Author: Matt Rowley

Here are some highlights from the Australian Barbarians vs England at the ME stadium on Tuesday. The game was a 28-all draw in the end, so a bit like kissing your sister, but with less tongue.

Final Score: Wallabies 49 – Fiji 3 Qantas Wallabies 49 (Digby Ioane 2, Kurtley Beale 2, Richard Brown, Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell tries; Matt Giteau 7 conversions) defeated Fiji 3 (Taniela Rawaqa penalty) at Canberra Stadium. (Half time: Wallabies 14-3)

Get yourself in the mood for the season ahead with our Wallabies 2009 mashup

Proving the weekend before wasn’t a blip, Australia beat both Fiji in the quarters and then New Zealand in the semis to reach the final of the Edinburgh sevens. Here are the video highlights of that Semi-Final. By beating Fiji the Aussie’s took third spot overall in the 2009/2010 World Sevens series,

I’d planned my weekend around it – the Tahs having a crack at the semi-final, mid-afternoon pommy time, last Saturday. I pay full whack for SkySports in the UK and had just assumed I’d be able to watch it. Wrong. Sky put both games on ‘red button / interactive’ meaning those of us watching Sky through Virgin (cable) had no way of seeing it. No point going to the pub, the Heineken Cup final was playing at the same time. Meanwhile on SkySports 4: WWE wrestling re-runs. Anyone who’s been around rugby and the internet have probably read of “Live…

The Wallabies’ end of year tour fixture list has been announced, with a further two midweek matches – one in England and another in France –  likely to be finalised in coming weeks. What a piss tour! Dates below:

Back in April Noddy wrote an excellent post looking at the options for Wallaby Full Back. He noted how already some distinct styles of play were starting to emerge from the players. Another two months of the New Ruck Interpretations together with a fourth option at 15, and the picture becomes even clearer. In my opinion the players most effected by the NRIs have been the two fetchers of the ball; the 7 and the 15. For the full back, it’s meant that kicking away possession is no longer the only option, and that in fact for many of the…

At long last, here it is – highlights of Australia beating South Africa in the final of the London Sevens at Twickenham last Sunday – you can see my earlier review here. Check out that try saving tackle from James Stannard at 9:21!

Here’s some highlights from the Semi-Final between Australia and Argentina in the London sevens at Twickenham on Sunday. Hopefully final highlights vs South Africa to follow tomorrow!

The Saffas didn’t get everything their own way this weekend, with Australia beating them 19-14 in the final of the London sevens at Twickenham on Sunday. This was Australia’s first sevens title since Brisbane in 2002, and how well they did it. They beat sevens royalty Fiji 29-28 in the quarters and Argentina 26-14 in the semi; all after walloping England 38-5, Russia 47-0, and Scotland 43-17 on day 1. In short, they were awesome. While averaging just 21 years a man. Sills – who’s rapidly filling out – had been razor sharp all tournament racking up 9 tries before…

FINAL SCORE: Stormers 25 – Waratahs 6 in other news, the Bulls 39 def Crusaders

No away team has won a semi-final for 7 years. No Australian super team has won a sudden death match away from home, ever. The Stormers have ceded the fewest points in this years comp, and yielded on average only one try per match at home. Against these ominous stats, how can the Waratahs possibly win at Newlands on Saturday? The answer is simple – the new found pace of their game. By this I don’t mean the straight line speed or acceleration of the NSW players, but rather the pace at which they recycle ball and re-align attack. I’ve…

Here’s some of our own special highlights from the Waratahs vs Hurricanes match last weekend. There are also a couple of extra’s in there; another Chariots of Carter moment, and Kurtley Beale taking down Ma’a Nonu as last line of defence! Again we’ve honed in on the outside backs, this time adding in some extra attention on Rob Horne,

What is it about the turf at the SFS that makes Cory Jane want to lay prone on it?

Final Score: Queensland Reds 38 – Highlanders 36 And here’s a little clip of the stink – did you spot an eye gouge? And I can help Marto’s question about Gynaecolo – it was in response to his try celebration.

Here’s some highlights of the Waratahs tearing the Canes a new one from Friday. Enjoy For the second half

FINAL SCORE: Mighty f*cken Tahs 32 – Hurricanes 16

Here’s some highlights of the Waratahs back three as they carved up the Chiefs last Saturday. While they all had great game, for me, Beale was the standout. Fullback really seems to be suiting KB, giving him the chance to use his talent of spotting space both in and behind the defensive line. His inclusion instead of the mystery signing and selection that is Soseni Anesi

According to reports, The Blue Bulls are planning to ‘rest’ up to 13 of their first string side for the clash against the Stormers this weekend. Already my South African friends have suggested on Twitter that this is just logical player rotation with a guaranteed home semi and final (if they make it) coming up. But is it? The Bulls have already moved their home from Loftus Versfield to Orlando Stadium in Soweto to accomodate the Soccer World Cup, and now they seem intent on throwing away their travel advantage as well. If the likely scenario plays out and the…

Chiefs 19  – Waratahs 46 What a performance, what a turnaround, what a finish we’re looking at. In one week the Tahs have gone from outhouse to penthouse, the difference being pure desire. It’s hard to find a man who didn’t stand up to be counted today. Every single one of the pack played out of their skins – in all areas they outclassed the Chief’s eight; generating an amount of possession and go forward that the Waikato men simply couldn’t live with. While the ball security at the tackle was a vast improvement, the pick and go and driving…