Author: Nick Wasiliev

The weekend is nearly upon us. Friday’s Rugby News has some final comments on the Super Rugby before the knockouts, ‘official’ comments from the Pro 12, more talk of a Pacific Islands Super Rugby team, and Cheika keen for the match up against a boiled egg. [one_half last=”no”] Super Rugby Goss Yep, it’s time for the knockout finals. And, it may indeed be the case that, should Brumbies fail to pull off an upset tonight, it could be the last of Australian Super Rugby that we see this year. Will all due respect, maybe that isn’t actually a bad thing. But hey, if…

Thursday’s Rugby News sees Kiwis taking inspiration from the Brumbies, more talk on the Wallaby squad, Gibson once again trying to teach his Tahs a lesson, and more news from the NRC. [one_half last=”no”] Canes inspired by a Brumby Yep, never thought you’d hear that this year, but in fairness, this a pretty damn good thing to be inspired by. The Hurricanes have taken inspiration for Saturday’s game against the Brumbies by admiring the return of Christian Lealiifano. Surprisingly, when the Hurricanes last came to Canberra they were smashed 52-10 in the first round of the 2016 season, and that loss still…

Well this was an epic round! The Intrust Super Shute Shield served us some smashing games this weekend, so let’s dive into our review of the round that was. MANLY 25 – 27 SOUTHERN DISTRICTS, MANLY OVAL, 15TH JULY 2017 I’m still on a high after this one. The fact I got to watch it on 7TWO was even better. I knew it was going to be a close one: the last few weeks have been troubling for the Marlins, with some less than convincing wins. They knew that Southern Districts were in form, and to their credit, they played with plenty of…

This year has been an absolute shocker for Aussie rugby. With one exception. The massive improvement of the Western Force. They have embodied so much of what rugby should be about. Passion. Playing for your teammates. When I look back on any positive moments of this year, I’m going to think of the final minute of this game, when Matty Hodgson stepped to the tee to kick his first (and only) penalty of his career, and his dad Max being helped up from his seat to watch. We’ve been asking for passion all year. You want to see the difference…

Yep, we’ve come to the big one. The lads in the podcast have been talking about this match for a while. While this match means next to diddly squat for Super Rugby finals calculations, for the Western Force and the Waratahs, this match means a little more than that.  The Big Picture Need I say it? I hope to god it isn’t true, but this may be the Western Force’s last ever game. I seriously hope it isn’t, because they’ve been the only Aussie side even remotely worth watching this year, and have, through their efforts of the team and…

We’re about to hit crunch time as we head into the last few rounds of the Intrust Super Shute Shield. Here’s our preview for the upcoming weekend. The Table THE PREVIEWS FREE-TO-AIR BROADCAST MATCH: MANLY VS. SOUTHERN DISTRICTS, MANLY OVAL, KICK OFF: SATURDAY 3:10PM, 15th JULY 2017, LIVE ON 7TWO IN NSW AND THE ACT FROM 3:00PM, REPLAY IN QLD.  Yeah, this is probably going to be the match of the round. There are some fascinating matches coming up this round, but this is the one I’m most keen to see. And it’s great that it will be on 7TWO, so I can actually watch…

Friday’s Rugby News sees a bunch of past-and-present Rebels players blasting the ARU, Super Rugby squad announcements, another coach announcement for the upcoming NRC, and what the hell David Pocock has been up to. [one_half last=”no”] Mortlock blasts the ARU Stirling Mortlock is pissed. Quite pissed it seems, after he wrote an article for the Sydney Morning Herald labelling the damage done to Australian rugby as an ‘absolute tragedy.’ Morty’s article took aim at the ARU for their lack of direction and counter-intuitive plan for downsizing Australian rugby by removing a team. “I am in disbelief to think that the Melbourne Rebels may play their last game at AAMI Park on…

The Green and Gold Rugby Show is back for another week, as Super Rugby got back underway and the Lions series came to a dramatic end. Hugh, Matt and Jamie chew the fat on the weekend of rugby (including letting off some steam on the Waratahs performance of the weekend), and were joined again by JB of The Eggchaser’s Podcast to talk all things Lions. Warning – mild coarse language The Five Burning Questions: 1. The Draw – the right result or a hollow ending? (Featuring JB) 2. Did Romain get it right? (Featuring JB) 3. What lessons can the…

Well, that was a cracking weekend! It’s time to talk about the Intrust Super Shute Shield, and round fourteen served us some truly thrilling matches. Here is our review of the round. EASTWOOD 14 – 32 RANDWICK, T G MILLNER FIELD, 8TH JULY 2017 The broadcast match on 7TWO was a close one in the first half, and it was clear from the outset that the Woodies were determined as all hell to try and turn their form around. They held their own for more than half the game, but in the end, like so many weeks beforehand, they fell away off the back of…

It was a busy weekend of rugby. Monday’s rugby news has RUPA calling for a new competition, Force and Rebels standing together, a swinging axe in South Africa and yet more complaints about a certain French referee. [one_half last=”no”] A King and a Cheetah feel the axe The big news in regards to Super Rugby this weekend was the official announcement that SA Rugby will officially remove the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings from Super Rugby for next year. Many may be unsurprised by the decision, and also disappointed that the fact these teams are being cut. However, the Kings and…

Friday’s Rugby news has Lealiifano ruled out, the Force and the Rebels coming together, and all gossip about the final All Blacks-Lions test (squads included, of course). [one_half last=”no”] Lealiifano ruled out Of all the news pieces that grinds my gears the most this week, this was it. After close to a year of battling leukaemia and overcoming it, Christian Lealiifano has been ruled out of his long anticipated comeback for the Brumbies due to a hamstring strain. Lealiifano had been starting to regain his form of old, and certainly showed it after coming on the field for the Brumbies in…

Its that time of the week again! We’re heading towards the business end of the Intrust Super Shute Shield, and with a table as tight as this, there is everything to play for. Here’s our preview for round fourteen. The Table The Previews FREE-TO-AIR BROADCAST MATCH: Eastwood vs. Randwick, T G Millner Field, Kick Off: Saturday 3:10pm, LIVE ON 7TWO IN NSW AND THE ACT FROM 3:00PM, REPLAY IN QLD.  It’s great to see the Shute Shield on free-to-air TV. First of all, for many of us, it’s the only chance we get to see any regular rugby, but also it’s because we get to watch great…

Thursday rugby news has Horne being hopeful, Itoje being iconic, Coleman being captain and Magnay being missed. [one_half last=”no”] Horne being Hopeful He might be leaving the Waratahs at years end, but veteran centre Rob Horne believes that Australian rugby can find its groove again in time. Chatting to rugby.com.au, Horne conceded that while he admits that there is a general dissatisfaction in regards to Super Rugby, there is still an underpinning strength underlying the code in Australian rugby (i.e. everyone is going to watch club rugby instead). “I think you’ve seen in club rugby, just the turnout to club rugby’s been…

It’s a short and sweet but special edition of the Green and Gold Rugby Show this week, with all eyes on Eden Park for the decider of the All Blacks-Lions series. Reg, Hugh and Jamie were on hand to chat about the Lions tour, and even braved London’s public transport to hear from JB of The Eggchaser’s Podcast. The Five Burning Questions: 1. Did the Lions win the Test, or did the All Blacks lose it? 2. Did Garces get the big calls correct? 3. Who holds the key to victory at Eden Park? 4. Who are you cheering for…

Round 13 was one of the most entertaining rounds of the Intrust Super Shute Shield in recent memory, with thrilling wins the order of the day. Here is our review for the weekend of rugby that was. RANDWICK 29 – 30 WARRINGAH, COOGEE OVAL, 1ST JULY 2017 Starting off, the broadcast match of the round on 7Two was the first of many high scoring thrillers of the weekend. In the end, this match really came down to the critical moments. It was an emotional day out at Coogee Oval, and the Galloping Greens threw everything into this game. But the mistakes they made…

The Intrust Super Shute Shield enters the thirteenth round, and the fight for the top of the table is looking close, with Warringah, Eastwood and Randwick all on equal points. Here’s our preview for round 13. The Table The Previews FREE-TO-AIR BROADCAST MATCH: RANDWICK VS. WARRINGAH, COOGEE OVAL, KICK OFF: SATURDAY 3:10PM, LIVE ON 7TWO IN NSW AND THE ACT FROM 3:00PM, REPLAY IN QLD.  Coogee Oval is one of the best rugby grounds in Australia, and it plays host to the latest edition of a legendary rivalry and a top of the table clash when Randwick host Warringah this weekend.…

Friday Rugby News has Tolu being sent to the Shute Shield, World Rugby talking up the Pacific Islands, The Kiwi and Lion squads for this weekend, and Hansen defending Gatland (yep, you read that correctly!) [one_half last=”no”] Latu sent back to the Students Fitness has long been an ongoing concern for Wallabies coach Michael Cheika this year. So, when Tolu Latu showed up to Wallabies training unfit, Cheika decided to send him back to club rugby. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Cheik made it no secret that he wants his players to be fitter for the Rugby Championship, and that the standard…

The Kiwi Media clowns are at it again! Thursday Rugby News has more Lions banter, the Wallaroos squad announcement, Rebels jumping ship and words of wisdom from Dan McKellar. [one_half last=”no”] Clowning Around I’d like to quickly disclose that this may be a case of the pot calling the kettle black, because Aussie media isn’t exactly a shining example when it comes to taking in good taste potshots at opposition teams (Case in point- “Richie grub”). But in the latest attempt to get under the Lions coach Warren Gatland’s skin, the New Zealand Herald have resurrected their infamous ‘clown gate’…

It’s Rugby Reg’s turn to have a week off, so Matt and Hugh preside over this weeks episode of ‘The Matt Rowley Hour’ The Green and Gold Rugby Show. With the Lions series now in full swing, they were joined once again by guest speaker JB of the Eggchasers Podcast to talk all things Lions and All Blacks, as well as touch on the Wallabies performance against Italy. The Five Burning Questions: 1. How good was the All Blacks performance? (Featuring JB) 2. What do the British & Irish Lions need to do to bounce back? (Featuring JB) 3. Did…

Round 12 of the Intrust Super Shute Shield  kicked off on Saturday June 24, and was a welcome return after a weeks break  during the June series. There was spellbinding tries, emotional scenes, and even some upset victories. Here’s our review for the weekend rugby that was. Northern Suburbs 26 – 38 Manly, NORTH SYDNEY OVAL, 24th June 2017 The broadcast match of the round on 7TWO more than lived up to the hype, as the two best attacking sides in the competition went head-to-head. Unsurprisingly, it led to a high scoring shoot out occurring at North Sydney Oval. The Shoreman put up plenty of…