Author: Happyman

Happy Thursday everyone. Bit of a quick one this week as unfortunately paid work intervened, and I had to get up early to complete the task. Apologies if my 4:00am ramblings make less sense than normal. Well, we used our get out of gaol card on the weekend and, to quote an English general after the end of the cold war, now for the real enemy the French. Seriously, I think we were the last team to beat them. New Zealand takes on Wales and the Fijians visit Murrayfield.Cleanout v Red Card – OpinionI discussed the Scottish cleanout on Tate McDermott and the Retallick…

Happy Thursday everyone. The northern tour awaits and many of us will be finding ourselves short of sleep over the next few weekends. Personally, I cannot wait.The Northern Tour Where the Rubber Meets the Road – DiscussSo people, this is where we’re at. The question is what do we expect from the northern tour. The men in orange have five games left in what has been a long season. Realistically, we’re ranked 9th now and while as a fan I can make the argument that we have been unlucky this year there is an axiom in sport that says you are…

Happy Thursday everyone. The northern tour awaits, and the English game is in disarray. I, for one, am looking forward to the sleepless nights ahead. Thanks to Charlie for pulling a double shift this week as KARL had some issues. As always guys and girls this is a fan site and if you want to make your voice heard we are only to happy to bring another into our band of fanatics.The Northern Tour, the Good the Bad and the UglyThe GoodVia the SMHMichael Hooper will return from his mental health break over the past 6 months. Firstly, I hope he’s…

Happy Thursday, everyone. I’m touching on the pitfalls of private equity, Australia A, The Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys and Nemani Nadolo. Let’s hook in.Rugbynomics and the Pitfalls of Private EquityThe state of the English game is a big warning to Australia about the pitfalls of private equity. While the big injection of capital can be alluring the devil is often in the detail. Private equity is after a return on investment on the equity that they put into any business and much like the corporate raiders of the 80s and 90s they rightly want a superior return to that of…

Happy Thursday everyone, I’m back after a week away enjoying the sun sand and surf. Let’s get into it with a few observations and some other malarky.Reds Development and Queensland President’s XV squads confirmed; law innovations announced for Queensland Rugby Challenger SeriesIf you’re chasing a rugby fix this weekend have a look at this game. It will either be a cracking game or a damp squid. If it isn’t on Stan I would expect it to be on the Reds Facebook live feed.From our friends at Reds Rugby.Made up of Brisbane club players and Reds Development players the plan is that…

Happy Thursday everyone, another big week in the world of rugby. If you have Stan I’d recommend the English Premiership there were some cracking games on up there this week. I’ll be taking a week off as I have some holidays. I will say this, nothing beats watching rugby on an iPad and drinking red wine at a campsite.Wallabies it’s the Hope That Kills You – Opinion Part 5At least we weren’t South African in our reaction, but we got close. Firstly I would like to acknowledge the performance of Bernard ‘Spanners’ Foley. I gladly enjoyed my large slice of humble…

Happy Thursday everyone. The dawn of a game day, my favourite day of the week. The Bled is upon us and hope springs eternal. Another big week in the world of rugby. If you have Stan I’d recommend the English Premiership, there were some cracking games on up there this week.Let’s get into itWallabies, it’s the Hope That Kills You – Opinion Part 4Well after tonight we’ll know something for sure. If Australia win it’s in Rennie we trust and we’re all back on the Kool-Aid. Lose and questions will be asked about the selections and the direction we’re taking…

Happy Thursday everyone Another long week in the world of rugby.Let’s get into itWallabies: it’s the Hope That Kills You – Opinion Part 3Well after the game against South Africa this last week here are some thoughts.We weren’t that bad. Yes were beaten by the South Africans and well played to them. We also didn’t roll over like in Argentina.Here are a couple of observations: the South African team isn’t actually that good at rugby. The answer to a loss is just to be more physical. If we can meet the physical challenge then they are very beatable as they don’t…

Happy Thursday everyone. well isn’t a week a long time in sports. We’re happy the Kiwis and Saffas are keeping the sharp implements away from the fanatics. My highlight was seeing Michael Cheika speaking Spanish at the press conference.Let’s get into it.Wallabies, it’s the Hope That Kills You – Opinion Part 2Well, after the game against South Africa this last week here are some thoughts.Firstly a quote from an NFL pod I listen to about performance. “Your character sets your floor and your ability sets your ceiling.”So we’ve seen the bipolar nature of the Wallaby performances over the last month. Now…

Happy Thursday everyone, big week with the Rugby Championship coming up so plenty to discuss. Our bipolar relationship with the Wallabies continues. Hopefully this week we are back to diamond not rocks.Wallabies, it’s the Hope That Kills You – OpinionWe’re a fickle bunch as Wallaby supporters, one week we ride the high and the next week we’re back to our better halves keeping the sharp implements locked away.I’ve been a massive Dave Rennie fan since his appointment, whether he wins or loses. Ever since Link (Ewen McKenzie) got knifed I felt like our coaching and backroom were at a distinct…

Happy Thursday everyone, it’s a bit of a hiatus this week being between tests and the Rugby Championship. Let’s tuck in.A Coach’s Behaviour and How it Impacts a Team’s BehaviourAa a discussion point I was thinking about how a coach’s demeanour affects the way a team plays and behaves. Generally coaches are strong characters and the message that they put out and how they behave during games infects the team for good or bad.Think of how the Wallabies behaved during the run of MC, a passionate man who has been known to damage the odd piece of furniture during a…

Happy Thursday everyone, big week with the Rugby Championship coming up so plenty to discuss. Thanks to everyone for their input into last week’s subject of transgender sport, it was thoughtful and respectful which is unusual on the Interwebs. For mine it was great to see the divergent views expressed in a considered way. Work has intervened in the more important things in life so it will be short and sharp this week.A Wallabies 15 of Injured and Overseas Based PlayersWord coming through that Hunter Paisami (Squatter) is unavailable through injury gave me pause as to how well we are doing…

Happy Thursday everyone, big week with the Rugby Championship coming up so plenty to discuss. Going to start off on a meaty subject and then go with some light and fluffy.Transgender Sport Fairness v Inclusion – OpinionMuch has been made of the exclusion of transgender women in sport over the past few months, so I’ve done a little research. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge my personal bias. I always fall on the side of inclusion but I’ll try my best to show both points of view.LGBTQI What does it meanLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), and intersex.So as…

Happy Thursday everyone, it’s a bit of a hiatus this week being between tests and the Rugby Championship. Let’s tuck in.Sevens men want respect at Commonwealth GamesOn a mission to be taken seriously, John Manenti says Commonwealth Games gold for Australia’s defunded men’s rugby sevens team would be a timely message to those doubting the program’s legitimacy.From PravdaThe coach has overseen a remarkable turnaround since he and Tim Walsh, now back in charge of the Australian women’s team, swapped roles in the wake of a medal-less Tokyo Games.The men’s program was also gutted of resources as part of Rugby Australia’s…

Happy Thursday everyone, short and sharp one this week after a great midweek night out and a 4:00am start for this piece. TV Deal and some of the other things going on – OpinionI listen to a lot of podcasts while driving around as the radio is boring so if you get the chance listen to the pod by the Rugby Pod with Big Jim. He had an interview with Marco Missotti owner of The Sharks in South Africa. He is a self-made man who loves rugby but has worked on quite a few sporting transactions including Chelsea, Milwaukee Bucks,…

Happy Thursday everyone, had a great catch up with a few of the G&GR boys at a bar on Friday, it was an enjoyable night talking rugby and putting faces to names. It was a bit like the joke a group of rugby supporters walked into a bar….. (I can’t remember what happened next.)Player WelfareIt is a tough balancing act how much rugby is too much. Our friends at Rugby Pass have published an interview with the English captain Courtney Lawes espousing the view that they are running on empty. The English season now runs from September to July. The reduced salary…

Happy Thursday people, this week I have sufficiently recovered from the spicy cough to return to work. So here is my usual Wednesday evening attempt.I was chatting to my son after the two tests on Saturday this weekend and he made the comment that “A great game of rugby is superior to jail rugby in every way”. It is hard to disagree after what was served up by the Nearlies, Paddies, Soap Dodgers and The Wallabies.Anyway it’s test week in God’s (if I believed in such things), the skies are clearing and I expect we will do the Poms over…

Comment away people.From a Queensland perspective Tate, and Wilson are big outs.AustraliaAngus BellDave PoreckiAlan Ala’alatoaCadeyrn NevilleDarcy SwainRob LeotaMichael HooperRob ValetiniNic WhiteQuade CooperMarika KoroibeteSamu KereviLen IkitauAndrew KellawayTom BanksFolou Fainga’aScott SioJames SlipperMatt PhilipPete SamuJake GordonNoah LolesioJordan PetaiaEngland TBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBATBAHappyman’s pick Australia by 12

Happy Thursday people, this week I have a little more time to put this drivel together as I have the spicy cough, aka the Wuhan wonder bug. Fortunately it has been a light cough and a great deal of lethargy.For those who like podcasts a quick recommendation “The Pitch” Episode 47 on Mike Tomlin coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers it is well worth the listen.England v Australia First Test PerthIt is interesting to hear some of my podcasts from England regarding this tour. Frankly the English think they are much better than us. They see it as a relatively easy…

Happy Thursday people, another great week of rugby with a hiatus between Super and the test matches. For those like me who love the club game I would encourage getting our and watching some grassroots over the weekend.A couple of great finals; the English Premiership was particularly enjoyable.The Games People PlayOne of my favourite quotes in sports is from a former ESPN annalist and former NFL lineman Mike Golic Senior. “The parts of sports that fans think is about the game is business and the parts that fans think is business is about sport.”Our new overlord Hamish McLennan is getting…