Roar Guru
Joined August 2011
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If ever there was a game that may have caused South Africans to be gracious in defeat, this was it. The Wallabies systematically destroyed…
The hysteria across the ditch has reached unprecedented levels but are Kiwis being rational? As Aaron Smith said: “It’s actually gone… it’s ridiculous how…
Rugby Union in Australia is now the subject of ridicule and derision. Matter of fact, it’s the subject of jokes in New Zealand too.…
Australian Super Rugby sides are not very good. They should not be pushing their Trans-Tasman competition so hard. Yet New Zealanders generally seem pretty…
The ‘contest’ between New Zealand and South Africa on Saturday night was not worthy. It may have been the much hyped 100th match between…
After arriving in the land Down Under cock-a-hoop and full of the joys of a Lions series victory, the Boks are now officially on…
Quade Cooper’s iconic performance on Saturday evening is more than a personal redemption story. That 80 minutes made Cooper all but un-droppable this year.…
Millwall Football Club is famous for its terrace chant “nobody likes us, we don’t care”. The Boks have taken that motto to a whole…
In what must be one of the least memorable Test series in recent memory, it is fair to say rugby was the real loser.…
The outrage that followed the red card dished out to Marika Koroibete was hardly surprising. When you hear the normally measured Andrew Mehrtens sound…
Everything is so serious nowadays. COVID vaccinations! Death from sugar! Contact sport! The risk of living is suddenly so real and so great, there…
It is a stretch to say that Australia narrowly defeated France’s third XV; it was more like its seconds. Some may point to the…
After a tough start to the Trans-Tasman competition, most Australians are conceding the next World Cup already. The record of 18 defeats over four…
Rugby needs to strike a balance between player welfare and changing the fabric of the sport. Unfortunately, right now the most important conversation relating…
There is no excuse for the performance on Saturday night. Not the weather. Not preparation. And not youth. 43-5 is a national humiliation and…
We’ve now all seen enough of Super Rugby AU to pick a Wallaby side on form. It’s impossible to know what Dave Rennie makes…
Last week, I wrote an article suggesting that Australian rugby go it alone. The need for a national club rugby competition similar to the…
Everyone has been talking about a merged Anzac Super competition next year. But will five, four or even three Australian sides be competitive and…
Michael Cheika isn’t a polarising figure. He’s detested by pretty much everyone. Yet does he really deserve to be held in such contempt –…
Saturday 24 November 2018. Australia v England. The only Wallaby Test I’d ever attended knowing Australia couldn’t win before the match even started. But…
I’ll be honest… the first half was the worst half of test rugby I can remember seeing… even worse than the first Lions test last year.
ANALYSIS: Kellaway, Kerevi, Koroibete and Cadeyrn - four big ticks in Wallabies' triumph
Red mist no doubt.
I do think that Swain, Philips etc will be better for it in 12-18 months time. When you’re playing NH tests, especially against England, the niggle and filth is always worse.
An Arnold or McMahon probably wouldn’t have fallen for it and taken Hill’s number for the next ruck and got him (legally).
Swain and Leota needed some older heads around them. One of the reasons I think Wilson and McReight have been held back.
ANALYSIS: Kellaway, Kerevi, Koroibete and Cadeyrn - four big ticks in Wallabies' triumph
I don’t think I’d call Swain’s head butt ‘Dumb’. He was severely provoked (probably pre-meditated) and everyone has a breaking point. In some ways I wish he’d got his money’s worth and I certainly hope Jonny Hill is cited and given the series off (for his earlier strike to the head).
End of the day, it was an awful game for 60 minutes but might well be the experience the Wallabies needed to come together. Lots of courage and heart.
ANALYSIS: Kellaway, Kerevi, Koroibete and Cadeyrn - four big ticks in Wallabies' triumph
Couldn’t say it better myself.
Firstly, the whole Swain episode wreaked of Eddie: “he’s young and hot headed… niggle him, provoke him, see if you can get him sent off.”
Then the screaming and carry on at the line out which seems to be coached. Well that was just embarrassing.
But “a red card to the Wallabies actually disadvantaged England.” That really takes the cake.
Rennie to look at Swain 'challenge', Jones claims ref 'evened up' red card - Everything Dave and Eddie said post match
I’m curious to see if he’s cited.
Regardless of open hands or not… was force, intention, attack on a head.
He should be cited and suspended one week.
REACTION: 'Effing wild!' - Cooper crocked, Banks broken and Swain sent off - but Wallabies overcome chaos
Exactly, had Eddie all over it. I think Hill had been told to try get him sent off. Nothing subtle about it.
REACTION: 'Effing wild!' - Cooper crocked, Banks broken and Swain sent off - but Wallabies overcome chaos
The attacks on Swain before his sending off were awful – provocation in the extreme that doesn’t belong on the rugby field. 2 minutes before the hair pulling the same player whacked him in the head directly in front of the ref.
Horrible game but very proud of the Wallabies for standing up and being counted.
REACTION: 'Effing wild!' - Cooper crocked, Banks broken and Swain sent off - but Wallabies overcome chaos
Publicity and media is a function of entertainment and watchability.
The pedantic reffing which is often inconsistent and confusing has been exacerbated by BS rules which have caused the majority of games to be marred by red and yellow cards. All in the name of ‘player safety’.
Watched a clip of Gregan, Larkham and Co running around against the All Blacks 20 years ago, sent a shiver down my spine. Beautiful flowing rugby reffed properly by Andre Watson.
'Unreal': Brumbies defy red card, rain to sink Hurricanes and prevent NZ clean sweep
Finally an Australian side that understands the fundamentals and made a Kiwi side work for the game.
– Earn the right to go wide.
– continuity and patience, work through phases.
– don’t kick aimlessly and don’t kick down the throat of the opposition.
– respect the ball, don’t throw bad passes, try and catch good ones.
All the best to the Brumbies. They are capable of winning the whole thing but will be tough in NZ.
'Unreal': Brumbies defy red card, rain to sink Hurricanes and prevent NZ clean sweep
I hate to say it but agree here.
Combatting a different more physical style was good for both NZ and Aus.
One way to deal with it would be to allow marquee player signings outside any cap to attract Boks, Pumas and maybe the odd Englishman down south?
Alarm bells should be ringing in NZ
CS: understand where you are coming from. Pressure does force mistakes and make good players look bad.
My point is that that many of the losses by Australian sides this season have come from unforced errors. The equivalent of a tennis player being engaged in a rally and hitting it long when not under any discernible pressure.
Alarm bells should be ringing in NZ
Yep and I think rush defence is all about intensity and physicality.
Teams have to adjust when that all comes at them and that takes time as well as practice… something they don’t get much of in Super Rugby.
Alarm bells should be ringing in NZ
I think SA know how to play attritional rugby based around territory and that Ireland and Scotland will bother them less than say Wales (whereas Australia don’t like playing Ireland but go better against Wales).
SA also have a good 30-40% of their RWC squad already playing in Europe. That’s an advantage,
I actually see this RWC playing out like 2007 except I think France may well turn over NZ at the pool stage and then beat SA in a final.
Alarm bells should be ringing in NZ
Rubbish.
European Cup brings together the 24 best teams in Europe.
Super Rugby brings together the 12 best team in Australasia.
Both are cross border, club/provincial comps.
If you take the top 8 (quarterfinals) from Europe, they are generally better sides than the top 8 in Super Rugby. The gap has disappeared and Australia super sides are sh*thouse.
'The biggest f--- you' or 'Force be damned'? Fans split after Rebels' last play kills Aussie rivals' finals hopes
If you read my comments I’m not comparing the Rebels game to the European Final.
I’m saying the European Cup has been of far higher intensity and quality than Super Rugby to date – let’s hope the finals change that but the cap has narrowed.
'The biggest f--- you' or 'Force be damned'? Fans split after Rebels' last play kills Aussie rivals' finals hopes
Ray, I’m an Aussie but it is clear to me that our Super Rugby sides aren’t very good.
Part of that is the loss of players like Cooper, Arnold, Latu, McMahon Kerevi, Koroibete overseas.
Part of that is a bunch of kids playing 10 and steering them around the park.
Part of it is lack of depth. QLD for example lost Kerevi, then Paisami to injury and then even Flook.
Lack of composure, skill and physicality caused by the factors above.
The Wallabies with Cooper, Kerevi and Koroibete back will be formidable as they were last year but a poor Super Rugby comp doesn’t help intensity and prep for England or Ireland.
Alarm bells should be ringing in NZ
Being a proud Aussie (QLDer) who has lived in the NH for 15 years, I’ve been lucky enough to watch all comps pretty regularly. The NH have caught up…
Predicting a SA v France RWC final. And I think the French will have the combination of physicality and skill to win at home.
Alarm bells should be ringing in NZ
The comments from Foster this week were very very surprising.
-All Blacks struggling with rush defence because of long passing and Super Rugby tendencies.
– Habits picked up in Super Rugby don’t translate to test rugby.
– NH catching NZ on skill
My article alludes to these things but for Foster to say it publicly in such a stark way…
Alarm bells should be ringing in NZ
To be honest, no.
All sides in Super Rugby have been pretty average. All Kiwi sides have at one point or another been pushed hard by poor to average Australian sides.
Super Rugby quarterfinals draw: Match ups, venues, times and predictions with all four games confirmed for playoffs
I just feel the quality of the entire competition has been ordinary.
No way the Kiwi sides should have been pushed so hard by some very average Australian sides.
Some exciting finishes, razzle dazzle here and there but even the NZ v NZ games were lacking. Too much touch footy and too many really poor skill errors as well as brain explosions.
Hopefully the finals are better.
Waratahs sweat on Izzy and Harry returns for Super Rugby playoff against Chiefs as Blues coach fears 'disaster'
I’d like to see a 6 team final series. Top 2 earn a week off before playing winners before a final. Not rocket science.
But to be clear, the entire comp has lacked quality in my opinion.
'The biggest f--- you' or 'Force be damned'? Fans split after Rebels' last play kills Aussie rivals' finals hopes
Just to be clear, I’m talking about the entire comp.
There wasn’t a game even between two NZ teams that came close to the Leinster v La Rochelle game. But also the competitions in general – the top 12 teams in Europe are more test ready.
It may be that the Super Finals provide more physicality, skill and intensity… but what we’ve seen this season was a cross between touch footy and league with some pretty unimpressive implosions outnumbering skilful wins.
'The biggest f--- you' or 'Force be damned'? Fans split after Rebels' last play kills Aussie rivals' finals hopes
I watched the whole game and the quality and intensity of Leinster v La Rochelle was another level. Physicality was test level.
Alarm bells should be ringing in NZ and Australia.
Super Rugby quarterfinals draw: Match ups, venues, times and predictions with all four games confirmed for playoffs
I’d like to see a 6 team finals series.
Top 2 earn a week off, then home ground advantage for semi finals – really not a tough concept!
Having Highlanders and Reds in rewards poor performance and mediocrity
Super Rugby quarterfinals draw: Match ups, venues, times and predictions with all four games confirmed for playoffs
I think the term ‘head butt’ is up for debate though…
This was no Glasgow Kiss! I actually think that Swain was putting his head against Hill’s to speak aggressively to him- there was no force in it, certainly no injury, it wasn’t to Hill’s face.
More force in Hill’s open handed strike to Swain’s face.
Both deserve a game off but I’m sure Swain will cop a longer ban which is wrong.
Rennie to look at Swain 'challenge', Jones claims ref 'evened up' red card - Everything Dave and Eddie said post match