Author: Dylan Langes

It’s been 10 years and 13 matches since the Wallabies last tasted defeat at the hands of the Welsh. Wales are coming off a strong win against Scotland but as former captain Sam Warburton said, the Wallabies are the team to beat this tour. A win for either team would make a strong statement a head of their pool match in a year’s time at the World Cup. The Match 2018 will go down as the year of broken records. The Irish got their first win in nearly 40 years on Australian soil, Los Puma’s won in Australia for the…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Pocock praising Naisarani, Shields tells NZ Rugby secrets, Beale bringing extra Budgy Smugglers, and the motivation for Fainga’a [one_half last=”no”] POOPER DEBATE TO CONTINUE David Pocock believes the “Pooper” debate will continue, with the growing talent around the Wallabies back row, in particular as the combination look to make it work for a second World Cup. But he is willing to leave that to Michael Cheika and his crew. “I love playing alongside Hoops but I don’t know [about the World Cup],” Pocock said. “That’s up to the coaches and what they think is going to…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Squads, Squads and more Squads, Aussie players join Kiwi teams, Hansen wants a 4-month break, and Australia is the team to beat. [one_half last=”no”] JUNIOR WALLABIES NAMED Junior Wallabies Head Coach, Jason Gilmore, named an 87-man extended training squad a head of the World U20s Championship in 2019. Players have been selected from the previous Australian Schools tri-nations series, the U19s Rugby Championship and their club seasons. Several of the members are linked to Super Rugby sides, or members of their development program. 11 players selected were apart of the 2018 U20s Championship squad, with a…

Thursdays Rugby News sees a slow news day with Folau putting pen to paper, new RFU schedule, a new peoples campaign and other rugby news. [one_half last=”no”] FOUR MORE FOR FOLAU Israel Folau has decided to continue his rugby career in Australia, after signing a four-year deal with the Wallabies and the NSW Waratahs, keeping him in Australia until 2022, just one year shy of the next Rugby World Cup in France. After a year of controversy, the rumours began to swell regarding Folau’s future, with reports of overseas offers, a potential return to Rugby League, and even a return…

Monday’s Rugby News sees Pocock claim Player of the year, NRC Finals results, Hodge out for the season, and Cheika has the Boards support. [one_half last=”no”] POCOCK WINS SECOND JOHN EALES MEDAL David Pocock joins George Smith, Israel Folau and Michael Hooper as players who have won multiple John Eales Medals after claiming his second on Friday night. Pocock had previously won the award in 2010 but 8 eight years, a sabbatical and two long stints in rehab appear to not have slowed the man down. Pocock received an unfavourable reception by taking a sabbatical in 2017, as he…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Bernard Foley recommits, NRC Rising Star Awards, Doing a Freddie, and Fiji and Wales name their squads. [one_half last=”no”] FOLEY RE-SIGNS Bernard Foley has put pen to paper and committed to Australian Rugby and NSW Waratahs for another year signing on until the end of 2019. Foley has played 64 tests for the Wallabies (making him eligible for the Giteau law) and is the fourth highest point scorer (593) in Wallabies history behind Matt Giteau(698), Matt Burke(878) and Michael Lynagh(911). Although only signing on for one-year, Foley hasn’t ruled out the chance of staying in Australia longer. “The…

Mondays Rugby News sees The final round of the NRC, Liam Gill wants to come home, Lukhan Tui extends his break and English and Clark commit. [one_half last=”no”] FINAL HOME AND AWAY NRC It has been a cracking season of NRC rugby with some entertaining, fast paced, high scoring and close matches in what was a highly competitive season. The final weekend was no different. It was a battle of the country teams when the NSW Country Eagles hosted Queensland Country in Tamworth. The match couldn’t have been closer at half time with scores level, but a second half…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Reinforcements for the Spring Tour, Cheika backs his selection process, Sam Cane expected to make a full recovery, and the potential end of the June Series. [one_half last=”no”] REINFORCEMENTS FOR THE SPRING TOUR The Wallabies will give injured players, Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani, every chance to prove their fitness ahead of selection for the Spring Tour next month. Neither of them are expected to line up for their respective NRC teams this weekend leaving them little chance to rack up some game time prior to the Wallabies trip to Japan to face the All Blacks.…

Thursdays Rugby News sees North Hampton honour Horne, the Beale experiment is over, NSW sign school boys andTom Banks ready to go again. [one_half last=”no”] ROB HORNE TESTIMONIAL It isn’t often that an Australian will receive a standing ovation at Twickenham, but as he delivers the match ball on Saturday for the match between North Hampton and Leicester, that is what will happen for former Wallaby Rob Horne. In the same fixture in last April, Horne was involved in a massive collision in the opening moments of the match that forced the 29 year old into early retirement. Horne…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Force open to an O’Connor return, Cheika keeping his playmakers, Bob Dwyer compares Premiership rugby to Super Rugby and Nick McArdle interviews Karmichael Hunt [one_half last=”no”] A FORCE RETURN FOR O’CONNOR A recent Instagram post from outcast Australian Rugby player James O’Connor indicated that the 28 year old former Wallaby wants to play in the 2019 World Cup. This is a hard task for someone without a Super Rugby contract or having not played 60 tests. ESPN are now reporting that the Western Force are prepared to offer the wayward player a road back to Australian Rugby.…

Thursdays Rugby News sees John Mitchell returns to England, Jake Gordon looks for a call up, Erasmus to lead the Baa Baa’s and data backs Folau. [one_half last=”no”] MITCHELL BACK IN ENGLAND The man Eddie Jones beat in the 2003 RWC semi final has signed on as his defence coach for the English National Team. Former All Black coach John Mitchell has taken charge of England’s defence after RFU paid £200,000 to the Blue Bulls in South Africa in compensation. Mitchell has been around English Rugby before, serving as the forwars coach under Clive Woodward in the late 90’s and…

Both the Eagles and the Rising were looking for their first win of 2018, after the Eagles lost to the Force and the Rising just missed out on a W against Queensland Country. What should be a big game for the Rising, as they don’t have the track record when on the road, having lost 7 straight away games and have only won one of their last 13 road games.  A late withdrawal for the Rising with second rower Trevor Hosea coming out, pushing captain Angus Cottrell into the 4 jumper, Rob Leota to 6 and Isi Nisarani to start…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Big names re-sign with Wallabies, Wright move for the Brumbies, Rugby Court Cases and more changes to the All Blacks [one_half last=”no”] WALLABIES LOCK DOWN SOME BIG NAMES Melbourne Rebels Flying Fijian Marika Koroibete and Queensland Reds man mountain Izack Rodda have re-signed with Rugby Australia and their clubs. Koroibete, the 26 year old ex Melbourne Storm player, has signed a one-year contractextension keeping him in line for a World Cup appearance. Michael Cheika recruited Koroibete from Rugby League with the intention of playing him at the World Cup in Japan, but with him out…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Caslick commits to Sevens, NRC Rising Stars, Wells splits his time and the All Blacks mix things up. [one_half last=”no”] CASLICK COMMITS Aussie Sevens star Charlotte Caslisk has signed a new deal with Rugby Australia that keeps her in the Sevens fold until 2020, the Tokyo Olympics. Caslisk, who won the Women’s Player of the Year in 2016, had been the target of many NRLW teams in recent months, but the lure of another Olympics and helping to grow Women’s Sevens was more than enough for the 23 year old. “The friendships I have created…

Thursdays Rugby News sees DHP rejecting fitness issues, QC opens up about being Māori, Wayne Barnes prepares for the end and a former Waratah joins the All Blacks squad. [one_half last=”no”] DHP REJECTS UNFIT CLAIMS The fall out of the lost Bledisloe continues with World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer being critical of the fitness levels of the Wallabies, questioning the players, not coach Michael Cheika. “I’m sure they’re not fit enough,” Dwyer comments in the SMH “In Sydney there were people walking with half an hour to go. You can’t really pin that on the Wallaby coaching…

Thursdays Rugby News sees the Vikings squad named, The All Blacks ready for round 2, DHP ready for the 15 jersey, and more criticism and support for Cheika. [one_half last=”no”] BRUMBIES HEADLINE VIKINGS The Canberra Vikings have named their 33 man squad a head of the 2018 NRC season with 18 of the squad being Brumbies players. Newly re-signed flanker Ben Hyde will step into the role of captain, replacing Tom Cusack. Cusack, along with Sam Carter and Luke McCaffery will miss this season after their heavy work loads playing for the Brumbies. Rory Arnold, Folau Faingaa and Tom Banks…

Thursdays Rugby News sees the All Blacks squad named, Hunt’s road of redemption, Injury woes for the Women’s and Folau staying at full back. [one_half last=”no”] ALL BLACKS SQUAD NAMED Steve Hansen has named his match day 23 for the opening Bledisloe cup on Saturday night with no real surprises but some big names return to the national squad. Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read both return from long injury runs that saw them miss the June series. Sam Whitelock is set to reach the 100 test milestone. Speaking on Whitelock, Hansen said “On behalf of the team, we want to…

Tuesday’s Rugby News sees Will Genia wants more Indigenous jersey, the All Blacks like doing the Haka, Danny Cipiriani wants to keep his place, and Liz Patu to captain the Wallaroos. [one_half last=”no”] CALLS FOR PERMANENT INDIGENOUS JERSEY Wallabies half back, Will Genia, has called for the Indigenous jersey to become the Australian jersey, to be worn during every test, in an effort to demonstrate Australia’s multi cultural society. The Wallabies wore the jersey for the first time last year, when the beat they All Blacks in Brisbane, with wide spread support coming for the Wallabies to wear it…

Thursdays Rugby News sees Samu Kerevi staying Red, The Rebels conduct a review, Women’s World Cup Bid and Jordan Petaia inspired by his roommate. [one_half last=”no”] SAMU STAYING PUT Reds fans can sleep a little easier with FOXSPORTS.com.au reporting that Kerevi is keen on signing a one-year extension with the Reds. Last week the Daily Telegraph reported that Kerevi was considering leaving the Reds and was in deep contract talks with the ACT Brumbies. Now it appears that he will be in Queensland for at least another year with Fox Sports sources claiming he is keen to repay the investment the Reds…

Tuesdays Rugby News sees the All Black squad named, Some big names back in training for the Wallabies, a Safety review for Schoolboy Rugby and Henry Speight on the move. [one_half last=”no”] LET THE MIND GAMES BEGIN Just after Cheika named his squad for the Rugby Championship, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has named his squad, with a few big names returning, a few rising stars and further proof the All Blacks have immense depth when the they can leave so much talent out. With the naming of the squad, Hanson has started with the mind games. “The selectors…