Author: Yowie

The Australian women have won the Dubai Sevens for the fourth time at that tournament venue, ending New Zealand’s world-record 41-match unbeaten streak. Despite the Aussies chalking-up 21 wins in a row prior to kick-off, New Zealand went into the final as favourites, having won four out of five of the previous encounters between the two teams. New Zealand kicked-off to the Australians, which turned out to be a mistake thanks to Bienne Teria stepping New Zealand’s Tenika Willison and scoring within 20 seconds. Check it out early in the highlights video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caO0lLOBL84 (the full game on Stan is well worth…

Wednesday’s Rugby News sees the latest on national alignment, the NRL preparing their chequebook and lasso, New Zealand moving on from the RWC final just fine, and the Australian preliminary Under 20s squad named. Waratahs welcome new insect overlords The Guardian reports that New South Wales has become the first state member union to formally commit to Rugby Australia’s plan to align the sport across the country. The agreement to centralise means the operations of the Waratahs’ professional entities will be passed on to RA from 1 January 2024. RA will take over the Waratahs’ high performance operations, assets, liabilities,…

No, it’s not Hoss today. You’ll cope. The big man’s had a tough time this week, as he explained to this writer over the phone: “I was minding my own business in the garage putting a ‘Magic Happens’ sticker on the back window of my Kia Niro when I saw a scary spider. Mrs Hoss heard my cry for help and took the spider away with a glass and a postcard, but I was still so distressed I couldn’t make it to the Hunter Valley Friends of Friends Association memorial for Chandler. I can’t do any rugby news this week…

Today’s rugby news sees the Wallaroos as favourites (over-dogs?) against Welsh, speculation on the next Wallaby coach, World Cup referee abuse and pure class from South Africa. Wallaroos take favourites tag ahead of Wales clash [Sydney 7s 2018 Australian Women Alcia Quirk & Georgina Friedrichs – yes I know the Wallaroos are not Sevens – it’s a picture featuring the quoted player. No need to write in] Lachlan Grey at Pravda reports that, after last week’s 29-20 win over France, the Wallaroos are favourites in the game against Wales this Friday 3 November at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium (5pm AEDT…

The much-maligned bronze playoff served up a more entertaining spectacle than the England-South Africa semi-final (which, admittedly, isn’t saying much). The Match England kick off. At 1:22 Argentina are isolated at the breakdown and Tom Curry secured a turnover after a tough week in the spotlight. Farrell kicks 3 points. At 7 minutes, just outside the Argentina 22 metre line, Farrell passes to Marcus Smith, to Ben Earl for a great try to England. Farrell converts. Score 0:10 to the Soap-Dodgers. After a kicking duel Argentina run the ball out of their 22 eventually. At 11:30 Nic Berry gives an…

Like Subarus built after 2021, this Wednesday’s Rugby News is an EJ-free zone. We check in on the Springboks, Cheika pointing the “stubborn” stick, Wallaroos prep against England and wag the finger in Grub Watch. Rassie talks green stuff The Guardian reports on the remarkable number of HIA-related substitutions in the second half of Monday morning’s victory over the goose-botherers. South Africa’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, says he and his coaching team called for multiple head injury assessments during the second half of Sunday’s quarter-final triumph against France because “there is life after rugby” and they’re serious about prioritising…

Today’s news sees commentary on Tier Two challenges, Marika Koroibete hanging up the rocket boots, Fiji’s Josua Tuisova playing under the weight of terrible news and an “own goal” in Scottish club rugby. Smaller rugby nations doing it tougher at World Cup Former USA player Will Hooley writes about the deck stacked against second-tier teams in this column for the Guardian. Edited extract below: While most of the attention is focused on who will make it through to the knockout stages in France, some smaller nations still have their eyes set on a golden ticket of their own: automatic qualification…

The Match 8:08 Scotland 12 (Cameron Redpath) shoots out of the line and sheds a defender. Scotland 7 (Hamish Webster) scores near the corner to open the bar tab for the Jocks. Conversion successful. Score 7:nil. 15:50 Scotland maul. 14 (Darcy Graham with the platinum blonde haircut) passes to 9 (Ali Price) for a try near the posts. Score 14:nil. 19:45 Scotland with possession & under advantage. 14 (Darcy Graham) cuts through the middle and scores near the posts. G&GR game notes say “Man of the Match?”. We called it early and correctly. Easy conversion successful 14 Score 21:nil. This…

The Match First Half Georgia came into this match as formidable veterans with a brutal scrum. Portugal had never won a Rugby World Cup game or beaten Georgia. At 1:12 Georgian winger Akaki Tabutsadze opens the scoring with a cracking TRY off the back of some keep-the-ball-alive play. ჩვენ აქ არ ვართ ობობებთან სექსით is Georgian for “We’re not here to f*ck spiders” Successful conversion by Tedo Abzhandadze. 7-0 to Georgia. Frustrating scrum-half behaviour defies national and language boundaries at 6:30 when Georgian No. 9 Gela Aprasidze causes a push and shove session (and a penalty against Georgia) by deliberately…

Wednesday’s rugby news has an explanation for all the away strips, the Wallaroos squad announcement, opinions on more World Cup teams and Joe Marler in peak media form. Funky ‘away’ jerseys aid colourblind fans Opening Match – France v All Blacks The ABC reports on the reasoning behind “away” kits prevailing even when there is no clear colour clash. World Rugby says an estimated 300 million people live with some form of colour vision deficiency (CVD), which means they are unable to see or differentiate certain colour combinations — including World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont. September 2021, World Rugby…

They say you have two writing stints with Green & Gold Rugby. Once on the way up and…um. Anyway it’s good to be back. All Blacks “weakest in history” according to former French international 2007 was a good year for rugby Rugbypass reports the hard-hitting fact that the 2023 All Blacks are the “weakest in history”, at least according to former French international Olivier Magne ahead of the Kiwi v Frog Rugby World Cup opener in Paris on Friday night (05:15 AEST Saturday 9 Sept). Magne, who was a part of the famous 1999 side that upset New Zealand in the semi-final…

Today’s rugby news the stuff indicated above and detailed below. Also, Karl will have no choice but to agree that today’s edition is literally the ultimate RDU Wednesday news. World Cup squads and viewing times/channels PERGINE VALSUGANA, ITALY – JUNE 20: A detailed view of the official match ball of the 2023 Rugby World Cup during Italy Traning Camp – Day Two on June 20, 2023 in Pergine Valsugana, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Federugby via Getty Images) Nathan Williamson has published the full lists of World Cup team squads. See the link. It’s too long to paste here and we…

Wednesday’s news has a Wallabies injury update, a return to the finest traditions of South African rugby, Drua players make up 54.5454 (recurring) percent of Fiji World Cup squad and this week’s episode of UK Soccer Grub Watch. “I’ve had worse” – Kerevi to start World Cup despite probable broken hand DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND – AUGUST 05: Damian McKenzie of New Zealand, Samu Kerevi of Australia and Beauden Barrett of New Zealand look on following The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australia Wallabies at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 05, 2023…

Today’s news sees pre-World Cup experiments, a later draw for 2027, Eddie Jones raiding more overseas players, Welsh training horror stories and three-wheeled hijinks. World Cup warmup to try shot clock & ‘bunker (& 2027 draw to be later) PARIS, FRANCE – DECEMBER 14: A general view of the stage and Draw Results during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 draw at Palais Brongniart on December 14, 2020 in Paris, France (Photo by Aurelien Meunier – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images) The BBC reports that the “World Cup warm up” Summer Nations Series (29 July-27 August with Australia, England,…

On this significant July the 19th, Rugby Sevens has a shake-up, Stan to gather crucial evidence for upcoming Royal Commission, Airline frustrations for Wallaroos and spare Aussies available to French clubs & Barbarians during World Cup. New global Sevens series includes Perth leg (26-28 Jan 2024) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 28: Charlotte Caslick of Australia is tackled during the 2023 Sydney Sevens match between Australia and Ireland at Allianz Stadium on January 28, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) Perth might sound “like somebody being sick” but RugbyPass reports that the new “HSBC SVNS” series will include…

Wednesday’s rugby news sees the Springboks split their squad for the early Rugby Championship games, England coach Steve Borthwick rejects Eddy-era mind games, former Scotland international and Ireland U-20 assistant coach Greig Oliver dies following South Africa paragliding incident on Monday, and National Rugby Training Centre opens at Ballymore. Catch me if you can. Springboks split squad for first two Rugby Championship games RugbyPass reports that the Catholics are to employ a split squad tactic this year and will send a number of first-team players to New Zealand this week to acclimatise ahead of their second Rugby Championship fixture against the Southern…

Todays rugby news sees discipline loom as the All Blacks’ Achilles Heel, a good time to own two televisions for 7:00pm Thursday night (Wallaroos v NZ and Jnr Wallabies v Ireland) and referee Ben O’Keeffe discusses Super Final perfomance. ‘This is the decision you need to make next time please Nigel’ NZ players growing accustomed to lenient treatment? This item by Gregor Paul at RugbyPass questions whether officials running New Zealand games are going easy, and whether this is setting up the All Blacks for a World Cup shock. The Super Rugby Pacific final had an obvious moment that would…

Today’s rugby news sees the Wallabies training well, Australia A to take on Tonga on 14 July, a deaf Rugby World Cup wrap-up and NZ playing the underdog violin in a confusing mixed metaphor. Wallabies train well The SMH reports that the Wallabies have used Coogee Beach for one of their first big training sessions. An oversize Wallabies squad is camped in Eddie Jones’ beloved beachside suburb this week, ahead of a final 33-man squad being named on Sunday for the Rugby Championship. Taking a week’s break after their seasons ended at the weekend, Brumbies players – and France-based locks Will…

….or “D-day plus one” 79 years ago, a crucial period of World War II, sees ex-Tahs coach Rob Penney take up the Crusaders coaching gig, Christian Lealiifano looking to represent Samoa at RWC2023, US Major League Rugby players turn into a bunch of commies, and stabbing is ‘unacceptable’ at South African club matches. Rob Penney to replace Robinson at Crusaders Former Waratahs coach Rob e (above, looking surprised at the news) has been named as the successor to Scott “Shaver” Robinson at the Crusaders according to Pravda. His appointment completes one of the great coaching comebacks. Penney was shown the…

Today’s Rugby News has Hooper considering his post-Super options, Cron encouraging Folau Fainga’a to ease back on the BS, Aaron Mauger to step down from coaching Moana Pasifika and NZ Sevens players accused of “gamesmanship”. Hooper to play last Super game in Sydney next week The SMH reports that 31 year old Michael Hooper is nearing the end of a five year contract and has informed NSW Rugby he will not be continuing in Super Rugby. That means the Waratahs’ tight clash with Moana Pasifika on Saturday week at Allianz Stadium is almost certainly Hooper’s last game at home. The…