Author: Brisneyland Local

Well, Holy 💩 Wallabies fans, that was close. Some might say it was undeserved. But the Wallabies have managed to scrape through to a hard-fought victory in terrible conditions at Estadio Uno Estudiantes de La Plata in Buenos Aires to break their 8-game losing streak in The Rugby Championships.So let’s dive in and look at the game, its highlights and lowlights as we pick apart the Wallaby performance. Make sure you vote for the Wallabies players so that they can appear in RAWF’s Tuesday news.Let’s get into it!First HalfThe pre-match coverage clearly showed the conditions were terrible and that it…

Happy Monday to you G&GRs. A weekend with no test rugby means jobs around the house and Mrs. BL’s ‘things to do list’. And I must admit as many things got done this weekend and crossed off the list. The list didn’t appear to get any shorter, in fact, I think it got longer. But I digress.So let’s look at the rugby news around the place, and then have a bit of an ‘Old Man Shouting at Clouds’ moment. So sit down at your desk, log on to the work machine, grab a big cup of you know what ☕,…

Good morning to you G&GRs. Another painful round for us Wallabies fans, but a slice of heaven (did you see that little Dave Dobbyn pun there) for our Kiwi supporters with both games being played in sub-optimal conditions.So let’s look at the weekend’s games, a review of the TRC ladder (hint no surprises there) and then have a bit of an ‘Old Man Shouting at Clouds’ moment. So strap yourself in, grab a big cup of you know what ☕, and let’s get it on.The Rugby Championsip Round 2New Zealand 42 defeated Argentina 10If you did’tn get the chance, have…

The Nearlies got their ‘Mojo’ back in emphatic style, spanking the Argies in a 42-10 victory at Eden Park in pouring rain on Saturday evening. This was certainly a marked improvement over the previous weeks effrot. With the AB’s coming out from the start in full afterburner and really not easing off, dominating all aspects of the game, with the Argentinians appearing to show a post victory hangover from the week before.First HalfAs mentioned previously, the game started at a break neck pace and the Kiwi’s were in full afterburner from moment one, trying to set a marker make their…

Good morning to you G&GRs. What a painful weekend that was for teams either side of the ‘dutch’! Last week I said: “This is a chance for Argentina and Australia to prove to New Zealand and South Africa that they have what it takes!” And one side certainly did. The other, well that’s a different story.Let’s look at the weekend’s games and then have a bit of an ‘Old Man Shouting at Clouds!’ moment. So strap yourself in, grab a big cup of you know what ☕, and let’s get it on.The Rugby Championsip Round 1South Africa 33 defeated Australia…

Well holy 💩 Batman! I was sitting there at home watching that, and like the Mayor of Hiroshima Mrs BL sat there going “What the Fark was that?” The only response that I could come up with was that it looked like boys playing men. Or in simpler terms, that’s the magnitude of the task in front of Joe Schmidt and his coaching team.Firstly, congrats to the Bokke. They were good. In fact that’s an understatement, they were fantastic. They’re a team that, despite what many pundits say about them, are evolving. They’ve conquered the power game and have now…

Happy Monday G&GRs. Apologies for last week; I travelled south to help a mate out, and low and behold the Hossman dragged me into an adventure I wasn’t quite prepared for. But despite KARL’s account of the story (BTW KARL thanks for filling in at short notice), I didn’t kick the walls in to get the big man out. It was a Newcastle prison, so the cells are more like kindegarten rooms (turns out Novocastrians aren’t that bright, they just have to undo the child proof lock). I got him out and returned him to the Ponderosa, the authorities won’t…

Happy Monday G&GRs, and welcome to the old mad mans wrap up of the weekend of rugby tests. And what was unique about this round? It was a result of the San Francisco Convention, where in a post World Cup year, in the mid year test season, Tier One teams must play a Tier two team. Hence why most of the matches we have seen to date are only two game series instead of three like they ususally are. I for one, have been really impressed with the Tier Two teams this year. With some of the game having the…

As the title suggests, the weekend’s tests had a lot of Clunk Eastwood about them. There was the good, the bad, and, in the Wallabies case, the ugly. The contrast was fundamentally evident having just watched the All Blacks and England. But hey, it’s international test rugby period, so I won’t complain too much.The women’s game wasn’t completed while writing this so will leave that until Tuesday’s news. Also, if I watched another match I reckon I would’ve ended up divorced.So, let’s pour into the games, do a mini-review, and then discuss the Wallabies and their performance. So strap yourself…

To quote Jack Nicholson, “Here’s rugby!”. Gaggers, wasn’t that a weekend of rugby? Test rugby, the best kind. Nation upon nation. My eyes are sore from watching so many games. And Mrs. Brisney and the tin lids are a bit pissed off that they had to move into the other room so I could watch game after game of rugby. But alas, it’s my happy time.So, let’s pour into the games, do a mini-review, and then discuss the Wallabies and their performance. So strap yourself in, grab a big cup of you know what ☕, and let’s get ready to…

Here we go G&GRs, and it’s that pause before the drop, the calm before the storm: the first Wallabies test is 6 days away. I don’t know about you guys and gals, but I love test season. The crew gathers at ‘Chateau Brisney’, everyone brings a main and a few bottles of red. Of late these have been rather dour affairs when Mrs. Brisney has suggested the guests leave early as I sit there inconsolable and mumble ‘farking’ quietly to myself. This year, I get the feeling that the tide will turn.So, let’s rip into some updates that occurred over…

Well, well, well, my G&GRs. What a splendiferous weekend of rugby. International test rugby is back. And that was on top of the Super Rugby Pacific 2024 grand final, and the Wallabies squad announcement. Too much rugby is never enough, boys and girls.Let’s start with the SRP24 grand final, dive into the international tests, have a bit of a root around in Joe’s team announcement, and then finish with some coaching shenanigans. So sit down in front of your ‘puter, grab a big cup of you know what ☕, and immerse yourself in the game we love the most.Super Rugby…

Happy Monday G&GRs. Well there are, predictably, no Aussie teams left in the Super Rugby Pacific Championships of 2024 after the Brumbies bowed out after an admirable performance. Leaving only two teams, the Chiefs and the Blues, to battle it out at the Big Dance.Let’s start off with the game by game, look at the timings for the grand final, and then wind up for my ‘Old Man Shouting At Clouds’. So log on to work, grab a big cup of you know what ☕ and let’s dive in.Super Rugby Pacific 2024 – Semi-finalsAuckland Blues 34 defeated ACT Brumbies 20The…

Happy Monday G&GRs. Another predictable round for results, but not the scores. For those that bet on results, that would’ve been harder to pick than a broken nose.I will do the traditional game by game, and then wind up for my ‘Old Man Shouting At Clouds’. So park your arse, grab a big kwofffeeeeee ☕and let’s dive in.Super Rugby Pacific 2024 – quarter finalsWaikato Chiefs 43 defeated Queensland Reds 21In what was one of the best examples of ‘shock and awe’ rugby I have seen in my life, the Waikato Chiefs came out of the gates in full afterburner and…

Happy Monday G&GRs, and wasn’t that a predictable round of rugby. The scores maybe not so, but the results, pretty much went as expected. The ladder has finalised, and we now excitedly await the first round of finals for SRP2024.Let’s get into the rugby. Some interesting machinations, cards and injuries came out of this round that may have a bearing on the finals. So let’s have a look at the final round, then a look at the SRP ladder, followed by ‘Old Man Shouting at Clouds’. Strap in, grab a big cup of the caffeinated stuff ☕and pull apart the…

Happy Monday G&GRs, and what an enjoyable weekend of rugby that was. Some brutal games, as well as some floggings. Alarming traits appearing in teams headed for the finals as well as some teams looking like they’re just warming up, which is scary.Let’s get into the rugby. It was an interesting round, with at least three of the games well worth watching the full replay. So let’s have a look at the penultimate round, then a look at the SRP ladder, followed by ‘Old Man Shouting at Clouds’. Sit yourself down at the office, grab a big cup of ‘kwofffeeeee’…

Happy Monday G&GRs, and what a fabulous Monday it is. The Waratahs are firmly ensconced on the bottom of the ladder and unable to make the finals. It is good for rugby. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Anyway enough of kicking the Tahs while they’re down, let’s get serious.With only two of the Australian teams getting up this weekend (and the Brumbies were bloody lucky just quietly between us G&GRs), things are starting to get tight, and the finals are inbound. So are the teams going for top-of-the-table positions to get a home final, or saving their boys and trying to be fresh to…

Happy Monday G&GRs, and most importantly, happy Mother’s Day to all the rugby mums out there. Without them, the game wouldn’t exist. The driving to and from the games, the oranges at half-time, the washing of the uniforms, the support from the sidelines. The least seen, but in my mind the most important part of the rugby community. To you ladies we take our hats off and acknowledge with wonderment your importance to the game.Let’s get into the rugby. And what a cracking round it was. Some top-of-the-table clashes, and some cellar dweller ding dongs, but all entertaining matches to…

Happy Monday G&GRs, and I must say I’m far happier now that we are back to the normal six games per week. The ladder moves normally, and you can track the team’s form without having to read into it whether the bye did or didn’t affect their form, etc etc.Let’s get into the rugby. This round produced some really good and some really bad results for the Aussie teams. Half were good and half were bad. And yes I know before Yowie corrects me we have 5 teams and that would mean 2.5 were good and 2.5 were bad. All…

Firstly on this ANZAC round, I would like to pay tribute to all those G&GRs and their family members past and present who have served. Having completed my 36th year of uniformed service, along with KARL (both of us at times having served together) we know the importance of rugby to serving soldiers, sailors, and airmen. And we know the sacrifice our predecessors have made so that we can live the life we do now. Lest We Forget!On to the rugby. Wow and Wow! This round produced some results that most of us didn’t see coming. But what is most…