Author: The Disgruntled Victorian

Thursdays Rugby News sees Round 2 squads, The Battle of the Broadcast, Dane Zander’s debut and Eden Park to host World Cup final 2021. [one_half last=”no”]  ROUND TWO SQUADS Friday night sees another Aussie derby in Canberra when the Brumbies host the Melbourne Rebels. Brumbies coming off a strong win against the Queensland Reds had made just one change due to injury, with Darcy Swain ruled out due to injury. Former Rebel and Red Cadeyrn Neville will get his first start for the Brumbies, with Nick Frost in line for a debut off the bench. Noah Lolesio holds his starting…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Round Squads rolling in, Lealiifano backs Alaalatoa and Wigan Warrior announce the date of their new Pride round. [one_half last=”no”]  TAHS GO WITH YOUTH “They’re ready to go.”  In his first outing as the Head Coach of the Waratahs, Rob Penney has backed some of his younger players to take the next step as the Waratahs take on the Crusaders. Will Harrison will make his Super Rugby debut in the 10 jersey after two preseason matches there. Despite his lack of exposure, Penney believes that the former Wallabies U20s star is ready to step up.…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Salary Scandal in England, Review and Selection Panels and Samu extends his contract. [one_half last=”no”]  SARACENS SALARAY SCANDAL Embed from Getty Images English heavy weight club Saracens, have been docked 35 competition points and fined over £5 million (A$9.3 million)  for breaching the salary cap for several years. After a nine month investigation and five-day hearing, the independent panel concluded that Saracens had breached the £7 million a year salary cap. The statement from Premiership Rugby did not disclose by how much the club was in breach of the cap, but under the salary cap…

Thursdays Rugby News sees England fined, Sevens couple helping farmers, Hunt close to re-signing and Cape Town awarded 2022 Sevens World Cup [one_half last=”no”]  CROSS THE LINE GET A FINE Englands Rugby team have been fined for their V Formation during the Haka ahead of their win against the All Blacks, not for cultural insensitivity though, but for crossing the halfway line. To be clear they were not fined for forming the V, or even Owen Farrell winking at Aaron Smith, but for crossing the halfway line, which the World Rugby guidelines state that players must remain behind the halfway…

Thursdays Rugby News sees a very public spat between Cheika and Castle, A new career for Pocock, Cheika might have a new job and Phil Waugh defends RA Board. [one_half last=”no”]  CHEIKA VS CASTLE: THE PREQUEL It has come to light that a childish spat turned ugly between former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo could be the start of the sour relationship Cheika mentioned on his way out the door. The altercation took place four days before the Wallabies match against Wales, in front of a group of…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Big calls from Cheika, Samu making the most of the NRC, A new NRL recruit to the Brumbies and Sio ready to scrum for 80 minutes. [one_half last=”no”]  BIG SELECTIONS It what could likely be Michael Cheika’s final match as Wallabies head coach, it appears he has prepared to live out to the title of “mad man” with his selections against England. Christy Doran has reported on FOXSPORTS.com.au what is likely to be the Wallabies squad to face England with some big changes and some high risk calls. As they say you have to risk it to get the…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Nic White signs with ACT, Tall men getting low, Wales to top Pool D and VC wants more Technology.  [one_half last=”no”]  WHITES HOMECOMING After signing a contract with Rugby Australia to make him eligible to play for the Wallabies in the World Cup, Nic White has finally found himself a Super Rugby team 2021 season, The Brumbies. The deal signed with Rugby Australia allowed him to play for the Wallabies but must play out the remainder of his contract in 2020 with his English club Exeter.  After his contract concludes with Exeter though, he will…

Thursdays Rugby News sees The Wallabies side is in, A new coach for the Tahs, New signings at the Rebels, and a Foley supporter. [one_half last=”no”]  WALLABIES SQUAD IN  Another day another Wallabies side named. Michael Cheika has made sweeping changes to his starting XV, including 12 changes and a debutant. Allan Alaalatoa, Michael Hooper and Dane Haylett-Petty were the only players from the starting XV against Wales to retain their starting spots, with DHP being shifted to the wing in favour of Kurtley Beale at full back. It is another change to the halves pairing this week with…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Hodge Banned, World Rugby Apologies, HJH Re-Signed, and Pocock Reflects [one_half last=”no”]  HODGE BANNED Wallabies winger Reece Hodge will now miss the remainder of Australia Pool matches after he was hit with a three week ban for a high tackle on Fiji’s Peceli Yato. The hearing in Tokyo took four hours before the panel decided that Hodge was guilty of foul play. The Wallabies have 48 hours to appeal the decision but at the time of this article they have not expressed a plan to do so. Hodge was initially sanctioned for six weeks, but was…

Tuesdays Rugby News sees Koroibete being effective and ready to face his countrymen, Latham wants the Reds job, and the weather having an impact on the World Cup. [one_half last=”no”]  THE EFFECTIVE KOROIBETE Marika Koroibete has been one of the stand outs for the Wallabies this season, after taking his game to a new level as the Fijian born winger began to look at new ways to be “effective.” Michael Cheika has attributed the success to Koroibete having a better understanding of the XVs game, but wasn’t sure why the improvement was so drastic. It was a desire to be…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Captain Pocock, Pumas vs Randwick, TPN calls time and a Red heads south. [one_half last=”no”]  CAPTAIN POEY IS BACK! And Wallabies fans across Australia stood on their desks and declared “Oh Captain my Captain.” The news finally broke of the return to test Rugby of David Pocock, who, in place of Michael Hooper, will wear the captains band as the Wallabies take on Samoa on Saturday. Pocock is one of a number of experienced players taking the field on Saturday, with the centurions Adam Ashley-Cooper, Will Genia and Sekope Kepu all starting. The idea of the…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Another Cheika Fit Camp, Petaia injured again, All Blacks RWC Squad and New signings at the Rebels. [one_half last=”no”]  A VERY CHEIKA FIT CAMP If Michael Cheika fails to pick up a coaching contract next year, he appears to have enough of a test reel to kick start his own version of The Biggest Loser as photos began to emerge of the Wallabies training camp in Noumea. The Wallabies moved operations to Noumea to get away from external pressures, to acclimatise themselves to Japanese weather, and run stairs with weights. Wallabies loose forward Jack Dempsey gave FOXSPORTS…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Justin Harrison named RUPA CEO, Beale gives an honest reflection, Alex Mafi re-signs, and gender neutral World Cups. [one_half last=”no”]  FROM PRESIDENT TO CEO Embed from Getty Images Former Australian Lock and current Classic Wallabies boss Justin Harrison has been named as the new Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) CEO. Harrison replaces Prataal Raj who held the position for eight months. Harrison had been the previous front runner for the role of CEO before Raj took the job, pushing Harrison to take the role of Classic Wallabies manager. It was in that position that Harrison has pushed for…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Holloway re-signs, Four More Years for Gregan, No Pocock, and Force captain returns. [one_half last=”no”]  HOLLOWAY LOCKED AWAY NSW forward Jed Holloway is the latest player to commit to staying with the Waratahs after signing as new two year contract. Previously there had been a few rumours floating around that Holloway might head down south to the Brumbies, but those rumours have been put to bed after Jed committed to his home town. The 26 year old notched up his 50th cap for NSW  in 2019, where the traditional No. 8 spent most of his time in…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Matera a Waratah?, Dad Bod Marika, Randwick to host the Pumas, and the All Blacks and South African squads named. [one_half last=”no”]  MATERA WANTS TO BE A WARATAH Embed from Getty Images Once again not a Betoota Advocate article. Someone with no chance of playing with the Wallabies has said they want to play for the NSW Waratahs. Or so his coach believes. Former Wallabies scrum doctor and current maestro of Argentina rugby Super Mario Ledesma has come out saying Pablo Matera would love to play for the Waratahs due to his love of Sydney and even…

Fridays Rugby News sees the first squads named, A surprised call up and McCaw backs the Wallabies. [one_half last=”no”]  WALLABIES SQUAD IS IN The speculation is over and we have our first Wallabies squad. Rebels Back Rower Isi Naisarani is set to become Wallaby No. 926 after being named to start at No.8. Born in Fiji, Naisarani became eligible to play for the Wallabies in April this year, but has had the eye of the Wallabies coaches for quite some time, even going as a development player on the Spring Tour.  Waratahs prop Harry Johnson-Holmes has bee the surprise…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Robertson optimistic, Wallaroos ready for Japan, Vale James Small and Matt Gibbon staying in Melbourne. [one_half last=”no”]  THE OPTIMISTIC KIWI Embed from Getty Images If Australia had a coach with a winning record the same as Scott Robertson, he wouldn’t need to be offered the job as Wallabies head coach. He would just turn up Chuck Norris style, stare at the now previous coach until he left and wait for a small truckload of money.  But in New Zealand they do things a little differently it would seem. Something called an interview process The three time premiership…

Thursdays Rugby News sees a Familiar face in Wallabies camp, Jaguares believe they can win, The fine print in JOCs contract and Liam Squire turned down an All Blacks jersey. [one_half last=”no”]  FAMILIAR FACE IN CAMP Former Wallabies captain turned commentator George Gregan has been seen around Wallaby camp this week after being invited down by Michael Cheika to impart some of wisdom on the halves. “It’s been a pleasure working with the players, the extended squad, minus obviously the Brumbies who played in the semi-final of Super Rugby but Michael (Cheika) asked me to see if i could come in. “I had…

Thursdays Rugby News sees White reaches out to Wessels, Junior Wallabies through to the semis, Rebels back themselves, Tahs rest Wallabies. [one_half last=”no”]  WHITE OFFERS WESSELS WISDOM Melbourne Rebels have received some support by the way of a World Cup winning coach ahead of their do or die clash against the Chiefs. Jake White, the man who coached South Africa to their World Cup win in 2007 reached out to fellow expat and Rebels head coach Dave Wessels. White, who also coached the Brumbies and was rumoured for the Wallabies job, called Wessels to offer him support, guidance and advice…

Tuesday’s Rugby News sees Phipps takes a shot at Folau, Waratahs finally rest players, Dan Carter: The movie and Retallick back for the Chiefs. [one_half last=”no”]  PHIPPS BLAMES FOLAU  With his foot out the door, departing Waratahs scrumhalf Nick Phipps has taken the chance to have a shot at former team mate Israel Folau, calling him out as a factor the Waratahs missed the finals. Saturday night was Phipps’ last home game in New South Wales, along with Sekope Kepu and Curtis Rona, all who will depart for the London Irish. Like all good adults though, Phipps isn’t angry with Folau, he’s just…