Author: Roscoe Tims

Scott Higginbottom, Anthony Faingaa, Rob Simmons and Ben McCalman are the winners in the Wallabies Tri-Nation’s squad announced today. The losers (so far) were Drew Mitchell, Lachie Turner, Josh Valentine, Pek Cowan, Laurie Weeks and Huia Edmonds who have all been dropped. Some would say that Mark Chisholm and Richard Brown, who both under performed during the June tests, had the luck of the Irish and retained their spots although I wonder whether that was more about who was actually available to replace them? Experienced front rowers Stephen Moore and Benn Robinson return to the Australian squad, and not before time. Diggers, Sharpie and Hynsie have also overcome their injury woes and are back – Diggers probably a few…

When eight of our 12 first choice Wallaby test forwards have been struck down by injury the portents for an annus horribilis are surely mounting. And with a fair number of second tier past and potentional internationals also banged up it leaves our meagre playing resources looking a little threadbare.   But we can relax because the good news (if that’s what you can call it) is that in today’s professional era our opponents are essentially in the same boat. With all this recent carnage the question arises: Are rugby injuries becoming more prevalent today than they used to be? The answer to that is a resounding yes.

NEW ZEALAND: A successful return to All Black rugby by Liam Messam and Corey Flynn via the recent NZ Maori series is a highlight of the Tri-Nations squad announced today. Messam, the NZ Maori captain, was an inspiring leader and back to his physical best in the wins against the BaaBaas, Ireland and England. He displaces Adam Thomson in the squad at blindside flanker.  Corey Flynn is another who’s been missing from the All Blacks for some years, primarily due to serious injury. He’s in at the expense of Aled de Malmanche, a player who has realistically always been regarded as a bench warmer.    …

A depleted Wallabies side struggled to defeat an under strength Irish team but in reality, apart from a bit of progress in the scrums, we’re in dire straits come Tri-Nations time. Brothers-in-arms they may be but money for nothing and chicks for free (not forgeting the omnipresent hair gel) will sustain the Wallabies in this forthcoming campaign. Mark Ella was right; we’re soft. Essentially, at this stage of the season we look nothing like a winnable combination against a resurgent All Blacks and consolidating Springboks.

James Joyce once said that a man’s errors are his portals of discovery. That’s what the Wallabies are finding lately as they attempt to overcome a lack of depth and experience in their test squad. They’re not alone on this journey as their Irish opponents this weekend are in a similar situation and equally adept at stumbling: to date – played three, lost three. This is probably no surprise given that they’re without experienced internationals Fitzgerald, Flannery, O’Connell, Ferris, Heaslip, Leamy, Rory Best, Cullen, Earls and Gordon Darcy and David Wallace recently out due to injury and unavailability. Some would say…

All Blacks 42 Wales 9 That old saying goes ‘you can’t win matches if you don’t have the pill’. This was one of those games where a 62% v 38% possession split bolsters that argument. The scoreline didn’t lie but for at least the first half and somewhat beyond, the Welsh were competitive and looked like they’d make a real go of it. Their tactical kicking via Stephen Jones was astute and accurate, and with ball in hand their tight forwards proved to be a handful.

Martin Johnson was not a happy Marmite after last weekend’s test match against the Wallabies and rightly so. England had plenty of possession and territory but were bereft of ideas in an attacking sense. They would probably have described themselves as shite. Apart from their scrummaging that is. Demolishing a less than international class Wallaby front row was mill for the grist for these geezers and somewhat ‘back to the future’ for us. The English press described our blokes as “feeble, weak and callow”. Former international Brian Moore said “England obliterated an Australian front row that would have been outgunned in…

All Blacks 66 Ireland 28 Video killed the radio star but in rugbyland ill-discipline killed off any opportunity Ireland might have had of competing against the mighty All Blacks in Hicksville, NZ last night. A brain-snap by No. 8 Jamie Heaslip in the 15th minute, when he did a knees-up on Richie McCaw’s scone, resulted in his banishment and cruelled any hope of Ireland’s Call. Heaslip, the son of a retired Brigadier-General in the Irish Army (so he should know something about discipline), has been subsequently banned for five weeks and won’t feature against the Wallabies in a fortnight. A…

In the past 20 years England have played the Wallabies seven times in Australia and won only twice, both in 2003 and of course one of those achieved rugby supremacy at the RWC. History is against our kith and kin from ‘Ye Olde Dart’ this Saturday in Perthampton-on-Sea; however, I believe on this occasion they’ll be presented with their best opportunity in years. For the Wallabies, I’m afraid it could be back to the dark old days of front row infamy. Here we go, here we go, here we go….into the turf. The England rosbifs of Tim Payne (loosehead), Steve…

Brendon Cannon has come in for a bucket of criticism lately for his off-the-wall comments on Timana Tahu and the Melbourne Rebels but I agree with all of them. Don’t you just get sick of the same old hacks soft-focussing around subjects, too scared to tell it how it is (not withstanding the defamation laws that is). Canno went straight for the throat like a good former front rower should. Ken of Kensington be afraid, be very afraid.

Thursday, 3 June: Fiji test team named: 15. Dan Rawaqa, 14. Jim Nagusa, 13. Saula Radidi, 12. Rupeni Caucaunibuca, 11. Sireli Bobo, 10. Waisea Luveniyali, 9. Emosi Vucago, 8. Jone Qovu, 7. Jim Nakaidawa, 6. Anthony Wise, 5. Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 4. Seko Kalou, 3. Deacon Manu, 2. Talemaitoga Tuapati, 1. Campese Ma’afu. Reserves: Vili Veikoso, Graham Dewes, Rupeni Nasiga, Samu Bola, Vitori Buatava, Ropate Ratu, Nemani Nadolo. I just wonder whether there’ll be more than one team actually playing in the test match in Canberra this Saturday, apparently it features our beloved Wallabies?

The All Black squad to play the Irish and Welsh touring sides named today contains four new players but few real surprises. You wouldn’t describe any of the newcomers as ‘bolters’, as the four new caps have been speculated upon at length by the Kiwi media (well, what else is there to do over there?). The new boys are young Aaron Cruden from the Hurricanes, Israel Dagg (Highlanders), Benson Stanley (Blues) and Victor Vito (Hurricanes). A plethora of injuries have opened up opportunities for these guys; however, at least three of them wouldn’t be there if everyone had been on…

The Waugh is finally over. Despite Robbie’s encouraging words his time at the top looks like coming to an end. At best he’s rated 3rd or 4th openside flanker behind Dave Pocock, Matt Hodgson, perhaps Richard Brown and probably George Smith if he hadn’t retired. This is a shame because at his peak Waughy was tough as teak – a combative, focussed and single minded leader of men.

Each week the Green and Gold Rugby Super 14 match reviewers rated the players from the four Australian franchises against a ‘Wallaby Watch’ criteria. You’d have noticed that at the foot of the match reviews we discussed and rated players thus: (1) Put his hand up (2) Did himself no favours and (3) Bolter watch. The results of those ratings have now been compiled and the winner is….well, there’s more than one….there’s four….or is that 12! Four winners, four losers and four bolters.

The Irish touring side was named yesterday to play the All Blacks and Maori in NZ and the Wallabies in Brisbane next month (26 June). A warm-up game against the Barbarians is scheduled in Ireland prior to departure. It’s a very experienced 33 man side mixed with a few young guns who’ll feature against the Baa Baas and the Maori. The average age of the Wallabies 22 late last year was around 24 compared to the Irish which is conservatively about 28. Five of the test forwards are 30 or older – John Hayes 36, Jerry Flannery 31, Marcus Horan…

Sharks 27 Western Force 22 I’ve banged on a bit about Matt Hodgson being the backbone of the Force’s efforts this year but in the face of adversity you cannot fault the commitment, workrate and leadership of Captain Nathan Sharpe. Hodgo was consistently outstanding at openside when he took over from Bam Pocock due to injury and continues to impress in his other loose forward roles. However, Sharpie has been a colossus in a modest team that got off to the worst possible start in the Super 14.

Martin Johnson has named a 44 man squad to tour Australia and New Zealand next month. The tour includes two matches against the Australian Barbarians and two tests v the Wallabies – 12 June Perth and 19 June Sydney. This is the strongest England touring side for many years and will provide a stern challenge to an improving Wallaby side. There are nine new caps in his squad and a number of players missing due to injury. Two key members of the engine room who won’t be touring including usual captain Steve Borthwick and Leicester lock Louis Deacon (both injured).…

Oh yee (I mean you and me) of little faith. Here we were five or six weeks ago bemoaning the lack of form from some of our regular Wallaby stars. In fact, we (yes, I mean you and me again) were saying Rocky, Gits, Berrick and Phil were going to be supplanted by the new breed of Higgo, QC, A Faingaa and Matt Hodgson. In some cases that could still be the go; however, as the Super 14 reaches a crescendo and the international season dawns the words of Mark Twain resonate: “the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

Cheetahs 29 Western Force 14 The Cheetah’s Bjorn Basson scored a brace of tries as the Force bumbled their way to a defeat in Bloemfontein last night. They looked every bit a bottom of the table team with their lack of ball security a major issue as they succumbed to Cheetah’s pressure. Every one of the Cheetah’s four tries was caused by either a Force mistake or poor execution with a subsequent turnover. Unfortunately one of the main offenders was Force debutant Justin Turner.

The Western Force will have to go a hunting this weekend to kill off the Cheetahs newly acquired taste for big game. The Cheetahs did over a less than focussed Auckland Blues side last weekend and will be licking their lips at the prospect of some more easy meat. They’ve only won three games this year but they were against allegedly superior sides including the Hurricanes and Sharks, and a surprise draw against the Chiefs. The Force will need to play downwind of their prey and stalk them until they’re within striking range to ensure a clean hit. To do…