Author: Matt Rowley

Here are some of the best bits from the Wallabies in 2010. No surprise that they’re a little heavy on the backs – hopefully that will balance out more next year. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Il065V-u8M[/youtube] The music is a track called Tenderoni by Kele Okereke. Apart from it fitting well with the vision, the title also refers to the love of someone too young. Any resemblance to a national coaches selection criteria is purely coincidental…..

As per tradition, Aussie D ran a rigorous and democratic selection process in the forum to select the 2010 G&GR World XV. No doubt there’ll be plenty of challenge, but for mine it looks (perhaps surprisingly) balanced with only 4 of the #2 side in the world making the cut. Remember, it’s not about reputation or latent talent, just performance over time in 2010. 1 Gunthro Steenkamp (SA) 2 Stephen Moore (Aust) 3 Owen Franks (NZ) / Martin Castrogiovanni (It) 4 Brad Thorn (NZ) 5 Nathan Sharpe (Aust) 6 Juan Smith (SA) 7 Richie McCaw (NZ) 8 Keiran Reid (NZ) 9…

Despite a very Australian backline trotting out for the Barbarians last weekend, another Wallaby international season has come to an end. How should we judge it? Of course the most important criteria are matches won, trophies gained. On that front, it’s mixed news. Of the important silverware (the ones whose names I can remember) there’s no Bledisloe, Tri-Nations or Cook Cup to lay the table around the Mandela Plate. On the win percentages, however, things are on the up; it stands at 60 per cent for 2010, up from 43 per cent in 2009. No doubt there’s plenty of headroom there, although…

Final Score: Barbarians 26- South Africa 20 The scorers: For Barbarians: Tries: Mitchell 2, O’Connor, Geldenhuys Con: O’Connor 3 For South Africa: Try: Ndungane, Botha Con: Jantjies Pen: Jantjies Barbarians: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau (c), 9 Will Genia, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Rodney So’oialo, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Salvatore Perugini. Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 John Yapp, 18 Quintin Geldenhuys, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Seru Rabini. South…

Having watched the game a second time, I’m not nearly as doom-and-gloom as to the Wallabies’ standard of play against Italy. As you’ll see in the clip, I think there’s a very simple way for the Wallabies to get better return on their current efforts. There was also reason to see potential in the 21-year-old James Slipper’s first run-on in a Wallaby jersey. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU6pQwPrl2Q[/youtube]

AUSTRALIA 32 (Drew Mitchell, Rocky Elsom tries; Berrick Barnes 2 conv, 6 pg) defeated ITALY 14 (Robert Barbieri try; Luciano Orquera pg, Mirco Bergamasco 2 pg)

Hosted by RugbyReg; Gagger, Juan, Lance and Moses lament over the losses to the Poms and Munster and “look ahead’ to the clash with Italy. Now with intro track!! Powered by Podbean.com Download this episode (right click and save)

Final Score: Munster 15 – Australia 6 If you bustled off to work instead of bunking off to watch this travesty, THEN WELL FUCKING DONE. What happened? Well, it’s hard to describe what Australia actually did in this match. Yes it was pissing down. Yes there was a gale whistling down from one end of the field – to the point where there was no point try to kick at all from one direction – the ball would just end up behind you. But this was supposed to be squad members from (until last weekend) the second ranked nation in…

Despite the win on the weekend, it was deja-vu all over again with the Wallaby scrum yielding half of the team’s penalty count and being lucky not to account for a yellow card. Who’s fault was it? The back-row breaking early, the locks binding too loosely, or front row shenanigans? Scrum watching is a bit like tea-leaves; every one seems to see something different, but have a look and see if you agree with what I came up with. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKRJy9ql0yQ[/youtube] There’s also a little look at Sharpie’s contribution, as well a cameo from the Bieber himself.

More than a few people have mentioned that we should give this a crack. Well, careful what you wish for, because without a doubt we’ve taken podcasting to a whole new level… In this version of audio entertainment at it’s extreme, we Have a gloat about the glorious Wallabies win over the New Zealand team in Honkers Look ahead to the rest of the Euro tour – I’ve not seen this much “confidence” since Alan Bond Announce the winner of the G&GR BLOG COMMENTER OF 2010! And very well deserved it is too Have a good ol’ wang on I’m…

A little light video analysis from the Hong Kong Bledisloe last weekend [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3o9uAZRMuo[/youtube] .

Here’s something you may or may not seen in the game last weekend, but it’s been generating a hell of a lot of discussion around the place. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkDTkXuxr7Q[/youtube] Sir Richie’s not known for petulant kicks, and it looks like this one definitely got up Quade’s nose. But was what QC did at the end of the game called for or wise? Maybe it’s about time the Wallabies stopped taking crap and started dishing it out – if it gets to Richie all the better? Opinion’s pretty split around the place on this one; who came out on top in this…

15. Kurtley Beale – His footwork, electric pace and vision in attack we’re almost getting used to, but the defensive effort this week matched up to it, holding up a Mealamu try and pulling down a runaway McCaw. Throw in a coupla booming punts and you’ve got the G&GR man of the match (9) 14. James O’Connor – Worked hard at the back all night with Gilbert and looks dangerous, before gliding through 3 All Blacks to score the winning try together with two conversions slotted from the sideline. How does he run so easily with balls that big? (8)…

BLOG AWARDS Blogger of the Year – Austin The guy who takes the top gong this year has put in an amount and level of work that is simply breath-taking. He (pretty much) single handedly captured the full stats for the 2010 Tri-Nations and compiled them into fantastic reports and analysis He’s used his first class video analysis abilities to show everything from where Gits’ kicking is going wrong, to how the Aussie backline can go right He came up with the Best Aussie Club Try idea, and then did the lion share of the hard slog in running it…

That’s right, you can to wang on about the Bledisloe afterbirth AND get a ringside seat at the Green and Gold Rugby blog and forum awards straight after. It’s a frikken live commenting bonanza! Honkers Bled and G&GR awards

It’s not just my kids – after 10 straight losses to New Zealand, it’s a question I’ve been asking myself. As the best ranked side in the world by a distance and the Wallabies likely opponents in the world cup final (should Australia make it that far), the All Blacks are the benchmark. Each loss has been a story in itself; the Wallabies improving in facets of the game, while finding new ones to spectacularly fumble over. But what does it look like if you take a step back and take a look at the ultimate measure over time -…

Here it is, the G&GR Best Aussie Club Try for 2010, as judged by the top coach in Australia – Robbie Deans. This piece of top drawer rugby came from the royalty of Perth rugby; Nedlands rugby club and caps off a characteristically triumphal year that saw them sweep the top three grades of the Perth competition. Fittingly the scorer was the first team captain – Joe “Peanut” Ritchie. The club wins a further $1000 of Skins gear, as well as more KooGa swag and a training session in 2011 with the Wallaby coaches. Speaking of which, here’s what Dingo…

In recent years it became the ignored and embarrassing child of Australian rugby union, but the 2009/10 season was a sharp return to form for the Aussie Sevens squad and their coaches. From 8th in the IRB rankings to 3rd, including their first win on the circuit since 2002. The season culminated just this month with a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, the first medal since 1998. Many deserve credit, and high on that list should be coach Michael O’Connor, who several times over forged a tight and disciplined unit from the youngest raw talent. There were also some…

Here they are, the 5 finalists that Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has personally reviewed and chosen a winner – whose team will receive a training session from the man himself as well as a swag of extra Skins and KooGa goodies. The winner will be announced THIS FRIDAY, so make sure you check back! The contenders are: Trent Jones for Brothers in Brisbane (April) Joe “Peanut” Ritchie from Nedlands club in Perth (May) Juan Van Vuuren from the University of Queensland (June) Afimupo Lama from the Rouse Hill Renegades (July) Luke Morahan for Queensland Uni (August) See them all in…

Only a year ago the Springboks appeared invincible. I wrote 2010 resolution: beat the Saffa gameplan in which I asked just how could the rest of the world cope with their extreme game-plan of possession avoidance. How the world has turned. Less than 12 months later and even some of the most patriotic of Springbok supporters are in the depths of despair. The coach and the team are ‘washed up’ and heads need to roll. They’re all but discounted as contenders for the World Cup and yet again the All Blacks are shoo-ins to take Bill. Has world rugby really…