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Zenn

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Joined September 2016

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It’s amazing that allegedly poor defenders play at this level. Is it lack of competition for selection, poor coaching, or their attacking abilities outweigh their defensive shortcomings?

Who is responsible for improving tackling technique? The defence coach or the skills coach?

These are genuine questions not rhetoric.

Dave Rennie’s Wallabies must mount a case for the defence in 2020

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Rugby
 
5d

No-one listened to Cassandra. 😊

Dave Rennie’s Wallabies must mount a case for the defence in 2020

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Rugby
 
5d

Tiger was a magnificent bowler…surely SO’Ks five for against the Vics was tougher than GOAT’s five for against Pakistan.

SO’K wouldn’t be the first player selected who enjoyed a beer or too many…

I fear you’re right. 🙂

Lyon resurgence has Australia ready for Kiwi threat

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Cricket
 
6d

Steve O’Keefe for Sydney Test?

Lyon resurgence has Australia ready for Kiwi threat

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Cricket
 
6d

De Grandhomme not playing second test.

Two players offer Kiwis an edge over Australia – neither are Kane Williamson

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Cricket
 
2w

NZ justify their #2 Test ranking. Their batting is settled. Williamson [3], Latham [8], Nicholls [6] rank in the ICC top 10 Test bats.

Cummins [6 ranked ICC Test allrounder] and Starc[7] combined make an aggregate all-rounder. Curiously Santner is not yet in the top ten on this list although De Grandhomme [8] and Southee [10] are.

The Black Caps would appear favourites despite Australia’s home advantage.

Two players offer Kiwis an edge over Australia – neither are Kane Williamson

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Cricket
 
2w

Sibley, Frawley and Pope are exciting prospects for England.

England enters a new phase of Test cricket

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Cricket
 
2w

Nathan Lyon selection may become a luxury Aus can’t afford. His Ashes and recent SS form have been ordinary.

As noted elsewhere, arguably the best Aus spinner currently is Steve O’Keefe, who has the added benefit of leaving the bat when bowling to right handers.

Perhaps CA needs to get over the past, alleged indiscretions O’Keefe and select him in place of the GOAT.

The Australian selectors have long been formulaic in their bowling selections e.g. reluctant to bowl two leggies (Warne&MacGill) or two left handed quicks (Starc & Johnson.)

On another note, Pattinson is named in the Vic SS XIII to play NSW.

Australia are two middle order batsmen away from balance

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Cricket
 
2w

Paying compensation to current assistant coaches and buying out contracts of proposed assistant coaches may become very expensive.

I wonder where the apparently cash strapped RA is finding this money.

More assistants drawing close to joining Wallabies coaching team

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Rugby
 
1w

What have the Ronans done for us?

The Liebke Ratings: Australia vs Pakistan first Test

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Cricket
 
2w

Smith is obviously in the side for his leg spin bowling with any runs he may score as an added bonus.

The Liebke Ratings: Australia vs Pakistan first Test

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Cricket
 
2w

Curiously “That idiot didn’t deserve a [double] century,” may have been said, self deprecatingly, by Jason Gillespie.

The Liebke Ratings: Australia vs Pakistan first Test

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Cricket
 
2w

Good idea Numpty. A similar scheme should be implemented for coaching exchanges.

Why the Giteau Law has to be fit for purpose in 2020

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Rugby
 
2w

Hi Nick, thanks for another thought provoking article that is in many ways a natural successor to last week’s article on Dave Rennie’s (then) impending appointment as WBs coach, https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/11/20/the-dave-rennie-casebook-can-a-kiwi-coach-the-wallabies-again/

This week’s article refers to the importance of coaching and culture despite its title (chosen by editors?). Robbie Deans struggled, ultimately unsuccessfully, to change Aus rugby culture to something more similar to NZ.

Rennie must be supported to implement cultural as well as coaching changes. World rugby is moving to a model similar to football, league, baseball and basketball in which (well financed) club based competitions will eventually prevail over competitions involving national teams. That is not to say that matches between rugby nations will become irrelevant.

RA must adapt to the new model by acknowledging that players need to, and will, maximise their earnings in their relatively brief careers by moving to European or Japanese clubs. Players must and will play for these clubs during the peak of their careers to optimise their remuneration rather than in the twilight of their careers. Furthermore, players appear to improve their fitness, skills and rugby IQ as well as prolong their rugby careers at these clubs.

The apparently superior coaching and rugby cultures found overseas will benefit the WBS. Indeed let’s hope that the selection gene pool for the WBs locks in future will include expats such as Coleman, Skelton, the Arnold twins as well as Rodda, LSL, Staniforth and others.

It is difficult to know what are the contractual responsibilities of Super Rugby clubs (nations?) to their media sponsors (Foxtel etc). SA have adopted a “free market” model of ostensibly picking their national players from anywhere whereas NZ chose only SR players. It seems that the Giteau law is not a current contractual requirement between SANZAAR and the media sponsors.

It is time to consider abolishing the Giteau rule that excludes many players in their peak years such as Liam Gill and Sean McMahon.

Why the Giteau Law has to be fit for purpose in 2020

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Rugby
 
2w

” Hazlewood was back to his supreme best in the Ashes.
The veteran was left out of the first Test and then sent a resounding message to the selectors over the final four matches. ”

Fair go Ronan, Josh is 28 compared to Pat (26), Mitch (29) and the GOAT (32 this week). 😂

Harry Conway must be receiving some consideration as should Chad Sayers as well as both Richardsons plus a few others…perhaps worthy of an article

Australia's Test attack looks ominous

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Cricket
 
3w

Steve O’Keefe is a better bowler than any of these

Taking stock of Australia’s ODI spin options

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Cricket
 
4w

The effects of the capitalist approach adopted by cashed up clubs is crippling Pacific island teams.

Fireworks on the fifth: What the Saracens crisis means for the global game

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Rugby
 
4w

Jon, thanks for your detailed reply. My bad on Neil Harvey. My son was taught by Neil’s grandson a few years back in Sydney, I’ll blame my error on that. 😊

Great cricketing nurseries: Which provinces have produced the best Test players?

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Cricket
 
Nov

Australia A squad: Alex Carey (c), Marcus Harris, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Will Pucovski, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Sean Abbott, Riley Meredith.

What will Australia A be playing for in Perth?

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Cricket
 
Nov

Jon,
A great article that required considerable time and effort.
I would love to see the NSW third XI…surely Neil Harvey, Mark Waugh and Jeff Thomson make that team. Perhaps even the GOAT.
The QLD and SA sides (the Chappells must make SA) are of interest too. Tasmania has a small population so it is difficult to imagine any eligible players beside Boon and Ponting making the first XIs of other states.
England has a larger population but football totally dominates sport. Indeed many London schools struggle to find the space for a decent size cricket oval. Perhaps a Roarer could enlighten us on the number of registered players in Aus v Eng.
I look forward to reading more from you.

Great cricketing nurseries: Which provinces have produced the best Test players?

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Cricket
 
Nov

Rob, A very pertinent observation. Gordon Greenidge was aged 14 when his family migrated to Reading in England. He played county cricket for Hampton and thus was eligible for England as well as the Windies. By choosing the country of his heritage he was integral to one of the most formidable teams of all time.

Great cricketing nurseries: Which provinces have produced the best Test players?

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Cricket
 
Nov

Rugby First, your poor grammar and punctuation suggest that your parents wasted their money on your private school education beyond inculcating you with an inflated sense of entitlement.

Rugby has a problem with exclusivity

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Rugby
 
Oct

It’s Friday morning…where is my second Nick Bishop article for the week?

Whiteout! How selection confidence helped England beat the All Blacks

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Rugby
 
Oct

Thomson is of course from NSW

Celebrating the Sheffield Shield: Best ever WA team

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Cricket
 
Oct

The 70 points past Wales ended some Welsh careers possibly including Glyn Llewellyn.

Eddie Jones has performed a coaching master class for the ages

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Rugby
 
Oct
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