasn’t worked, all the negativity and give a new generation some time in the saddle.
Same goes for many of the young forwards: Bell, Faessler, Ryan Smith, Nick Frost, Liam Wright, McReight, Valetini etc.
It’s a good group!
'Best place for me': Wallaby-in-waiting Jorgensen commits to Aussie rugby in boost ahead of Lions series
Vunivalu needed to be dropped – had a terrible few weeks. But Petaia is only marginally better. Not a fan of either for similar reasons.
Vunivalu set to be dropped for Brumbies clash as Reds recall off-contract Wallabies star
Hi Peter
One anecdote I left out of the article was the time an Irish international lost his room key and it was found in a hallway. Schmidt called a team meeting and said “this won’t happen again, if we are sloppy here we will be sloppy on the field too.”
Standards… although I do wonder how the players will react, one of the reasons why I think the squad needs a pretty severe overhaul.
More 'Scary Schmidt' than 'Sleepy Joe': Ireland tales that show the new Wallabies coach could be a polarising figure
Hi Mike – thanks for the comment.
My view is that now is the time for mass change and to give Schmidt an opportunity to shape some of these young players the way he did in Ireland – instilled a toughness and single mindedness.
I’d like to see Lynagh, Gordon and Flook given a go at 10,12,13 with Ikitau breathing down necks. I’d like to see Toole and Jorgensen given a crack along with Koroibete with Kellaway in reserve.
It will be very interesting to see where he goes with the forwards. Bell and Faessler along with Ryan Smith, Nick Frost, Liam Wright and Fraser McReight… but a big question market over both tighthead and 8. Valentini will be in a match day 23 but where…
Who will fall by the wayside… Tupou may well, Petaia and Vunivalu should be let go, both White and Lolesio could go either way.
More 'Scary Schmidt' than 'Sleepy Joe': Ireland tales that show the new Wallabies coach could be a polarising figure
I’d quite like to see a midfield combination of Tom Lynagh, Carter Gordon and Josh Flook given an opportunity to grow with Toole on one wing and Koroibete on the other while Kellaway covers fullback.
Five things we learned: Schmidt's selection headache, Carter's a No.12 wildcard, and $1m Thor must step up
Thanks Jez
The question was ‘are they playing like a club rugby team because they have a coach without sufficient professional experience, ie club rugby?’
As I say, that’s past my pay grade (!) but for the record, I believe Cron and Foote in particular are learning on the job and needed more experience before Super Rugby.
Reds' 'unbelievable, unfathomable' double disaster sums up shocker as Force spring stunning upset
With respect, those are questions.
Is there a link between a lack of experience and poor performance? What makes a coach ready? What should Rugby do about it?
Questions for people like Nucifora to answer but questions nonetheless that Rugby needs to talk about, no matter how uncomfortable.
Reds' 'unbelievable, unfathomable' double disaster sums up shocker as Force spring stunning upset
Was my article and I never called Cron a ‘club coach’. I asked the question whether he had been rushed into a Head Coaching position in a professional, elite comp. And I stand by that he was.
Also, he’s in his second season and he’s 1 win from 5 this year which takes him to 6 wins from 19 overall.
People keep assuming the excitement around Kiss is a winning record. It’s not. It’s the fact he’s come in during his first offseason and completely transformed the Reds culturally. They slipped up today against a worthy winner who out enthused them but he’s 5 games in to a tenure, not 19.
Reds' 'unbelievable, unfathomable' double disaster sums up shocker as Force spring stunning upset
This thing called Covid happened and the Victorian government which Victorians seem to love was at the forefront of the longest lock downs in the world.
Exclusive: Rebels threaten Civil War as peace talks with RA end in another blow for Super Rugby
Errrr… how many of the heavy hitter’s mates in Melbourne might be more than a little concerned about their personal finances / director’s guarantees etc?
It’s pretty ironic. “Hand over 8mil so we can pay our creditors 35c to the $ thus reaching an agreement that saves the skin of Victorian directors who have never presided over an asset and couldn’t even file financial returns on time.”
Exclusive: Rebels threaten Civil War as peace talks with RA end in another blow for Super Rugby
Accountable for ‘allegedly’ owing 8million to an organization that is 22 million in debt, has been a basket case since inception and couldn’t even file their corporate returns on time in a state that thrust the longest COVID lock downs in the world on the country?
Exclusive: Rebels threaten Civil War as peace talks with RA end in another blow for Super Rugby
Hey Ulrich – thanks for a great comment.
I think there are always exceptions. For example, Scott Robertson benefited from a very strong transfer of IP with the Crusaders after Deans as well as a strong roster. Ronan O’Gara also took to coaching like a duck to water with La Rochelle.
But those are exceptions to the rule and there will be fewer as the game evolves.
Personally, I’d like to see Aussie rugby develop a structure where the best school boy coaches and club rugby coaches are brought into be mentored by a David Nucifora, carry the water at Wallaby training then move into professional youth development. From there, the best candidates receive sponsorships to apply for roles in South Africa or England or Ireland etc. and earn their stripes before returning to Australia.
The whole process is not a 15 week or 15 month process. It is more like 15 years – looking at CVs like Kiss, Schmidt etc only reinforces that.
Set up to fail: The gaping hole in Aussie Super Rugby coaching CVs - with one clear exception
Nothing good happens at Maccas after 1am… especially during a Lions Tour! 😉
More 'Scary Schmidt' than 'Sleepy Joe': Ireland tales that show the new Wallabies coach could be a polarising figure