Author: Matt Rowley

In this rugby podcast we wang on about the thrashing of the Frogs in the first test, look ahead to the second test – plus other bonus stuff!

It clearly wouldn’t have made a whole lot of difference, but in Saturday night’s test between the Wallabies and France, Craig Joubert ruled that Freddie Michalak wasn’t offside when stopping Adam Ashley-Cooper from scoring. What do you think? Was Michalak offside? [poll id=”105″]

How did the Wallabies do last night? Go on, have a rank on us for Wallabies v. France 2014 first test Sports & Games Lists on Ranker

A round up of all the scores and action from round 11 of the 2014 Shute Shield

With the first Wallabies test of the year upon us this weekend, we pore over the selection of the team including the surprise omissions in our 145th rugby podcast.

All the scores and reviews from Shute Shield round 10, 2014

The West Harbour Pirates have held on to a thrilling one-point lead to claim a 25-24 victory over Northern Suburbs at Concord Oval in the Magners Shute Shield. Words by Ben Harrison The Pirates came out with their swords drawn, racing out to a 17-0 first-half lead before a Norths’ fight back set up a nail-biting finish in yesterday’s Round 9 encounter. West Harbour’s Usaia O’Sullivan admitted his side was glad to be on the right end of the scoreline come the final whistle.  “Credit to Norths, they came back and almost pipped us at the post, we were very lucky…

We talk to Australia coach Ewen McKenzie just hours after he announces the Wallabies squad to face France.

The Galloping Greens have snapped a three-game losing streak, grabbing a 15-5 away win over Parramatta in a tightly-contested tussle that sees them rise to fifth on the table. Words by Ben Harrison Instrumental in the two-tries-to-one win was Randwick head coach Wade Kelly’s decision to play livewire winger Ethan Ford at flyhalf in place of the injured David Horwitz. It proved a master stroke, as the new pivot yesterday directed his team around the park superbly and provided strength in the midfield defence. “We really concentrated on maintaining possession and ball security this week and it showed today,” said…

Michael O’Connor’s swansong as Qantas Men’s Sevens Head Coach ended in heartache after his side pushed the 2013/14 HSBC World Series Champions New Zealand to the limit, eventually falling short in a points-laden Cup Final at the London Rugby Sevens. The 52-33 scoreline in favour of the Kiwis was the highest total amount of points ever recorded in a World Series Cup Final, although it was all Australia for the first five minutes of the first period as they raced into a 21-0 lead when Tom Lucas, Afa Pakalani and Con Foley all scored. Ben Lam and a Scott Curry…

Scores and match reviews from Round 7 of the 2014 Shute Shield

The Manly Marlins have recorded their sixth consecutive win with a 39-16 bonus-point victory over Warringah in Round 6 of the Magners Shute Shield. Words by Ben Harrison photos by Karen Watson Touted as the Battle of the Beaches, the top-of-the-table clash also saw the Mounties Cup up for grabs, with the home side holding on to the silverware for the fifth year running. After another sparkling performance, NSW and Manly scrumhalf Matt Lucas heaped praise on his forward pack for really getting over the advantage line and driving through a tough Rats’ pack. “We definitely won the game upfront,…

Who are the top runners and riders for the Wallabies Captain 2014?

The Warringah Rats have recorded their fifth consecutive maximum-points win in a 31-30 heart stopper over Sydney University in the Shute Shield last night. Their five tries earned them yet another bonus point and maintained their top-of-the-table ladder position, one point clear of Manly who they will squad up against in battle of the beaches next week.   Words by Ben Harrison, Photos by Karen Watson Holmes brothers Luke and Josh were again inspirational for the Rats, playing a hand in several of the Rats’ tries. Said scrumhalf Josh after the match, “Uni are a great side. They don’t win…

The Warringah Rats have maintained their perfect unbeaten run, notching up a bonus-point 40-19 Easter Friday win over Eastern Suburbs. The Beasties were right in it on the hour mark, with the scores level at 19-apiece, but three late Rats’ tries prevented them from picking up their first points of the season, and handed their opponents their fourth bonus point win in four weeks. Disappointed Beasties’ captain Anton La Vin cited a lack of concentration and fitness as the reason for his side’s second half capitulation. “We were very happy with how we played for the first hour and were…

Warringah versus Parramatta – Live Streaming from Rat Park Pre-game from 6.00pm , kick off 6.15pm This Saturday night Warringah are coming off the back of a big upset over Southern Districts at Forshaw, Parramatta need to turn around last weeks effort against Manly.

Eastwood outclasses young Highlanders outfit By Ben Harrison Gordon’s young guns have faced their toughest challenge yet, going down 70-12 to competition heavyweight Eastwood at Chatswood Oval. The Woodies’ 10-try tally was more than enough to secure the bonus-point win that has elevated them to third on the Magners Shute Shield ladder after two rounds and captain Hugh Perrett was full of praise for the work of the coaching staff in setting them up their big win. “Structurally we were good from the start,” said Perrett afterwards.  “We knew Gordon would come out with all they had in the first…

In this week’s rugby podcast we have a yarn with Queensland Red Chibba Hanson about all things Super Rugby and beards.

In this round one Shute Shield results, Manly captain Ed Gower has led the Marlins to a 43-28 win over heavyweights Southern Districts. By Ben Harrison  However it didn’t all go Gower’s way, with the giant lock’s second-half binning almost opening the door for a Rebels’ comeback. The men from Manly dominated the set piece and, conceded Souths’ captain Jed Holloway, that was where the game was lost. “We were outmuscled, plain and simple. We didn’t make dominant tackles and force them off the ball. We know that’s what we need to work hard on at training now, setting up…

In our Rugby podcast 139 (yes, I get it wrong in the intro!) we not only wang on about all things rugby but talk to Wallaroos coach Paul Verrell ahead of a crazy busy year for Aussie women’s rugby.