Author: Nick Hartman

Wednesday’s Rugby News: Samu Kerevi says he’s becoming a lot better, new signings for the Reds, Brumbies and Force, fans want rid of Allister Coetzee, and Wallabies up to 3rd. [one_half last=”no”] Kerevi getting better Samu Kerevi says he’s really beginning to feel the effects of coaches Stephen Larkham and Mick Byrne, rugby.com.au reports. “Bernie’s [Stephen Larkham] just made things a bit easier for me in the backline, basically just telling me to run hard,” Kerevi said. “Mick’s been working on our skills, that speed of ball and transferring the ball into space – that’s something I’m trying to add…

Tuesday’s Rugby News: the Wallabies have a cunning plan to down the ABs, Pocock and McMahon might be back, Eddie Jones wants everyone to do their own thing, and Marika Koroibete is in line to play for the Barbarians. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies New Plan The Wallabies have a plan for their next game, a heavy loss against the All Blacks at Eden Park on 22 October. Holding a skull and lamenting “alas, poor Australian rugby scene”, Michael Hooper said the Wallabies shouldn’t be “dramatising” the third and final Bledisloe test. “It’s just important to think about the footy,” Hooper said (via the…

Monday’s Rugby News has the latest on Nick Phipps and the doctor incident, Bill Pulver’s thoughts on residency rule changes, Michael Cheika’s thoughts on the Wallabies discipline, and World Cup news. [one_half last=”no”] Phipps Warned SANZAAR has wagged its finger at Nick Phipps, after the scrumhalf shoved over an Argentine medic during the Wallabies-Pumas game on the weekend (footage of which you can see here). The SANZAAR commisioner warned Phipps under Law 10.4(m), which governs “acts contrary to good sportsmanship..for foul play incidents that are very close to, but in his opinion do not meet the Red Card threshold for citings”, the SMH reports. At…

Because there were no rugby gifs last Friday, there’s an extra big serving of gifs (10!) with big fat titles too. None of that pithy stuff. Enjoy! 1. Jonah Lomu In Rampage Mode 2. Crazy Catch And Pass From Japan 3. Fiji Haven’t Changed (2005) 4. Head High Tackles Were OK In 1973 5. Like Kepu v England, But Not As Good 6. Kick It Anywhere But The Throat 7. Why Be A Referee? 8. Spin And A Pass 9. Salsa! 10. Stephen Moore Plays For The Sunwolves?

Friday’s Rugby News has the Wallabies squad for the Argentina game, Aaron Smith in hijinks, Will Genia talking about composure, and some nice words from Eddie Jones [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies Squad Michael Cheika and co. have announced the Wallabies squad for Saturday night/Sunday morning’s test against the Argies in London. There are two changes to the starting XV from last week, with Lopeti Timani coming in for Sean McMahon at 8, and Rory Arnold tagging in for Rob Simmons. With Arnold and Adam Coleman at lock, it’s not only another pairing there this year (the seventh so far), but also…

Thursday’s Rugby News has Tom Robertson feeling good, the Pumas feeling good too, a new/old Tahs signing and a Sevens shakeup. [one_half last=”no”] Robertson: “I’m Legit” Ever since he was made a Wallaby three weeks ago in Perth, Waratahs prop Tom Robertson has had a spring in his step, telling the Daily Telegraph “You just don’t feel like a fraud anymore when you call yourself a Wallaby”. The medical student, who has been given the imaginative name ‘Doc’ in the Wallabies camp, continued on. “You’d always say ‘I’m in the squad but I haven’t played yet’.” (We all have that feeling). “That’s…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has Leroy Houston in, Quade and Cheika philosophising about the Wallabies struggles, Cheika wanting to get rid of June tests and the NRC final primed for prime time. [one_half last=”no”] Leroy Defos In It’s basically been confirmed that Leroy Houston, formerly of Bath and currently of Bath (on loan from the Queensland Reds), will make his first appearance for the Wallabies 11 years after his first call up. “He’s a contender for sure,” Cheika said, according to the SMH. “One of the big goals when he signed with us to come back to Australia with the Reds was to…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has the Wallabies fretting over consistency, good gut feelings about Marika Koroibete, a former rugby international struggling with concussion worries, and a memorial event to honour an old pal and good bloke. [one_half last=”no”] WBs Want Consistency The mood in the Wallabies camp is one of frustration, with Michael Hooper unhappy with the team’s inconsistency. “It’s frustrating we can’t get consistency,” Hooper told the SMH. “Just vital moments are letting us down…it’s tough to take – to get that close, just two points down for the whole game and pressuring them. I thought there was just going…

Monday’s Rugby News features a confident Michael Cheika, a ready-made replacement for Sean McMahon, Alistair Coetzee’s take on the action and midweek madness for the Wallabies during the spring tour. [one_half last=”no”] Cheika Confident Michael Cheika isn’t too disheartened by the team’s 18 – 10 loss to South Africa on the weekend. The Wallabies’ chief finger pointer believes that the team played well, but just didn’t take their chances according to the SMH. “I felt we were right in the game the whole time if not in control of the game,” Cheika said. “We played a little bit better than we did…

It’s Friday which it’s party time so kick back ‘n relax like Jonny Wilkinson when he’s chowing down on an icecream. Ballin’ Crosskick Dunno Peak Jakeball Samoan Hammer Power of the Lid

Rob Simmons is back, baby, so lap up these eight rugby gifs in celebration of his stellar career as an international representative lock. Ok. so maybe only one gif is of him, but still whatever he’s back baby yeah! Eeeeeeeeeep! Two Dads, Two Tackles No Homo Elsom the Thief Magneto That Guy Whatever Works The Wall

Last week, World Rugby put out a press release concerning bidders for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. These bidders – France, Ireland, Italy and South Africa – are now confirmed. The Rugby World Cup, if it is to take place in 2023 (you never know, maybe the Mayans were off by 10 years), would make it 200 years since William Webb-Ellis “invented” rugby. It would also be the 10th World Cup, and hopefully it won’t begin with New Zealand looking to win their fourth one in a row. If you’ve listened to the podcast, you might’ve heard Hugh Cavill waffle on about the…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has all the Cheika’s daily updates on the Wallabies progress, a jump in rankings, new Wallabies to debut, yet another debate about the format of Super Rugby and Dane Haylett-Petty wants to become better. [one_half last=”no”] WBs Not Golden Yet While Michael Cheika is very happy with the win over the Springboks in Brisbane on Saturday, he’s also very wary of the fact that the performance in that game wasn’t golden. Chatting to the SMH he said: “I think it’s only a fair comment that the quality of our football wasn’t at top level on the weekend and we…

Monday’s Rugby News has all the latest news from the Wallabies, with Quade and Cheika positive while Allan Alaalatoa is out injured, possibly for the rest of the RC, while in the NRC Brisbane City finally gave up the Horan-Little Shield. [one_half last=”no”] Stability Is Key Quade Cooper reckons that his partnership with Bernard Foley – aka the Fooper or the BerQuade – can work out, if they’re only given time and stability. According to the SMH, Quade said: “It’s just good for us to have stability, to be able to have two weeks of training together, two games together. [We]…

Celebrate the fact that the Wallabies won’t play the All Blacks until October with these rugby gifs! Droppie Gilbert Matfield Chip Winners’ Luck Mogged Sharing Is Caring Acrobatic Smooth

Friday’s Rugby News has all the Wallabies squad announcement, a new refereeing model proposal, latest TPN goss (unfortunately not hair-related), and an update on Israel Folau’s whereabouts. [one_half last=”no”] Wallabies Squad One time, instead of actually reviewing the Melbourne rock band Jet’s album Shine On, Pitchfork.com (NSFW) posted a video of a chimpanzee urinating into its own mouth. You probably wish the same thing had been done here once you read this squad announcement. Reece Hodge will get his first Wallabies start against the Saffers, in place of Adam Ashley-Cooper. Dean Mumm, who came on for Scott Fardy early on in Wellington, starts…

Qantas Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made just two changes to his starting side for The Rugby Championship Test against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday night (8.05pm AEST kick-off). Melbourne Rebels young gun Reece Hodge will earn his first start for the Wallabies after impressing off the bench in the last match in Wellington two weeks ago. Hodge will takeover the wing berth in the absence of veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper, who has returned to his French club side Bordeaux. Queensland rage alert In the only other change, Dean Mumm will start at blindside flanker in his…

Thursday’s Rugby News has all the latest goss about the ARU working on its relationship with schools rugby, Will Genia feeling fit and healthy and a tiny bit mad at media complaints that he’s neither of those things, another signing for the Brumbies and the Brisbane Boks announced. [one_half last=”no”] Schoolboys Review Fairfax Media is saying this morning that the ARU has instigated a “sweeping review” into schools rugby. Chaired by ARU director Paul McLean – a former Wallaby – the working group will seek to figure everything out, from safety concerns, fairness in competition to building a pathway for those…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has news on Marika Koroibete’s Wallabies career, the new Force coach announced, a new signing for the Brumbies, and Drew Mitchell saying the same thing everyone else has said. [one_half last=”no”] Koroibete Fast Tracked Future Rebels player Marika Koroibete is being fast tracked into the Wallabies, with reports coming out that he will be part of the wider training squad for the November internationals. The people’s mouthpiece, rugby.com.au, reports that Koroibete has confirmed he will join up with the national team, with the man himself saying “I spoke to [Cheika] before I signed with the Rebels and he’s going to take…

This week’s edition of rugby gifs is just a random assortment, which is a theme consistent with a) Romain Poite’s refereeing and b) Michael Cheika’s selection policy. Thor, Odin’s Son, Protector of Mankind Mummed Grudge Lokomotiv Blitz A Goose Stepping Game Theory Who Throws A Shoe, Honestly?