Author: Ross Wright

This is the battle for the bottom of the Australian conference. But don’t let that fool you,  this may well be the match of the round!  This is the oldest rivalry in Australian Rugby and it’s set  to go off on Saturday night. This game is a bit of a paradox.  Just about any discriminator (bar a few) you care to use will have the Waratahs as almost unbackable favourites in this match.  They are the defending champions playing last years also rans.  The last two games resulted in the Tahs handing the Reds sound thrashings and a few free lessons in…

The Super Rugby season looms and after an international season that was memorable for all of the wrong reasons, the prospect of watching my beloved Reds again, as usual, has me dizzy with excitement.  I’ll take a look at the Reds 2014 season (sorry), player movements in the off season and then with my Red tinted glasses firmly planted on my one eyed face, I’ll take a look at the year ahead. 2014 Season Recap I’m going to start by saying, that if you’re a Reds fan, this section isn’t going to be pretty to read.  There is no hiding the fact…

The Queensland Reds have today announced that 2014 Green and Gold Rugby Player of the Year, Pilecki Medal and RUPA Medal for Excellence winner, James Slipper will take over from James Horwill as Captain of the Queensland Reds in 2015.  Slipper will be supported in this role by Rob Simmons and Karmichael Hunt as Vice Captains. In a press conference earlier this afternoon, James Horwill spoke first, announcing that he would be stepping down as captain for his beloved QLD Reds in his final season with the club.  The role deservedly being given to prop, James Slipper. Slipper was consistently…

These two teams last met in Round 4 of the regular season in Lismore with Brisbane City the eventual victor.  Tonight they met again in the first of two Semi Final matches with Country again hosting  the Brisbane boys and looking for redemption. The Match There’s no better way to describe the game tonight, than a wonderfully torrid affair.  Big hits and plenty of physicality were the order of the night.  The Eagles were dealt the biggest blow though with the very late withdrawal of Steven Hoiles (c), Mitch Chapman and Cam Treloar. Even with the late injuries the two…

The first ever game of the National Rugby Championship  – Brisbane City v. Sydney Stars – delivered what Australian Rugby fans had been hoping for and did it despite the weather.  Plenty of tries were scored and open and positive Rugby was the order of the evening. The Match The game started well for the home side, with City receiving the kick off and maintaining possession for just over 3 minutes.  It was a rather ominous sign but when the Stars got their hands on the ball it took them all of 45 seconds and 6 phases to put winger Clunies-Ross over…

The long awaited National Rugby Championship is here.  There’s plenty of buzz and a genuine feeling that Australian Rugby is on the up.  Here’s 5 things that have me pumped up about the NRC… 1. Mid week games on TV. Sure, this one only applies if you have Foxtel, but I do and as Big Kev used to say, I’m EXCITED!!  There’s been lots to like about NZ’s ITM Cup but for me, top of the list is mid week Rugby games on TV.  Week nights are my chance to sit down in front of the telly and now at…

In a world where anything was possible, I imagine this week’s write up would start with a photo montage set to those glorious synth’s from Europe’s Final Countdown.  It’s been a long time coming, but the final is here.  It’s last man standing for the Grand Final Super Rugby tipping preview. Two weeks ago, I labelled the move reminiscent of Steven Bradbury when he took gold in Salt Lake City in 2002.  This week the metaphor is all but complete with our top tipper Braveheart81 sitting all alone on the top of the table while our long time leader The Rhumdoggs is scrambling…

It’s the second last week of the comp.  It’s neck and neck.  Two teams will advance to the Grand Final and two teams will start their break early.  Regardless, here’s our Super Rugby tipping preview for the semis. There was no movement on top of the tipping ladder over the weekend but it could’ve been very different had the Highlanders been able to close out the game against the Sharks.  Both of our competition leaders, The Rhumdoggs and Braveheart81 put their joker on different horses but at the end of the round it didn’t matter. I wouldn’t normally expect to see a…

…..And then there were six.  We’ve reached the pointy end.  It’s the knock out stage of the Rugby and may as well be in the tipping too.  When tipping in the finals, it’s easy to slip up but hard to gain ground.  Time to sharpen your wits. Top Tippers There has been no change at the top of the table with The Rhumdoggs and Braveheart81 still tied for the lead.  Both dropped two tips on the weekend which allowed tipper Olec to get within one point.  With a maximum of two games and three tipping points from here on in, one incorrect tip can see you…

The Waratahs may already have the minor premiership stitched up in the competition proper but it’s anything but decided in the tipping comp!  Heading into the final round of the regular season a slip up from our long time leader and a perfect round from one of the chase pack has thrown a cat among the pigeons: it’s neck and neck! The Tippers #1093856 / gettyimages.com Whether it was complacency from our long time leader The Rhumdoggs,  or stunning strategy not seen since Steven Bradbury took the Gold in 2002, from Braveheart81, we’ll probably never know.  What we do know is that the…

It’s the penultimate round of the regular season, it’s the last week of the middle tipping period and while the leader of both the tipping and the Super Rugby table looks settled in, anything could happen between here and the end. Top Tipper Our long time leader, The Rhumdoggs, slipped a little on the weekend by missing the Joker bonus point but luckily for them, their nearest threats couldn’t capitalise and they only slipped by one point.  The Top Tipper of the Top Ten though was SuckerForRed who clearly reads and respects the advice of this humble weekly prophet and picked up…

The French have packed their bags and the English have left the land of the long white cloud.  That can only mean one thing.  It’s Super Rugby time again!   After successful inbound Test Series for both Australia and New Zealand the Super Rugby franchises and fans for both nations will be on a high; nothing quite like winning to boost mood and morale generally.  South Africa are still entertaining house guests so the SA S15 teams have another week off. Tipping after the June Tests is always tricky though as how each team will respond to the break is…

One of my favourite quotes goes something like, “There’s a fine line between a rich tapestry of experience and a moth eaten blanket of nostalgia…”  When it comes to Test Rugby though, experience is currency that you can take to the bank.  In this article I’ll be looking at what each side brings do the table in regards to experience and also the key combinations. The inbound June Tests provide valuable game time to the Wallabies prior to the biggest event/s on the ARU’s calendar 3 out of every 4 years; The Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe Cup.  The year before a…

It’s the last round before the June Test window.  As if to make sure we don’t forget about it over the next three weeks, Super Rugby has lined up some bell ringers this weekend.  You’re gonna need all the help you can get. I get the feeling that this round will shake up the finals contenders one way or another.  I reckon it will do the same with the tipping ladder which so far has remained reasonably consistent.  The Rhummdoggs has maintained their position at the top of the log yet again and has extended their lead by 1 point…

Last round was a shocking one for tipping there is no doubt about it.  I wouldn’t think that we’ll see the same level of upset results two weeks in a row but then again I wasn’t expecting what happened last week either.  Make sure your tips are educated.  Read on for the info you need. The Train Wreck I was pouring through the tipping ladder to find some results from last week and after looking at the carnage for a short while, it was clear to me that there were no survivors in the train wreck that was round 14.…

The tipping this week is looking pretty one sided with all but two games having close to 90% support to one of the teams.  Do you play it safe and stick with the group or do you make a move now and try and jag that inevitable upset? Too Easy Campese At half time during the last game of the round there would have been a few nervous punters with the Reds pushing for an upset.  It wasn’t to be for them though, but it was for plenty of you with a shed full of you nailing a perfect round.…

Round 13.  Unlucky for some, but for others, well they make their own luck.  In this week’s Super Rugby tipping I’m going to again take a look at a few of the more lopsided looking contests to see if there’s an upset to be tipped here and there. Round 12. There was little movement on the weekend in the GaGR League of the ARU tipping competition.  The Rhummdoggs is still sitting precariously in first position with Ozymandias in second and  Lindommer  in third.  Last weeks hot tipper, Tassie Lad had a bit of a shocker though and has for the moment fallen out of the…

The tipping this week looks pretty straight forward on paper, save for a couple of fixtures that will be a bit tricky.  So I thought this week I would take a look at a couple of the easier tips and see if I can’t make you change your tips. Last Week Before I do though we need to have a quick look at last round.  I’ll say it straight up, I had a ‘mare last week.  When I logged on I expected to see carnage in the tipping ladder, or maybe that was wishful thinking.  Looks like I was the…

The Rugby this weekend has all the promise of a politician on election eve.  Key games across the weekend and plenty of teams playing with it all on the line.  Chuck in ANZAC Traditions and cross Tasman match ups and emotions will be high.  I can’t wait! Movers and Shakers There was plenty of movement on the tipping ladder last round  with a real mixed bag of results.  The Rhumdoggs held onto their ever so slender lead and now tops the table by one point.  One of the most consistent performers of the comp, DenisO, had a shocker and plummeted from…

Two things I have never been accused of being: short and sweet.  This week, as I get ready for my super long weekend I am going to attempt to be both.  Strap yourself in, this weeks gold will be coming thick and fast – well, fast at least.  Round 9 There was no change at the top of the GaGR Tipping League last week.  The Rhumdoggs maintaining their spot at the top of the log but Denis O appears to have closed the gap to one.  The big mover of the round though is Tassie Lad who nailed a perfect round and leapt…