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Joined December 2018
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Ex Randwick player and rugby coach. Current Brumbies and Wallabies fan.
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hahaha great to see so little interest here in this T20 world cup.
59 responses only.
Would have been 559 on the rugby forum of Roar by now 😂
Are the aussies knocked out yet – who cares 😂
Capitulation of a nation: Aussies smashed by high-flying Kiwis but Finch says they can bounce back
Nothing significant here.
ABs don’t need Barrett bros to put 80 points on Japan.
I think Weber is better than Fakatava anyway.
Jordan and Whitelock will join the tour for the important games
Rugby News: 'Devastating' injuries, bereavement blow force ABs' change, Gregan backs 'courageous' star
Ok Brett – I agree with most you say and ask the following….
a) How much revenue / TV ratings does a Rebels v Force match deliver. Or …. another Rebels v Crusaders thrashing?
b) Even if Rebels can supply 15 “seasoned professionals” to other Oz Super squads this surely will make them more competitive with NZ provinces. Closer games, more Aust wins will increase SR TV ratings / crowd attendances and overall revenue. Would this be bigger than another tedious Rebels v Force borefest or…. another Rebels v Blues thrashing ?
c) With McLennan, and a bunch of ex News Corp executives, running RA what chance is there they’ll NOT squander every opportunity on offer – zero or….not this century 😂
'Chop the Rebels'? The simplistic reaction that would do nothing to help solve Australian rugby's problems
@Nick
ok but…… Arnold, Swain and Neville are just as effective at rolling maul destruction.
Exactly what did Will do at those 16 rucks ? – anything effective?
Lifting in lineouts is very lame for a lock but better than nothing.
My point about Will is that… if he’s not smashing defences with ball running and delivering great offloads then those 3 things listed above are nowhere near good enough for a top class Test lock imo 🙂
If Will doesn’t get his running and off-load game going the WBs have better imo.
Last chance saloon for Will imo 🙂
ANALYSIS: Dave Rennie is in the last-chance saloon - but a firing Will Skelton might help him get out alive
@Jez
Can only hope you’re correct and I’m wrong.
But if he gets the opportunities you request and IF he turns out an ineffective dud again are you ready to call “no 2023 RWC squad selection” on Will ???
ANALYSIS: Dave Rennie is in the last-chance saloon - but a firing Will Skelton might help him get out alive
@Jez
yes saw that already and will admit that Skelton is no longer a complete passenger at lineout time – just 90% of the time 😂
Let’s add on the ocassional usefulness at stopping lineout drives and scrum pushing. My point is that these 3 occasional assets are nowhere near good enough for a top class Test lock.
Last chance saloon for Will imo 😂
ANALYSIS: Dave Rennie is in the last-chance saloon - but a firing Will Skelton might help him get out alive
@Nick
yes I agree with all.
Imo Skelton is the one of top of the “last chance saloon”.
After many years, and many Test selections, he’s proved to be a dud so far.
Another one of the many players in history who look great at club/provincial level but can’t make the upgrade to Test standard. In Skelton’s case the reasons are pretty obvious imo. Test defences are better and players are bigger/stronger so they just knock him over before he can off-load.
He can be handy at nullifying rolling mauls but that doesn’t occur often. He’s a passenger at lineout time. His overall defensive and cleanout work rate is low. He pushes great in scrums but with no effective attacking game that leaves Skelton with nothing much to offer at Test level.
This november should be his last chance to prove he’s Test standard. If he’s a dud again then leave him out of 2023 RWC squad imo
ANALYSIS: Dave Rennie is in the last-chance saloon - but a firing Will Skelton might help him get out alive
@Grobu
Stop looking at club/provincial level.
Skelton has had many opportunites at Test level over many years and has proved to be a consistent dud.
He get’s one last chance this Nov to prove me wrong 😂
Three weeks for Will Skelton to make his Rugby World Cup case
@Ad-O
If any of that actually applied at Test level Skelton would have been a great success from day 1. Reality is he’s been a dud who is easily tackled and has had no significant off loads at Test level.
This tour should be his last chance to make an impact imo
Three weeks for Will Skelton to make his Rugby World Cup case
Good article Brett
I have a few quibbles but agree the selected squad is mostly the best Aust has fit and available atm.
On Skleton – I’ve observed here before that the reason he’s been a Test dud so far is that Test defences and much better and defenders are bigger/stronger. Skelton dominates weaker defences at club/provincial level but at Test level they just knock him over and stifle his off-load game.
And what else does he have?
He’s a passenger in lineouts. His defence is nothing special. He’s ordinary at breakdown and overall work rate is low. He can be handy in nullifying the occasional rolling maul…. but that’s it. If Skelton is a dud again this Nov he should not be picked in a WB squad again imo.
I would have picked Arnold instead.
Which leads me to Petaia and Foley – also both proven Test duds.
Petaia should have been left in Qld to get his act together and decide if he really wants to be a Test player. While Foley should never have played a Test after 2016 imo. Aust had better in QC.
Tupou, Roberston and Hanigan were also very lucky imo and probably only got the nod due to many injuries. With Tupou’s chronic calf injury, lack of fitness and mental fragility how long will he last on tour?
I do applaud the non selection of Beale and Wilson, plus the inclusion of Gleeson, Donaldson and unpronouncable Nawaqanitawase 😂
Three weeks for Will Skelton to make his Rugby World Cup case
@Tim
yes good summary imo.
My Top 4 are France, ABs, Ireland and Boks – any of those could win RWC imo.
WBs very unlikely to progress past quarter final imo.
Nth v Sth Hemispheres – swings and roundabouts – it’s good for the game overall that the Nth have made a big comeback.
Have the Northern Hemisphere sides taken over the international game?
@Joe
thanks 🙂
and I’m content to agree to disagree with people.
I try to judge all people based on their actions irrespective of nationality, colour, culture. It’s not my role to be talking up the reputation of my country unless Australia deserves it 😂
Is the relationship between Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby Union broken?
@Tim
I’m not optimistic of a good outcome.
How do you get dishonest operators like McLennan to start acting in good faith?
He’s based a whole career on having no integrity.
And the RA board is littered with similar types 😔
Is the relationship between Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby Union broken?
@JD exactly 😂
RA has long been a very dodgy bad joke imo 👍
Is the relationship between Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby Union broken?
@Brett
Yes good article again imo 👍
For me Aust A have been ordinary showing exactly the same weaknesses as the WBs.
But there’s been a few good performers. Players who have earned selection on the WB Nov tour are.
Donaldson, Edmed, Gleeson, Campbell, Nawaqanitawase, Frost, Uru, Banks, Lonegan.
Players I’d NOT include in the squad are Wilson, Petaia, Foley, Beale, Tupou, Robertson.
How many Spring Tour questions have been answered by Australia A players in Japan?
@Tim
Yes I agee with you and….. as an aussie I personally do not trust H McLennan of RA.
He’s an ex Channel 10 CEO, News Corp executive and Chair of an advertising real estate company. As you’d expect, as CEO of RA, he’s been making many comments I’d describe as dishonest and manipulative. It’s only what we should be expect from people with such dodgy backgrounds.
I would not trust anything McLennan said. NZR obviously don’t either and this has been a large part of the souring of the relationship.
IF RA wants to improve the relationship with NZR first thing they need to do is involve people with a history of integrity and honesty. Trust needs to be re-established between the parties imo and you can’t do that when the RA side has no credibility for acting in good faith.
Is the relationship between Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby Union broken?
@Riggers
I’ll surprise you mate – I mostly agree 😂
Your team probably won’t beat Scotland but then mine won’t either hehehe.
Campbell proved he deserves selection in the Nov squad but Banks is still WBs best fullback imo.
Gleeson also should be selected along with Donaldson – he shaded Edmed in open play imo.
I agree with on Vunivalu and Ned.
Hanigan is too much of a nice guy and just doesn’t have the mongrel for Test rugby imo.
He’s passive in both attack and defence, ordinary at breakdown and doesn’t intimidate a mouse.
Petaia is an injury prone dud so far.
Leave him in Qld this summer to get his act together.
Likewise, I’d leave Wilson home to continue trying to develop some footwork – he still doesn’t have any.
Hodge is a good safe player in multiple positions but is no Mortlock imo – I wish he was.
Sterling was much faster, more powerful, a better off loader, defender and goal kicker.
And not sure why you keep plugging McD at halfback.
White is clearly one of the 3 best players in the whole squad.
But your team, or my team, won’t make much difference against the top 5 in world imo 😁
Rugby Australia, we have a problem
@Muzzo
All unproven until they actually play the northern Europe teams Muzzo, including France.
No doubt they’ve been improving all of 2022 also 🙂
On the eve of the World Cup, who are the Wallaroos' selection certainties?
@Tim
I think the NZ rugby media are generally very good and knowledgable – not all of course.
I watch the NZ rugby programs regularly.
And as is often the case the Aussie media are appalling by comparison with NZ imo.
The only good Aussie rugby journo’s are Brett, Geoff P and Nick B (Welsh) on the Roar.
The rest know nothing about rugby and call themeselves “experts”.
The Channel 9 / Stan Sports crew are also rubbish with exception of J Harrison and M Tirunui imo. The Stan Sports Rugby program “Rugby Heaven” is also rubbish, except for MC Roz Kelly.
The Aussie print media journo’s haven’t been worth reading for 10 years.
Are the rugby media fulfilling their responsibilities to the game?
@Don
Time to find out about Gleeson imo.
We do know that Wilson doesn’t have it atm.
He’s been very disappointing in every Test he’s played imo, same as Leota.
So if it’s a direct choice between Gleeson and Wilson now I say select Gleeson 👍
ANALYSIS: The Pete Samu weakness that makes Hoops a must start when he's ready to reclaim Wallabies' No.7 jersey
@Hugh
Black Ferns were thrashed by all the northern Europe teams just last Nov.
On the eve of the World Cup, who are the Wallaroos' selection certainties?
@HL
I think you’re asking this Q too early HL.
Ask again after the Nov tour 👍
For me so far though is ….. NZ have 4-5 better no 6’s than A Ioane.
J Barrett and Havili the best centres.
B Barrett and Jordan the best FBs.
DMac should be on bench and R Ioane on wing.
Have the All Blacks' sweeping changes been successful?
@Hugh
I’ll be watching the tournament.
I enjoy the womens game and they’re improving fast.
I’m expecting W’Roos to get knocked out in their group.
Then they’ll be great games between the top ranked teams 👍
I’m not expecting Black Ferns to make the final either.
On the eve of the World Cup, who are the Wallaroos' selection certainties?
@Malotau
My observation of Genia is he’s all over the shop and rarely making any sense.
One week it’s some left feild silliness like drop Hooper and next week it’s bring back his old mates from the failed Cheika era. Last year I recall an article from him complaining that fans don’t like Hooper – which was not even true 😂
ANALYSIS: The Pete Samu weakness that makes Hoops a must start when he's ready to reclaim Wallabies' No.7 jersey
Yer Hamilton was great and has been WR best player in every game imo.
Big shame that Perry has gone to the M Hooper school of poor captainsy.
Just like Michael she refused to make this an easy win by not taking numerous easy 3 point penalty goals.
WR would have beaten Wales by 20 points plus if she had.
But Perry ensured they made a difficult meal of this game and only won due to Hamilton imo.
Can’t see WRs progressing past the quarter final though 🙂
'Sébastien Chabal of the Wallaroos': Hamilton overcomes the odds to lead Aussies to World Cup quarter-finals