Author: Nick Hartman

Tuesday’s Rugby News has an eager Blake Enever, a pondering Michael Cheika, an angry Alan Jones, and a speculative New Zealand Rugby Board. [one_half last=”no”] Enever Eager Blake Enever, the surprise package in the Wallabies squad, is eager to prove to errybody that he has what it takes to give away a stupid yellow card against the Scottish, or whatever it is that Wallabies locks are supposed to do. “It’s really exciting,” Enever said, excited, to rugby.com.au. “Obviously I am over the moon to get the call up, be part of the squad and just be in the mix with…

Monday’s Rugby News has the squad for November, more stuff on the IPRC, angry Alan Jones, pensive Luke Jones and Reece Hodge at flyhalf? [one_half last=”no”] Squad Michael Cheika has announced his squad for the November Internationals, to play against Japan, Wales, England and Scotland. There are a few surprises in the 32-man squad (including two development players – more on them later). Most notably, the uncapped Brumby Blake Enever, Force lock Matt Philip, Izaia Perese and Billy Meakes have all been included this time around. Ben McCalman also comes back into the team having only played something like 1.5…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has Karmichael hunting for a contract, maybe more jersey. Duncan Paia’aua paia’making, and Baabaas getting a win. [one_half last=”no”] Huntin’ For A Karntract Karmichael Hunt is looking like he’ll get a new contract, although the 30-year-old will get less than his rumoured $1.5m contract than brought him over from nayfl. However, now he’s playing for the Wallabies, a national top-up might come into the equation. “I do want to stay in Queensland and Australia and be a part of the script going forward, so I’d love to see the feeling’s mutual,” Hunt told rugby.com.au, as he toyed with…

The boys have waited all year for this amazing moment and are so proud of the Wallabies. Warning – may contain swearing

Tuesday’s Rugby News has Folau explaining why he’s going, all the goss about the Classic Wobs, Scotland trying to be sexy, and tragedy strikes for a podcast favourite. [one_half last=”no”] Folau Fresh After keeping the Australian rugby public in wait for a whole day, Israel Folau has finally come clean on why he’s seeking to take a  rest from rugby. “It’s something that has been in the back of my mind for a while,” Folau told rugby.com.au. “I can’t remember the last time I have really had a break since I started playing. “I just looked at the opportunity of…

Monday’s Rugby News has no more Israel Folau for the year, no more Stephen Moore ever, Kieran Read and Steve Hansen saying stuff, and the squad for the Baabaas. [one_half last=”no”] No Folau Israel Folau is off after the Barbarians game next weekend, with the fullback to take a bit of a rest and go raise (heterosexual) rhinos and elephants in Africa like David Pocock did. Folau has a Japan guest contract clause in his ARU contract, meaning he can bugger off to Japan for a summer. Folau has taken up this option, with Michael Cheika saying that for now…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has Simmons seizing his chance, the Waratahs with a new sort of coach, absent ABs, and Cameron Clyne facing the committee. [one_half last=”no”] Simmons Seizes Second Rob Simmons was told thanks but no thanks by the Reds at the end of the season, and as such he pondered what to do next – stay in Australia or go chase the megabucks? Being left out during the whole June series wouldn’t have been very good either. Like a Deus Ex Machina, Michael Cheika swooped in, gave him a spot in the Wallabies squad and, ever since the Dunedin Bledisloe…

Monday’s Rugby News has Alan Jones nattering on, Beale keen on that indigenous jersey feel, an Aussie wonderkid off to NZ, and Wallabies news. [one_half last=”no”] Alan Jones’ Barbarians™ The squad for Alan Jones’ Barbarians, the greatest rugby side in the world, was announced on Friday, and boy is it a great team, led by their even greater coach. The squad first and foremost contains a lot of Western Force players. Matt Hodgson, Chance Peni, Kane Koteka, Matt Philip, Michael Ruru, Pek Arnold, Rory Richie Arnold, and Anaru Rangi will all be wearing the Baabaa hoops. Speaking of uniforms, instead…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has the Rebels excited about having good players from the Force, the Senate inquiry in Perth, missing millions and Karmichael Hunt back (again). [one_half last=”no”] Force Rebels GAGR Best Friend Dave Wessels was on our pod last night, and after we got our hands on him the Daily Telegraph got jealous and started up their rumour mill. “Rebels hope to lure as many as 10 Force players to Melbourne in 2018” booms the headline, adding that the new Rebels coach may find most of the Force Wallabies at his new club. Tetera Faulkner has signed, while fellow…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has a good Wallabies culture, a determined Quade, a coaches convention and Damian de Allende shouldn’t have been sent off. [one_half last=”no”] WBs culture best Will Genia has probably seen some rubbish Wallabies cultures in his time, so it’s probably a good thing when he says the current ‘bies culture is the best he’s ever seen. “It’s the best environment I’ve been a part of in the time I’ve been in a Wallaby group,” the $800,000 man told the SMH. “Everyone has a buy-in and a say in how we do things. Everyone holds each other accountable…

Monday’s Rugby News has a departing plumber, Reece Hodge not taking compliments well, yet another new idea to run rugby, and Cheika looking forward to Brissyslo3 [one_half last=”no”] Mario Doing One Wallabies scrum coach Mario Ledesma will be the Wallabies scrum coach for not much longer, after Michael Cheika announced that the Argentine is heading home to coach the Jaguares next year. Cheika announced after the Pumas game that Ledesma will leave the Wallabies setup after the third Bledisloe in Brisbane, on 21 October. Coaching the Jags could potentially lead Ledesma to being involved big-time in the Argentina setup, with rumour…

The boys dig deep and pine over the lustful curvature of Rugby Union silverware. WARNING – may contain swearing

Wednesday’s Rugby News has forward Lukhan Tui looking forward tui more Wallabies games, Drua players eye gouging, Steve Hansen being a suck up, and the return of Jono Lance Corner. [one_half last=”no”] Luking Forward Lukhan Tui got his first Wallaby cap on the weekend, despite having only played 13 Super games. The 21-year-old is tres happy about his cap, as you would be. Even though Cheika’s handing them out like hotcakes. “It was real good to be able to get the opportunity to don the green and gold,” Tui said. “It was pretty surreal. I went out there and it…

Tuesday’s Rugby News makes up for the absent Labour Day/Queen’s Bday Monday Rugby News. There’s hair pulling, draw disappointment, no Perese, yes Coleman, Koroibete and ABs. [one_half last=”no”] La La La La Michael Cheika insists that Israel Folau didn’t pull old mate’s hair, despite video evidence being to the contrary. Folau only conceded a penalty at the time, though Sanzaar could look into the footage and give Folau some time on the naughty step. When asked by a reporter about the incident, Cheika replied: “[Folau] grabbed the guy around the collar, you’ve got to watch the vision. He gets penalised,…

Blake and James try and unpack another draw between the Wallabies and South Africa. And, are New Zealand too inconsistent to be the best ever?

Wednesday’s Rugby News has Adam Coleman and Alister Coetzee chatting, a possible change to the Lions tour and Cheika not happy at the field size… [one_half last=”no”] Coleman Chats Adam Coleman is a lot of things to a lot of people, but most importantly he’s a really good rugby player. And it’s that rugby playing thing that he’s good at that is the purpose of his chat with the media. Coleman, who used to play for the Western Twiggies, has a future that is up in the air. Where will he play next year? “In terms of me, personally, there…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has Foley finding his feet, Mick Byrne talking like he wants to box sports scientists, Sean O’Brien unhappy with Warren Gatland, and Jonah Lomu’s sons. [one_half last=”no”] Finding Foley Bernard Foley has kicked 15 out of 15 placed kicks since his Barry against the All Blacks in the second Bledisloe. Which is a pretty good stat to be fair. Mick Byrne, the Wallabies skills coach, has opined that this uptick in form is merely due to a sweet spot of form. “I think it’s faith, especially when you have a hiccup,” Byrne said, according to rugby.com.au. “It’s…

Monday’s Rugby News has the Wallabies getting in the right state of mind, the ARU chucking it away, David Pocock back on the burstm and JOC chatting. [one_half last=”no”] Mental Hurdle Michael Cheika is like the new-age Ben Kenobi, being all wise and that to his Wallabies. The Wallabies are going to play the Bokkies in Joburg, a city located on the portion of the South African inland plateau which has an altitude above roughly 1500 m otherwise known as the Highveld, where they only have a 23% win record. “I just think it might be in our head,” Cheika told the SMH. “You’ve just…

Wednesday’s Rugby News has Naisarani and the ARU going to Canberra, vultures circling over the Western Force carcass, and Chibba going Gloucester. Oh and I lost all my work as I saved the news, so it’s a bit truncated today cos I’ve had to rewrite it and it’s past my bedtime. Apologies. [one_half last=”no”] Carcass Everyone’s picking over the scraps of the Western Force. Rugby.com.au have a neat little summary of who’s going where: Adam Coleman – Probably the Rebels. In huge demand. DHP, RHP – Come as a pair apparently. DHP would be an upgrade on the outgoing Debreczeni and Placid…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has the thrashing in June now paying off, a backrow reshuffle for the WBs, the Darkness in rotation, and a gay rugby competition down in Melbourne. [one_half last=”no”] Camp Paying Off Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is quite chuffed, as he reckons all the huffin’ and puffin’ back in June he forced the squad to do is now paying off. It’s unknown if Cheika had “nearly losing to Italy” as part of his plans, but let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. “We copped a lot of flak there but we trained them hard (in June) on purpose,”…