Author: Hoss

Monday, September 18: England v Japan, Stade de Nice, Nice (5:00 AM)England (15-1): Freddie Steward; Jonny May, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Lewis Ludlam, Ben Earl, Courtney Lawes (capt); Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe MarlerReplacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Martin, Billy Vunipola, Ben Youngs, Marcus Smith, Ollie LawrenceJapan (15-1): Semisi Masirewa; Kotaro Matsushima, Tomoki Osada, Ryoto Nakamura, Jone Naikabula; Rikiya Matsuda, Yutaka Nagare; Kazuki Himeno (capt), Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch; Amato Fakatava, Jack Cornelsen; Jiwon Gu, Shota Horie, Keita InagakiReplacements: Atsushi Sakate, Craig Millar, Asaeli Ai Valu, Warner Dearns, Kanji Shimokawa,…

Sunday, September 17: Ireland v Tonga, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes (5:00 AM AEST)Ireland (15-1): Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Robbie Henshaw.Tonga (15-1): Charles Piutau; Afusipa Taumoepeau, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Solomone Kata; William Havili, Augustine Pulu; Vaea Fifita; Sione Talitui, Tanginoa Halaifonua; Halaleva Fifita, Sam Lousi; Ben Tameifuna (capt), Paula Ngauamo, Siegfried Fisi’ihoiReplacements: Sam Moli, Tau Koloamatangi, Sosefo Apikotoa, Semisi Paea,…

Welcome to another Friday, Gaggers, and what a week it was! We had great games, terrific skills, incredible fitness, wonderful sportsmanship, controversies, disappointments, injuries & suspensions. Week #2 certainly has a lot to live up to, so let’s hook in.We kick off today with ‘Pain in the Grass?’. Preview the Wallaby v The Flying Fijians in ‘Depends Who’s Driving!’. Dive into all other week #2 matches with ‘Deuxième Round’. Ponder an interesting perspective in ‘Oh Lord It’s Hard To Be Humble’. Hide your lunch boxes for ‘Born When Meat Was Cheap’. And wrap up another epic RWC week with ‘Friday’s…

Monday, September 11: Wales v Fiji, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux (5:00 AM) STAN sport.Wales (15-1): Liam Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies, Taulupe Daletau, Jac Morgan (c), Aaron Wainwright, Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Tomas Francis, Ryan Elias, Gareth ThomasReplacements: Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer.Fiji (15-1): Ilaisa Droasese; Selesitino Ravutaumada, Waisea Nayacalevu (capt), Semi Radradra, Vinaya Habosi; Teti Tela, Frank Lomani; Viliame Mata; Lekima Tagitagivalu, Albert Tuisue; Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Isoa Nasilasila; Luke Tagi, Samuel Matavesi, Eroni MawiReplacements: Tevita Ikanivere, Peni Ravai, Mesake Doge, Temo Mayanavanua, Levani…

Monday, September 11: South Africa v Scotland, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille (1:45 AM) STAN Sport.South Africa (15-1): Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Manie Libbok, Faf de Klerk, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff.Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen, Grant Williams, Willie le Roux.Scotland (15-1): Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge, Jamie Ritchie (capt); Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray; Zander Fagerson, George Turner, Pierre SchoemanReplacements: Dave…

We’ll open the comments section for some of the key matches of the RWC for those keen to participate.Enjoy & go you Wallabies!WALLABIES (15-1): Ben Donaldson; Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete; Carter Gordon, Tate McDermott; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper; Will Skelton, Richie Arnold; Taniela Tupou, David Porecki, Angus BellReplacements: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Zane Nonggorr, Matt Philip, Rob Leota, Langi Gleeson, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Ben DonaldsonGeorgia (15-1): Davit Niniashvili, Akaki Tabutsadze, Demur Tapladze, Merab Sharikadze (capt), Mirian Modebadze, Luka Matkava, Vaso Lobzhanidze, Beka Gorgadze, Luka Ivanishvili, Tornike Jalaghonia, Kote Mikautadze, Nodar Cheishvili, Guram Papidze, Shalva Mamukashvili, Nika Abuladze.Replacements: Tengizi Zamtaradze, Guram…

Well Gaggers, like my GP constantly tells me: ‘your wait is over’.That’s right, after four years, two coaches, 16 CEOs, 3 GMs, COVID, Super Rugby Oz, SRP, loving NZR, hating NZR, winning hosting rights to our own world cups and a partridge in a pear tree, finally we are just one sleep away from the greatest sporting spectacle of the year. The 2023 Rugby World Cup.Today let’s have a closer look at three matches across the weekend. Starting with ‘NZ Hates France’. Preview our Wallabies first up match with ‘Those Grizzly Georgians’. Stoke the flickering embers of bitterness in ‘Remember…

Now where was I before I rudely interrupted myself? Oh yes, hello and welcome to Friday’s Rugby News on whatever site I am on this week (is ‘The Roar’ for sale?). Today let’s slip the straight jacket back on with ‘Sympathy for The Devils’. Look at the Wallabies first up game in ‘Georgia On My Mind’. Try not to gloat in ‘The Kiwis are Stuffed’. Then I invite to to exercise your upcoming votes thoughtfully in ‘You’re The Voice’. And wrap up the news week with ‘Friday’s Goss with Hoss’ now officially with more credibility than QANTAS!Sympathy For The Devils?Not…

Greetings Rudders & welcome to the one after the penultimate Friday’s Rugby News on rugbydownunder.com. From Monday next week you will find the RDU team & some exciting new writers on Green & Gold Rugby. Never fear, should you type RDU into your search engine, our resident basement dweller, porn addict, Dorito bandit & IT extraordinaire promised us you will land at G&GR or a site with some interesting goat ‘wrestling’ techniques, so best not open at work.Now to Rugby. I don’t know if it’s quite ‘Hoss off the long run’ today as Happyman likes to close his usual Thursday…

Welcome to the holiest day on the Rugby calendar peoples.Time to set aside petty, trivial matters, like paid employment, childcare, or running of the nation and any of the drudgery of your day-to-day life and dive into what makes life truly bearable: Rugby!Today we first look at ‘balance’ and start off with ‘Guilty Until Proven Guiltier’. Ask ‘is it me you’re looking for’ in ‘Hello?’ Look for hidden meanings with ‘A Sign?’ Partake in the first ever, exclusive rugbydownunder.com interview in’He’s ‘Armless’. And finish with a whimper in ‘Friday’s Goss’ with Hoss’, the most trusted Goss with any Hoss on…

Thanks to RA for the Thursday night announcement to capitalise on Australia’s best* Friday Rugby News coverage (* based on Gallop poll of one Hunter based resident).There’s no bigger news to kick off Friday than with our RWC squad announcement with ‘Holy Grail Part 1: The Search’. Take a respectful look at what should be our one national sporting chant in: ‘Holy Grail Part II: Shut-up Stupid’. Scour the Rugby cosmos for opinion & comment on our squad in ‘Holy Grail Part III: Who said what?’ And wrap up a fantastic week of Rugby excitement with ‘Friday’s Goss with Hoss’.…

Hello one and all and welcome to another Friday’s Rugby News on Green & rugbydownunder.com home for all your half-true rugby stuff on a Friday.Today we are ‘pre-Bledisloe’ again so let’s all inhale and dive into the aftermath of Bledisloe #1 with ‘Patience’. Dust ourselves off and look at our chances in ‘Dead Rubber Is It? Then prove once & for all that size really matters in ‘That’s not a Boomerang’. RDU issues an unreserved apology in ‘Unreserved Apology’. And we wrap it all up with ‘Friday’s Goss with Hoss’, now really enjoying the excellent quality, craftsmanship and at only…

As if Friday’s Rugby News on rugbydownunder.com aren’t special in their own right! But the day before a Bledisloe and another Melbourne Bledisloe at that has got to be special, don’t it, you can almost taste the excitement! First up today let’s kick off the weekend buzz with ‘The Hope That Kills You’. Witness history and the probable end of ‘The Governors Curse’. Have some fun at Kiwi’s expense in ‘And Another Thing’. Put a price tag on your sole in ‘R.M.R.U.O.K?’ And take it all home with ‘Fridays Goss with Hoss’ now no chance of any free kit from…

Welcome one, welcome all to another Fridays Rugby News on rugbydownunder.com, the highest rating rugby fan site called rugbydownunder.com in Australia. Kudos to rugby bodies for taking the week off to let the lesser known codes like Women’s Football World Cup, The 4th Ashes test & some royal & ancient Scottish game called ‘whack-fudge’ have their moment in the sun.No rugby this week? No worries, today lets snuggle up with Fraser Mac on the couch with ‘Be a Goldfish’. Drink the Cool-Aid in ‘Cadbury Favourites’. Lock the doors of the car as we cross the northern border for ‘Kiss &…

Greetings from the invigorating and soul cleansing air of the Blue Mountains. Home to artisans, writers of skill, insight, wisdom and me for a few days as well. Today we are bulging with Rugby News, so let’s hook in.Let’s cast off the yolk of despair from last weeks shite-show in Saffaville and instead look for signs of life with ‘Mr Jones & Me’. Preview this weekends test against the Argies in ‘No Prize for you Argentina!’ . Cast our eyes east, across the dutch and the upcoming NZ v SA match with ‘When Two Tribes’. Look at our Wallaroos chances…

Greetings one, greetings all and welcome to Friday’s Rugby Odhossy on rugbydownunder.com. A site that caters for the obnoxious, crass, sporting bogan in us all: kinda like MCC memberships dontcha think?Today as the Wallabies Rugby Championship season is about to kick off, let’s all take knee and seek guidance from above, or below, with ‘The Forwards Prayer’. Look at selection methodology of The Catholics with ‘R-E-S-T-E-Z-E’. Look at the teams, tactics & fearless predictions in ‘Like Donkey Kong’. Check out our Wallaroos as they prepare for game two of the Pacific 4 in ‘Brawn in the USA’. And wrap it…

Eddie Jones first Wallaby squad is out. What do you think?1. James Slipper (c) (127 Tests)2. David Porecki (10 Tests)3. Allan Alaalatoa (64 Tests)4. Nick Frost (9 Tests)5. Will Skelton (24 Tests)6. Tom Hooper*7. Michael Hooper (124 Tests)8. Rob Valetini (30 Tests)9. Nic White (59 Tests)10. Quade Cooper (76 Tests)11. Marika Koroibete (51 Tests)12. Reece Hodge (62 Tests)13. Len Ikitau (26 Tests)14. Suliasi Vunivalu (1 Test)15. Tom Wright (23 Tests)Finishers16. Jordan Uelese (15 Tests)17. Matt Gibbon (5 Tests)18. Zane Nonggorr*19. Richie Arnold*20. Pete Samu (32 Tests)21. Tate McDermott (21 Tests)22. Samu Kerevi (41 Tests)23. Carter Gordon*

Today I am a poor man’s Nutta & step in to fill the masters shoes.Read on for what’s new, what’s old, what’s happening and what may not actually be remotely true.7A’s A-OKNews from everybody’s favourite cadet journo, the one, the only, Nathan Williamson of rugby.com.au fame that Mr 7A’s Allan Alaalatoa could be a likely starter for this weekends test against The Cathoilcs in the per capita crime capital of the world, Jo’Burg this Sunday morning 1.05am AEST.7A’s also reports with some enthusiasm that Taniela ‘The Abattoir’ Tupou & Angus ‘The Bull’ Bell are displaying some vim & vigor on…

What is it that two Wallabies coaches don’t like about ‘Dirty’ Harry Wilson? First it was former coach & Kiwi resident, Dwight Renby, who continually snubbed Big H & now our very own Eddie ‘Brian’ (‘I’m not the messiah) Jones has also cast him aside to ‘training squad status’Apart from the fact Dirty Harry is a NSW born & bred player who chooses to play for the Queensland Peoples Republic of Queensland or QPRQ, something I will never understand, he’s surely big enough, skilled enough, fit enough, aggressive enough, willing enough and by my reckoning if that aint enough already,…

Thu, 29 Jun 6:30pm Kick off 7:00pm AEST on STAN SportsOur Wallaroos side kicks off their Pacific 4 campaign tonight against a familiar foe when they face the Black Ferns at Kayo Stadium in Brisbane.Now I know we can all probably agree that ‘yes’ New Zealand Rugby sides are generally fair-to-middling when it comes to consistent delivery of top notch rugby. There’s that side down the arse end of The Poxy Isles that wins a few trophies in Super Rugby. Their national side that are Nearly All in Black, ‘the Nearlies’, also go ok (more so when Nigel Owens would…