Author: Shane Sullivan

Thursday’s Rugby News looks at SA teams out of the Rainbow cup, the race for the last finals spot, Hosea’s suspension, and Wessels under pressure. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 118 – How Good are the Tahs’ Board? Four South African Teams May Not Play Rainbow Cup It’s looking more and more like the four South African teams won’t be running out in the Rainbow cup this year. The Bulls, Stormers, Lions, and Sharks were due to play three rounds of domestic games against each other before potentially travelling to Europe to play against Irish, Welsh,…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at JO’C sticking around, a turning point for the Reds, and an insight into what drives Carlo Tizzano. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 118 – How Good are the Tahs’ Board? James O’Connor to stay a Red Great news for Reds fans and Australian Rugby. The Reds were looking at a massive hole in the halves next year with James O’Connor out of contract but JOC has, apparently, put pen to paper on an upgraded contract. O’Connor tells of his journey back to Australia in this article. “My time at Sale was…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at Hodge’s Knee, big wraps on Thorn, and pass it to Jordy. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 118 – How Good are the Tahs’ Board? 10 Weeks For Reece Hodge’s Knee. Melbourne Rebels Mr Fix it Reece Hodge will miss the rest of Super rugby this year with an MCL injury, but may be available for the French test series. Hodge damaged his knee in a collision with Western Force player Tim Anstee while attempting a last ditch field goal that would have won the game for the Rebels. Melbourne Rebels may…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at future Wallaby RWC teams, the Waratahs recovery, and the Trans Tasman bubble. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 118 – How Good are the Tahs’ Board? Rennie Picks Virtual World Cup Team Just like the rugby nerds in our forums, wallaby head coach Dave Rennie has picked a team for the 2023 World Cup. Okay, even the nerds on our forums haven’t picked teams for the RWC, but they are picking heavily biased teams for the French test series in July. “We’ve had a lot of meetings planning, and we’ve picked a…

The rebels couldn’t overcome a three converted try and a penalty blitz in the first 16 minutes by the Queensland Reds. The rebels had the better of the rest of the first half dragging the score back to 24-14 that’s as close as they got with the Reds finishing six tries to three winners. The Reds forwards dominated with Tupou, Wilson and McReight in particular popping up to cause havoc in attack and defence. That platform allowed the Reds halves, McDermott and O’Connor to steer the team around with constant front foot ball. The Match The Reds looked like the…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at the Reds road trip, Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 117 – Strike Up the Band [one_half last=”no”] Reds Stuck In Sydney The Reds have been dealt a tremendous blow after being force to stay is Sydney! The Reds were initially only there for two nights to rack up a record score against the hapless Waratahs, but while they were celebrating news broke of a COVID-19 outbreak back home. All plans to fly home were quickly scuppered for fears of border closures up north. Besides have to get used to Daylight savings time…

QUICK MATCH STATS Reds 7 tries to 1 Hat trick to Alex Mafi Tate McDermott Official Man of the Match By guest writer Hoss with thanks from GaGR. Look, I blame Graham Cooper. The Tah’s were in this contest, evenly matched, keen, fit and more than capable, then that mongrel blew ‘time on’ and well, it was largely downhill from there, and you know the rest. Played in front of a bumper crowd of approximately 317 people, it was a night of firsts for the Reds in Sydney – a record score and a first win since 2013, seven…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at the Chiefs win, the Brumbies signing Kautai, Eddie Jones’ critics, and the Australian club Championship. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 117 – Strike Up the Band [one_half last=”no”] Chiefs Break Losing Streak The Chiefs broke their eleven game losing streak on Saturday when they defeated the Hurricanes 35-29. The Hurricanes looked well in control up 26-7 with 23 minutes to play but from then on it was all chiefs as the ran in three tries in nine minutes to sneak in front before Jordie Barrett kicked a monster penalty to wrestle…

Thursday’s Rugby News has been hijacked! Instead, we give you the teams for this weekend. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 116 – Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels [one_half last=”no”] Waratahs Team For The Force. When: 7:45 PM AEDT Friday night Where: Bankwest Stadium Big News? Angus Bell Drops out of the squad. Mark Nawaqanitawase is starting at 15. Jack Maddocks moves to 14 The Team: NSW WARATAHS: (1-15): Tetera Faulkner, Dave Porecki, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Sam Caird, Hugh Sinclair, Lachlan Swinton, Carlo Tizzano, Jack Dempsey, Jack Grant, Will Harrison, James Ramm, Tepai Moeroa, Alex Newsome (c), Jack Maddocks,…

After a busy and hot 12-hour shift Tuesday’s rough and ready Rugby News looks at ‘Reds in your club’, a new Junior Wallabies coach, Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 116 – Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels [one_half last=”no”] Reds In Your Club. What do you do on your bye week in Super Rugby Au? Well if you’re the Reds you spend it visiting clubs around metro Queensland. And I’m pretty chuffed with that. This from the press release. The St George Queensland Reds have announced they’ll take time-out to visit Brisbane metropolitan Rugby clubs during…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at the Ballymore redevelopment, Jake Gordon’s ankle, a Trans Tasman Bubble and, the travel burden for some teams. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 115 – Dawn Of A New Era [one_half last=”no”] Ballymore Update. As a country boy all my early memories of rugby in Brisbane involved Ballymore, the hill and the McLean stand. On the day that Super Rugby AU 2021 started demolition started on the old McLean Stand and, I guess, in a way, work started on the new modern McLean stand. While a few have tried to cling to…

Rarely have I been this excited about a Super Rugby season. It seems like only days ago I was lamenting the end of Pro rugby in Australia, and now we wait for Super Rugby to start, with a new broadcaster with a free to air presence. Personally I can’t wait for this to get started. Reds v Waratahs 7:45pm AEDT – Queensland Reds vs NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium, LIVE on 9Gem and ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport. According to almost everyone this is a training run for the Reds but, I’m not so sure. The Reds…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at the Players stood down by the Pumas, those Reds (and Wallabies) centres, Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 113 – Toma Los Tres Puntos [one_half last=”no”] Three Argentinian Players Stood Down There’s no getting around this story. I actually thought of not covering it as I’ve done with other stories in the past but here we go anyway. Argentina has stood down three players for the last Tri-Nations match of the tournament including Captain Pablo Matera. Matera, as well as two other senior players Guido Petti and Santiago Socino, look also set to…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at Los Puma’s belief in Cheika, Aussie Rugby’s new outlook, New Zealand’s reaction and, SBW as a commentator. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 112 – A New Hope [one_half last=”no”] Cheika helps Argentina make history Australia has only played four tests since Michael Cheika declared he could never coach against Australia but that exactly what will happen this weekend. To dismiss his influence in last weeks upset (to put it mildly) victory over the All Blacks would be crazy. we all know he can motivate players and that appears to be precisely what…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at Wallaby eligibility, the Bledisloe 3 fallout, The broadcast deal rumours and, George Ayoub retires. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 111 – Weekly Podcast [one_half last=”no”] Wallaby Eligibility… Again! Hot on the heels of our second Bledisloe Cup defeat of the year comes the almost compulsory story suggesting, no, demanding that RA open up overseas selection to all eligible players. Now I get the real rugby journalists need to come up with column inches every week and they need controversial topics to getz-ze-clix but this is really bad and sloppy journalism. The article…

Tuesday’s Rugby News Looks at the All Blacks squad, what colour is gold, more recruits for the Force and, a good news story from the Bond Bull Sharks. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 111 – Weekly Podcast [one_half last=”no”] No Ardie Savea for Bledisloe 3 Perhaps a little respite for the Wallabies with news that All Blacks #8 Ardie Savea has stayed in NZ after the birth of his second child, a boy, a few days ago. I think it’s a special time in a fathers life and he should take all the time he needs, it’s…

Tuesday’s Rugby News has a gander at To’omua’s groin, Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 326 – That. Bloody. Kick. [one_half last=”no”] To’omua’s Injury Brings Selection Headache. When Matt To’omua’s troublesome groin flared up in Saturday’s Bledisloe cup match it played havoc with the Wallabies attack and defence. But now while there has been no update on the injury that To’omua has carried all year it does leave a selection problem for the Wallaby selectors going forward. Hunter Paisami wouldn’t have imagined playing 50 minutes of test rugby before Saturday but given the chance to show off some of…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at South Africa’s TRC involvement, ANZACS, Wykes at the Tahs and, the Ballymore redevelopment. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 325 – “Off-The-Ball Work” [one_half last=”no”] SA may not come! In news out of South Africa… Well when I say news I mean a tweet from an English Journo about South Africa, It seems that the Springboks are undecided about playing in the TRC. Player welfare is the main reason being thrown around and it’s probably fair a fair enough statement. South Africa have had a much tougher COVID 19 than either Australia or New…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at a big move west, The Cheetahs may get shafted, the Pilecki medalist and, Thorn’s big decision. Green And Gold Rugby · GAGR Podcast 325 – “Off-The-Ball Work” [one_half last=”no”] Western Force Sign TK!!!! Yes, You read correctly. Tevita Kuridrani is closing up the house and moving across the country to Perth to play for the Force! It’s the second signing news this week with Kyle Godwin recommitting to the west after a serious tilt by the Waratahs to turn him into an east coast elitist. Kuridrani is considered a veteran these days but at 29…

Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at Melbourne’s Bledisloe, the Rebels making the finals, Positive virus tests in South America and, that tackle. Green And Gold Rugby · Rugby Report Card 109 – The Superanos [one_half last=”no”] Melbourne’s Bledisloe test Re-scheduled Remember that thing where the All Blacks and Australia play rugby every year and we lose a lot? Well, they were supposed to play in Victoria this year but a pandemic stuffed that upso, instead of just cancelling on them RA have negotiated a do over next July. Here’s the media release. Rugby Australia today confirmed that the Bledisloe Cup Test…