Author: Happyman

Welcome Comrades week two for me I will touch on the same subject that I looked at last week with the To Play or Not to Play. I will also touch on some generally good news with the Challenger series which was a great investment by the Reds last year and the LIONS.Remember guys this is a fan run site so if you want to contribute or have a topic you want us me to touch on reach out to happyman@rugbydownunder.com To Play or Not to Play – OpinionThe word on the street is that the returning under 20 players…

To Play or Not to Play – OpinionI was struck by this piece by Michael Atkinson Here regarding the Australian players lack of match fitness during the South African game.I have always had the opinion that the only way to become proficient at anything it to train and then implement the skill. INHO one of the biggest issues with Australian Rugby over the past 20 years has been the lack of rugby that the players play during the developmental years. Many of our best players do not actually play that much meaningful rugby in the important years between 14 and 18. Many Schoolboy…

Happyman on Thursdays.Many of us bemoan the ‘chocolate wheel of justice’ and what it means when a player commits an act of foul play and how the sanction is levied. The RA link is here for the full document it is excellent bedtime reading. The WR document is here. Here is a breakdown of the acts of foul play and the prescribed sanctions.Most fans issue is with the ‘good bloke’ defence. I would much prefer the sanctions to be lower with a simple definition of what a good record means there is no early guilty plea. I would also prefer if…

Happy Thursday, Comrades. This week the final’s upon us with the Crusaders (Double Dongers) playing the Chiefs for all of the chocolates. It should be a cracker.I’ll touch on a few topics this week and then am going to step away for a while as I have a few other things on my plate. As always ladies and gents this is a fan site so if you feel like you have something to say have a crack, I’ve certainly enjoyed it.Good Rugby Players Are Not Necessarily Great Athletes – OpinionGreat Piece From RugbyPassA very good coach that I know once said…

Happy Thursday, Comrades. This week we enter the finals with the game in a state of flux.Super Rugby 2023 is down to 4 with the two quarters featuring the Reds and the Canes as honourable losers; the Tahs and Drua got flogged. I must admit to some schadenfreude in watching our Kiwi brethren explaining how the Canes were hard done by. Congratulations Brad ThornLike many Reds fans I wanted to say a sincere thanks to Brad Thorn for his contribution to both Queensland and Australian Rugby. By any measure his playing and coaching career has been outstanding. Link To Wikipedia Here A…

Happy Thursday, comrades, this week we enter the finals with the game in a state of flux.The Reds, Drua and Tahs have a hill to climb. London Irish basically kicked out of the English comp which seems to be in crisis at the moment and the RWC on the horizon. Let’s get into it. Short one today as I am in transit.You Are What Your Record Says You Are.Quote from former NFL player and coach Herm Edwards. So to the boys from Moana Pacific, Rebels, Force and Highlanders you have much to work on. From the outside this is my…

Happy Thursday, comrades. This week with the help of our Tasmanian correspondent today’s news will be an eclectic mix of my musings and some news from the North. Enjoy the break this weekend mate, hopefully the Mayoress treats you well.What Does it Mean to be a FanDefinition from WebsterAlso another good one HereFan is generally–and very likely correctly–believed to be a shortened form of fanatic. The origin of fanatic (which can be traced back to the Latin word fanum, meaning “sanctuary, temple”) is less often commented on. In English, fan made an early appearance in the late 17th century only to disappear for two centuries, resurfacing in the late…

Happy Thursday everyone, Thursday lite this week as my paying job takes precedence.On an aside I liked Falou Faingaa’s chat, it was good gas and helps sell the game.Interesting that Will Skelton is getting MotM plaudits for his game against Ireland, oops, Leinster, on the weekend. Looks like one of Eddie’s three.Lets get it done.Eddie Jones, Steve Hansen confirm their Barbarians, World XV teamsThis will be a tasty game. Teams from Rugbypass, I don’t know if Stan are carrying it or not or where we can get it.Eddie Jones and Steve Hansen have named their respective Barbarians and World XV starting teams for this Sunday’s star-studded…

Happy Thursday everyone, I’m back after a week off.As a Queensland fan I did not see that coming. I was out at a function during the Reds game last week and even after I saw the result on the WhatsApp group I was still nervous watching the last two minutes. Now where has that been all year and can they back it up this week?The Disrespect – Blues to Leave Some Players Home for the Clash with the RedsFrom RugbypassThe Blues think they can get the job done without the assistance of four nearlies this weekend.Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back in the…

Happy Thursday, comrades. We’ve enjoyed our long weekend in the sunshine state and are now looking at the long haul until our next long weekend.Super Rugby, The Way ForwardAnother thought bubble from an old man shouting at clouds. This was a discussion point in the craparazzi whatsapp chat and I thought I’d bring it to light.Super Rugby is a great product, it’s fast paced entertaining but at the moment it’s predictable. The results are also predictable, in many cases the winner’s known before kick off. Super Rugby has been played 26 times with the Crusaders winning 11 titles. While this…

Happy Thursday, everyone. This week I’ll touch on a couple of different stories from around the world. I thought of one I did want to add to the ten things I like about rugby from last week: scrums, I just love scrums. Being a larger person I love the feeling of moving another large individual in the direction you want to against their will.Special mention this week to Nutta’s excellent piece on Tuesday Here. The best piece of the year that’s both uplifting and brings the waste of war to mind.Remember this is a fan run site and it is a…

Happy Thursday, after a couple of weeks of old guy shouting at clouds I’ve gone with a more positive spin this week.Remember this is a fan run site and it’s a big year ahead so if you have something you want to contribute, please feel free to reach out to sully@greenandgoldrugby.comTen Things I Love About RugbyI listen to the Good Bad and the Rugby Podcast and they had a show about the ten things they love about rugby. It got me thinking that everyone likes to moan about the game and its problems (and they certainly exist) but, for a moment,…

Happy Thursday, everyone, hope all is well. We’re starting to see where our teams are at.Remember this is a fan run site and it is a big year ahead so if you have something you want to contribute, please feel free to reach out to sully@greenandgoldrugby.comThe Reds: it’s Not Just a Coaching Issue OpinionI’m a rusted on Reds fan so this is a tough thing to say: we are a poorly run organisation.OK, so after the game against the Brumbies the knives are out for Brad Thorn. While it was a poor performance it was one we could all see coming…

Happy Thursday, everyone. I hope whichever deity you adhere to gives you joy over the long weekend. I’ll be enjoining my annual pilgrimage to a quintessential country riverside camping experience to recharge the batteries and do some bushwalking, and, in the most 2023 thing, will watch my beloved Reds on iPad in the bush. Let’s get into it.What Does Harry Wilson Have To Do?I understand from paying attention to English rugby over the past few years that Eddie likes to make up his own mind. The English game is littered with players he got, in had a look at, and discarded…

Happy Thursday, everyone. A quick one this week as that pesky work is interrupting my rugby. I personally am outraged, and something must be done. This is a 4:00am special so apologies for any mistakes. Lucky for the Reds as I had a rant in mind about how brain dead they are with discipline.Perhaps RA have done an excellent job over the past few yearsOne of the great things about being an Australian rsupporter is saying how atrocious the governance is. Well ladies and gentleman I give you the English and the Welsh game.News coming out about how both London…

Happy Thursday. Well the Six Nations is done and dusted and Super Rugby is hitting its stride Round one of the local Brisbane starts this week which is worth a look on STAN.With all the big news taken by Yowie yesterday I’ll take us off the beaten track in the search for the news today and leave the tipping to the Hossman on Friday.Remember this is a fan run site and it’s a big year ahead so if you have something you want to contribute, please feel free to reach out to sully@greenandgoldrugby.com Six Nations Review 2023From the BBCSix Nations StatsTher’re some good…

Happy Thursday, were you not entertained by last week’s smorgasbord of rugby on display?This week we’ll touch on the Six Nations and a couple of other minor issues.Queensland Reds captain Shannon Parry is eyeing off a return after getting through a nasty ankle injury during last year’s World Cup.Generally perfect ambassador for the sport Shannon Parry has some unfinished business. ‘I’d say this if you want the female players to be paid watch the games.From PravdaParry is hopeful to be right for their Super W opener against Melbourne Rebels on 25 March after undergoing surgery during the off-season. The Wallaroos skipper…

After a week dealing with some IT gremlins, I’m back. Another week where too much rugby is barely enough. Round 3 Super Rugby and game 4 of the Six Nations.Let’s hook into itOpinion – Australian Rugby Has Some Good Cattle Coming ThroughAll the Australian teams have a real opportunity to be good for the next few years and our limited funds need to be allocated accordingly. Let’s look at the number 10 situations post RWC. After putting up with Bernard (Spanners) Foley for the best part of a decade here are some of the cattle coming through in all of…

Welcome to your fix of rugby for a Thursday, it’s a bit of a quiet time of the year, let’s get into it. Seriously though, round one of Super Rugby together with Six Nations and club rugby trials, in the words of the immortal Roy and HG where too much rugby is barely enough.Taniela Tupou re-signs with Australian RugbyFrom RugbypassThis is both fantastic news for Australian rugby and an indictment on my Queensland Reds. I’m a fan (ie, short for fanatic) but the Reds complete lack of ability to retain players and refusal to deal with the major rugby sports (newSTAR…

Happy Thursday everyone, another week of preseason down and another week of the Six Nations; it has certainly started the year with a bang. The Irish v French was a game that lived up to the axiom that it’s the game played in heaven.My major bitch for the week is the QLD and Western Australia have been robbed of a Wallaby test this year. All we do is turn up and we actually win at our venues.Opinion – Tackle Height an Alternative ViewI have seen a great deal around the proposals for lowering the tackle height all over the world.…