Author: Michael Mooney

Now that it’s the end of the regular season, and on the back of my last Wallaby Watch yesterday,  let’s have a look at what our potential Wallabies team looks like. Reminder that this team has some players slightly out of position as we’re taking into account the Cheika factor. This team will account for all performances across the season. [one_half last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio (Brumbies) A nice controlled game from Slipper. Made his tackles (8/8) and scrummed well.It is close between Sio and Slipper, but as Sio seems to be preferred at the Brumbies we will pick him for this…

Round 18 was the last of the regular season and it wasn’t a good one for some of our Australian teams. The Waratahs got spanked by the Highlanders, the Rebels did even worse against the Cheifs and the Brumbies put on a strong display to put away the Reds. Enjoy our last Super Rugby team of the week for the 2019 season! [one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio (Brumbies) It was a hundredth game to remember for Sio who was part of a strong scrum and got through 9 tackles. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) The Brumbies hooker has the put…

Round 17 of the Super Rugby brought us the Reds toppling the Blues, the Rebels being slaughtered by the Crusaders and the Brumbies with a controlling win over the Waratahs. Check out our team of the week. [one_third last=”no”] 1. James Slipper (Brumbies) A nice controlled game from Slipper. Made his tackles (8/8) and scrummed well. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) Big game with ball in hand. Ran 11 times for 53m and scored another try. [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Taniela Tupou (Reds) Has started to bring some fire into his play. Big hits and steaming runs this week and even…

Round 16 of the Super Rugby brought us three games featuring Australian teams.The Waratahs knocked off the Rebels in Melbourne, the Brumbies flogged the Sunwolves in Canberra and the Reds went down to the Jaguares in Brisbane. Check out our team of the week!. [one_third last=”no”] 1. James Slipper (Brumbies) The Brumbies dominated at scrum time and Slipper was a large contributer. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Connal McInerney (Brumbies) How can you look past a reserve that scores a hattrick? Did his job and steered the mauls well. Made 7/8 tackles in the 40 minutes he was on the park. [/one_third] [one_third…

Week 15 of Super Rugby brought us 4 different games featuring Australian teams. The Red’s went down to the Cheifs, the Brumbies toppled the Bulls, the Rebels trounced the Sunwolves and the Waratahs losts to the Jaguares.Check out our team of the week. [one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio (Brumbies) Once again a part of a strong Brumbies front row. Made 6 runs and a few nice passes. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Faingaa (Brumbies) The firm favourite for the Wallabies no.2 jersey he made 9 strong runs for 17m. [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies) Has become a bit of a fiery workhorse…

Week 14 of the Super Rugby saw the Rebels go down to the Bulls on Friday night and the Waratahs top the Reds on Saturday. Check out our team of the week. [one_third last=”no”] 1. Tom Robertson (Waratahs) Robertson made the most of his first start after returning from injury. He made the gain line repeatedly, putting the Waratahs on the front foot with his strong carries. He ended with 16m from his 8 runs and made a handy 6/6 tackles.[/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Alex Mafi (Reds) Was heavily involved this week. He made 12/12 tackles and was great with ball in hand,…

How close is this Australian Conference this year?  Surely the added competition within the conference can only mean a better Wallaby team as a result?  Let’s hope so. In the meantime, check out our top performers this week. [one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio (Brumbies) Was part of a dominate scrum and made all his tackles (7/7). [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) Lineout throwing was again good this week. Laid the platform for his backs with the maul and threw a great offload which ended in a long range try. [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies) Was an intergeral part in the…

Week 12 of the Super Rugby season saw the Reds scrape in against an ill-disciplined Sunwolves in Brisbane. The Rebels weren’t able to reel back the Hurricanes in Wellington. The Brumbies topped the Blues in Canberra and the Waratahs lost to the Bulls in Pretoria. [one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio (Brumbies) Onto the park early due to a head knock to Slipper, Sio played like he wanted his starting position back. 4 runs for 31m and 8 tackles to go along with a strong scrum performance. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) How can you look past a hattrick? Even if they…

Week 11 of the Super Rugby gives us the This or That portion of the tournament. With only 2 games featuring Australian teams we had the Waratahs go down to the Sharks at the new Bankwest Stadium and we had the Brumbies come up short against the Jaguars in Argentina. [one_third last=”no”] 1. Harry Johnson Holmes (Waratahs) Had a good showing this week. Made 12/12 tackles and even earnt a scrum penalty against the beast. His scrumming was a touch inconsistent though. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) A couple of mis-skewed throws did put a slight dampener on his performance…

Week 9 of the Super Rugby was Australia vs South Africa. The Rebels lost to the Stormers in Melbourne, the Brumbies got a win for Australia against the Lions in Canberra and the Reds were outclassed by the Bulls in Pretoria. Here is our team of the week. [one_third last=”no”] 1. Harry Hoopert (Reds) Getting his first start for the Red’s the young prop was busy and made a good impression. He made 12/13 tackles. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Alex Mafi (Reds) Doesn’t get a lot of attention playing but is consistently putting in good efforts for the sky blue. 13/13 lineouts,…

Week 9 of the Super Rugby was Australia vs South Africa. The Rebels lost to the Stormers in Melbourne, the Brumbies got a win for Australia against the Lions in Canberra and the Reds were outclassed by the Bulls in Pretoria. Here is our team of the week. [one_third last=”no”] 1. James Slipper (Brumbies) Coming off the bench he had another strong performance. He didn’t miss a tackle (5/5) and showed some good hands as a link player in the backline. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) Doesn’t get a lot of attention playing but is consistently putting in good efforts…

Week 8 of the Super Rugby this week. We had the Reds play a great game beating the Stormers in Queensland, the Brumbies fall apart in the second half against the Crusaders in Christchurch, the Waratahs lost by a couple of points to the Blues in Auckland and the Rebels outclassed the Sunwolves in Melbourne. Check out our team of the week on page 1 and our updated Wallabies team on page 2! [one_third last=”no”] 1. James Slipper (Brumbies) Another week where Slipper puts his name down for Wallaby contention. He is playing with intent and shows that in attack and…

This week we had the Waratahs go down against the Sunwolves and the Rebels put the Reds to the sword. Here is our team of the week [one_third last=”no”] 1. Jean-Pierre Smith (Reds) With all scrums reasonably even across the board this week, he held strong and made 8/8 tackles. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Anaru Rangi (Rebels) Was very good in the lineout again winning 13 with his throws. Made 6/7 tackles and 6 runs. [/one_third] [one_third last=”yes”] 3. Sekope Kepu (Waratahs) Quite a tidy game from Kepu. 8/8 tackles with 6 runs for 5m. Holding up in the scrum and looking better around…

Week 6 of the Super Rugby gave us the Tahs finishing the Crusaders unbelievable winning streak, the Rebels going down to the Sharks in South Africa and the Reds turning it on against the Brumbies. Check out our team of the week! [one_third last=”no”] 1. James Slipper (Brumbies) Another very impressive performance. Gave it to Tupou at scrum time and looks hungry around the park. Copped a punch to the back of the head which ended his night early. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Damien Fitzpatrick (Waratahs) After a bit of an off night last week at lineout, Fitzpatrick was back to his…

Round 5 brought us an interesting round of Super Rugby. The Brumbies pipped the Waratahs in a dire affair, the Reds snuck a win against the Sunwolves and the Rebels managed to throw a huge lead to lose to the Lions. Here is our team of the week! [one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio (Brumbies) Before going off at the 42 minute mark, Sio was having a good game. Managed to get through a lot of work with 9 tackles. Looked strong in the scrum. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) At this point in the season, he is on track to…

Round 4 of the Super Rugby gave us the Rebels getting the better of the Brumbies in Melbourne and the Waratahs taking the win against the Red’s at the SCG. Here is our team of the week. [one_third last=”no”] 1. Scott Sio (Brumbies) Was a part of a strong Brumbies front row. After a small slip up in the scrum early, Sio regathered himself and put in a decent showing. . [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) Another week, another try from the Brumbies hooker. Was extremely handy at lineout time winning 13/14 lineouts and handy around the park with 7…

Week 3 of the Super Rugby competition had the Brumbies being blown away by the Hurricanes, the Rebels with a good win against the Highlanders and the Reds being outclassed by the Crusaders. Check out our team of the week! [one_third last=”no”] 1. Tetera Faulkner (Rebels) The Rebels prop didn’t have the classiest game but made 4/4 tackles and was decent at scrum time. [/one_third] [one_third last=”no”] 2. Folau Fainga’a (Brumbies) Even with the Brumbies being put on the sword, Fainga’a managed to have a decent game. 8/8 tackles, 10 runs for 13m and 100% win ratio at the lineout with 13/13…

The second round of Super Rugby kicked off this week with the Reds going down in an inspired effort away to the Highlanders in Dunedin, the Waratahs scraping past against the Sunwolves and the Brumbies notching up a half century against the Chiefs. Here is my Wallaby Watch Team of the Week. [one_third last=”no”] 1. James Slipper (Brumbies) Second week on the trot where Slipper has proved a handy signing for the Brumbies. 7/7 tackles and 4 runs for 4 metres. Did give away a penalty at scrum time but the Brumbies pack won 9/9 scrums on their own feed. [/one_third]…

With news arising that Rugby Australia are set to announce the new third Wallaby selector in coming days (rumoured to be former dual international, and Aussie 7s coach, Michael O’Connor), I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring in the meantime.  As we’re coming up to a World Cup year, I’m going to use the Super Rugby form to pick with Wallabies “in form” starting 15.  Week by week I’ll be adjusting my team as if I was coaching the Wallabies. This is my team from week 1. [one_third last=”no”] 1. Harry Johnson-Holmes (Waratahs) After a strong week 1 with 10/10…