Author: Nick Hartman

Monday’s Rugby News has Cheika’s thoughts on the game, the results from the National Sevens, foreign coaches saying whacky things and all the results from the weekend’s play! [one_half last=”no”] Game Good, Scrum Bad Michael Cheika’s happy about everything except for the scrum, after yesterday’s frog stomp. The Wallabies lost all ten scrums, including three of their own. “We definitely were beaten in the scrum area,” Cheika said according to the SMH. “One key scrum we got turned over but we’ll fight back. We’ve come a long way in the scrum and maybe the combination of tactics tonight didn’t work for…

Friday’s Rugby News has the Wallabies squad against France, wacky stuff from Steve Hansen, Mario Ledesma quotes and the 2017 Force squad. [one_half last=”no”] France Squad Michael Cheika has taken the revolutionary guillotine the royal squad, swapping out, making a whopping 12 changes to the XV. In big news, Godwin will make his debut at inside centre, with Luke Morahan (1 cap) starting at fullback. Making their starting debuts will be Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa (tighthead) and Sefa Naivalu. James Slipper, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy and Sean McMahon (back from injury) swap the cold for gold. Rob Simmons replaces the injured Coleman…

It’s been a bad week ever since Rugby Reg forgot my name. He asked “Who does our gifs?” on the podcast (timed link here). I finally understand Ralph’s pain. Well, there’s only one way to dig myself out of this deep hole of emotion, and that’s through rugby gifs! (Oh, and don’t forget to pause the gifs as you go through. Something new is making the page auto-scroll) 1. Mmumm 2. Slammin’ Skeltin’ 3. Mean Screen 4. Big D 5. Showoff 6. Cold Forearm 7. Still Breathing 8. Clever Defending

Thursday’s Rugby News has good stuff about sevens participation; new tackling laws; Liam Gill news; and Karmicheal Hunt’s return. [one_half last=”no”] Sevens Eight Fifteens Rugby sevens is on the up, says the ABC, quoting ARU officials. Participation has skyrocketed since the women’s sevens team won gold. Women’s sevens competitions have sprung up all around Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Canberra and the Sunshine Coast. There’s also going to be a women’s university series and a Sydney schoolgirls sevens comp running next year. Cameron Tradell, the participation growth manager for the ARU told the ABC that the primary school program Game On has gone from…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has Cheika saying there’ll be a new XV for France, McMahon’s back from injury, and loads of news about Fiji including a potential Super team. [one_half last=”no”] New XV Like always, Michael Cheika has a fiendish plot in his mind. This time, according to the SMH, it will involve a squad switcheroo for the game against France this weekend. “I don’t think we played as well against Scotland as we did against Wales and I think that some other players should have the opportunity to get in there and have a go at it,” Cheika said. “I’m not…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has the good stuff on the bad Adam Coleman news, the new names brought into the WBs, David Pocock chatting about France, and Charlotte Caslick being our new number one. [one_half last=”no”] Coleman Out The news is in about Adam Coleman, and it ain’t good. rugby.com.au says that the Raging Tasmanian has been ruled out of the rest of the tour after injury his knee in the victory against Scotland. Scans have confirmed that Coleman has a “grade two” medial ligament strain. Reds lock Rob Simmons will come into to take Coleman’s place in the starting lineup and as…

Monday’s Rugby News has all the latest goss from the Scotland game – Cheika on Skelton, Vern Cotter on the ref, Kuridrani on Kuridrani – and the results from the weekend’s play. [one_half last=”no”] Skelton Beltin’ Michael Cheika isn’t happy about Will Skelton’s yellow card on the weekend, according to the Daily Telegraph. Skelton was sinbinned towards the end of the match after dangerously shoulder charging Scottish lock Johnny Gray. “It’s fair, he’s got to put his arms around that guy and he knows that, it’s ill-disciplined from him,” Cheika said. “Those decisions come down to the ref – whether…

If the page keeps jumping around, just pause and play the gifs as you go! Steroid Netball Exquisite Dummy Pekked Crushed Pretty Good Stab In The Dark Tbh Hook, Line, Etc & So On It Was A Knock On

Richelle McCaw Ouch Aye Noggin Floggin’ Stupid Idiot! Try Seppuku #Chiropracted Take Notes DHP A Proper Gif For Once

Friday’s Rugby News features Wallabies gongs, Larkham’s new disposition, a trimmed down Will Skelton and Clive Woodward on that Lions tour. [one_half last=”no”] Awards Awards Awards Australian rugby has its annual awards night last night, and boy did they hand out some awards. Michael Hooper won the John Eales Medal, the biggest and shiniest prize on offer, being voted the best player in Australian rugby. It’s Hooper’s second win, and the first time in three years that Israel Folau hasn’t won. “I hope I can keep playing and staying on the field.” Hooper told rugby.com.au,  “I’ve had a really good run,…

Sea of Japan to the Pacific Cheeky Glitch What An Amateur Matt Dunning Already Made This Joke Punk Routine Hmmm Northern Hemisphere Rugby

Thursday’s Rugby News features Cheika talking about that Koroibete jersey, new development players for the WBs, a potential return of Kurtley Beale and $100 million in Chinese rugby. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika Chats Koroibete Michael Cheika has responsed to criticism that he’s devaluing the Wallabies jersey by picking Marika Koroibete, the shiny new NRL convert who despite playing rugby all his life except for a couple of years at the Melbourne Storm, has never played rugby in Australia. Selecting Koroibete in front of say, Western Force winger and livelongrugger Luke Morahan, has caused quite a stir in Australian rugby circles. Fox…

After the third Bledisloe on the weekend, Michael Cheika did seem to insinuate that the All Blacks/NZRU management ordered the New Zealand Herald to draw him as a clown. On the face of it, that is a bit nuts. But to hear those words, in the context of the press conference, and then extrapolate them to mean what Cheika literally said, is absurd. It also lacks empathy. As a journalist/reporter/writer/whatever, getting what’s in your head out as an argument that stands up to criticism is what you do for a day job. Cheika’s just a rugby coach. Anyway, let’s go…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has the spring Wallabies, a new-look Wallaroos squad, new Reds coaches and the Force are builder towards the future with the signing of a local scaffolder. [one_half last=”no”] Spring Tour Squad Michael Cheika has named the Spring Tour squad for the upcoming games against Wales, Scotland, France, Ireland and England. Marika Koroibete, the new NRL convert who hasn’t played a game of rugby in Australia yet, is a controversial inclusion in the squad. Though if he comes on late against England, scores a hat trick, and in his celebration somehow lobotomises Steve Hansen, the complaining would probably stop, or…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has news about the Spring Tour squad, Mumm’s been suspended, a glut of Euro News, and Foley reckons the Grand Slam is on. [one_half last=”no”] Tour Squad The Daily Telegraph reports that Marika Koroibete, as has been long rumoured, is set to be named in the Wallabies squad for the upcoming spring tour. Michael Cheika will name an extended 36-man squad for the tour, which will intriguingly also have 3 ‘development’ players named as part of the list. This are thought to be Taniela Tupou, the “Tongan Thor”, Izaia Perese (both Queensland Country/Reds) and Jack Dempsey (Sydney Rays/Waratahs). These 3…

Monday’s Rugby News has news about Mumm being cited, Cheika still adamant about his post-match comments, a happy Phil Waugh medallist, Richard Hardwick, and English lock Maro Itoje potentially maybe out of the Australia game. [one_half last=”no”] Mumm In Trouble Dean Mumm has been cited, the Daily Telegraph reports, for “alleged foul play” during the All Blacks game on Saturday night. As the article says: Specifically, Mumm has been charged with striking, after an incident around the 52 minute mark shows him jostling shoulder-to-shoulder elbowing opposite lock Brodie Retallick in the face. Retallick later suffered from concussion in the game,…

Moses Through Ball Quading Maro Itojeh Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Pama Fou Makes A Fool Of You Go On Mate Blame It On The Inanimate Corner Flag Eager

Friday’s Rugby News is all about the NRC – Wallabies coming in; and the thoughts of the Perth Spirit and Melbourne Rising – and World Rugby is opening a Hall of Fame, too [one_half last=”no”] NRC Semis Wallabies A few Wallabies will rock up for their NRC sides this weekend, as the competition reaches the semi-finals stage. The regular season winners NSW Country Eagles will take on the fourth-placed Melbourne Rising at Newcastle’s Sportsground no. 2, while 2nd will play 3rd as the Sydney Rays host the Perth Spirit at Pittwater Park, a location that’s really accessible to everyone in…

The Lad Has Heart El Banana Over His Head and Up His Arse Oldest Trick In The Book The Chiropractor Taste the Speight Hunter Paisami Goes Hunting Bullet Time

Thursday’s Rugby News has a very very happy Nick Stiles, a debut and praise for Matt Toomua, no more trial laws and referees for November. [one_half last=”no”] Stiles Excited Nick Stiles, the newly installed head coach of the Queensland Reds – who released a massive roster for next season yesterday – is very happy with his squad and determined to make the Reds good again. “I wouldn’t have put my hand up for this job if I wasn’t up for the pressure and I wouldn’t have put my hand up for the job if I didn’t think we had a…