Author: Shane Sullivan

Friday’s Rugby News sees Saracens secret, new tackle guidelines, Farrell’s high shot, Laurie’s cameo and a random Photo from Peter Mitchell [one_half last=”no”]  How Saracens went from ‘absolute rubbish’ to ‘phenomenal’ Embed from Getty Images I can’t really do it justice here but there’s a great article over on the BBC website ahead of Saturday nights Premiership Final. It’s the story of how Saracens put culture ahead of winning and won. A real rags to riches story. It was the 2005-06 season and Sarries, big names and all, finished third from bottom in the Premiership. Now, 14 years later, England…

Friday’s Rugby News sees Dan McKellar hopes for the future, WR upping their offer! Uelese found dark places, the Crusaders robbed and a random feature image from Stephen Tremain. [one_half last=”no”]  SUPER RUGBY ON FTA! We’ve all said it and thought it for years but, finally, someone high up in the rugby community has said it. SUPER RUGBY NEEDS TO BE ON FREE TO AIR. Quick! Go set off the fireworks, let the church bells ring. say a prayer to your false idols. The truth will set us all free. McKellar says the crucial next step is getting the…

Friday’s Rugby News sees Waratahs team named, Quade news, A Ballymore redevelopment, and Victorian rugby reporting. [one_half last=”no”]  Waratahs Named  The Waratahs have named their side to face the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday night. The Waratahs season rests on a knife edge with only four wins from ten starts. In the almost there or WTF is wrong with us column is the five losing bonus points from those six losses. If the Tahs had fallen over the line in just two of those games they’d sit atop the Australian conference. as it is they sit in fourth position just…

Friday’s Rugby News sees fake news, Kuridrani rested, a World Cup bid, and a shakeup for the Bulls [one_half last=”no”]  Thor’s Fake News  Australia’s rugby news was awash with news of a player revolt lead by Taniela Tupou’s defence of Israel Folau only it didn’t actually happen. It was sensationalism at its worst. Tupou actually came out in defence of his skipper Samu Kerevi whose easter message was misinterpreted by a few special individuals as some kind of defence of Folaus anti-gay stance. Here is Samu’s original post. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten…

Friday’s Days Rugby News sees a curtain raiser, Junior Wallabies named, Sunwolves axed, Scott Johnson talks sense. [one_half last=”no”]  Tahs Curtain raiser. The Waratahs game against the Sharks at Bankwest Stadium (hopefully you know where that is) on Saturday just got a curtain raiser. West Harbour and the Two Blues will play their round four Shute Shield game before the Waratahs play their round 11 Super Rugby game. NSW Rugby Union CEO, Andrew Hore, said there is genuine excitement in taking the NSW Waratahs games to Western Sydney, with the region known for producing great rugby talent. “We are thrilled…

Friday’s Rugby News sees no more Israel Folau news, [one_half last=”no”] Pocock Out!… Again Embed from Getty Images The fallout from the Wallabies disastrous pre-season training camp continues with David Pocock ruled out for his tenth game this season. His absence and an injury to eight-man Lacky McCaffery opens the door for Jahrome Brown to have a crack at the openside flanker spot. The Brumbies have moved Tom Cusack to blindside and left Pete Samu at eight but their depth is being sorely tested with a plethora of injuries to their back row stocks. Lachlan McCaffery (knee) has dropped out…

Mondays Rugby News sees Kafer’s view on Folau, Wild Brumbies, Rebels looking for the edge and, Blitzbok blitz Fiji. [one_half last=”no”]  Kafer Savages Folau! Rod Kafer has gone hard at Folau over on Foxsport. Christy Doran’s article headlined Wallabies stronger on the field without Israel Folau on field says Rod Kafer Tells it how it is. While praising the dual international’s athletic brilliance and unique skill set, Kafer said that at international rugby Folau had been found wanting at times and that the Wallabies’ balance had been compromised by playing him at fullback. “If we just take the Wallabies view,…

Fridays Rugby News sees Israel boned, Thorn signed, Wallaroo news, and an 82-year-old rugby player [one_half last=”no”] Folau Boned Look… There’s flat earther stupid, and then there’s anti-vaxers stupid. And then there throwing away a multi-million dollar contract posting preachy, talk down to ordinary folk memes on Instagram stupid. I could go on but I’d probably start saying things that could get me and GaGR sued. RA sent out a media release last night which ended with this quote from Raelene Castle, “In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract.” Punters immediately jumped…

Fridays Rugby News sees Wallabies selling Oz short, Brumbies declining, Crusaders name change, and changes to the Waratahs. [one_half last=”no”]  Are Wallabies Selling Australia Short Christy Doran Has a question for everyone over at Foxsports. How much is the Wallaby jersey worth? Wallabies Rory Arnold, Sefa Naivalu and Nick Phipps have already confirmed their departure with Adam Coleman and Marika Koroibete also rumoured to be off. Add Pocock and Foley to the mix and things start to look grim for next year. But the guy Christy (and me) wants to keep in Australia is Samu Kerevi. It’s hard to see where he’s…

Fridays Rugby News sees Wallaby dark horses, rule changes, English rugby savaged, and Leicesters bold bid. [one_half last=”no”]  Wallabies World Cup Dark Horses? In an opinion piece over at stuff.co.nz  Brendan Venter is talking up the Wallabies chances at the world cup amd I don’t like it one little bit. Venter says, ‘I think Australia will prove the dark horses at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, with the Western Force’s exit having strengthened their cause owing to those players having been absorbed by Australia’s four remaining franchises. When Australia had five Super Rugby teams, their talent was spread too thin…

Friday’s Rugby News sees Valetini hurt, Wallaby back row under pressure, the SCG turf fiasco, and Crusaders name change talk. [one_half last=”no”]  Valetini Gawn Rob Valetini start-stop career has stopped again. The talented 20-year-old has struggled with knee problems since he debuted and this time is no different. Apparently, this time is not so bad because it’s not the medial ligament he’s hurt twice before. Whatever the injury his predicted recovery time is expected to be six to eight weeks. Blocka Dutton talks of Valetini getting back on the park to stake his claim for a Wallaby World Cup berth in…

Friday’s Rugby News has a voice for the players, a new Reds flyhalf, no Hunt and a honey badger. [one_half last=”no”] Test rugby stars demand a greater say Ahead of the summit to nut out the Global Championship rugby players around the world are demanding a permanent seat at the table. The International Players Council (IRPC) are demanding a permanent voice in any negotiations regarding the future of the game. The real question is why haven’t they had a voice in the past? Australian member, and Wallabies captain, Michael Hooper said following a conference call of the players’ council: “We want to be part…

Fridays Rugby News sees NSW v Qld, Rocket on the big stage, PI’s forgotten, and SA laying down the law [one_half last=”no”]  The State Of The Union Is what they called it back before those pesky Brumbies materialised out of the scraps the Sky Blues and Reds discarded. Somewhere along the line, someone, I’m guessing they were born north of the border, decided to call it the festival of hate. It kind of took off up here and for better or worse we seem to be stuck with it. In the week preceding the game legends of Reds rugby…

Friday’s Rugby News sees players coming up the hard way, The Hurricane feeling the pressure, Get Cooper and Tough decisions for Tuilagi. [one_half last=”no”] McCaffrey’s come the hard way! Locky McCaffrey is making a pretty big impact in the Brumbies backrow. but it hasn’t been easy for the number 8 to get where he is. The photo above is the only one we have of him playing Super Rugby in our substantial library. The next year he was unwanted by the five Australian franchises and was faced with the choice of returning to Sydney club rugby or trying his hand…

Welcome to Un-Australian Activities. There are only four games not involving Aussie teams this week and a couple of unexpected results. Enjoy. Crusadist v Hurricanes Sharks v Blues Stormers v Lions Jaguares v Bulls

Friday’s Rugby News sees wallaby selection news, low acts, Super W and Paddy-come-latelies. [one_half last=”no”]  Shocking Pocock News! Here it is… David Pocock will be considered for the Wallabies Openside flanker role! I know right! Imagine considering a world-class openside flanker for a position like, openside flanker! This is the type of thinking Michael O’Connor is bringing to the table in his new role as Wallaby selector. O’Connor goes on to discuss the problematic areas of Quade Coopers game, and while he doesn’t come out and say it I’m guessing he means the tackling, and whether Australia actually needs…

Despite our best efforts, we’re short of writers on the Waratahs front. Here are the highlights instead. And here are Peter Mitchel’s photos.

Highlight time! Chiefs v Highlanders Blues v Crusaders Sunwolves v Sharks Bulls v Stormers Jaguares v Lions

Fridays Rugby News sees amazing headlines, Wallaby stalwarts on the move, Ma’a speaking and Porn. [one_half last=”no”]  Kiwi drought won’t happen again   ‘Wallabies star vows that Kiwi drought won’t happen again for Aussie Super sides’ screamed the headline and I cringed thinking some mug had shot his mouth off about our chances this season. But, thankfully, Ned Hanigan hadn’t said anything like that in this Stuff.co.nz article and I, had been the victim of a clickbait headline again. This from the article Waratahs back-rower Ned Hanigan, who won 20 test caps for Australia from 2017-18, said the team had…

Fridays Rugby News sees calls for tweaks to the Giteau Law, McKay staying put, The Classic Wallabies and Trial match news. [one_half last=”no”] Yet Another Call For A Tweak To The Giteau Law Yours truly doesn’t like change. What sane person would! That’s why it took me a while to get used to the Giteau Law that allowed overseas Wallabies with sixty tests and seven seasons of Super Rugby to be selected for Australia. It’s taken four years to get used to it and then Drew Mitchel comes out and calls for changes to the rugbyverse as we know it!…