Author: Shane Sullivan

Make Australian Rugby Great Again

Rugby.com.au have been playing replays of old matches to keep us losers fans entertained. Friday night was peak Reds with their glorious win over the lowly Crusadists from over the ditch. And there, in all his glory was Brad Thorn having a rare bad day for him. Now, for me, Brad Thorn is the greatest cross-code forward of all time. Correct me if I’m wrong because I’ve done no research on this, but Brad is the only tight forward to successfully swap codes. And then he swapped back. And then he swapped back again. But that wasn’t what I was thinking…

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Hi Everyone. Sadly we have decided to shut down the news for a while. There is no rugby which means there is very little news to talk about. Rest assured we will be back when the rugby comes back. We will miss the banter and camaraderie in the comments and hope the news is back quickly. With thanks The Green and Gold Rugby news team.

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Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at French ‘flair’, talking up Matt Philip, the Reds kicking woes, and Aussie 7 in Canada. [one_half last=”no”] The French doing very French Things Embed from Getty Images France has, in this reporter’s humble opinion, been the form side of this years Six Nations. They have played some incredible attacking rugby and a defensive pattern, thanks to Shaun Edwards, that is an attacking weapon all on its own. So was it really a surprise when french Tighthead Mohamed Haouas smashed Jamie Ritchie’s shnoz three minutes before half-time effectively ending his country’s run at the grand slam in a…

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Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at the LA Sevens results, a Six Nation paywall, GRR starting up, and the Tahs defending their man. [one_half last=”no”] Aussie Men forth at LA Sevens Embed from Getty Images The Australian men had a good weekend at the LA Sevens. Currently ranked sixth in the competition our guys managed an impressive fourth place just going down to New Zealand 21-19. The team started the weekend with three straight wins against Scotland, Samoa and host USA to top Pool C, and then clobbered Ireland 36-0 in their quarter-final matchup to set up a semi-final game against a…

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The Reds finally delivered in round four of Super rugby 2020. While the Sharks have been delivering since round one. The Reds need a win this week to stay in touch with Aussie conference leader the Brumbies and to create some momentum before their deathmatch with the Crusadists in Round six while the Sharks would love to end their road trip with two wins from three games. Form Reds The Reds started the year with three straight losses on their trip around the world. They struggled with penalty counts and second-half fades in South Africa and Argentina but looked to be…

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Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at the new Chair of RA, emerging talent, Cockbain on the Tahs and, a crazy Crusaders record. [one_half last=”no”] A New Chair For RA In a shock move, (not really) Rugby Australia has promoted Paul McLean to Chairman effective immediately. The move, that seems to be all about optics, is temporary while a permanent Chair is found. Cameron Clyne, the old Chair and Melbourne Rebels superfan, was coping lots of flack for being heavily involved in negotiating rugby’s new broadcast deal after tendering his resignation. Personally I don’t get it. Clyne suddenly didn’t forget everything he…

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Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at the Waratahs looking deep within, Referees, Hunter Paisami making an impact and RA takes 400 games to market. [one_half last=”no”] Soul Searching Tahs. After a disastrous 0-3 start to the season with a -52 points deficit the soul searching is in full swing in Tah land. The waratahs are heading into their first bye week with plenty to think about. coach Rob Penney had sent them on their way to a short break with plenty to think about. With games against the Lions, Chiefs and Brumbies coming up after the break the Tahs need a plan…

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Tuesday’s Rugby News sees alarm bells for the Tahs, Ellia’s ankle, Eddie warning the Six Nations bosses and, that broadcast deal. [one_half last=”no”] Alarm Bells In Tah Land The Waratahs have had a nightmare of a start to their Super Rugby Season! They’ve been smashed by both the Crusaders and the Blues in their first two games. They currently sit fifth in the Australian conference with a for and against of -38. But it’s not all their fault. Yes, I’m going to defend them. Yes Really. When Rugby Australia snavelled Tatsy Taylor from Scotland to put some muscle into the…

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I’d open with something classy about the Lions lying in wait for the Reds but there is a good chance that Queensland made it to South Africa before the Lions made it back from Argentina after their loss to the Jaguares. Perhaps a full day earlier! Unusually, for me, I’ve done the hard yards and watched the Lions dawdle against the much more fancied Jaguares. It was uninspiring, to say the least. The Lions forwards didn’t win the set-piece battle and had little impact in general play but were respectable in defence until the last third of the game. their…

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Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at the humbling of the mighty Orcs, the Reds looking to up their game, a Brumbies losing streak and, Harrison starting at the Tahs. [one_half last=”no”] France Take Apart England Embed from Getty Images I’m as ‘anyone but England’ as the next guy, but rarely do you see the pulled apart and eviscerated like they were by France on Sunday night. Andy Bull’s headline at the Guardian said it all. France’s hellfire and brimstone crush Red Rose in a Can-Can cauldron Antione Depont, the young scrumhalf and Charles Ollivon their skipper and openside Flanker lead a french…

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Tuesday’s Rugby News looks at Les Leulua’ial’i-Makin’s Achilles tendon, the Reds World tour, captain Hooper and Jordan Uelese’s hamstring. [one_half last=”no”] Brumbies injury blow! The ACT Brumbies Have suffered an injury blow before the new Super Rugby Season has even kicked off. Leslie_Leuluaialii-Makin has been ruled out for the season with an Achilles tendon rupture. The tighthead prop was due to rejoin the Brumbies ahead of their round one clash against the Reds at GIO Stadium, but will instead undergo surgery on his injury. The word on the street is James Slipper has put his hand up to play both sides of…

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Welcome to the last rugby news of 2019. Fridays Rugby News sees Women named for Oceania Sevens, Fans reviewing RWC2019, Cheika reviewed and, the Beast retires. [one_half last=”no”]  Squad Named For Oceania Sevens 1. Shannon Parry (c), University of Sydney, QLD 2. Faith Nathan, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 3. Sariah Paki, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 4. Cassandra Staples, University of Queensland, NSW 5. Hagiga Mosby, University of Queensland, QLD 6. Georgia Hannaway, University of Queensland, QLD 7. Rachel Crothers, University of Canberra, ACT 8. Madison Ashby, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 9. Lauren Brown, Bond University, QLD 10. Demi Hayes,…

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Fridays Rugby News sees speculation on the Wallabies coach, The World Cup final, First Nations Sevens and, Signings for the Reds. [one_half last=”no”]  Wallabies Coaching Roulette When the ARU sacked Eddie in 2005 I was pretty much on board because that Eddie thought the scrum was dead and he’d managed to drop his win/loss record to 58%. Eddie once said, and I’m paraphrasing here because I have a crap memory, that ‘scrums only take up five minutes of a game so that’s how much time we spend on them at training. He then overreacted with the Qld Reds and…

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Fridays Rugby News sees The best rugby no one’s talking about, news from the semi-finals and, Japan the real winner [one_half last=”no”]  The NRC Final Is Here The NRC was always on a hiding to nothing this year with the Rugby World cup scheduled at the same time. It’s a pity because this year’s competition has been the best yet. It all culminates this weekend with the Vikings heading over to Perth to take on the Force. Canberra Vikings Head Coach Nick Scrivener has made one change to the starting XV for the National Rugby Championship Grand Final against…

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Fridays Rugby News sees Wallabies and England named, the eleventh ban of RWC19, Clarky gets a double ton and, more Junior Wallabies for the Waratahs. [one_half last=”no”]  Wallabies Named For England. Wallabies team to play England at Oita Stadium, Oita on Saturday 19 October 1. Scott Sio (62 Tests) 2. Tolu Latu (18 Tests) 3. Allan Alaalatoa (36 Tests) 4. Izack Rodda (24 Tests) 5. Rory Arnold (25 Tests) 6. David Pocock (82 Tests) 7. Michael Hooper (c) (98 Tests) 8. Isi Naisarani (7 Tests) 9. Will Genia (109 Tests) 10. Christian Lealiifano (25 Tests) 11. Marika Koroibete (27 Tests) 12. Samu Kerevi (vc) (32…

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Fridays Rugby News sees two games cancelled, Tahs sign Gamble, changes for the Wallabies and, bye-bye Ma’a Nonu [one_half last=”no”]  Two World Cup Games Cancelled Typhoon Hagibis could wreak havoc on the Rugby World Cup finals. With New Zealands match against Italy and England’s game against France already cancelled attention now moves to Japan versus Scotland for a spot in the finals. But while Australia sat tight in Shizuoka – their Friday night game against Georgia unaffected – all eyes quickly turned to Sunday’s games, which included the blockbuster Pool A decider between Japan and Scotland in Yokohama, plus…

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Monday’s Rugby News looks at Japan surging, too much Petaia hype, that spear tackle and, a call for a longer world cup. [one_half last=”no”] Japan Lead Pool A Embed from Getty Images There have been great games at this World Cup. Inspirational moments. But there’s only one side, besides the Wallabies, that I have on my must-watch list and that’s Japan! I can’t tell you exactly why but I can tell you some of the parts that fuel my admiration. The player’s attitudes. There’s no bullshit, no agro, they’re just here to play. They’re the underdogs. Their fans are amazing.…

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Friday’s Rugby News sees Uraguay slaying giants, Hodge having no framework, Aon 7s and, the next generation on show! [one_half last=”no”]  The Biggest Upset In RWC History Just when everyone thought week one of RWC 2019 was going to follow the script. Just when punters had started to say ‘Rugby’s boring every game just goes with whoever is seeded highest. Fiji coach John McKee thought it was safe to change 13 of the starting side that played against Australia. And Rugby minow Uruguay spotted their chance and grabbed it with both hands sneaking past Fiji 30 points to 27 yesterday…

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Friday’s Rugby News looks at the Wallabies, Fiji, Tonga at the World Cup and, Castle on the next Wallabies Coach! [one_half last=”no”] A Couple Of Surprises For The Wallabies By now you would have laid eyes on the Wallaby side to face Fiji tomorrow and either be quietly happy with the return of the Pooper or seething with anger with the return of the Pooper. I find myself, slightly, in the second group I guess. I can see the dual openside working against Fiji but come the time we face up against a top-flight lineout or a muscled up back…

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Friday’s Rugby News has Smith on the pooper, Foketi signing, another O’Connor late and, what to do with fringe Wallabies. [one_half last=”no”] King George Poops on the Pooper Hot on the heals of Phill Kearns’ ‘insights’ yesterday comes a missive from his royal awesomness King George Smith. While Kearns is happy to give up size and height to have two opensides on the park George isn’t so sure. Smith started alongside Phil Waugh in the 2003 Rugby World Cup but the 111-Test great said while there were ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ to the dual open side tactic, he would stick with…

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