Author: Bobas

Wallabies Team Starters Los Teros Team Run on XV 1. James Slipper (93 Tests) 2. Folau Fainga’a (11 Tests) 3. Allan Alaalatoa (35 Tests) 4. Rob Simmons (98 Tests) 5. Adam Coleman (36 Tests) 6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (18 Tests) 7. Michael Hooper (c) (97 Tests) 8. Jack Dempsey (12 Tests) 9. Nic White (28 Tests) 10. Christian Lealiifano (23 Tests) 11. Jordan Petaia 12. Matt To’omua (49 Tests) 13. Tevita Kuridrani (60 Tests) 14. Dane Haylett-Petty (35 Tests) 15. Kurtley Beale (89 Tests) Finishers Replacements 16. Jordan Uelese (6 Tests) 17. Sekope Kepu (108 Tests) 18. Taniela Tupou (16 Tests)…

Wallabies Team Starters Wales Team Run on XV 1. Scott Sio (60 Tests) 2. Tolu Latu (16 Tests) 3. Allan Alaalatoa (34 Tests) 4. Izack Rodda (22 Tests) 5. Rory Arnold (23 Tests) 6. David Pocock (79 Tests) 7. Michael Hooper (c) (96 Tests) 8. Isi Naisarani (5 Tests) 9. Will Genia (106 Tests) 10. Bernard Foley (70 Tests) 11. Marika Koroibete (25 Tests) 12. Samu Kerevi (vc) (30 Tests) 13. James O’Connor (49 Tests) 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (119 Tests) 15. Dane Haylett-Petty (34 Tests) 1. Wyn Jones 2. Ken Owens 3. Tom Francis 4. Jake Ball 5. Alun Wyn Jones…

Wallabies Team Starters Fiji Team Run on XV 1. Scott Sio (59 Tests) 2. Tolu Latu (15 Tests) 3. Allan Alaalatoa (33 Tests) 4. Izack Rodda (21 Tests) 5. Rory Arnold (22 Tests) 6. David Pocock (78 Tests) 7. Michael Hooper (c) (95 Tests) 8. Isi Naisarani (4 Tests) 9. Nic White (26 Tests) 10. Christian Lealiifano (22 Tests) 11. Marika Koroibete (24 Tests) 12. Samu Kerevi (vc) (29 Tests) 13. James O’Connor (48 Tests) 14. Reece Hodge (37 Tests) 15. Kurtley Beale (87 Tests) 1. Campese Ma’afu 2. Samuel Matavesi 3. Peni Ravai 4. Tevita Cavubati 5. Leone Nakawara…

It’s been well documented that Michael Cheika will step down as coach IF he fails to secure a World Cup in next year’s tournament. Is this just a throwaway line and will he go when he can no longer give ‘full credit to the boys’? Or was this a deliberate attempt to scramble up a logical reason for him to keep his job? The latter scenario has merit due to a cash strapped ARU – I mean Rugby Australia (how much did that cost?) – not being able to both pay him out and to afford another coach of a…

Wallabies Team Starters Irish Team Run on XV 1. Scott Sio (44 Tests) 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (1 Test) 3. Sekope Kepu (92 Tests) 4. Izack Rodda (5 Tests) 5. Adam Coleman (21 Tests) 6. David Pocock (67 Tests) 7. Michael Hooper (c) (80 Tests) 8. Caleb Timu (1 Test) 9. Will Genia (89 Tests) 10. Bernard Foley (56 Tests) 11. Marika Koroibete (9 Tests) 12. Kurtley Beale (72 Tests) 13. Samu Kerevi (19 Tests) 14. Dane Haylett-Petty (19 Tests) 15. Israel Folau (63 Tests) 1. Cian Healy 2. Niall Scannell 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Devin Toner 5. James Ryan 6. Peter O’Mahony…

[one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio Nothing flashy, but scrummed well and made all his tackles (10/10), the last frontrower to be replaced. 7 [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa Probably the pick of the starting front rowers when it came to runs. A few bread and butter things; like lineout calls should be cleaned up when he gets more than five days in camp. Won the national anthem. 6 [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Sekope Kepu Rock solid as always, missing a bit of his usual dynamic ball running influence. Like Sio 100% strike rate, 11/11 tackles. 7 [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 4. Izack Rodda Seemed to disappear in the shadow of…

[one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio Kept improving throughout the game and ended up with the upper hand in the scrum. Made his tackles and chipped in with some great carries. Back to career best form. 8 [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau Very similar to Sio without the effective carries but with pin-point like lineout throwing. Set the platform for Moore. 8 [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Sekope Kepu Another strong contributor in all facets of the game. It was a brave decision to opt for fresh legs when Kepu and Sio were playing as well as they were. 8 [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 4. Rob Simmons Hard…

[one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Sekope Kepu [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 4. Rob Simmons [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 5. Adam Coleman [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 6. Jack Dempsey [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 7. Michael Hooper (c) [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 8. Sean McMahon  [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 9. Will Genia (vc) [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 10.  Bernard Foley (vc) [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 11. Reece Hodge [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 12. Kurtley Beale (modeling the kit they’ll play in) [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 13. Tevita Kuridrani [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 14. Marika Koroibete [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 15. Israel Folau [/one_third] Finishers [one_third last=”no”] 16. Stephen Moore [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 17. Tom Robertson [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 18. Allan Alaalatoa…

[one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio A solid set piece display from Sio and flawless on defence with a 10/10 tackling clip. A few stronger runs would have seen him get a even better rating. 7  [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau A quiet game from TPN, part of a dominant set-piece but really struggled to get his hands on the ball in tight. His head knock early in the 2nd half wouldn’t have helped. Like Sio, perfect on D with 9/9 tackles. 6  [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Sekope Kepu The pick of the front rowers, did everything the two others did but also busted tackles in…

Wallabies Team Starters 1. Scott Sio (35 Tests) 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (74 Tests) 3. Sekope Kepu (83 Tests) 4. Rob Simmons (74 Tests) 5. Adam Coleman (14 Tests) 6. Ned Hanigan (6 Tests) 7. Michael Hooper (c) (71 Tests) 8. Sean McMahon (18 Tests) 9. Will Genia (vc) (81 Tests) 10. Bernard Foley (vc) (48 Tests) 11. Reece Hodge (16 Tests) 12. Kurtley Beale (63 Tests) 13. Tevita Kuridrani (50 Tests) 14. Henry Speight (15 Tests) 15. Israel Folau (58 Tests) Finishers 16. Jordan Uelese (1 Test) 17. Tom Robertson (12 Tests) 18. Allan Alaalatoa (15 Tests) 19. Izack Rodda (1 Test) 20. Jack Dempsey (2 Tests) 21. Nick Phipps (54 Tests) 22. Samu Kerevi (10 Tests) 23. Marika Koroibete Where: Bruce Stadium,…

Wallabies Team Starters 1. Scott Sio (34 Tests) 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau (73 Tests) 3. Sekope Kepu (82 Tests) 4. Rory Arnold (14 Tests) 5. Adam Coleman (13 Tests) 6. Ned Hanigan (5 Tests) 7. Michael Hooper (c) (70 Tests) 8. Sean McMahon (17 Tests) 9. Will Genia (80 Tests) 10. Bernard Foley (47 Tests) 11. Reece Hodge (15 Tests) 12. Kurtley Beale (62 Tests) 13. Tevita Kuridrani (49 Tests) 14. Henry Speight (14 Tests) 15. Israel Folau (57 Tests) Finishers 16. Jordan Uelese 17. Tom Robertson (11 Tests) 18. Allan Alaalatoa (14 Tests) 19. Rob Simmons (73 Tests) 20. Jack…

[one_third last=”no”] 1. Nick Stiles Big fan of the grubber kick, Stiles made his test match debut in the series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2001. He now coaches the Reds and a short glimpse at the results for him in a youtube search show he’s now a big fan of kicking his players while they’re down. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Huia Edmonds He sparked ‘Edmania’ with his outrageous chip-and-chases coming off the bench late in his career for the Brumbies. This audacious style of play earnt him four wallaby caps back in 2010 as well as a lifelong…

[one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio One of only a handful of Wallabies not to have a question mark against their name after a solid display. His charge though the guts of NZ from his own 22 should fill him with confidence. He will be the first name on the team sheet next week.  6  [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Stephen Moore  Hooked at half time after repeated ineffectualness and infringements. Has Moore started his last test match? His resistance to injury and our lack of depth at hooker says no. 3  [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Allan Alaalatoa Dropped an easy ball early on but was…

[one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio Penalised four times in the scrum, replaced eight minutes into the second half. 3[/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Stephen Moore (c) Lineout throwing was quite good, but failed to hook the ball quickly to take pressure off our own feed at scrum time. 4[/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Allan Alaalatoa Part of a dominated scrum, but avoided the penalties. Lead the front rowers yet again in attack and defence stats, made nine tackles with none missed. Was unlucky not to get his maiden test try. 5[/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 4. Rory Arnold The first of a few mixed bags this game. Arnold looked great with crash ball…

[one_third last=”no”] 1. Tom Robertson Dropped the first scrum and was penalised. 5 runs for the measly total of 1 metre gained. Put on some decent hits on defence and scooped up a loose ball that was out. But should have dominated the relatively inexperienced Fagerson from the first whistle, was subbed shortly after Nel was brought on and folded him twice. – 4[/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau A shocker. After getting in the way of a player running in the correct direction to secure a ball, he then did the same thing again but this time picked it up successfully and throw…

[one_third last=”no”] 1. Tom Robertson Performed well against the underdog Fijian scrum, quiet elsewhere with only two runs for 6 metres, tackled well with zero misses. A couple of penalties conceded away from a solid game. 5[/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau Solid as ever in the scrum, faultless throwing and the same disregard for his own wellbeing (as he’s known for) in the contact area. Looks to be down on pace but Fiji has a habit of making a lot of players look a little slow. 6[/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Allan Alaalatoa Very solid at the set-piece and a high work-rate. Brought the hard running and…

An experimental Wallaby team put the french away by 2 in a thriller. What do the Rugby Report Card boys: James and Blake have to say about it? WARNING – May contain explicit language.

[one_third last=”no”] 1. James Slipper A game Slipper will probably want forgotten, mainly due to his efforts in the scrum, as he ended up conceding three penalties. Was OK else-ware, tackling at a good clip and trucked it up with only occasional success. Replaced after 64 minutes. 4[/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Tolu Latu Took about 20 minutes to get into this game, making multiple errors early, including a slightly not straight line-out throw and a breakdown penalty that cost us three. He was able, however, to put it behind him and successfully turned around his starting debut with solid involvements from then on. Unlucky…

How did the Rugby Report Card boys see it after we squeaked through by 1? WARNING – May contain explicit language.

 Podcast 239 – Thistling Time After the Wallabies and Ireland’s triumphant victories, and leading into the game against Scotland. Host Rugby Reg, Matt Rowley and Hugh Cavill are joined by special Scottish guest and fellow pod-caster Matthew Hannay (The Thistle Rugby Podcast) to take you through this weeks ‘thistling questions’: What was the best take away from the Welsh win? What can we expect from the Scottish test? How did the Irish teach us all to beat the ABs? Can you get excited about the June Test Series/How do we get excited about the June Test Series? TPN to the Force –…